Karl

The only dwindling resources are people. We have more land and natural resources than we have people to utilise it. Over population is the usual cry of the Fabian. If you think you are over populating the world then you have a choice. Supreme ruler ? We have a partnership. No one is in charge.

We already have chaos or have you been sleeping ? There are many ways to create defence. However, the thing about defence is that it states that attack States. We only got to world wars when states became powerful enough to harness the entire population around its empire.

Usual bollox. We aren't third world countries. Privatise everything.

Another fallacy. Somalia is a failed state. The state is the warlord.

No need.

It isn't what I meant. The family unit is the smallest 'governed' unit. My wife and I have a fantastic marriage/partnership. I'm not so sure it's as dead as you think and much of that is the results of poor selection and unobtainable standards. Anyway, I was saying that it should be no larger than a family unit. Village elders were fine in a community of a few hundred, but there can never be total representation when a few hundred are ruling several tens of millions. Government should be cut down then totally localised.

I think the answer must be a distributed network. The family is the smallest unit of governed existence. Just like the Internet, things should be peer to peer without a central authority. It works well for any system and prevents major breakdowns compared to a one to many system.

Funnily enough I knew you were going to say that, or words to that effect. To simplify: Are you saying that mathematical constructs such as negative numbers are a reality ? as I understand it, even large numbers- it is said they are infinite, but no one ever counts to infinity so, in fact they are only infinite in theory, in reality they stop at whatever point the counting stops-always a number less than infinity. Does even zero does not exist ? we can count zero specific things, but not an ultimate zero. Nowhere is there nothing. Even geometry is carried out with perfect lines, angles and measurement. I have a book by someone who wanted to change maths so that zero was actually the largest number (the sum of all numbers). Might throw up some interesting answers to regular calculations.

They should start living to their values and they won't be happy until they do. Any imposed 'order' is frozen chaos and not natural order. It only looks like order, but it's a poor sort full of legalised action against our own values, it's kind of like hell on earth. I think either it must come to an end, or we will come to an end. We don't need to organise a way to 'give' everyone happy, fulfilled and creative lives, because we already know how to do that. It doesn't need organisation because it's our nature.

Why can't things just be as they are without the complexity of that which they also might be ? You are this, now, then you might be some other if you think it, but then aren't you thinking you might also be some other place than where you are ? Isn't that somewhat like living 'not in the now' but in the 'probable nows' ? It's clearly comfortable for you to live that way otherwise you wouldn't say it, so that's only an observation as I know that would not be comfortable for me. I like solid stuff and I'm happy with its dissolution, but I don't dwell on, or enjoy the dissolution, it's just change and I'm happy to be part of it. I both feel and perceive a unity in that being so for me. I'm a leaf on a tree and I cannot know the whole tree. One day I will fall and turn to dust, that is the cycle and everything else undergoes that same cycle and there is peace enough in knowing that.

Why can't unity be the other way around? Why not everything is concrete reality and that there is no mind/body problem? Then experience and reason are unified, body and mind are unified. Concrete man in a concrete universe is unified. Isn't that just the inverse of everything is unified nothingness- and like you changed, this is what I used to believe.

Well they should get off their backsides and do something about it then. The kettle don't boil by sitting looking at it. Unfortunately I think this is the beginning of the end for Western civilisation. It's partly why I'm here. Somebody is going to need to pick up the pieces and it isn't going to be the hynotised sheep.

"Take 2 definitions into the shower " :-) As an aside, neither definition is good. The first is circular reasoning, as i would say psychological discomfort is suffering. The second is dependent on a second concept which is equally undefined. Then you have another one which seems more of an explanation than a definition. I still don't understand what is meant by the dualistic world. There seems to be several types of dual. Which one do you ascribe to Brian ? Or is this a good time to go back to the political thread ;-)

Sick of the same old sharp suited, plastic politician types saying nothing at all but whatever the focus groups and speech writers tell them to say. It's very bland and boring. Bernie at least presents an alternative to that evil Clinton witch. Yet, I'm old enough to remember we had these less polished types types before the new breed of plastic politicians and things weren't really any different. Trump is the only one who has the power to shake up the dynasty-I still don't like him, but at least he is entertaining. In the end though, none of these people are in control. Just like Tsapiris in Greece found out. The bankers and corporate cronies tell them what to do and from snippets I have heard, they make offers that can't be refused. Corbyn wouldn't make a dent in the Conservatives, if he had a chance Labour would now be in power. The excuse the Labour supporters used to explain Labours failure was, that, with the SNP they would be seen as a socialist danger. Why then, choose a socialist for leader ? The electorate already gave that verdict if Labour are right. No-no-no.

My shirts wet with white paint from doing the front windows. Sitting back and looking at the the smooth paint and sound wood is truly joyous. Just the first floor windows to do now. Such satisfaction. Tomorrow out on the bike for a blast with a mate-more Joy.

I only know what I've heard from Tom Woods and Lew Rockwell so I'm not really qualified to give a personal opinion.

Trump is vastly different to Farage in every sense other than a maverick disestablishment type. I can see where you are going -less smooth suit and carefully chosen words in a similar sense to Corbyn which is obviously refreshing whichever way you look at it. However the economics and politics are very different. Nigel (not, it has to be said his party at present) is essentially a thick libertarian (by that I mean he is broadly for smaller government less state, more free market), I can't figure Trump as he isn't really free market, but is for smaller government and less foreign interventionism. However Corbyn is the odd ball of the pack, he is a dyed in the wool 1970s socialist, big government, big borrowing, public works, nationalisation etc.

Well we argue like hell about everything else.

Hands up who didn't side with Robin Hood ? Socialism always sounds nice, who can argue with the whole liberty, egalitarianism, fraternity, equality for all and making the world a better place. Taking from the rich, giving to the poor, the broadcast shoulders, industry in the caring hands of the state. Free health, free schooling, free pensions, a job for all, higher wages. It's hard not to refuse an offer like that. I do understand why, because I also used to be a committed socialist. I also think there is some truth in the old adage that you should be a socialist when you are young. As you get older you become a Conservative as wisdom increases. I think if wisdom increases enough, you become an AC.

The thing with all these talking heads is that none of them ever talk about getting the big, fat government boot off your neck. For all their talk of fairer societies and more equality, the operative word is force. How they are going to use the power of the state to make everybody else in their own image. They never talk about lifting the boot, only what kind of waffle pattern and studs will be embedded in your neck.

The problem with new world orders' is that they all end in old fashioned chaos.

I threw away the books a long time back. Mind, thoughts, perceptions are things we are aware of. We aren't aware of awareness. I already know, I know nothing- so what of it ? That's easy. There is no absolute truth and change is moment to moment. However the essential self remains intact always like a boat on the sea. Weather changes, storms etc, these things become part of the learning experience. Let self exist as it is without attachment, but living within the framework of values, then there is no effort. If an attachment is created-here I include religion, practices, material things, ideology-then it is the self living through that web. Now there is a doer, but it cannot be seen as self. All that is a very complicated way of saying 'know thyself' and be careful to mentally ingest only those things which do not create false ego. Then live with integrity. Right thought, right action, right habit.

I've said many times that I have over 8 years of solid practice. Twice daily meditation, spinal breathing, sutra. Then self inquiry plus mindfulness daily. I can meditate without sitting in particular spots or, poses easily able to quieten the mind. SI/mindfulness is more or less continuous so I'm hardly conscious of it unless I wish it. Trivium was added after all of that, prior to that I believed mystic things and talked like everyone else on here. When I was working as a therapist I would create all manner of trance States. From hyper awareness, relaxed learning to hallucination. The technique of creating a logic loop in which the mind hunts for patterns has been known for a long time. Then using 'artfully vague' language, the gaps can be filled in the subconscious mind and the client brought out of trance. If you get chance study one of Obama's speeches. Pretty much a master class of hypnotic pattern speech; trace, pauses, pace, tonality down perfect. Even though I know what he is doing its difficult to counter. At a mass rally it must be overwhelming. I don't know how Koans were used that way, but I know what they allow. The conscious, discriminating mind is switched off and the subconscious will take instruction directly If done in the right way. If the Koan is worked on in isolation then the subject creates a trance state that the master can initiate immediately by anchoring techniques. It's a Pavlovian response. 'A 'exists, is a thing, with a separate identity. It is what it is.

You have a pretty good life though Bud. That's not to say that should exclude you from that opinion, I can see why you would say it and I wouldn't necessarily disagree. I'm wondering if you have ever been in a position that would make you uncomfortable ? If the economy turned sour tomorrow morning and you found yourself without any work and the house being foreclosed would you retain that view ?

The economic illiterati. End Austerity ? This is Government spending £50bn more than it steals every year in taxes and spends it all on public services. The debt is continuing to increase. Only a low interest rate is keeping the ship from flopping over like a dead whale. QE ? The thing that is on the edge of plunging the global economy into the worst crash in history ? Possibly beginning tomorrow - and no, it isn't the fault of the Chinese economy, it's the fault of the Fed/BoE/ECB/BoJ for proppinig up the biggest malinvestment bubble in living memory...and Corbyn wants to do more of that ? Then he threatens to renationalise the rail services without compensation ? Is he suggesting the theft of private property by force ? The mere suggestion that might happen will have major repercussions. What train company would consider continuing with a franchise under those conditions ? It's Atlas Shrugged for real. We wouldn't have a railway at all. Opening derelict coal mines when the green socialists have seen to it that coal is outlawed as a source of power.? Taking advice from Richard Murphy a glorified book keeper ? Corbyn is clearly crazier than a box of frogs. At least we kick Labour out for good, but that leaves us with the Tory Authoritarian Socialists that need to go, but look like they will now be around for ever.