Notes1
Notes on issues I don’t have time to pursue. These are my opinions except where a source is listed.
Abortion
It has to be one of the best ways to reduce, crime, welfare, and single-parent families, and poverty. Other countries accept it far more easily as a practical matter.
Charity
John d Rockefeller the 1st said giving money away intelligently was harder than making it. Warren Buffet agreed.
One of the biggest breakthroughs in helping the poor has been grameen http://www.grameenfoundation.org// While it uses debt, similar programs use savings https://www.google.com/#q=micro+savings
Drugs
Study the success of legalizing of some drugs in Switzerland, Holland, Portugal.
Economics
By opening up their economies [to capitalism], India and China dragged millions out of poverty. L.a. times 1/10/05. This was probably the greatest reduction of poverty in history.
In 08 Canada didn’t have the $ crisis we had.
Far right
It’s sexually repressed resisting sex education, premarital sex, gays, and promoting condoms in foreign countries though this reduces aids. It considers itself a guardian of life: no stem cell research, right-to-die, abortion, or the morning after pill [which reduces abortions]. It resists needle exchanges, though this reduces aids, and it resists divorce though many people are happier being single again or marrying again.
International
Mutural funds are one of the greatest contributions to financial democracy. pbs 3/99
Lgbt
[Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgendered] Gratifying that we’re finally discussing these. They aren’t a threat. Amazing so much time and effort has been spent resisting them.
Political systems
The most poverty exists where people are the least free, said former sec. of the treasury, William E. Simon.
No substantial famine has occurred in a country with a democratic form of government and a relatively free press. – Prof Sen, trinity college, cambridge. nobel prize economist l0/98.
Freedom brings responsibility. Capitalism, democracy, and privatization provide the most of freedom and responsibility. I believe secularism does too.
Prostitution
It’s legal in over half the countries.
Social classes
in America the housing subsidy to the richest fifth [through mortgage interest relief] is 4 times the amount spend on pub housing for the poorest 5th. The Economist Oct l3, 0l2.
no wall st. financier has done as much damage to American social mobility as the teachers unions have. The Economist Oct l3, 0l2.
Social work
No way to cure drugs addicts; they have to mature out of it, said 60 min l2/92. I think this is true of alcoholism, compulsive gambling, crime, many forms of mental illness, and other social problems.
World government
Give the United Nations a Little Competition By RUTH WEDGWOOD If the United Nations can’t reform on its own, America needs to support other venues.
Although major democracies push the spread of democracy around the world, they don’t push for it in the U.N., which needs it the most.
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