musings

Here's an idea: Why not lower taxes on income derived from "work", be that ditch-digging or CEO-ing, and tax more heavily any monies made in non-"work" ways, such as investments, transactions, speculation, stock options, mineral rights, etc. Right now, the tax system is pretty much set up in the opposite way, which pretty much puts it in line with the whole system in place here these days, i.e., those as do the hard work are the last ones to see the profit (and, no, getting a paycheck doesnt count). After all, politicians use the arguement about "working hard for your money" as a reason to lower taxes, but how much work is involved in owning a company? Running one, yes. Owning it? Not so much.
Biblical arguement: "By the sweat of thy brow shalt thou earn thine bread" (dont look into this one too closely, though).
Incidently, nobody ever gets obscenely rich through hard work, it's a myth. Enormous wealth can only be achieved through exploitation, whether it be of resources, ideas, or, usually, people.

This is a cool story about the rebuilding of a mosque in Banja Luka - now the capital of the Serb-run part of Bosnia.

Speaking of Muslims, there's been a lot of criticism directed at those of Muslim faith for their "lack of protest" at the violence carried out in the name of Islam around the world. Yet here in America, many Christian groups not only support, but encourage the War in Iraq, yet we hear no complaints (here, anyway) about their lack of protest, even though Christianity is no more or less anti-peace than Islam is.

One last thought: could it be that Sharia law is making such a strong showing in some places because for the people there it is the only rule of law that they can get? Islamic fundamentalism is an increasing problem in Pakistan, supposedly bringing chaos to their society. Maybe, though, it's the other way around: The chaos and corruption of Pakistani politics is causing people to turn to religion to provide the rule of law because their government cannot, and people prefer to live in a society run by consistent rules.
Could it be a coincidence that here in the U.S., Christian fundamentalism has been rising at the same time that Republican leadership has promoted the case that our government is useless and corrupt (first through accusation, then through their own practice of it)?