Concern for the rights and welfare of the weak is an old, old concept dating back to pre-history. One finds the idea in most religions and most societies. There's always someone who dispenses "justice".
Why do you think that is?
Obviously, if everyone felt as you do - that the weak are "stupid,ignorant, and lazy" - there would be no charity and no attempt to provide them with opportunity or respite from their misery.
As for historical precedents that this concern is a prerequisite for a peaceful society, the record is mixed since peace is a rare occurance. One cannot even demonstrate that democracies are stronger than tyrannies. They weren't in the ancient world. None-the-less, it seems likely that people with some dignity and power, with a stake, are more likely to support their society than those with none.
what "it" (the theft of hard-earned rewards) REALLY is
This, and much else you say, is nothing but propaganda. All possessions are hard-earned and hard kept. Even those which were stolen from others. Your diatribe reminds me of the difference between privateering and piracy. The former is "legal" and engaged in by "men of substance" while the latter is "illegal" and the work of "marginal characters". Both, of course, are forms of armed robbery.
And in fact, there is no overarching liberal "cause" at all
I benefit from all sorts of public works - paid for to a large extent by taxes; public education, innoculations and other public health measures, municipal water and power, an extensive road system. So do you, but your rigid ideology prevents you from seeing it. Where one draws the line is a legimate point of debate. But to dogmatically characterize all wealth transfers, all public works, as evil is stupid.
As Madame Mao -- one of your most beloved icons once said -- "Although sex is engaging in the first rounds, what sustains interest in the long run is power."
Get an education...and get some manners. Madame Mao is not one of my most beloved icons. I know hardly anything about her. But her observation about power is universal.
I'm not, for one
You're posting to a political site and claiming you have no interest in power? See a shrink.
No hard "feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelings," though
Try thinking for yourself rather than repeating foolish stereotypes. You'll find it's much harder to do.
It's best not to refer to Scripture unless you believe in it
What arrogance! What ignorance!
The observation about beams and motes has been made by most peoples in most times. I just like the Biblical phrasing. Nor is there any reason why I shouldn't take wisdom where I find it. There are lots of good reasons for being selective about what one takes from any source - including the Bible.
As for historical precedents that thisWell, at least you admit that much. Note that it means there is no compelling reason for doing it.concernthievery is a prerequisite for a peaceful society, the record is mixed . . .
Here's what you said:
. . . there are huge numbers of such people and their wishes and welfare can be discounted only at great risk to a society. Our ideas of justice spring from that realization.But you can't offer any data to back it up. Yet 'rats insist on the right to take food out of the mouths of a huge number of working class American families. Try showing compassion them for once.
All possessions are hard-earned and hard kept.Jesus, the crap you say with a straight face.
I benefit from all sorts of public works - paid for to a large extent by taxes; public education, innoculations and other public health measures, municipal water and power . . .That's not what I'm talking about and you know it. Can you 'rats ever be honest?
You're posting to a political site and claiming you have no interest in power? See a shrink.Just like a 'rat . . . Here I'm interested in preventing thieves from taking what is mine and you characterize it as a power grab. Conservatives as a whole don't steal from anybody and don't want to steal from anybody. Socialists live to steal so they can buy votes with the spoils. Big difference.
Regarding the ad hominem education crap . . . Mine's perhaps as good as yours, maybe better.