By: Pantheist
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Filed under Etiquette by on Nov 21st, 2010. 
By: XQ1230012WTSX2991
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Filed under Politics by on Nov 21st, 2010.
I used to be so jaded with politics because now, Red vs. Blue is just two sides to the same worthless coin, but the Campaign for Liberty has re-energized me.
Has it motivated you as well? I’m now very interested in starting a private charity and maybe running for office in the future.
What are you going to do for the campaign for liberty?
By: Lissy
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Filed under 2045 by on Nov 21st, 2010.
Getting angry won’t change San Diego politics, but getting involved might! All over the country, Americans are expressing increasing dissatisfaction with government. A tanking economy is sure to provoke government satisfaction in any era, but on top of that America also has unpopular wars on terrorism to stir up the public. Government overspending in some areas, and brutal funding cuts in others, has created political decisions in America that all too often are not a representation of the mass opinion.
If you are interested in having your say in San Diego Politics, here are some tips for getting involved in your local and state government.
1. Attend every town meeting. Good citizens go to their town meetings. You can learn a lot about projected roadways, educational cutbacks, state and city budget decisions, healthcare reform, and environmental issues at town meetings. You can also have your say in letting your leaders know what you think about state and national political issues.
2. Volunteer at your party’s political office. Visit your party’s website online (you can find it by searching for the San Diego County Democratic Party, the San Diego County Republican Party, or the San Diego County Green Party). At each of these websites, you can get information on volunteering for your chosen party. Political parties need volunteers on election days, on helping voters register, helping with mailing out materials, writing letters to newspaper editors, and taking or placing phone calls for your political office.
3. Become a neighborhood precinct representative for your political party. You can hold political meetings, contact voters in behalf of your political party, and become an important figure in your local party.
By: Cleo Gib
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Filed under News And Society by on Nov 21st, 2010.
There are five basic rules politicians tend to forget. Here are the five rules:
1. The office you seek is not about you. This is one downfall of most of today’s politicians. Politics is about public office and the politician is a public servant. The constituent voted for you to serve them. Whether you like it or not, you are a servant of the people who elected you to be their representative. Some politicians use their office to work with lobbyists to pass bills that may have a negative affect on the electorate. Corruption is one of the primary down fall for most of today’s politicians. Kickbacks, pork spending, and even nepotism (in some cases) are just a few negative things that plague today’s politician.
2. Be candid, honest and forth-right. Nothing is etched in stone except paying taxes and death. Having said that, I would like to say that if you see a problem down the “road” don’t lie to the people or cover the truth. Lying to the people is the worst thing a politician can do. However, there are some politicians who simply cannot tell the truth. They find every possible excuse in the books to lie to us without regret. They will never admit their faults nor will they ever speak the truth. There is an old saying; “every rope has an end” and what this simply means is that you can fool some of the people some of the time , but you can’t fool those very people all the time.
3. Communicate and interact with your electorate. Integrity and accountability are the key components to your office. When you communicate effectively with your constituent and interact with them you will always be electable. Having an “open door” policy is vital and it must be consistent. Your interaction with the electorate will boost their confidence in you. There may times when you may make mistakes and since you communicate and interact with your constituent effectively, they will show compassion and understanding towards you; providing you don’t break the law or misuse your power while in office.
4. Share your experience. Write your memoirs, share you story for all to read. Allow people to see you as a regular person. Let them see you as an individual who can cry, laugh, listen, work hard, and is capable of doing simple things as well as complex tasks. Connecting to people is key therefore, you should never be viewed as a person who is simply out of touch. The worst thing you can do is to pretend. Don’t fake your resume to the people, someone who know you well, may expose you and this may be your downfall.
5. Show leadership and responsibility at all times. These are the most important attributes for any politician. Leadership can be a learned skilled but it is easily forgotten when ego takes over. On the other hand, responsibility cannot be taught it is part of one’s character. Honesty, leadership and responsibility are the three hallmarks for being a good politician. Being a good patriot and an exemplary citizen are also values that should not be over looked. Being a leader also means that you understand world politics (since the world is now more of a global village) and you are not intimidated or over-whelmed by the complexity of negative things that are happening in the world today.
Politics can definitely be a nasty “game” especially when lies and deceit take a primary position in a politician’s life. These five effective tools are not new but may serve as a reminder to all politicians and would be politicians alike. Every job has its own code of ethics and protocol; politics requires high ethical standards. Sometimes, personal issues such as; one’s religion, race, gender, sexual preference, habits (mainly bad), financial status, and even the family you may be born in may affect your political quest. Finally, it is important to note that politics is a process which embodies people serving other people. It is the minority serving the majority and not the opposite way around.
By: OC Tross
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Filed under News And Society by on Nov 21st, 2010.
Everybody has opinions and it seems this is especially true of politics and religion. Everywhere that two or more people congregate, it is likely that a discussion about politics or religion will ensue. So why are they two topics we should avoid discussing?
It seems that above all other things that we humans talk about, we relate most personally with our views about politics and religion. These two topics are at the foundation of who we believe we are as people. If someone is charitable by nature, he or she will usually attribute that to religious upbringing. Likewise when someone exhibits fiscally conservative tendencies or when someone is an activist for social equality, these traits are usually rooted in their political views. In other words, people identify at a deep level with their religious and political views. They believe that their views on the subjects are a window into who they are as people.
Now when two people of similar views enter into political or religious discussions, they support each other’s positions and cite examples of why their positions are right and true. However, when people of opposing opinions start discussing politics or religion, the sparks usually fly. Rather than having a mature discussion about the issues and valuing the obvious differences of opinion that each holds, the discussion will often devolve into a passionate argument about whose position is right. Even worse, each party will attempt to change the other’s opinion, sometimes contending that they are lesser people because of the opinions they hold.
When these discussions take place in the workplace, it can result in hard feelings and less than cooperative coworkers. When it happens within families where the filters are off in many cases, the sparks can really fly.
I have adopted the policy of never discussing politics or religion. When asked directly why I refuse to discuss it, I will usually answer that I like to keep personal matters and opinions personal. Everyone is happier for it and I have been able to keep many friends whom I know hold different political and religious views than I do.
By: Richard F Johnson
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Filed under News And Society by on Nov 21st, 2010.
Politics is not just about elections. For senior executive and junior administrator alike, the workplace is full of politics. People choosing what to say, how and when to say it and to whom. All with a specific outcome in mind. Alliances are forged. Supporters are rallied. It’s not just the management priorities in the business plan that decide which design gets the vote of confidence and which project is axed. But think positive, “politics” may seem a dirty word but the skills we’re talking about can be used for good as a well as bad. It’s all in how you play.
So what is office politics? Politics is the use of power towards a particular goal. Where that goal is to the benefit of the individual and the detriment of others, we tend to see it as devious, manipulating and negative. Additionally, because we often see power as going hand-in-hand with position, we tend to see the more senior people in the company as the ones who play politics.
However, there are many other types of power than the kind that resides in rank or position: there is knowledge (what you know), network (who you know), experience (length of service), physical (size, appearance) and personal (charisma) power. It’s safe to say that we all have some power in one or more of those categories. So if we all have power, it follows that we can all play office politics. But do we? Ask yourself: have I ever delayed or withheld bad news from the boss? Have I ever passed on a piece of information in order to influence opinion? Have I ever used my connections to find out something? The chances are, we’ve all played politics at some point or another.
However, skills that you perhaps used in these situations are not by themselves bad. In fact, when you break it down to skills, it already starts to sound more neutral. Influencing others… negotiation techniques… communicating with the audience in mind…. these are all key management competences, required by any executive and often the subject of personal development and coaching.
The key question to ask is: on those occasions, what were the intent and impact of our politicking? We need to be aware of the reasons behind our actions and how those actions may affect others. We can build our power by promotions, networking, gaining expertise, building a reputation, etc. We can understand our company’s political arena by studying the key players and their agendas and how they align – or not – with the company agenda. But when we come to use our power, if it is purely for our own ends and profit then we will be seen as playing politics. If it also benefits the business and the people in it, then our efforts will be viewed as more constructive.
Ultimately, whether you are seen as an ‘honest’ office politician or not becomes a matter of integrity. So think positive and play the game fairly.
By: Antonio Marsocci
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Filed under Business by on Nov 21st, 2010.
Many Sabbath-keeping Church of God members (various groups and organizations associated to one degree or another with Herbert W. Armstrong) are sincerely opposed to offering any Church of God literature or religious material for sale, since Herbert Armstrong taught us to “buy the truth and sell it not.” However, such Church of God members should remember that Mr. Armstrong later permitted his books to be made available for sale in bookstores, informing the brethren and co-workers in a letter dated September 12, 1985:
“There is a very large audience which would never request this book [Mystery of the Ages] if offered free – who would never send their name and address to us – but would gladly buy a copy in the bookstore. By putting it in the bookstores we will reach a very great audience that we can reach in no other way. We will not sell the book ourselves, but it cannot be made available to this large audience of book buyers unless the bookstores do put a price on it.” (Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong, Volume 2, page 638).
Some have been upset that Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall is sold. I remind them of Herbert Armstrong’s words above and Paul’s rhetorical response to some in his day over this principle that we’re commanded to not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain and that a worker is worthy of his hire. Besides, Beyond Babylon is available to for FREE or read online for FREE. God knows I am certainly not in this for the money, but gladly share the plain truth of the Bible and history as I am able, knowing it is truly priceless information.
I am also an individual, not a Church organization receiving regular tithes and offerings who therefore have no need to sell anything, as they’re equipped to offer it all, ideally, for free. I don’t believe any Church of God organization should sell Church of God literature. However, those out in the field, not part of the administration or headquarters, have a God-given right to do as necessary. Yeshua didn’t condemn selling sacrificial animals but was righteously indignant that such commercial activities were taking place in the Temple courtyards and at exorbitant prices. Many were making a killing rather than offering a service.
A member of the Philadelphia Church of God recently corresponded with me on this and other Church of God issues.
Didn’t you try and impose your book on God’s ministers and church?
Not at all. Gerald Flurry refused to go forward with Beyond Babylon and fell backwards, treading old ground and is now going in circles, business as usual, as Europe rises and Judah and Israel have yet to be warned.
Maybe you should have waited until the time came.
Don’t you believe God goes first to His Church and then His Nation? It was time to bring Beyond Babylon before Flurry, whom I consider to be the leader of this Laodicean era of God’s Church.
Do you think you are one of the 2 witnesses?
God knows, but what I do know is that we ought to at least prepare the way for them with Judah and NONE of the Church of God groups reach the cities of Judah.
That would be a honor to be one. I’ve often prayed about them and in my silliness wished I could be one of them.
It would be an honor and a grave responsibility and the most hated job in the world since rejection would be by many in the Church, initially, and nearly all in the world, with a bloody ending until the resurrection to physical life just before the return of the King, Yeshua the Messiah. No nice dinners or fancy invitations for the Two Witnesses but plenty of murderous misunderstanding and hateful grief.
But I’m just a lay member…..
No such thing as “just” a lay member. Everybody has their God-given place in the Church of God and are equally important for whatever God has called them to do.
Seems to me you focus too much on the physical Jews.
Not at all. Herbert Armstrong always told us to “WATCH JERUSALEM!” Who’s in Jerusalem? JEWS! The gospel began and will return there. God’s true church is not there now although “Elijah” went there. This must change.
Mr. Armstrong, near the time of his death, said on one of his sermons or Bible studies that they are not so important as he once thought since they don’t even believe in Jesus Christ.
I don’t believe that at all and don’t believe he ever said it. I quote what we know for sure Herbert Armstrong said about the importance of reaching the cities of Judah. It’s documented. Shamefully, it’s something that hasn’t been done yet but the foundation has been laid, even though the Work in Israel is temporarily suspended by government decree as it was in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Mr. Flurry never read your book right?
I don’t know. Wayne Turgeon [Gerald Flurry's son-in-law] handed him a print out of it years ago and he returned it to him saying, “He’s always sending us stuff.” Mr. Flurry even responded to me several times on various issues including his confusion of Mount Carmel with Mount Hermon which I brought to his attention (having been blessed to live next to both of them), and my disagreement with him when he said the pope was the only religious leader to sit on a throne and I mentioned the Queen of England is also head of the Anglican Church (although agreeing with the point he was making against the Roman Catholic Cult).
I would love to find those letters, however during my many moves overseas to Israel I thought I kept them stored at my sister’s home but she can’t find them. Such letters also include correspondence from Dr. Herman Hoeh years ago about the Jews and their variations in color and why. I met Dr. Hoeh at the Toronto Singles’ Weekend (Church of God singles from all over were in attendance) where he spoke and invited us to write him, which of course I did.
Later I sent an autographed copy of a self-published BB (Beyond Babylon) to Flurry’s home for him and his wife who said to me (during the Feast of Tabernacles in Louisville) about my name, “What a strong Judah name!”
Dennis Leap said he read parts of it and that it wasn’t necessary for him or Flurry to read it, unlike Mr. Armstrong wanting Sardis (Church of God, Seventh Day) to read his manuscript – The United States and Britain in Prophecy – which they DID.
Well, I hear you loud and clear. I do not agree with some of headquarter’s decisions but they are just as human as we are and liable to make mistakes, including Mr. Flurry. Sometimes we just have to suffer the wrong and go on.
I readily accept and acknowledge that fact, but if it’s a mistake or a sin we learn from it, acknowledge it and go forward all the wiser. Flurry has done none of those humble things. Regardless, I go on without him as he goes backwards trying to play HWA and God in the Temple, grieved to say.
David, I hope and pray for your return to PCG… Mr. Flurry has engaged in personal appearance campaigns and he plans to go to Joseph and Judah this coming year I think. The Key of David will no longer air on TV and we are now focusing on personal warnings.
Remember we are baptized into the Body of Jesus Christ – not into any sect or denomination of men. I remain a member of the spiritual Church of God that isn’t bound by membership lists at the mercy of men. Remember Diotrephes? (3 John vs. 9-11).
What do you mean they’ve scrapped the TV programs (even though I always constructively criticized them -through Wayne Turgeon who used to write me very frequently – that nobody but a very limited religious audience would watch the programs at the hours they were shown). As Turgeon can testify, I also said they needed a toll free number (which years later they obtained); I said they needed a website with Church literature (which years later they have); they need to publish Beyond Babylon freely (which they still don’t) and to take out major newspaper ads like HWA to reach EVERYBODY and get EVERYBODY talking about our God-given controversial message.
We do really need better advertisement.
Yes, because I’ve conducted my own tests and surveys on many internet forums to see that the general public doesn’t have a clue who Flurry is, never heard of the PCG and doesn’t know the warning message at all. All that money for what? A private club?
Too bad you only see what you think is bad but God has to get his family ready first to marry his Son before He can deal properly with the world.
And how does God do that? Have us stare at our Church navel – Church headquarters as the center of our attention? – or by the way of give, outflowing concern for the good and welfare of OTHERS – like the cities of Judah. Otherwise folks will never feel ready to reach out and will have proven themselves deceived by Satan who doesn’t want the Work to GO FORWARD. As we reach out, so help us God, He will work in and through and for us at the same time.
I know everything that is good about the PCG and continue to direct folks to its literature and The Philadelphia Trumpet magazine despite their refusal to send it to me. They even know I’ve given them contacts in the Middle East, in Jerusalem, Jewish leaders, and that it was me whom God used to contact the mayor of Jerusalem to get the HWA monument repaired (in the Liberty Bell Park in Jerusalem), and then I forwarded the information to Flurry (who didn’t even say thank you and wasn’t even aware of its woeful neglect that I knew about from being over there so many times). I’ll bet you didn’t know that, did you?
I had written an open letter to the mayor of Jerusalem, Uri Lupolianski, that was published in The Jerusalem Post. His office contacted me to inquire about what groups or organizations I was referring to that would be interested in undertaking the financial responsibility for the monument’s restoration and the rest is history.
By: David Ben-Ariel
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Filed under News And Society by on Nov 21st, 2010.
Would you ever vote for someone of a different religious affiliation than you?
By: Agnostic Hector
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Filed under Religion & Spirituality by on Nov 21st, 2010.
By: Jeremy
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Filed under Other - Careers & Employment by on Nov 21st, 2010.