Posts by proandcon

38

The new world will be here January 20, 2009 - what changes are you expectin

by eyeslice in

jw
friends

barak obaham will be sworn in as the first afro-american president of what is arguably the most powerful nation on earth on january 20, 2009. will this usher in a new age or will the actions not match the rhetoric?

proandcon

According to an Obama follower, it is anticipated that he will " allow me not to worry about paying my mortgage and will put gas in my car"...interesting take...for any who have some money...better hide your wallet...on the other hand, with Obama as president and Pelosi and Reid heading a democratic Congress, we will all get a first hand view of what a "tax and spend government is like" (in case we forgot)...after just 4 years the deficit could increase 50% (net of the reduced involvement in Iraq) and government at all levels continue to get larger. Increased taxes will be necessary to fund it (or greatly reduced spending which is not likely)

Obama is inheriting a gigantic issue re the finincial situation alone...the "credit crunch" is being resolved...but the country is in recesion and everything bad relating to business contraction will happen on his shift...one good point...it should have turned within 2-3 years just in time for him to run again with a more prosperous economy as a tail wind.

just my take...

11

Reassignment of Bethelites having negative impact on NYC congregations

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

i was talking to a friend of mine recently who had some knowledge of the current situation with bethelites being let go.. he said that this is having a negative impact on some congregations in new york city because these bethelites are also serving as elders in their congregations.. when a bethel elder is reassigned, the congregation loses out on the leadership, and in some cases there are not enough brothers taking the lead to keep the congregation running.. as a consequence of this, a few congregations have been disbanded and merged with other nearby congregations.. has anyone heard anything similar to this?.

proandcon

I have...not in NYC but in the congs near WT Farm...several have recently combined due to bethelites being assigned to other areas and some others in the cong joining a foreign language group (eg Italian). Those "left behind" are languishing somewhat...territories not being worked, morale down, etc. Interesting, that this is right at tthe doorstep of bethel (Farm upstate NY)...many JW's are tired and perplexed about what's happenning and why. No one levels with anyone.

33

FL Represent!

by IcingHeart in

jw
friends

who else is from florida?

proandcon

Daytona Beach

29

Would you warn a woman of an abusive man?

by cognac in

jw
friends

my ex was very abusive.. he has a girlfriend.

i don't know her.

do you think i should say anything to her?.

proandcon

Cognac...I'd warn her...wouldn't you had liked to have been warned before you married him originally?

Do it quietly and discreetly...give some examples of the abuse...if she listens ...fine...if not...you tried...she'll learn the hard way unfortunately

3

interesting article re blood and a newborn with complications

by proandcon in

jw
friends

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2008/03/09/when_science_meets_the_soul/

proandcon

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2008/03/09/when_science_meets_the_soul/

7

WT AND TAX AVOIDANCE

by badboy in

jw
friends

reading in the newspaper about big companies doing tax avoidance,made me wonder if wt is into tax avoidance.

proandcon

Badboy...of course they are...there's nothing wrong with "avoiding taxes"...most people and organizations of all sizes make a regular practice of it ...there is something definitely wrong with evading taxes which should be paid.

The WT avoids taxes simply by taking advantage of its tax status as a religious organization. Taxation of such organizations is very limited.

However, WT, like some tax exempt organizations, has made payments in lieu of taxes to some governments becasue their presence in the community is quite large. (as a tax exempt organization)

At the Farm in Wallkill for instance, the WTS has made numerous payments of cash, time and tangible resources to the local governments and agencies (eg fire dept, Town Rec dept, highway dept, etc.).

A tax professor once said: "Avoiding taxes is as American as apple pie...evading taxes could get you sent to prison".

15

Odd Named Congregation

by Outaservice in

jw
friends

in michigan for instance they have a few odd named towns.. how does the hell, michigan congregation sound?.

there is also climax, mich. would you attend the climax congregation?.

how about the colon, michigan congregation?.

proandcon

How about the "Gahanna Ohio" congregation...or "Intercourse (PA) congreagtion"

7

Armegeddon delayed?

by proandcon in

jw
friends

jw's continue to expand wt farm property with big $$$...despite the "end" being so close.

www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20071129/news/711290360

proandcon

JW's continue to expand WT Farm property with big $$$...despite the "end" being so close. www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071129/NEWS/711290360

28

Crap... Elders coming over tonight for a pep talk

by still_in74 in

jw
friends

well its finally here........ the day i get the pep talk.. considering i havent been out in service for 6 months and i never comment because i cant parrot the wt, and i havent been to the book study in 2 months cause the revelation book makes me nausious........ (that why no more revelation weekly reviews --- sorry oompa!

yet when i talk with bro's and sis's i seem to be the one in the know, i am the one that knows what is going on in the org and am up on the "new light".

i am "so smart".

proandcon

Likely they will ask you where you've been...if so, just profess to be "depressed" and have some issues to work through...they may try to encourage you...but after they leave will not follow up again. When you finally do leave, they'll only remember you as being under mental distress and "weak"...so what...whatever you do...do NOT get into any organizational discussion with them or answer any questions from them...feign the "depression card" and you;'ll be home free...proandcon

4

The Stock Market

by Warlock in

jw
friends

the market seems to have put in a short term bottom today, judging from all the "long tails" i see on candlesticks, plus the fact that the dow dipped under it's 200 ma, but closed just about at it.. the next move should be up, for about 500 points, and then the market should re-test todays low, however, the heathiest thing would be for the market to test it's march low of 12,000, or there abouts, just to wash everyone out.. if you are holding stock, and are worried, this should all be over by the end of october.. of course, this is what i see, but, when you deal with uncertainty everyday, anything is possible.. warlock .

proandcon

Warlock...good observations...I think the market is headed down. The fundamentals ( subprime fallout, energy prices, inflation, value of the dollar in FX markets, consumer confidence, homebuilder doldrums, inflation, real estate bust, retail sales softening,and instability in the credit markets, etc) will continue to be presented over the ensuing weeks or months. As bad news about major financial players (eg Countrywide, Bear Sterns, etc) continues to become known, the unsettled markets will become more bearish. Thise with short positions and those who are highly levereged in the market will rapidly sell.Also, with no big IPO's and limited merger activity due to interest rates, the market has nothing really to get excited about, I believe.

The excesses/benefits of the past 5 years (low inflation, low interest rates, easy credit, etc) which were largely unprecedented in the recent past, will be covered over by the tightening in all markets now. When this initially happens, the stock market tanks for awhile...

Hope I'm wrong though!...proandcon