PBH / Off Topic: do your thing / Forums (active)

Retitled: To Duck the Left or Veer to the Right? A True Tale of Two Houses.

Sunday, September 06, 2009
A True Tale of Two Houses

By Sara Hudson

Once upon a time in a community called Baniyala, the houses were old, there weren't enough houses, and there was no house for the school teacher. However, the community didn't have very much money and they didn't know very much about building houses.

So they spoke to someone who knew about building houses to see if he could help them build one. He could, and with the help of his friends, he managed to raise enough money to buy some materials and talked some people into giving materials cheaply. The people in the community helped build the house because they knew if they didn't, it wouldn't get built. The house only cost around $250,000 to build because most of the labour was voluntary.

Meanwhile in another community, people were waiting for the government to build them houses under the new Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program. They didn't consider building the houses themselves because the government had always done everything for them. The government wouldn't build the houses without the community giving them some land.

After lots of meetings, the community agreed to lease some land. Now the government had to find the people to build the houses. This took a while. Finally, they found three organisations to be part of their Alliance. These partners were keen to start building, but the government couldn't decide who was in charge and how much it would cost to build the houses. They argued for a while and then got someone else to manage the program.

By now, there were six layers of managers and $45.54 million spent but not one house had been built. The community was unhappy. Lots of people had come and talked to them about the sort of houses they would like, but no building had started. The government wrote a paper saying they were three months behind but would catch up and build the houses for $450,000 each.

And then the wet season started.

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Note: In the Northern Territory, people living on communally owned land cannot borrow money from banks to build their own homes because they do not have individual title over the land. Individual 99-year leases would solve this, but they also could raise the money independently of banks and build their own houses. Except they have been led to believe that the government is responsible for housing and that private homeownership is not for them.

The above is part of a press release dated Sept. 4 from the Centre for Independent Studies. Enquiries to cis at cis.org.au. Snail mail: PO Box 92, St Leonards, NSW, Australia 1590. Telephone ph: +61 2 9438 4377 or fax: +61 2 9439 7310

Posted by John Ray. For a daily critique of Leftist activities, see DISSECTING LEFTISM. To keep up with attacks on free speech see TONGUE-TIED. Also, don't forget your daily roundup of pro-environment but anti-Greenie news and commentary at GREENIE WATCH . Email me (John Ray) here

THANX TO GOD... FOOTBALL HAS ARRIVED.

By goin_south on Sep 7, 2009, 14:55 in Off Topic.

goin_south says on Sep 7, 2009, 14:56:

Moral: People should not wait for the government to do something.

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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katwhiskers says on Sep 7, 2009, 15:30:

Good post GS! Never trust to any level of government what you can and should do for yourself.

I miss the wonderful sound of silver coins in my pocket, abolish the Federal Reserve and bring back real money.

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goin_south says on Sep 7, 2009, 15:38:

Including... Taking Care of YOUR OWN HEALTH.
If people in America were Pro-Active about Good Health Measures on their own.... we wouldn't be debating healthcare b.s. at this moment.

No one is entitled, by birthright, to ... the concept of medicine/medical care.
If it's something you can afford, then fine.
And, if not enough people can afford it or choose to afford it, then the prices will come down.
An issue of medical greed and the medical/pharmacuetical/insurance COMPLEX.

Now, otoh... the Cleaner Greener Energy concern is worthwhile and The Health of the Planet is something that we should also be pro-active about.

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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katwhiskers says on Sep 7, 2009, 18:45:

Well said GS, I'm in agreement with you on the medical care and personal responsibility for your own health. The fastest way to lower the price of medical care is to remove the insurance factor, be it private or public (government). I pay cash for any minor medical and dental services I need and I always negotiate the price and I usually get it for half the price they would bill an insurer for. Recent examples: I needed an MRI, the cost to an insurer would have been billed at $950.00. I asked how much it would cost if I just paid for it, $600.00, the final price I paid was $400.00. I broke a tooth, the dentist would have billed an insurer $206.00, I paid $103.00. I went for a tetanus booster at the local public health clinic rather than a doctors office, the cost $13.00 and an hour of my time. In the years I've been doing this I've only been to one place that would not accept less when paying cash. None of these costs are beyond the ability of an average American like me to pay. It's all about priorities and personal responsibility.

I miss the wonderful sound of silver coins in my pocket, abolish the Federal Reserve and bring back real money.

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goin_south says on Sep 8, 2009, 22:41:

I guess, katwhiskers, that most here on pbh are waiting for ENTITLEMENTS.... jaj

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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lpdiver says on Sep 18, 2009, 18:08:

G_S I remember after Hurricane Betsy. There were no masses of people "waiting for help". They got their asses to work and rebuilt with minimal government assistance.

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

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ronaldo says on Oct 6, 2009, 17:08:

gs
I would suggest that you change part of your title from "A True Tale Of Two Houses" to "A Fairy Tale of Two Houses".
I would also suggest to Sara Hudson that she spend her time running for some elected government position and changing the system from within, rather than wasting her time writing such dribble. Governments are not by any means in the construction business and don't build houses nor sell them to private citizens. Habitat For Humanity is the closest thing to housing with the assistance of government for low income people. They build houses globally with donated labor.
gs in your post the press release for Center For Independent Studies indicated that "northern people could raise the money independently of banks and build their own houses", I was curious how to do that so I have emailed Sarah Hudson at the Center For Independent Studies for an explanation. Will post her reply here for you all to see.
Sorry to tell you but I do not agree with gs, katwhiskers and lpdiver posts here. I am a strong believer in the single payer system as the only way to go for health care. You all may be hung up on labels used by vested interests to convince you of the evils of the dreaded "socialized medicine" "government bureaucrats deciding what doctor you can see" and all the other BS that they spew. You all throw around terms like "leftism" and "entitlements" without giving them much thought. So just think about it for a minute, next time you have a problem don't phone that socialized police department in your community, and when your house catches on fire don't call the socialized fire department cause they are all "leftie" organizations paid for collectively by the community and you don't want any "entitlements". So you see there are a lot of things that can and should be done collectively for the good of all the people living in the community regardless of what "label" you hang on it. Health Care for everyone is one of them. AND, YES HEALTH CARE IS AN ENTITLEMENT FOR EACH AND EVERY CITIZEN. What more proof do you need than to just look at your Congressman and Senators of the US, they think it is a great system and they ALL VOTED it for THEMSELVES and THEIR FAMILIES, all paid for by "socialist (other peoples money) dollars". Would you please tell all the PBH'ers why it is good for them and not for you?

Ronaldo

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christobeldawg says on Oct 6, 2009, 20:59:

Right, healthcare is a government responsibility, same as fire care and police care and military care. Capitalism is an excellent system, but I don't believe it should include healthcare, anymore than it does these other 3 areas. I do agree with Gs that personal responsibility for healthcare should be required, as much as possible.

traveling hopefully is always better than arriving

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goin_south says on Oct 6, 2009, 22:39:

ronaldo and C-dawg....

.... I think neither of you really know about taking care of your own health. Mostly, the medical community is out to keep you sick for all of your life... reliant upon their drugs (toxic poisons) and surgery (taking vital organs and other parts out)(only occasionally necessary).

What is referred to as ''Healthcare" in the usa is really only SICK CARE... mostly... and is a creation of the pharmaceutical companies.

So, if you want to 'Claim Entitlement' to toxic poisons and such, then that's your understanding and choice.

I think everyone on earth should be entitled to Clean Living Conditions.
Good personal hygiene is likely most responsible for better living conditions.

Hum! Big Money Pharmaceutical Companies.... give me a break. Everyone of those drugs that you are listening to on tv advertisements, have more potential devastating side effects.... Ever notice how they spend ten seconds on the ad with some sweet thing tellin you about the good of this drug and then 20 seconds telling you about the side effects, many of which are the VERY SAME ISSUE IT'S MEANT TO TREAT???

I WILL NEVER BEND.
NO ONE IS ENTITLED TO THIS SYSTEM OF WHAT YOU ARE CALLING HEALTH CARE, WHICH... it isn't.

Take responsibility for your own health.
Die naturally, or die by the drugs....faster, and with more internal chaos.

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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christobeldawg says on Oct 6, 2009, 22:50:

I agree GS, for a change, with the right to fight later, over some minor point or 2 OK?

traveling hopefully is always better than arriving

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goin_south says on Oct 6, 2009, 23:12:

why should I, as a responsible citizen, in regards to my own good health, be held liable to finance something I know is not right, for some dirtbag who eats fried chicken and twinkies all day long, and never exercises???

give me a break, please.

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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christobeldawg says on Oct 6, 2009, 23:31:

because we are required to take care of the least of us?

traveling hopefully is always better than arriving

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goin_south says on Oct 6, 2009, 23:35:

Okay, then... can you send me a couple grand in the morning???

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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christobeldawg says on Oct 6, 2009, 23:38:

I am a bit strapped personally jaja but will get with the church group in the morning on your needs.

traveling hopefully is always better than arriving

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aztec says on Oct 7, 2009, 05:02:

"The government who robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul," George Bernard Shaw

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goin_south says on Oct 7, 2009, 05:18:

my favorite american figure:
john smith:
'no work, no eat'

getcherazzzz busy, son.

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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aztec says on Oct 7, 2009, 06:17:

How about Adam Smith: "Little else is requisite to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the lowest barbarism but peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice: all the rest being brought about by the natural course of things."

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ronaldo says on Oct 7, 2009, 06:37:

gs
Big Money Pharmaceutical Companies..............where did this come from? There was no mention of this in my post? SINGLE PAYER COUNTRIES negotciate cheaper prices for all drugs for their citizen, some less than 1/2 price or even less, than US costs. I agree with you about "sick care". You don't have "Healthcare" in the US you have "Medical Insurance", a big difference. Healthcare requires preventive medicine before you get sick and Medical Insurance treats you after you get sick.
With your regard to your post of 06 October 2009 23:12 about you paying for the "dirtbag", as you call them, eating the fried chicken and twinkies and never exercises. This is more of an educational process to teach people to eat right. As far as paying for this "dirtbag" chances are someones grandmother, or childless couple could probably say the same thing about you. You see you never paid for your education "(other peoples money) socialized education" did. So bringing your 07 October 2009 05:18 post of your own words "no work, no eat" would you apply the same criteria to yourself and say "no pay, no education"? Now is your chance to prove to all PBH'ers that you truly believe in your own statements that you do not believe in "entitlements" "socialized anything" "freebees", but strictly pay your own way philosophy. You can do that by telling us all that you are going to go to the school boards that provided your "freebe" "socialist" education and write them out a check for the true cost of your education. Please advise us when you plan on doing that?

Ronaldo

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goin_south says on Oct 7, 2009, 11:40:

"This is more of an educational process to teach people to eat right."

No. It's not.
Basicly, if you ask every or most Americans what they are eating alot of, that they shouldn't.... they can tell you.
But, they continue to do it.

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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