February 20, 200818 yr Author It means I am struggling with what Jesus' wants me to do and what my self wants me to do. And trying to figure out where Jesus would fall on this issue. I agree that Jesus was not about the government doing His work. But that was in a much smaller society. Now the government can be an efficient organization. Post office is efficient. Military is efficient. So, properly ran, it can be an efficient system to take care of the needy. And since the government is supposed to be a representative of those that it governs, if this country would adopt the mentality of Jesus to take care of those that do not have, than it should be a system to take care of those that do not have. And contrary to other threads on here, I don't see Jesus as a Darwinist that would be for let the strong survive and the weak fall to their own demise and the rest of us just stand by and blindly let it happen. I feel you pain in the struggle you are in. I was in/held many of the same positions you currently hold less than five years ago. Then I really began to look at some of the long term consequences of government run social programs, and the path that continued enabling can lead us down. I still vaselate on many issues myself. I highly respect your comments on this and many other topics, and I thank you for taking the time to address my quesitons.
February 20, 200818 yr I feel you pain in the struggle you are in. I was in/held many of the same positions you currently hold less than five years ago. Then I really began to look at some of the long term consequences of government run social programs, and the path that continued enabling can lead us down. I still vaselate on many issues myself. I highly respect your comments on this and many other topics, and I thank you for taking the time to address my quesitons. Thanks for the nice words. Let me also say, I try and not make decisions that are necessarily about the here and now. I try to make the decisions that God would want me to make irregardless to whether it would help or hurt this country. I have about 20-30-40-50 more years as an American. I have eternity as a Christian.
February 20, 200818 yr Author Which part? And it is a quick idea thrown out there for discussion to your slippery slope point. I don't think it would be too hard to determine a level of where you are not just "doing" life but living a life of luxury. I took students to NY once for a fashion design trip. We went to a couture shop that said they had numerous customers who everything they wear is courture. The underwear and socks are specifically designed for their fit. They take measurements of their feet and toes and then design socks to perfectly fit their feet. I have no sympathy for people paying higher taxes when in turn they are having socks designed to specifically fit their feet without it being a medical condition or paying $2,400 a month for their pets. Now, they want to take those funds and reinvest in their business, expand and offer more jobs, I can be for tax breaks for funds invested into the business for expansion. I am up with dat. This part: "As a nation, we should be able to make that determination. It should not be that hard of a decision. Like they do for whether you get free/reduced lunch, take the poverty level and take 500% or some % of it. Below that minimal to no taxes. Above that then you are taxed." This is socialism in its almost purest form.
February 20, 200818 yr This part: "As a nation, we should be able to make that determination. It should not be that hard of a decision. Like they do for whether you get free/reduced lunch, take the poverty level and take 500% or some % of it. Below that minimal to no taxes. Above that then you are taxed." This is socialism in its almost purest form. So? You would prefer pure capitalism that those who are weak would be cast off as undesirables and not supported by it's country. Someone once said something to the effect of , if you want to judge a country's heart or character look at how it treats it's weak and elderly.
February 20, 200818 yr Author I have about 20-30-40-50 more years as an American. I have eternity as a Christian. As do I. You are correct, we have no idea how long we will be here. I like this quote, I may use it some time down the road if you don't care?
February 20, 200818 yr As do I. You are correct, we have no idea how long we will be here. I like this quote, I may use it some time down the road if you don't care? No problem.
February 20, 200818 yr Author So? You would prefer pure capitalism that those who are weak would be cast off as undesirables and not supported by it's country. Someone once said something to the effect of , if you want to judge a country's heart or character look at how it treats it's weak and elderly. That quote was probably from a socialist/communist.
February 20, 200818 yr The oppertunity is there by a free public education, what people choose to do with that education is their buisness. I wanted to address this portion of your comment. Since we are talking about redistribution, we are talking about the Federal gov't. So, in the United States Constitution it doesn't name education at all, except with the 10th Amendment. It states that whatever is not discussed specifically in the Constitution is a power for the states. Also, the Constitution doesn't state anything about a "free economy" or "Reaganomics" but it does say things like "WE are created equal".What does "we are created equal" mean to you?? to me, it means that if your a millionaire, billionaire, homeless, Jew, Catholic, Christian, Mormon, disabled, healthy, old, young, etc., "WE (all) are created equal". You may have more money but we are the same. WE ALL make up the United States of America. WE ALL are in this together. WE ALL must work to help all of our neighbors. Colonists came to America to escape the discrimination that was in Europe. Nobles controlling all the land. ONE Church controlling all the power. They escaped this to be free & equal, not to establish the same old thing that was in England. How about a flat tax??? Is that not equal?
February 20, 200818 yr How about a flat tax??? Is that not equal? 20% of a person who makes $40,000 is not equilivant to 20% of a person who is making $4,000,000. $40,000 person is left with $32,000 to live on. $4,000,000 person is left with $3,200,000 to live on.
February 20, 200818 yr It means I am struggling with what Jesus' wants me to do and what my self wants me to do. And trying to figure out where Jesus would fall on this issue. I agree that Jesus was not about the government doing His work. But that was in a much smaller society. Now the government can be an efficient organization. Post office is efficient. Military is efficient. So, properly ran, it can be an efficient system to take care of the needy. And since the government is supposed to be a representative of those that it governs, if this country would adopt the mentality of Jesus to take care of those that do not have, than it should be a system to take care of those that do not have. And contrary to other threads on here, I don't see Jesus as a Darwinist that would be for let the strong survive and the weak fall to their own demise and the rest of us just stand by and blindly let it happen. Is this the same Jesus that killed a fig tree because it would not produce fruit?
February 20, 200818 yr 20% of a person who makes $40,000 is not equilivant to 20% of a person who is making $4,000,000. $40,000 person is left with $32,000 to live on. $4,000,000 person is left with $3,200,000 to live on. 8 million is alot more the 8 thousand equal tax equal representation right???
February 20, 200818 yr 8 million is alot more the 8 thousand equal tax equal representation right??? Unless it is the new math, yeah it is. So? No. Not when your wealth came because your last name is a certain name and you had the luck to be born into it. Or because you were born 7'2".
February 20, 200818 yr Is this the same Jesus that killed a fig tree because it would not produce fruit? Are you implying that Jesus would support letting those that cannot produce die off without our help? And technically, I think that story had to do with Christians working to produce more Christians than economically supporting our country.
February 20, 200818 yr Author So? You would prefer pure capitalism that those who are weak would be cast off as undesirables and not supported by it's country. Someone once said something to the effect of , if you want to judge a country's heart or character look at how it treats it's weak and elderly. So???? You see no problem with this country heading in a socialist direction?
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