Moonlapse

I'm not actually sure, because I've never been outside the U.S. for any extended period of time. I'd really like to visit Europe and it may turn out that I'll really like to live there, but for now I'm content to be where I am.

Hehehe, heated? Not yet... I'm still waiting for that.... Don't worry about it Zeke, eveyone on this board so far is very good at staying on the issues instead of flaming.

"The organisation of society in such a manner that any individual, man or woman, finds at birth equal means for the development of their respective faculties and the utilisation of their labour. The organisation of society in such a manner that the exploitation by one person of the labour of his neighbour would be impossible, and where everyone will be allowed to enjoy the social wealth only to the extent of their contribution to the production of that wealth." -August Bebel Isn't this QUITE possible in capitalism? Hasn't Bill Gates done just this to it's full extent? Yet he is widely resented. No such thing, yet in a capitalist society, people are free to exercise free will and choose what they do for a living and who they work for. Laissez faire capitalism at its best... you decide the extent of your contribution to the production and enjoy its associated wealth, not a government. Ironic...

What about in the Marxist sense of both words?

I was under the impression that socialism is a precursor to communism. The 'common good' seems to be a prevalent theme in both.

Does that statement then imply that a basic premise of communism is to distribute to the needy that which has been produced by the able?

Badger badger badger badger

*Duplicate topics merged*

Great report!

Builders laying the foundations for a mosque in northeast Cairo found a tomb dating from the Pharaonic period intact but submerged in ground water up to the ceiling of the tomb, official sources said Sunday. Full article at Reuters

You can view some information and upcomming episode schedule here: http://www.historychannel.com/decisivebattles/

I'd say that you should get yours very soon, I recieved mine just last week.

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If you guys are interested in the tale of King Arthur from a 'Decline of Rome' viewpoint, you should read Jack Whyte's Books. Very very good reading and from what I nkow of the new movie, the plot lines are much better.

Excellent choice! hahaha

Social animals always have leaders and heirarchy...

These ideas, like people have implied already, become less practical as population continues to grow. If people could be successfully localized, then the traditional concept of community may still be applied, but with the speed of communications and travel today, its almost a lost cause.

No, I'm not a communist. Community cannot be enforced, it takes willing participants. Although the system we have here in America has its flaws, I truly value the opportunity I have. I can use my motivation and skill to succeed. Those who are lazy or don't care usually don't. There are exceptions... the 'theifs' who lack honor and steal their success from those who have suceeded honorably. I think that media has drastically changed the concept of community. It can destroy previously established communities and create new ones that are unheard of in human history. The statement that a system either works or doesn't work... I don;t think its that simple. Any system that works can be manipulated by the honorless and therefore fail. Humans will always be humans, and I do not believe that all men are equal (at least in their moral prinicples) Any system where the honest man with determination can push himself beyond the lazy ones will succeed, at least for a while.

I'd better not start talking here....

I guess that technically means that I should have like 2....

Read Altas Shrugged by Ayn Rand for a little bit of counter-point...

Awesome article, Vig.

I have HBO, so I'll definitely watch for it.

The new testament was originally written in Greek... instead of Latin.

http://www.ukans.edu/history/index/europe/...Roman/home.html http://gainsford.tripod.com/lato/index.htm http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbookfull.html http://www.ucc.ie/celt/publishd.html http://www.ancienttexts.org/ http://wolf.mind.net/library/libindex.htm