[4runner]

Cyphire,

Like I said, I suspect that which is economically efficient was presented as “the word of god” in most major religions because enforcement is so inexpensive. Like I said, it is a heck of a lot cheaper to tell someone that they will burn for eternity at the hand of an all-knowing deity for wrongdoing than it is to catch them in the same wrongdoing.

As for the different religions grating on each other– I think most religions are amazingly coherent. The basic family structure is largely the same. The respect for human life is largely the same. The belief that there is a common good is largely the same. The belief in fundamental respect for the rights of others is largely the same. The belief in the rule of law is largely the same. There might be some discrepancies around the fringes (e.g., Islam and polygamy), but all major religions have more in common than not.

As for restrictions on divorce being “arbitrary,” society has every right to forbid uneconomical practices. We can’t buy some recreational drugs, but we can buy others. Fourteen year olds can’t drive. Teenagers can’t buy alcohol. Face it– every regulation is in some sense “arbitrary.” Some of them make a lot of sense, some of them don’t. But every law is “arbitrary” at some level.

In the case of divorce, it costs a heck of a lot more money to raise kids in two separate households. That is money that could be spent elsewhere. It is legitimate for society to restrict that which costs an excessive amount of money.

As for rising up, we elect officials who make the judgment calls as to what the arbitrary rules should be. There really is no one to blame but ourselves.

[4runner]

Cyphire,

Like I said, I suspect that which is economically efficient was presented as “the word of god” in most major religions because enforcement is so inexpensive. Like I said, it is a heck of a lot cheaper to tell someone that they will burn for eternity at the hand of an all-knowing deity for wrongdoing than it is to catch them in the same wrongdoing.

As for the different religions grating on each other– I think most religions are amazingly coherent. The basic family structure is largely the same. The respect for human life is largely the same. The belief that there is a common good is largely the same. The belief in fundamental respect for the rights of others is largely the same. The belief in the rule of law is largely the same. There might be some discrepancies around the fringes (e.g., Islam and polygamy), but all major religions have more in common than not.

As for restrictions on divorce being “arbitrary,” society has every right to forbid uneconomical practices. We can’t buy some recreational drugs, but we can buy others. Fourteen year olds can’t drive. Teenagers can’t buy alcohol. Face it– every regulation is in some sense “arbitrary.” Some of them make a lot of sense, some of them don’t. But every law is “arbitrary” at some level.

In the case of divorce, it costs a heck of a lot more money to raise kids in two separate households. That is money that could be spent elsewhere. It is legitimate for society to restrict that which costs an excessive amount of money.

As for rising up, we elect officials who make the judgment calls as to what the arbitrary rules should be. There really is no one to blame but ourselves.

[4runner]

Cyphire,

I disagree with most of what you said– but not on religious grounds. Rather, I disagree on economic grounds.

Judaism originally developed as an oral tradition– something memorized by successive generations to pass along to their ancestors. Imagine having to memorize the basis for your religion– you would make the corpus of it as lean as possible– cut out the fluff.

Now, imagine that you are a lot closer to the edge of survival then modern man. In other words, if you get it wrong, it’s not like you just go on unemployment insurance for a few months or dig into the 401(k) to pay your medical expenses. Instead, you die.

It would seem likely that economic rules which are most beneficial to society are the ones that get embodied in the corpus of religious knowledge. In fact, an atheist would say that the religious prohibitions on certain acts are made just because the prohibited acts are so economically damaging. The punishment for non-compliance (i.e., eternity in hell) needs to be so high because other means for enforcement (i.e., hunting down cheating spouses) are just too hard.

In other words, over time, that which is most economically beneficial is that which becomes encoded in religious law.

Now– let’s face it– we are a wealthy society and times have changed. We can afford to have parents living apart just because they “don’t love each other.” Limited premarital sex isn’t catastrophic when everyone can afford contraception. Thus, we have luxuries that the people who memorized the bible couldn’t afford. But make no mistake– these items are luxuries– the same as a plasma TV or a huge SUV.

[4runner]

Cyphire,

I disagree with most of what you said– but not on religious grounds. Rather, I disagree on economic grounds.

Judaism originally developed as an oral tradition– something memorized by successive generations to pass along to their ancestors. Imagine having to memorize the basis for your religion– you would make the corpus of it as lean as possible– cut out the fluff.

Now, imagine that you are a lot closer to the edge of survival then modern man. In other words, if you get it wrong, it’s not like you just go on unemployment insurance for a few months or dig into the 401(k) to pay your medical expenses. Instead, you die.

It would seem likely that economic rules which are most beneficial to society are the ones that get embodied in the corpus of religious knowledge. In fact, an atheist would say that the religious prohibitions on certain acts are made just because the prohibited acts are so economically damaging. The punishment for non-compliance (i.e., eternity in hell) needs to be so high because other means for enforcement (i.e., hunting down cheating spouses) are just too hard.

In other words, over time, that which is most economically beneficial is that which becomes encoded in religious law.

Now– let’s face it– we are a wealthy society and times have changed. We can afford to have parents living apart just because they “don’t love each other.” Limited premarital sex isn’t catastrophic when everyone can afford contraception. Thus, we have luxuries that the people who memorized the bible couldn’t afford. But make no mistake– these items are luxuries– the same as a plasma TV or a huge SUV.

[4runner]

One thing that has always bugged me: if they were indeed “The Greatest Generation,” how did they raise so many lousy kids (60s kids/Baby Boomers)? Inquiring minds want to know.

The greatest generation spoiled their kids rotten. Think about it: you are in a fox hole, under fire, soaking wet, and eating dirt. You don’t wish for a McMansion, a 50 in plasma, or a 1200 sq. ft. SUV. You just wish for a quiet little home on a quiet little street with a loving woman and a couple of rugrats. You promise to live your life for the little woman and the rugrats– to do everything you can for them if you just make it out of hell alive.

You then make it out of hell alive, spoil your kids rotten, and get told that you don’t understand anything 20 years later. It is a little pathetic, actually

[4runner]

One thing that has always bugged me: if they were indeed “The Greatest Generation,” how did they raise so many lousy kids (60s kids/Baby Boomers)? Inquiring minds want to know.

The greatest generation spoiled their kids rotten. Think about it: you are in a fox hole, under fire, soaking wet, and eating dirt. You don’t wish for a McMansion, a 50 in plasma, or a 1200 sq. ft. SUV. You just wish for a quiet little home on a quiet little street with a loving woman and a couple of rugrats. You promise to live your life for the little woman and the rugrats– to do everything you can for them if you just make it out of hell alive.

You then make it out of hell alive, spoil your kids rotten, and get told that you don’t understand anything 20 years later. It is a little pathetic, actually

[4runner]

How could Iraq be anything other than a catastrophe? Americans agreed to spill American blood to stop someone in the “Axis of Evil” from developing weapons of mass destruction. It threatened our safety.

Whether the weapons of mass destruction line was outright fraud or just plain incompetent, two thirds of the Axis of Evil has taken the opportunity presented by our invasion of Iraq to develop nuclear weapons.

Even if you think that nation building in Iraq is all well and good, it has cost us our security, not to mention our blood.

[4runner]

How could Iraq be anything other than a catastrophe? Americans agreed to spill American blood to stop someone in the “Axis of Evil” from developing weapons of mass destruction. It threatened our safety.

Whether the weapons of mass destruction line was outright fraud or just plain incompetent, two thirds of the Axis of Evil has taken the opportunity presented by our invasion of Iraq to develop nuclear weapons.

Even if you think that nation building in Iraq is all well and good, it has cost us our security, not to mention our blood.

[4runner]

Of course land scarcity creates an upward pressure on land prices, but we are nowhere near the point where “land scarcity” in SD county supports current valuations.

[4runner]

Of course land scarcity creates an upward pressure on land prices, but we are nowhere near the point where “land scarcity” in SD county supports current valuations.

[4runner]

When compared to a real city, the coastal areas of SD county are very low density and there is plenty of room to build up.

Put another way– downtown has the highest density in SD county (still low density compared to a real city) and it has been hit the hardest so far.

If lack of land couldn’t save a place like Tokyo, it sure as heck is not going to save a place like SD county…

[4runner]

When compared to a real city, the coastal areas of SD county are very low density and there is plenty of room to build up.

Put another way– downtown has the highest density in SD county (still low density compared to a real city) and it has been hit the hardest so far.

If lack of land couldn’t save a place like Tokyo, it sure as heck is not going to save a place like SD county…

[4runner]

You’re absolutely right– they’re not making any more land!!!

In fact, there is so little land that people are actually considering building a floating, offshore airport to replace Lindbergh.

Oh wait– I’m sorry. That is not present day San Diego. That was Tokyo in the 90’s.

They must have been able to make more land in Japan since real estate in Tokyo today is worth 60% of what it was worth back then. Those clever Japanese…

[4runner]

You’re absolutely right– they’re not making any more land!!!

In fact, there is so little land that people are actually considering building a floating, offshore airport to replace Lindbergh.

Oh wait– I’m sorry. That is not present day San Diego. That was Tokyo in the 90’s.

They must have been able to make more land in Japan since real estate in Tokyo today is worth 60% of what it was worth back then. Those clever Japanese…

[4runner]

We sold a condo.

If we had rented it out, we would have been about $100/month above water, about $400/month if you include payments toward principal.

By selling, we cashed out about 180k$. Given the choice between a risk-free 9-10k$/year and earning 5k$/year as a landlord, it was a no-brainer.

[Author]

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