If we were to get rid of the government intervention in capitalism it would work better but politics and corruption are always a major factor in the evils of the corporate world. With that said only in capitalist societies can an innovative ambitious poor person become a wealthy person. Capitalism creates a society where you can choose your level of financial success or failure, better if we limit government interference.

When you steal the wealth from the producers and redistribute it to the parasites it is socialism. It doesn't benefit those who aspire to do great things. It is a big part of why socialism always fails. I find it difficult to understand the Bernie Sanders and AOC supporters

California has been experimenting with "Democratic Socialism" This is what it looks like  I will continue to ask those who support socialism what is good about socialism?

Socialism as an economic system is legalized theft. Most people would consider theft "bad" In socialism there is no incentive for achievement, in layman terms things like cell phones, or video games, facebook, would not have been created in socialism as there would be no benefit to the creator. In socialism the only people with wealth are the officials who are in charge of the wealth distribution. Please for the supporters of this fill me in on the "Good"

Gen2:16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’ The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate

If Chicago is a gun free city and Mercy Hospital is a Gun Free Zone then how did three innocent people lose their lives to Gun violence? The answer is that gun restrictions only create victims for those who don't follow the laws. 

Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that there is only one reason to spend millions of dollars for a position that pays 150k per year. It's all about the fringe benefits that power provides, corruption. The ruling class know that the investment is worth every penny of the millions they invest. Is one party more corrupt than the other or are they both equally corrupt

The Republicans under Trump have given an income tax cut as promised (positive thing). Even though some would say that it benefits the rich I get and extra $200/month to spend I don't see this as bad. The economy is doing well my retirement accounts are finally making money not losing it. Under Obama my insurance premiums more than doubled on the family policy I have and my copays went through the roof example emergency rm visit before Obama $50 after $250 In patient copay $150 before $500 after. The Democrats are hurtful to the average $35k working person. What positive things can they offer?

Is government really for the people by the people or is there a ruling class that takes care of it own and big business that contributes to the ruling class's (efforts to rule). 

I am conflicted with the major issues by party  I love my freedoms and feel that the government is too deep into my personal space. I own many fire arms and my whole family loves to shoot and hunt. I am an atheist and I firmly believe that abortion must remain legal. I believe Gay people should have the same marriage rights as everyone else. I find many corporations to be evil entities that put profits above human life. I think that our military is important to keep it strong yet do not believe that we should be the world police or bullies (as we are currently). I understand that most of the people who enter our country illegally are not violent criminals and deserve a chance to live in peace here. I am for the death penalty for cold blooded murderers. Which political party will represent my viewpoints

Would the world be unified and cohesive instead of tribal? Would there be a singular God to pray to? Would the religious texts all say the same thing? Would they all have the same rules? Would people all be equal as humans? Would morality be different than it is today? Would emotion be different if created by a God? Would knowledge be different if created by a God? 

With Trump talking about getting out of Syria soon, it seems unlikely that Assad would want to draw attention to and invite deeper involvement of the US forces. There is a lot of money that will stop flowing to the Middle East if we remove our destructive force the cash to the powers who control the government will slow and they don't want that. Since the entire Middle Eastern conflict is about weakening the powers who threaten Israel and creating wealth for those who profit from war the conflict must continue.

The AR 15 has been receiving a lot of attention these days and there is a big push to outlaw assault rifles. I am wondering why the public feels that these guns are more dangerous than say a Glock 40 or M1A or any other style of gun.

After years of study looking for any historical evidence to support the Jesus story I find that the "Gospels" are not reliably historical with many contradictions. There was nothing written of the events portrayed in the Bible until 70 years past the time the events portrayed were suppose to have occurred. There is no archaeological evidence to support the Jesus story. Does anyone have any strong evidence?

So many people get caught up in a political frame of mind. What is yours and why?

If there was only one creator of everything and it wanted its people to worship it would not the worship of any single God be worship to that God? The name of said God would be irrelevant as any worship to a God if there is only one would be worship to that God. In the ancient religious texts It is clear that the Abrahamic god is very jealous and will not tolerate the worship of any (other) deities. If there are not others that makes no sense from an intellectual point of view. It does however make perfect sense if the creators of this god needed people to follow them instead of god and pledge a loyalty to the gods whom they had created. Can anyone shed some light on this situation.

Evidence that most Christians have never read or don't understand the Book that they are willing to base their lives around. I have asked countless Christians if they knew what commandments were written in stone and NONE ever got it right. It is amazing to me that people are willing to follow like lemmings the word of people who claim to be religious leaders. I think Mark Twain said it best,"The Best Cure for Christianity is Reading the Bible",  Mark Twain

Greed- the emotion of wanting more than you need   God as the creator of everything should have no understanding of greed. Since God could make anything God wanted or needed as he wanted or needed it. Yet God’s word indicates God is greedy. God wants sacrifices of animals, God wants a portion of the wealth of mankind. The Bible says the streets of Heaven are paved with Gold. Seems to be more than is needed!! Why would God need any of these things? God should have the power to fulfill all of God’s needs and the needs of his “Church”Leviticus 27: 1-34 Tells of all the taxes that God needs Haggai 2-8 God says the silver and gold is mine. Malachi 3: 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.                                                                                                                                                                                         Why would God have given mankind this emotion Greed What good could come of giving mankind this emotion. It causes humans to break almost all of God’s laws. Mankind kills, steals, lies, covets, works on the Sabbath all in the name of greed

I have studied the "Christian Myth" in great detail and all of the evidence clearly shows the whole story was created and enhanced over time by numerous anonymous Hebrew authors. I have yet to have a Christian that could offer any evidence to the contrary. I would like to hear from anyone who believes there was a Jesus, why they believe it's true other than just because their social group told them it's true.  

I have been studying religion for years. I have seen no evidence of any of the Gods written about in the ancient texts. I know that the stories are many of miracles and witnesses of God yet investigating theses stories they always fall short of being credible. 

Some members bans before rebuttal is given in an attempt to avoid having to deal with intellect, logic, or reason. I would like to offer just that about the stupid anti atheist propaganda recently posted. I would like to create an atmosphere where people can discuss the issue without being banned for giving contradictory answers. 

I have entered a debate with a friend on this subject. My position is that Jesus is completely mythical and there is no evidence to offer that even the person described in the Bible ever existed. My friend however is a Christian. So I would love any input on the subject.

I am told regularly that I have no right to live outside of Hell. As an atheist I have lived my entire life outside of Hell and will remain outside of Hell, FOREVER. I would argue that religious zealots live in a Hell that they create in their imagination that they only escape from after their brains stops functioning. It's just sad that they feel everyone else should live in this same Hell

I have had long discussions with religious people about God but I have challenged their God to battles and none have had enough power to affect anything in our world. If God is real then what can God do??