Thursday, September 5, 2019

793: A New Semester.....for the 12th year.....

Welcome. It is good to see you again. I hope you enjoyed your summer break as much as I did, but it is time to resume our work.
   
This will be the twelfth year of the philosophy class and some of you are attending the class for twelve or ten years now, an amazing achievement.

That we as human beings still exist and are sane is also an achievement and I'll tell you why. Our present project deals with the question on whose shoulders we are standing.
   
What has happened in the 20th century that is responsible for how our world of today is shaped?
   
The weirdest thing is, that we hardly realize, that in the past century more has changed than in the preceding 4000 years.
  
To mention just a few things: industrialization and mass production, the automobile, airplanes and railways, electricity and telecommunication,
   
the mechanization of warfare, the invention of machine guns, nuclear power and atomic bombs, intercontinental nuclear missiles,
   
satellites, space travel, visit to the moon, GPS, radio and television, the Internet, social media and of course Twitter.
  
Also in our social life are the changes historical: trade unions, women's suffrage, an equal right to education for men and women,
   
a five-day working week and from nine to five, healthcare and an incredible growth in medical knowledge and insights.
  
It may not appear to be so, when you watch the news, but the number of countries that are (more or less) democratic has increased,
   
The Berlin wall has fallen, the Cold War has come to an end and previously dogmatic communist countries show signs of political changes.
   
This is just what comes to my mind. I guess that you can come up with dozens of examples more, but most interesting is, that it all happened in just one century.
   
In the context of the present situation in the United States there is one subject interesting to mention.
    
It is not a specific American issue. Also in Europe we have to face the same problem: poverty, but in the US it is also related to racial issues.
   
"Capital in the Twenty-First Century" is a 2013 book by French economist Thomas Piketty. It focuses on wealth and income inequality in Europe and the United States since the 18th century.
  
But in 1961 Michael Harrington already published the book "The other America: Poverty in the United States.
   
Edward Michael Harrington Jr. was an American democratic socialist, writer, author of The Other America, political activist, political theorist,
   
professor of political science, radio commentator and founding member of the Democratic Socialists of America. In 1973, he coined the term neoconservatism.
   
The book caused Kennedy in 1962 to aks for specific suggestions and proposals to deal with this invisible poverty.
  
Harrington wanted to show Americans, that they were blind for this phenomenon of poverty and indeed his book caused a serious debate about the issue.
    
I have no idea how this debate has evolved into the 21st century, but just today was in the news that the number of people 

living in poverty in the Netherlands was reduced from 1.5 million to 940 thousand today.

The highest poverty rate in the US by state was reported in Mississippi. The poverty rate in 2017 was 19.8% -- or roughly 571,000 inhabitants. 
   
However, this has declined since 2012, when the state’s poverty rate was nearly 25%.. More info here: http://worldpopulationreview.com/states/poverty-rate-by-state/.
    
Thank you for your attention again......



The Discussion

[13:21] Ciska Riverstone: thank you herman
[13:21] herman Bergson: Back on track again :-)
[13:21] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): YAY! (yay!)
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako):
[13:22] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): what is poverty?....
[13:22] herman Bergson: armoede
[13:22] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): does it mean for everyone the same?
[13:22] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :)
[13:22] herman Bergson: by definition it means that there is not enough food on the table
[13:22] CB Axel: The highest poverty rates in the US tend to be in the South where the people are pretty conservative.
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): resisting change
[13:23] CB Axel: The saddest thing is that some people living below the poverty level are working full time.
[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes CB
[13:23] herman Bergson: I guess they claim that it is your own fault when you are poor....CB?
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:23] CB Axel: Yes, Herman.
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): awful
[13:23] herman Bergson: that is another issue......
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hopefully will continue to change for the better
[13:24] herman Bergson: A lot of companies make big profits, but they don't share it with the workers
[13:24] CB Axel: Or they think that it's God's will that they suffer.
[13:24] herman Bergson: most of the money goes to shareholders
[13:24] herman Bergson: Oh yes CB....
[13:25] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): and the Pharma industry raises their costs too high
[13:25] herman Bergson: there is that religion that believes that it is God's doing that you are wealthy
[13:25] herman Bergson: Saw that once on TV
[13:25] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): how does she or he do that?
[13:26] herman Bergson: If I only knew, Beertje ^_^
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its the god of greed i guess
[13:26] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :)
[13:26] herman Bergson: Good one Bejiita :-)
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and this gods curse on shareholders and other greedy bastards need to be broken?
[13:27] CB Axel: The purpose of businesses used to be to make products that people needed or wanted and to sell them at a price people were willing to pay.
[13:27] CB Axel: Now their only purpose is to make as much money as they can for their shareholders.
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): an exorcism for greed how do u do that? (starts sketching a pentagram on my wacom)
[13:27] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): true CB
[13:27] CB Axel: LOL, Bejiita.
[13:27] herman Bergson: That is the problem of today indeed CB
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm
[13:28] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): money is the religion now
[13:28] CB Axel nods
[13:28] herman Bergson: The economy is
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): seems so and its a big problem
[13:28] herman Bergson: growth, growth, growth
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): a few wants EVERYTHING
[13:28] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): it can't grow forever
[13:29] herman Bergson: A few HAVE almost everything Bejiita :-)
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and in the case of for ex Brazilians president destroys the entire ecosystem to get what he wants
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): irreparable damage to the entire world and refuses to listen to facts because it would ruin his fat wallet
[13:29] CB Axel: Even TV news doesn't show what people need to know. They show what will get people to tune in (even if they have to lie) so they can rake in more and more money from advertisers.
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): fake news, commercials ect
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lies
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): basically
[13:30] herman Bergson: I recall....it was 2008 when the financial crisis started....
[13:31] CB Axel: Yes, Bejiita. I was thinking about him when Herman was saying that there is more democracy.
[13:31] herman Bergson: all of a sudden there existed FINANCIAL MARKETS
[13:31] herman Bergson: A whole industry to make money with money
[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes
[13:31] CB Axel: Yes. they don't actually produce anything.
[13:32] herman Bergson: no....nothing CB
[13:32] herman Bergson: sooooo weird
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): they just hausse it up until it all comes crashing down
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and then the entire world go out of business and EVERYONE become poor
[13:32] CB Axel: When I hear on the news that the stock market is down I wonder, Why should I care? I don't buy a lot of stock. I don't know many people who do.
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): just like the 1930 depression or worse
[13:32] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): but another thing, our government wants us to eat healthy, but then they raise the taxes higher on healthy food
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats also strange
[13:33] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): some products are 43 % higher
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ouch
[13:33] herman Bergson: huh?
[13:33] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): it was in the newspaper
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): contradictory like crazy
[13:33] herman Bergson: Which ones Beertje
[13:33] CB Axel: Right, Beertje. Fresh meats and vegetables are more expensive then fast food.
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): most are higher, some 30%, some up to 43%
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): A-brands....
[13:34] herman Bergson: Never buy those :-)
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): can't say precise which ones
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): nor do I
[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :)
[13:35] herman Bergson: Well....
[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): sugar became cheeper
[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :(
[13:35] CB Axel: In many poorer neighborhoods there are no supermarkets.
[13:35] herman Bergson: We made our start for the new semester today,,,,,
[13:36] CB Axel: The smaller stores in those areas don't sell fresh foods. Only processed, packaged stuff.
[13:36] herman Bergson: Maybe spiritually a little richer :-)
[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): it's criminal to make healthy food expensive...
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): agree
[13:36] herman Bergson: it is indeed
[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): no fresh food CB?
[13:37] CB Axel: No. Canned and frozen only.
[13:37] CB Axel: Or in boxes.
[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): but that's not healthy
[13:37] CB Axel: Poor children don't have access to good food, so they're undernourished.
[13:38] CB Axel: That affects their brains, so they stay undereducated.
[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): that is real poverty
[13:38] CB Axel: And rich white people then say that minorities are stupid.
[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): and rich black people?
[13:38] herman Bergson: yes that is the system CB
[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): what do they say?
[13:39] CB Axel: But it's the rich white people who guarantee the minority kids stay stupid.
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(
[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ?
[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): why only white?
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): they are afraid of loosing their power, thats how it is
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as usual
[13:40] CB Axel: There aren't that many rich blacks.
[13:40] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): does color matter?
[13:40] herman Bergson: Because of white supremacy ideas
[13:40] herman Bergson: yes color matters
[13:40] CB Axel: I think they stay quiet to avoid trouble. Maybe.
[13:40] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ( I have black grand sons)..they are as dear to me as the white
[13:40] CB Axel: Many do give to charities and donate money to schools.
[13:41] CB Axel: I bet they're as smart at the white ones, Beertje.
[13:41] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes they are
[13:42] herman Bergson: In the US color matters
[13:42] CB Axel: Very much so. :(
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): color should not matter, actually id want to be a bit darker cause it loooks good
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako):
[13:42] CB Axel: :)
[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i'm as white as a milk bottle Bejiita
[13:43] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): red in summer:)
[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): im a little brown but not uch at all and mostly cause i have easy to get a suntan
[13:43] herman Bergson: Keep in mind that in the early 1960s in the US you had segregation
[13:43] CB Axel: And white supremacists say that South and Central Americans are criminals. Then they take their children away from them which almost guarantees they'll grow up to be maladjusted.
[13:43] herman Bergson: black people were not allowed to sit in front seats in the bus for instance
[13:44] CB Axel: We still have segregation. It's just not as blatant as back then.
[13:44] herman Bergson: there were everywhere signs "WHITE ONLY"
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well they revolt because they are misstreated, its that easy
[13:44] CB Axel: Schools, neighborhoods, businesses all tend to be segregated.
[13:44] herman Bergson: indeed CB
[13:44] CB Axel: Trump refused to rent to blacks in the 80's.
[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): if i was treated like crap who knows what would have became of me
[13:45] herman Bergson: indeed
[13:45] CB Axel: Oh, but he's not prejudice.
[13:45] CB Axel: THE HELL HE'S NOT!!!!
[13:45] herman Bergson: he and his father were racists
[13:45] CB Axel: Sorry. He makes me so angry I can hardly stand it.
[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Trump is a racist greedy fat clump of slime
[13:46] CB Axel: That about sums it up. :)
[13:46] herman Bergson: Keep it civilized Bejiita :-))
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and a BIG problem for the entire world
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): at least ww3 have not broken out
[13:46] herman Bergson: That he is indeed.....
[13:46] CB Axel: He's human trash, a waste of space, and poor use of oxygen.
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[13:46] herman Bergson: It surprises me every day that he is still standing
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed!
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its crazy!
[13:47] herman Bergson: I am waiting for the big blow......
[13:47] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): he want's to be president for the coming years...
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): SIGHS!
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:47] herman Bergson: when will his corruptness be exposed
[13:47] CB Axel: Even Republicans are starting to turn against him.
[13:47] CB Axel: so there is some hope
[13:47] CB Axel: Fox News has even started to pull back from him.
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well first we need to get rid of the other ones dupporting him because they are equal shitclumps
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): supporting
[13:48] herman Bergson: lol...yes CB....that pissed him off  :-)
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): they are the reason he still stands
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cause he is not alone
[13:48] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): you are using words Bejiita I never heard of:))))
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well you have not heard half of it
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe
[13:48] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): grins
[13:49] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): (learning a lot here)
[13:49] Ciska Riverstone: (something for a smile for later on ;) )
[13:49] herman Bergson: Well ....enough about Mr. T, I'd say
[13:49] CB Axel: What does poverty look like in the Netherlands and other parts of Europe?
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i just cant get how there is that a mental case is in the white house
[13:49] CB Axel: Thanks, Ciska. :)
[13:49] Ciska Riverstone: (have a good day /night)
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but it is how it is
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and at least its rollong on for us good still even that
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and hopefully will still do
[13:51] herman Bergson: Poverty in the netherlands means, that people have not enough money to buy food and pay other bills
[13:51] Ciska Riverstone: thanx again herman & Class
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that is the general definition of poverty inded that people cant live the day
[13:51] CB Axel: But who does it affect?
[13:51] herman Bergson: yes
[13:51] CB Axel: Why are people living in poverty?
[13:52] herman Bergson: 940 thousand people in the Netherlands
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): because some few wants ALL money and refuse to share
[13:52] herman Bergson: all kinds of reasons.....
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats a big part at least
[13:52] herman Bergson: losing a job, divorces, unemployment etc
[13:52] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): illness
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that can be issues too
[13:52] herman Bergson: yes
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and a lack of will to help these people
[13:53] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): bills too high to pay for medicine
[13:53] CB Axel: But does the system keep them in poverty or do they have ways to pull themselves up?
[13:53] herman Bergson: or they have accumulated enormous debts
[13:53] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes that too
[13:53] herman Bergson: there is a lot of support for these people
[13:53] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): too ittle education
[13:54] herman Bergson: we have food banks where they get free food
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats a god thing
[13:54] CB Axel: We have some food banks, but they never have enough.
[13:54] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): also drug play a roll
[13:54] CB Axel: And they don't have fresh foods. It has to be "shelf stable."
[13:54] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): addiction to drugs
[13:55] CB Axel: Not needing refrigeration.
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:55] CB Axel: And your drug addicts get sent to jail?
[13:55] CB Axel: And the mentally ill?
[13:55] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): we have a store where poor people can buy food for very little money, fresh and healthy
[13:56] herman Bergson: As  long as they don't commit crimes they stay free
[13:56] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): but I don't know if that is in every town
[13:56] CB Axel: That sounds lovely, Beertje.
[13:56] herman Bergson: We have one in my town for instance...
[13:56] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ah:))
[13:57] herman Bergson: only 22.000 inhabitants
[13:57] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): that's a good sin
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako) whispers:
[13:57] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): sign
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa yes
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki time to head out for another event
[13:58] herman Bergson: But there is poverty in the richest countries of this world....
[13:58] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu next time
[13:58] CB Axel: Bye, Bejiita.
[13:58] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): in Eindhoven there is a bar were you can buy coffee...for every cup that you buy they give 1 away too a person that can't buy one
[13:58] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa yes it is everywhere
[13:58] CB Axel: I've heard of that, Beertje.
[13:58] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako):
[13:58] CB Axel: So nice.
[13:58] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa yes
[13:58] herman Bergson: Thank you again for your participation....
[13:58] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): but that doesn't solve poverty
[13:58] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu
[13:59] herman Bergson: Class dismissed ^_^










  

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