Septicaema

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE ***WARNING!! this is in no way finished, all encompassing, or accurate. It is vague, written quickly from the head, poorly punctuated, rambling, and a plan probably doomed before it begins. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK )*** I believe the entire political system is wrong. Not a left vs. right problem, just a problem. A very long term (well after our lifetimes, lots of collective development needs to happen) goal I believe we should do, is move towards a smaller, accountable, federal government. This push to make everyone the same is doomed to failure because of human nature. Even in the garden of eden we differed. So I propose: we go back to a "states rights" mentality, with the federal government handling only the foreign, and border issues. With a drastically reduced capacity domestically, excluding disaster relief. I believe the budget should be two voted on (every presidential election) percentages, one a national sales tax, the other on the business profits. I believe this will allow more freedom for the states peoples to experiment with different ideas for the future. Of course there will also be a small regulatory and enforcment portion, there will be a need for a central authority for... probably ever ( functional anarchy? could be an interesting idea for another time). Unfortunately military will probably need to be maintained as top class, depending, of course, on the global development in the interim years. Domestically, we should improve our state governments by treating "them" as we are looking at the federal government today, the top level of government for the American people. Locally there already is more accountability and changes can be made on a smaller scale, with the reduction of Federal influence people will more easily see what is and is not working in government, and make changes faster. And allow the various pockets of society to "govern themselves" a bit more. For the workers: I'm thinking something like a collection of unions. Just more expansive, stretching beyond state borders to cover entire industries. For example: a hypothetical plumbers only union, would be responsible for making sure they maintain an environment and system that will attract and train the next generation of plumbers, responsible for working with employers to keep the service affordable for everyone, while also being responsible for their members day to day survival (pay, food, housing, entertainment, however its agreed upon). Businesses I believe will become more monopolistic (I don't think that's a word lol), more in the line of "too big to fail" and some things we think of as "government" should be operated more as a not for profit (or very little) such as the utilities. I know this is how things used to be and it went bad, this is also why unions and labor laws were enacted here. With that in mind, I believe the combination of the monopolies: trying to squeeze every bit of resource out of everything, unions: trying to take every resource they can from the monopolies for the people, and governments: trying to keep an honest, transparent, regulated playing field between them (acting as a kind of civilian oversight committee), will create a "web" that will ultimately be forced into a "checks and balances" system to maintain the health, happiness and safety of the people as much as possible, at least, more so than just greater federal control, in my opinion. Anyways, just a random theory for a long ways away, feel free to comment, argue, ignore, expand, or whatever else on the idea if you wish. I hope you at least take a break from reality to live a fantasy now and then and expand your infinity. I hope you all find your way in this beautiful chaos

This is the arrogance from the left wing in our country that drives people to stay in their bubbles. This will never help progress. Attacking people who think along different lines is a waste of resources and time. As one user put it earlier. Let go. Let go of your hatred for Trump. Everyone who is still in blue or orange thinking is just hearing it as hatred for them because they believe in the individual. Most people if you actually talk to them want the same end goal, some version of utopia for everyone. That utopia is not the same for everyone and with many different ways to get there. Green level needs to learn this, there has to be a place for the individual, collectivism, socialism, communism whatever label you want to put on it has its limits as well as capitalism and individualism. There is a balance and the more that balance is ignored with blind arrogance to ones own superior nature, and ones own "side" being so much better than we will stagnate and die. We are feeling those pains now, all this arrogance from the left's "we know what's best for you" to the rights "you don't know shit". It has to stop somewhere, someone at some point has to talk to the other. We can all get along but it will take compromise and patience and a willingness to meet in the middle on some things to preserve the balance. America is the most charitable country per capita, we allow the highest number of legal immigrants into our country every year, our government does a lot of really good work for people, our people do a lot of really good things for people, and a lot of that comes from the good will of non spiritual religious people that want everyone to live better. And of course the opposite is true as well, we have some of the worst people on the planet as well, actual nazis, and such, and within all that there is room, stop the demonization of Republicans, stop the hatred of Trump, you don't have to hate him to disagree, you don't have to worship him to agree. No one is perfect, not Trump, not Obama, not anyone the Democrats will put up for the next cycle, not anyone the Republicans will put up after that, not you, not me, not a single collective ego. The hate has to stop. People have proven before that we can do great deeds both good and bad, individually and collectively. We are divided right now on which path to take and the sides have collectively dug in their heels and are just playing petty games attacking. That's politics as usual, and believe it or not the rhetoric attacking the opposition is pretty tame today compared to earlier times. We as responsible members of this planet have a duty to do what is best for everyone and everything, and sometimes that means losing the battle in a strategic retreat to win the war, rather than dying on the hill you claim to hold. All of this goes for both sides of the political debate here in America and everywhere. Right now talking down to the other side is just causing people to stay in echo chambers because the ones that are trying to find that middle ground are afraid to go elsewhere. See it all the time in left wing forums, people saying they refuse to even talk to a trump voter, or just block everyone until they only see their side of things repeated over and over. On right wing forums them bragging about trolling some random "libtard" or something. It's stupid. white supremacists and nazis, snowflakes and antifa. Look for the middle path, salvation lies within the balance of all things.

@The Don I don't blame you. I would have expected people working towards self actualization would have more of an open mind. Too much hatred towards conservatives has bred this attitude of only nazis and racists and such are conservative. Honestly I think a lot of people on both sides of the political debate are just stuck in a tribal mentality, just going with what they are told rather than truly examining issues and how to solve them. It's all liberals want to take everything from you and control everything you say and do and conservatives are all racist, xenophobic nazis. There are actually good sides and people on both of these sides if people would actually listen. Example: not everyone who advocates for border security is a racist and that's why they want to control the immigration flow into the country, and not everyone who advocates for Medicare for all is a soviet communist that wants the federal government taking everything. I have seen more open dialog though, albeit very slow growth. Echo chambers are still rampant on both sides, and will take time to break through. Hatred runs deep and will take generations to heal the wounds but I hope as more and more people take enlightenment and all life seriously these attitudes will fade away and people can start actually debating whether the capitalist, socialist, or other system will solve whatever particular issue. Everyone needs to step back and chill a bit and truly consider the opposing merits of a given debate, but until the left stops calling everyone on the right a nazi or whatever and the right stops calling the left snowflakes or whatever and they both start talking to each other this cycle will continue.

I think it depends on your interpretation of life purpose. Part of actualization is finding where you fit in into this level of reality, and I dont think that always means something like "I'm going to be a doctor or author or monk or whatever". I have a purpose to help as many people as I can see a little piece of reality that can help them grow, or not to interfere with their existence as much as possible. I have a goal to survive this life and enjoy as much as possible for me and take as much unique experience with me to the infinity when this body finally dies. Having a life purpose around work and survival might be needed for you or someone else, that also is not a bad thing. existing means you are here in this reality. having a purpose to guide your navigation should be part of that existence. true reality may be aimless and infinite but if you're here reading this, part of you is still human. Having no purpose whatsoever is dangerous. it can lead to laziness and hopelessness. It can be blissful as well, but wisdom should temper that in time. Unless being a true hermit is your goal i'd suggest finding some purpose to strive for, whether it is vague and abstract or grounded and concrete, small or large. Just make sure it is realistic and/or motivating for you

I'm new around here and don't have a perspective on the mods at all, outside of Leo's Youtube videos. I'd hope that at least some would be able to come down to your level to offer some helpful advice. It is hard however because there is an urge to stay ahead of the person to help them up to their level. Sometimes that does do more damage than good and i agree that if that role isnt being filled and needed, some decent people trying at your level could do more good than another hand up. Sometimes a partner is needed more than a teacher. I don't think starting a sub forum for this and allowing it to be overseen day to day by like minded people is a bad idea. It could even be good for some others (at any stage) who don't use (or use limited types) meditation as a primary tool to find other methods and practices to try and improve.

Some animals in certain situations can have self destructive actions. a bug in australia almost went extinct because it was trying to mate with beer cans instead of females. some cats can harm themselves when they are neglected and abused or under duress or high stress. abused dogs would rather fight people than allow good ones to help them sometimes. Coyotes and such chewing a leg off to escape a trap. birds pushing their babies out of the nest to learn to fly. Christ basically attacking the established society. environment and psyche plays a big role here. In the grand scheme its like all forms of "evil" its necessary for this level of our reality, violence exists thats just that. as nature and society evolves it will change forms to hopefully more peaceful versions over time, for all things. It will continue to exist for a long time. Sometimes with glimpses of truth that someone is unprepared for it can lead to dangerous and destructive thoughts. Sometimes environments feel so constraining any way out can feel better than none. Sometimes things just get twisted in such a way that self destruction comes more naturally and survival has to be worked on. Life is not always pleasant and sometimes those dark tunnels lead to the greener pastures one is seeking. Sometimes it leads to an abyss you dont see until you're already falling. Tread carefully in these dangerous woods. Honestly sometimes its also necesssary, if i hadn't sabotaged some of my earlier relationships, i would have never been on this path and would have probably commited suicide. that self destruction has lead to a lot of pain and turmoil in my journey, but also some serious truths and realizations about myself that has helped me a lot regain myself after some really bad points. it also helped me unknowingly prepare mentally and emotionally for the deaths of my sister and father. It has also lead me to feel extremely isolated and alone, like im caged in a prison of my own design. Journeys through this world are unique and twisted and full of coincindence and paradox. sometimes its beautiful, sometimes not so much.