North Stoke Life

I am not forced to remain a slave. Slaves did not choose to be captured, chained up and sold. But the chains came off once working the land else they would have been worthless. And the slaves chose to remain loyal to their master rather than running to the free land. Of which there was plenty out west where they would never have been found. Sure, that would have been a hard life, yet they would have had absolute freedom. Their choice was highly rational - they were slightly better off remaining loyal to their master. Some much better off. All of them absolutely better off than where they originally came from.  So slaves did not choose their origin. But they did choose their destination, absolutely. Likewise, I did not choose to be born into this world so far as I know. And I too still have every opportunity to 'run to the free land'. So why do I not choose it?  Because I too have chosen my so called destination of slavery.

Why is it so hard for people to accept that wealth and power are less of a problem, than the collective of people on the whole - is something much deeper going on, which nobody is willing to grasp hold of? Experiment with this question down at the pub later on this evening. The intent is not a judgement call. It is experimental - to find out who among your friends really wants to know. And who wants to climb high among this secret protected people's cabal - The Peoples Front . Ask any or all of the following: "The people on the whole are more corrupt than wealth and power. And the more the people become corrupt the more easily the worst among them rise to the top - what do you think?" "Why must the people have a powerful figure to lead and protect them everywhere in life? Would using one's autonomy, by doing things in one's own right, not be better for the people as persons?" "Homeowners are the wealthiest constituency in the world today. The real e...

The world needs her now

WIP Have the people, thrown out obligations, onto the 'parish'? If so, what have been the unintended consequences of that? Would friends and family, though sometimes an almighty struggle, on the whole be a better choice? Than asking for everyone else, who does not know us and is not related.  What if the welfare state, though a good idea on the face of it, underneath, a terrible mistake? Even if it costs less, was it worth it? Even if no one fall out of the sides, do more still suffer due to the welfare state. Even if this were true which is by no means certain?

I attended the Irreverend Live podcast at Trinity Church in Winchester on a sweltering Tuesday evening this week. It's a beautifully decorated anglo catholic church.  As the debate went on I became more and more disassociated with what was being said - everything was about the many crises happening 'out there'. Yes, there were several hymans and a prayer but these seemed like ritual tokens rather than a focus.  I looked up into the eves of the church wondering if God would show himself as the crisis signalling proceeded below. People need a crisis. More than we need more important things. Notice how I'm always pointing at the crimes of the world, 'out there'. And how those 'others' must be stopped. Or how "something must be done about it". And "its obviously two tier why can they not see it?". And the biggest of all "things are so much worse today" when clearly things materially are much better.  Yes, as sinners, things mig...