>>it is not my duty to take into account every set of rights that every country grants its citizens<<

You do not think that an explanation ought to be offered when you take from another human being? You don't have to know of countries where people have rights to understand that taking someone that isn't yours without explanation is inherently wrong. We're not going to agree on many things here. But you decline to explain your position and throw petty insults instead. If you're not going to explain yourself (or if you are not capable), why post here?

>>Nobody cares who's rich anymore. <<

Yeah. Right. Money is the power to buy status and political power. Money's still at the top. It's still at the top of socialist states, perhaps more so; the people are just kept even more ignorant of the power game than in more capitalistic states.

3x a year? You're trusting. lol

Condoms are for wankers who do not enjoy sex! If I put my dick in a woman I want to feel it! Isn't that the point!?

The great myth of this generation is "safe sex." People talk about "safe sex" being sex not resulting in pregnancy or the transmission of STDs. Sex is necessarily giving oneself away. Those who engage in sex while withholding part of themselves, such as prostitutes, have been documented time and time again to have psychological damage as a result. They cannot make the connections that are vital to human beings in the world.

I'm a libertarian; I believe you have every right to be whores and whoremongers. I do not support laws against prostitution. But let's be honest. This is not a noble or principled crusade against oppression. This is a fight for a debasing [poof] for animals who cannot gain its pleasure without payment. It is beneath a human being's dignity to give oneself away.

And now for your Bible verse of the day:
"There shall be no whore among the daughters of Israel, nor whoremonger among the sons of Israel."
Deuteronomy 23:17

I don't mean to be an asshole when I post on topics like this. Well, I guess I do. I spent enough time in Newark, Hoboken, East Orange, and NYC to get called "Niggadamus" in a celebratory manner (and I'm pretty close to as white as they get, despite my claim "I'm light skinned!"). I get along. NOBODY makes me laugh as hard as a lot of black guys I know--the sort of humor lauded in their culture is hillaaaaarious. I wish people would try to appreciate and emulate that aspect of their culture! Blacks in this country's history have endured slavery and gross civil rights denial. I have no grief with declaring a month to celebrate blacks who have contributed much to society, to our society, who have benefitted us to this day. It would do us well to remember where we, the whole country, come from.

I think it's past time we all get over the nonsense surrounding race. President Obama is of mixed race. And there's nothing wrong with that. That's something to celebrate, that we as a people have no problem electing a president because of his race, whatever that may be. I think it's ignorant that mixed race isn't good enough for many people, that a man has to pick and identify with a group based on race, even if his upbringing and culture were entirely that of his parent not of that race, whose racial heritage is completely ignored.

I think it's fitting a man with one black and one white parent was elected President. We should stop calling him black because he's half black and accept he's black and white! Whites and blacks both have a president of their race! Hurrah!

I'm armed and ready.

>>So you think a big government objects to the very definition of government or what?<<

The USA's federal government was started with a Constitution. The views of the men responsible for creating it are well published. When I said that socialism was not what the US government was created to run, I meant exactly what I said.

>>I'd much rather you emphasized the impact of the size of government society-wide, not your personal likes and dislikes ("my life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness"). <<

The Declaration of Independence was written about my "personal likes and dislikes"? You overestimate my importance in the history of the USA. That Thomas Jefferson! What a dull man!

>>But if those higher taxes leave a positive impact on a larger than personal level<<

They don't. Tried over and over and over again. Failed, failed, and failed. Every time. 0 exceptions. America is losing its superiority of wealth and standard of living over the rest of the world as it becomes more socialist. Surprise. In what world will politicians better decide what to spend money on than the hard working, innovative people who WORK and EARN the money? Not this one. And pretending cannot make it so.

>> sorry, I don't care for you.<<

You care for everyone! You want the biggest government possible, the closest to omnipotent God an organization on earth can possibly be, because you care so much.

You have no right to my earnings. If you disagree with this statement, you are wrong. And a bum. And a waste of life.

- - - - -

What are you talking about Justinian I? Everyone has the right to a house. They've been trying to get more people houses. That's turning out well. We haven't had a housing crash or anything, right?

>>And this burden is neutralized by the advantages of:
a. social benefits
b. a less disparate society<<

False. The benefit never outweighs the burden. Middle men administrators who spend your money for you pay themselves first. With your money.

Call it what it is. And I'll do the same. When a government does more than protect my life, liberty, and persuit of happiness and build/maintain infrastructure such as roads, it's something moving toward socialism. You've been accepting watered down socialism for so many years you've already swallowed a lot of it but you're still afraid of the word. My right to persue my happiness is infringed upon when a massive government taxes me ridiculous amounts of money to run all kinds of things it was never intended run. Things it should not run.

avogadro's post answers Justinian I's initial question on the spot.

A Matter Of Life And Death!

He's Australian. He was raised out in the bush. You ignorant biggot!