IMO This is not an ‘either/or’ situation IMO.
Despite assumptions I believe both propositions can be true at the same time… š
Let me explain.
I say 1. We have free will and 2. God controls the universe.
Just as my young son was not my slave I could guarantee that if I held out an ice cream… he would grab it.
He was not *compelled* to grab it… yet I knew that I only had to put the cone in front of his face… and he would behave exactly as I planned/ foresaw.
We read in Exodus that God ‘hardened pharaoh’s heart’ so that he would not let the people go.
All God had to do is via some inconsequential way provoke Pharaoh’s pride/ego… to know Pharaoh would of his own volition *harden his own heart*!
There is no *deterministic mechanism* involved in what God did that absolves Pharaoh of his personal volition and culpability for what he did!
He was tested… and failed because of his own evil… and God is fully just in holding him accountable for what he did.
Does this make sense?
So God’s Authority does not negate Freewill.
He simply knows the heart of every one of us.
Pharaoh could have acted differently… yet chose the wicked path.
Of course. You are mad if you don’t.
Yes he Helped President Trump win the US election by allowing X to be a Free speech platform and that is truly a great thing and a big deal even still it *always pays to approach power with healthy skepticism.
Most of his wealth comes via Government contracts and subsidies… ie from Taxes and Gov debt.
So his pockets are filled with Tax Loot.
All his tech systems… his rockets and his satellites can be used by Big brother’s Evil all seeing Eye.
He’s involved in creating AI which he says himself could be an existential treat to humanity.
He’s busy building a Tech Empire to rival the WEF and every other Tech Lord…. Bill Gates… Bezos… Soros, etc.
He did not buy Twitter to ‘save free speech’ he bought it as an important piece in his Tech empire… A global network to which all humanity can be assimilated.
It just so happens The best strategy to achieve all this and defeat his competitors is to get on side with the Freedom movement.
I do believe he’s Better that most of the other *super Evil* Power mad freaks out there but when you look at what he’s up to you would be mad not to realise he’s on his way to world domination of his own design.
On the plus side he’s probably not into Mass genocide and culling the human race… he probably sees us as customers… you need consumers and customers and plebs to rule over and to be ‘worshipped’…???
who the heck knows… thats probably taking things way too far.
One thing is certain.
Power Corrupts and Absolute Power corrupts Absolutely. Lord Acton.
Regarding the ‘Meme’ above….
The Full truth is * any form of government that has absolute power is a danger to individual rights and in this truth Absolute democracy is just as dangerous as absolute monarchy. America was founded as a constitutional Republic… with *limited democracy*.
That means that the will of the Majority cannot overrule or trample underfoot the rights of Individuals because they are (at least in theory and in Law) Constitutionally protected. The only problem is Politicians and Demagogues despise limits to their powers so like snake oil salesmen they trick the people into allowing tiny violations of the constitution… maybe the politician decide to oppress an unpopular minority of weirdos nobody cares about… and instead of the people protesting and telling the government to respect the law… they slumber… because the transgression does not affect them… only those weirdos they don’t like.
They forget that the price of liberty is *eternal vigilance*… ie the people can never stop watching what the government is doing and always stand up whenever the political powers overstep the line… because *Everyone’s rights are in jeopardy* whenever there is a politician in power who seeks to make unjust laws… even if it appears the unjust laws are only oppressing weirdos the majority does not give a damn about. For Tyranny creeps like rust and so does apathy… and a people who forget what Rights and liberties are and what the just limits of Government Authority is… are ripe for enslavement.
This is where most Western democracies are today.
America almost fell under the Democrats. It was a near thing… and you are still not out of the woods yet.
Tim Wikirwihi.
Christian Libertarian.
Christian X user asks the question… “Should Porn be allowed on this platform?”
Public nudity in a free and civil society has always been a contentious issue. Even the discussion of Sex is contentious.
As a Libertarian Christian I have defended the rights of Sex workers, and Public parades such as ‘Boobs on Bikes’ from Oppressive Councils and laws that were under pressure to prohibit these things largely from Christian activist lobby groups.
Some people will wonder how as a Christian I might take such a position? I take that position because I believe in a separation of church and state, and I do not like Christianity and the bible being used as a bludgeon to persecute sinners and infidels. I believe that to be absolutely Unchristian, and also a corruption of the Law… and a violation of individual rights.
Many anti-freedom people think that by taking the side of prostitutes that I am endorsing prostitution, yet that is false. I do not want anyone (man or woman) to prostitute themselves, yet that does not mean I therefore should support laws against them.
I believe In liberty.. as a Libertarian Christian we have far more hope of saving people from prostitution if we show love for them rather than hateful oppression. Christians can still work to reduce prostitution via the gospel… which is the true Christian way to battle sin and improve the world…. all under freedom.
Now I said all this here to give context to the question raised above. Porn in Western society may be construed as being anything from showing a nipple… to full on Sex. I personally am not bothered by the former being allowed in public yet would be very bothered by the latter… so even Libertarian Tim thinks there must be a line drawn *somewhere*.
Myself… applying the principle of Equality before the law when supporting ‘Boobs parades in Hamilton’ was that if men are allowed to walk topless down the street so too should woman be lawfully allowed to. Instead of allowing woman to do so, we could instead simply create a new prohibition against men having bare chests…. yet is this the best direction for society… less freedom… more laws/rules/punishments? It’s obvious to me thats the wrong direction to take society… that leads to what is happening in the Islamic world with Burkas and Beard police.
The truth is Christians need to be tolerant of others who do not share *all* the same values and sentiments we do… yet who are still peaceful and civil. Ie seeing a boob on the street you may find offensive (I don’t) but is certainly does not violate any of your rights!
If we were to apply that to social media platforms and boobs were allowed… then anyone offended by it could scroll past that post… and even block the sender of the post…. thereby *self policing* their own content without imposing their views on others. And this is how a free and civil society really works. Tolerance… and Individuals taking responsibility for their own moral standards rather than expecting the government to act like the Taliban.
X could set up an ‘R18’ tab (maybe they already do) and users could click that tab to prevent any R18 content appearing in their feed. They probably already do this… I’m not sure. I’m fairly certain most x users don’t want explicit porn turning up in their feed, yet I’m sure the odd boob pick from a chick on the back of a motor cycle does not bother too many people????
Ultimately such questions are for the Platforms themselves to figure out… yet if they get it wrong It would impact on their User satisfaction and cause people to leave. Lets say X allowed nudity yet not explicit sex acts… at first some millions who cant handle the sight of a boob to leave. That would be an expected cost. yet eventually those numbers would recover and users would just take such stuff in their stride like adults. And personally speaking I think that is progress… an escape from the petty legalistic prudish attitudes that still support Legal oppression under the guise of Christian virtue.
If nudity was allowed on X that would not mean Christians could no longer maintain their own virtues. They might face more ‘temptation’… yet it would be up to them to overcome that as all Christian ought. Ironically It’s the more Pious types that have the most problem when confronted with a boob! Everyone else just laughs… or scrolls past.
Te Pati Maori Radicals are a different breed of politician that only succeeds because of the apartheid electoral system which allows them to have no concerns about what the general public think about them. They don’t have to appeal to the general public to get elected. They only have to pander to the interests of a select section of the whole population and they gear their antics to that mindset… they are actors and performance artists… ‘let me sing you the song of my people’… type stuff.
The one thing these radicals fear *is a general referendum* because then… unlike the elections… there fate will be determined by *the general population* whom they have spent their careers slandering and poking their Tongues and Fingers at.
Binding referendums are a dangerous tool upon which there needs to be clear limits, yet *When a truly democratic process is allowed to take place… Their Politics is doomed*.
The only reason a referendum is called for on this issue is because Parliament is too feeble to make a sound judgement for the well being of the General public. The Law to rid New Zealand of every racist institution would never pass via parliament yet it is guaranteed to pass by popular referendum… which shows just how *non-representative* parliaments are when they are filled with unprincipled woke socialist Boneheads and cowards.
On this issue Seymour stands head and shoulders above the rest because his bill is founded upon Just and reasonable principles.
Not a single cogent nuanced argument has been leveled against his bill. (I can think of several arguments myself that would work far better than anything opposition MP have tabled)… and look at how pathetic Luxons rationale is as to why he is instructing National to oppose the bill!
Its yet another example of the shame and cowardice of the entire National party Caucus. If I was a National party MP I would lead a challenge against Luxon for this and I would refuse to reject the bill.
As for the haka…
There are already rules for behavior in the house. They just need to be enforced.
One thing is certain… The antics of Te Pati Maori in parliament have hurt the mana of the Haka in the eyes of the international community.
They are getting sick of it… they don’t appreciate it… and there is no valid reason why they should.
The Haka has been abused and this is sad.
I believe the haka has great value for New Zealanders when it is used at appropriate times… Less is more…. more is less. ‘More’ devalues it.
What the Maori Party did in parliament was blatant abuse.
Two Maori were contending in the house for their side of the debate. One behaved with Civility and made reasonable arguments. The other had no arguments but instead broke out into a frenzy and created a spectacle.
IMO one Maori (David Seymour) represents a modern day Maori of Mana and enlightenment… a man of Reason.
The other Maori (Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke) represents a delusion. A regressive caricature … trapped in the past… of a savage Age in which War and violence were how disputes were settled rather than via Reason and the rule of law.
So of these two Maori… which exemplifies a role model we would want today’s young Maori to emulate and aspire to be like?
The Savage or the Statesman?
When asked why she had broken out in the haka Hana said “that is all I know… to be Maori”.
That speaks a thousand words as to why she is unfit to be in parliament!
‘That is all she knows’…. and *That* is what she thinks *being Maori entails!* She’s absolutely delusional!
She has no vision for Maori to progress out of the trap of Maori radicalism by which Maori are expected to see themselves as noisy irrational savages locked in perpetual tribal warfare.
*Her only skill set is performance art*
*Her only politics is the politics of Race, victimism, and graft*
No wonder most Maori don’t vote Te Pati Maori.
FSANZ (Food Standards Australia and New Zealand) is proposing to end any requirement for labelling certain foods which have been genetically modified.
In brief, foods that they judge through various technical criteria are āsubstantially equivalentā to natural foods will no longer be labelled as such or even referred to as āgenetically modifiedā.
“In essence, the regulations will be accommodating the commercial biotechnology food sector ensuring that they will no longer be required to label many gene modified foods. In other words, the public will be left in the dark about the GM origin of a wide range of foods and thereby denied their right of choice.”
My commentary (reply)
@actparty
I’m a Libertarian. Understand this… *We the people* of New Zealand have the right to demand any product containing GM organisms be clearly labeled.
That does not violate Free trade. It protects against subversion and trickery.
The big question is why *certain interests* would want to hide such a declaration?
It’s obvious who those interests are…. *The Mega corporations* … and why do they want license to operate in the dark?
Because they know *Consumers* don’t want GM Products! Ie Consumers will not willingly prefer GM food over Natural food if they can tell the difference!
So this is about deceiving the consumers… for the sake of Mega corporations and their Patented GM Crap!
Furthermore… *on the basis of property rights* We New Zealanders do not consent to GM Crops being grown here in NZ *because You cannot guarantee the GM organisms will not escape into the wider environment…. contaminating the property and crops of others who do not want GM organisms on their farms or in their food!
Therefore it is upon Libertarian first principles that I demand the Government Prohibit all GM organisms unless they are grown under such conditions that guarantees they will not contaminate the property or crops of others.
The Big corporations want the people to sacrifice their rights just so they can make a fortune without bearing full responsibility for the risks their activities cause to others.
******
Politicians are too easily corrupted by Corporations.
Too often Politicians are one track minded… easily duped by pseudoscience… and willing to trample on the rights of the little people for what they perceive as economic gain.
All too often Politicians serve the Profiteering interests of Corporations over the rights of the people whom they are elected to serve.
One of the most blatant forms this has been taking in recent times is attempts by governments to prevent people growing their own food at home.
By attacking Home grown food this threatens the Store of Seeds held by the general public and their ability to feed themselves in hard times.
It causes them to become dependent upon Big Food.
Patented GM products has almost nothing to do with the betterment of humanity and everything to do with *Ownership of verities of food crops for profit*
Property rights is the strongest defense against such a scheme as unless corrupt politicians allow corporations to spread their mutant strains without proper safeguards… It would cut into the profitability of such crops if they had to be grow under stringent conditions that prevented escape into the wider environment.
Here’s the thing… Mr. Big Food… If you can grow your crap without affecting the property of others and their GM Free Crops… and if you clearly label your products… full disclosure and are able to get them to market and sell them … ie you have a customer base… All will be well and good, yet if your operation threatens neighboring farmers and you must hide the fact your produce has GMs to sell it at the market…. then you can go fly a kite!
The viability of your GM Crops must factor in the rights of others *who were here first*.
I’ve had a guts full of constant encroachments upon self-reliance and healthy foods.
Monsanto and other Mega corporations can Bugger off as far as I’m concerned.
We esp don’t want Bill Gates fake Meats!
New Zealanders don’t need their crap.
We can grow Clean Natural foods.
That’s what New Zealanders want for our kids, and by keeping our produce 100% GMO Free we can supply the global market for others who want the same for themselves and their kids.
Big Food needs to grasp the fact that Junk Food is no longer wanted.
The world wants God’s Natural goodness.
This is why corporations don’t want to declare their GM produce.
We can not allow them to hide their crap in our food.
Propaganda would say that the desire to have clean natural food is a ‘Luddite’ anti-science mentality.
Satan laughing spreads his wings…
Tim Wikiriwhi.
Christian Libertarian.
Update: 30-11-24.
On a related topic… Bill Gates ‘additive’ to Cows feed for the purpose of reducing Methane release via Burps and farts… We read that The UK has approved his product yet do not require foods manufactured from such cows to be labeled the product is from ‘treated herds’… thereby keeping the general public in the dark about what’s in their food.
This is a disgrace! Yet again we see a government taking the side of the Mega rich… against the interests of the people/ consumers who might avoid this additive if they had the means to differentiate Milk, butter, cheese etc that does not contain it.
This highlights the urgent need for us here in New Zealand to keep our produce clean, and Natural… as this will give us an advantage in the market places of the world for those who don’t want Bill Gates weird funk in their food.
You might think they would happily label their products as being from ‘Low emissions dairy herds’… to appeal to the Cult Of Environmentalism and Climate hysteria. The Truth however is The world is growing wary of Processed foods and skeptical about the legitimacy and safety of human interventions, Vaccinations of cattle, hormones, drenches, etc etc with a strong trend towards preference for ‘Organic’ produce.
It’s corrupt that governments are prepared to collaborate with ‘Big Food’ in deceiving and disempowering the voting public… robbing them of their personal choice and preferences when it comes to one of their most essential aspects of their lives… their food!
Again this is Totalitarian socialism at work… shoving their government sanctioned politically correct garbage down citizens throats… by stealth.!
God knows what effects this will have on Cattle and consumers. We can be sure this was all ‘fast tracked’ through the system (just like the Cov jabs were) without proper normal safety protocols being adhered to ‘in the name of urgency because of the impending ‘climate catastrophe’. It’s a risk (with our lives and the well being of cattle) these lunatic Politicians are willing to take!
Eat you Porridge Slaves… nom nom nom!
