Jan 31 2013: So true Mike but our politicians keep telling us that spending cuts will be directed at overblown bureaucracies so hopefully some would get the chop or be retrained to do something more useful like school teaching or monitoring at risk children.
Jan 28 2013: Fritzie the redemption I refer to is more about this world, which is is grave danger of destruction- than the next.
There are no doubt many compassionate people who have no spiritual convictions- Fred Hollows comes to mind. But for most of us mere mortals, compassion is likely to take a backseat once the going gets tough. It needs to be integrated into the fabric and daily pulse of our lives.If we are going to save this world and stop the onslaught of evil, I believe that must happen.
Why not take Christianity for example and transform it from the vacuous and increasingly irrelevant charade it has become into something that is far more consistent with the historical Jesus and worthy of him, a paragon of compassion whose real priority was the urgent needs of this world?
Jan 28 2013: Peter I would argue this spiritual humanist worldview is important as it is not just 'invented'. It is firmly based on inveterate wisdom found in a number of religious/ mystical texts which are discussed in my recent book, 'Christian Humanism: the compassionate theology of a Jew called Jesus'
As you suggest, there are few if any self evident truths. It is only from historical experience that we can gain a useful guide to truth. Thus the utility of the idea that "all men are created equal" only became painfully obvious after centuries of elitist oppression. Similarly today, religious faith is failing to solve pressing problems and creating horrible new ones. Perhaps it is time to ditch the notion of faith and provisionally adopt a paradigm like spiritual humanism that seems both rational and constructive. Empirical experience would then establish if it was so, not blind faith or 'manufactured' world views.
Jan 28 2013: I think we have already done that Fritzie- its called secular humanism and its not working.
The trouble is that without a spiritual dimension, compassion, with few exceptions, tends to descend into sentimentality and run out of steam. That is why evil triumphs in places like the Congo, Syria and North Korea; and that's why as Sunitha Krishnan points out in her TED talk, we do little to stop child trafficking, “the world’s largest organized crime.”
But if compassion was elevated to being the sole purpose for our existence and the only path to our ultimate redemption, things might shift somewhat. At least its worth a try I would have thought.
Jan 28 2013: I think it is almost self evident that without some purpose for our existence, life is ultimately futile and meaningless. That doesn't mean we cant enjoy it and find it satisfying but it surely does apply a real break on human aspiration.
From my understanding of all the great sages and mystics of history, self forgetfulness and detachment rather than self awareness is the key to compassion
I don't see how this view diminishes and disparages humanity when it effectively makes us-not God- masters of our own destiny.
I think regarding human beings as being capable of perfection is not compassionate but dangerous. That is what underpinned Marxism and Nazism. We can be self confident about our basic goodness and unlimited capacity and even strive for perfection-but that's a long way from ever achieving it. That I believe was the crux of Jesus' message though I largely agree with your comments in the last paragraph.
Jan 27 2013: There are plenty on offer in the mining industry- for example: http://au.adsdeck.net/jobs/=indigenous-mining_ord=fr-d,f-d?gclid=CL3pyeKqh7UCFfEkpgodbkkAgg#utm_source=Adwords&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=3338640723&utm_content=indigenous+mining+jobs
If you contacted Generation One, I am sure they would provide you with a wide variety of positions available in Qld- both urban and regional.
Jan 27 2013: The Australian Employment Covenant and Generation One have over private industry 60000 jobs available for 'job ready' Indigenous people. Here is the website: http://www.fiftythousandjobs.org.au/
Less than 15% of these jobs have been taken up because the training provided by the government is not job specific and because the dole is a far easier option. My proposal would resolve both those problems.
I agree that many Australians are racist but probably no more so than any other nationality and a good deal less than some.
As for others pointing out the 'financial and logistic' difficulties to my scheme, you must have seen something that I missed. Have you really read my responses to these disputants? I get the strong impression that people do not seem to be interested in solving major problems like this as much as in venting their own preconceptions and scoring points.
Jan 26 2013: Scot having studied and taught modern history and having run my own business for 35 years, I can assure you I am no communist.
No more money would be needed. The government simply pays a company the person's unemployment benefits and the company then passes it on to the person as a wage.
Far from raising taxes, they could probably be lowered as billions would be saved. Here's how.
Bureaucracy would be slashed as the unemployed would not need agencies. They would go directly to the workplace of their choice, checking online first to see if there is still quota vacancies there.
The scheme would also slash welfare costs as many people would no longer gain any benefit from rorting the system and seek full time employment. Many others would be able to find regular employment given this hands on opportunity to impress the employer. In the process, unemployment would drop and productivity would be massively boosted.
Jan 26 2013: I think your voluntary scheme has merit Kate but what I am striving for here is a mega solution to (especially youth) unemployment that is over 55% in some countries and threatens to bring down western civilization!
Nor would a volunteer system prevent so many Aboriginal Australians from rejecting work offers in favour of the dole to which they have become addicted- like the alcohol they consume to fuel a self destructive spiral of worthlessness and despair.
My plan may seem radical but its not really- I think its the least any sane, civilized society should do.
Jan 25 2013: I tend to agree George but those Masters better watch out as 55% youth unemployment in Spain, Greece etc is a powder-keg that could soon blow the whole capitalist system apart. I can't see how it can be sustained much longer within democratic systems.
TEDCred score: +0.60 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.
A reply on Conversation: A proposal for massive reduction of unemployment.
A reply on Conversation: How to change the world with compassion: a new spiritual humanist purpose for existence
There are no doubt many compassionate people who have no spiritual convictions- Fred Hollows comes to mind. But for most of us mere mortals, compassion is likely to take a backseat once the going gets tough. It needs to be integrated into the fabric and daily pulse of our lives.If we are going to save this world and stop the onslaught of evil, I believe that must happen.
Why not take Christianity for example and transform it from the vacuous and increasingly irrelevant charade it has become into something that is far more consistent with the historical Jesus and worthy of him, a paragon of compassion whose real priority was the urgent needs of this world?
A reply on Conversation: How to change the world with compassion: a new spiritual humanist purpose for existence
As you suggest, there are few if any self evident truths. It is only from historical experience that we can gain a useful guide to truth. Thus the utility of the idea that "all men are created equal" only became painfully obvious after centuries of elitist oppression. Similarly today, religious faith is failing to solve pressing problems and creating horrible new ones. Perhaps it is time to ditch the notion of faith and provisionally adopt a paradigm like spiritual humanism that seems both rational and constructive. Empirical experience would then establish if it was so, not blind faith or 'manufactured' world views.
A reply on Conversation: How to change the world with compassion: a new spiritual humanist purpose for existence
The trouble is that without a spiritual dimension, compassion, with few exceptions, tends to descend into sentimentality and run out of steam. That is why evil triumphs in places like the Congo, Syria and North Korea; and that's why as Sunitha Krishnan points out in her TED talk, we do little to stop child trafficking, “the world’s largest organized crime.”
But if compassion was elevated to being the sole purpose for our existence and the only path to our ultimate redemption, things might shift somewhat. At least its worth a try I would have thought.
A reply on Conversation: How to change the world with compassion: a new spiritual humanist purpose for existence
From my understanding of all the great sages and mystics of history, self forgetfulness and detachment rather than self awareness is the key to compassion
I don't see how this view diminishes and disparages humanity when it effectively makes us-not God- masters of our own destiny.
I think regarding human beings as being capable of perfection is not compassionate but dangerous. That is what underpinned Marxism and Nazism. We can be self confident about our basic goodness and unlimited capacity and even strive for perfection-but that's a long way from ever achieving it. That I believe was the crux of Jesus' message though I largely agree with your comments in the last paragraph.
A reply on Conversation: A proposal for massive reduction of unemployment.
If you contacted Generation One, I am sure they would provide you with a wide variety of positions available in Qld- both urban and regional.
A reply on Conversation: A proposal for massive reduction of unemployment.
Less than 15% of these jobs have been taken up because the training provided by the government is not job specific and because the dole is a far easier option. My proposal would resolve both those problems.
I agree that many Australians are racist but probably no more so than any other nationality and a good deal less than some.
As for others pointing out the 'financial and logistic' difficulties to my scheme, you must have seen something that I missed. Have you really read my responses to these disputants? I get the strong impression that people do not seem to be interested in solving major problems like this as much as in venting their own preconceptions and scoring points.
A reply on Conversation: A proposal for massive reduction of unemployment.
No more money would be needed. The government simply pays a company the person's unemployment benefits and the company then passes it on to the person as a wage.
Far from raising taxes, they could probably be lowered as billions would be saved. Here's how.
Bureaucracy would be slashed as the unemployed would not need agencies. They would go directly to the workplace of their choice, checking online first to see if there is still quota vacancies there.
The scheme would also slash welfare costs as many people would no longer gain any benefit from rorting the system and seek full time employment. Many others would be able to find regular employment given this hands on opportunity to impress the employer. In the process, unemployment would drop and productivity would be massively boosted.
A reply on Conversation: A proposal for massive reduction of unemployment.
Nor would a volunteer system prevent so many Aboriginal Australians from rejecting work offers in favour of the dole to which they have become addicted- like the alcohol they consume to fuel a self destructive spiral of worthlessness and despair.
My plan may seem radical but its not really- I think its the least any sane, civilized society should do.
A reply on Conversation: A proposal for massive reduction of unemployment.