Those that pay 85% of the taxes control more than 85% of the wealth.

 

So? We all have the same liberties. Just because someone has more money does not mean those individuals have to pay more. None of the following says anything about the wealthy having to pay more for their liberties, the Enligthenment philosophers, the Declaration, our Constitution or even the Bible. The Bible speaks of greed and love of money, but that is between each individual and God. Once again, those who propose of taking from those who have more wealth to give it to others, are the same who propose less freedoms and more government. One of the earliest Supreme Court cases stated the " power to tax involves the power to destroy."

Those that pay 85% of the taxes control more than 85% of the wealth.

 

So what? They should pay even more than they are paying now? How much is enough for you ace?

 

Here is an idea, instead of having a government that needs to spend more than we already have the ability to pay for, start eliminating some of this spending. That is what most responsible people do when expenses are greater than income...

So what? They should pay even more than they are paying now? How much is enough for you ace?

 

Here is an idea, instead of having a government that needs to spend more than we already have the ability to pay for, start eliminating some of this spending. That is what most responsible people do when expenses are greater than income...

You used responsible and government in the same paragraph????

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That is simply not true. We do not all enjoy the same liberties and we are not all equally served.

 

Governments are formed to protect the general welfare of the governed. It is not there to protect the right of any individual to make as much money as possible. Social Contract Theory.

 

We do all enjoy the same liberties as written in the Bill of Rights. I will agree there is corruption in government, but that is all the more reason to tax less, the government to spend less and have fewer laws.

The general welfare is about protecting us domestically and from foreign powers, to protect our property, to ensure contracts are upheld, not to redistribute wealth.

You used responsible and government in the same paragraph????

 

I know... Silly me... A shame that is an oxymoron.

I just realized I've been going about things the wrong way all my life.

 

I've been working too many hours to earn what I could, support my own family, trying to spend less than I earn and not always succeeding at that. I've been attempting to pay off my debts and avoid running up new ones.

 

Apparently the secret to success is to spend more than I earn or can even reasonably hope to bring in.

 

If this is how Washington plans to cover the deficit and balance the budget, I need to give it a try.

 

I'll let you all know how this works for me... :thumb:

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That is simply not true. We do not all enjoy the same liberties and we are not all equally served.

 

Governments are formed to protect the general welfare of the governed. It is not there to protect the right of any individual to make as much money as possible. Social Contract Theory.

 

You're right, there are some who pay taxes and some who absorb taxes. That is certainly not being served equally.

So? We all have the same liberties. Just because someone has more money does not mean those individuals have to pay more. None of the following says anything about the wealthy having to pay more for their liberties, the Enligthenment philosophers, the Declaration, our Constitution or even the Bible. The Bible speaks of greed and love of money, but that is between each individual and God. Once again, those who propose of taking from those who have more wealth to give it to others, are the same who propose less freedoms and more government. One of the earliest Supreme Court cases stated the " power to tax involves the power to destroy."

 

While I agree with much of what you've said here, I bolded this part because you need to reread Amos if you think God did not care about the relationship of corporate greed (nations, collective body of the nation, etc) and God.

While I agree with much of what you've said here, I bolded this part because you need to reread Amos if you think God did not care about the relationship of corporate greed (nations, collective body of the nation, etc) and God.

I agree that there is accountability of nations to God. In this regard, I believe certain nations have been/are blessed that honor God's laws, and other nations are not blessed for defying God's laws. IMO, America has been blessed for much of her history due to the fact that the foundations of our nation honored God... regardless of the form or manner individuals chose to worship Him. Many things over the past century have eroded this foundation.

 

I do not believe that forced redistribution of wealth aligns with God's plan. Voluntarily yes... but not by the government under threat of imprisonment.

 

Okay... have at me.

I agree that there is accountability of nations to God. In this regard, I believe certain nations have been/are blessed that honor God's laws, and other nations are not blessed for defying God's laws. IMO, America has been blessed for much of her history due to the fact that the foundations of our nation honored God... regardless of the form or manner individuals chose to worship Him. Many things over the past century have eroded this foundation.

 

I do not believe that forced redistribution of wealth aligns with God's plan. Voluntarily yes... but not by the government under threat of imprisonment.

 

Okay... have at me.

 

I have read only the introduction to Amos in my NIV. I plan to read the book tomorrow. But with the intro and Fastbreak's comments, I would have stand by original thought. It is between an individual and God, there is nothing about government that I have seen, at least at the moment

I agree that there is accountability of nations to God. In this regard, I believe certain nations have been/are blessed that honor God's laws, and other nations are not blessed for defying God's laws. IMO, America has been blessed for much of her history due to the fact that the foundations of our nation honored God... regardless of the form or manner individuals chose to worship Him. Many things over the past century have eroded this foundation.

 

Can you go into this in more detail, Fastbreak? Ideally, what would a nation that honors God do? What has this nation done to fit that mold?

So what? They should pay even more than they are paying now? How much is enough for you ace?

 

Here is an idea, instead of having a government that needs to spend more than we already have the ability to pay for, start eliminating some of this spending. That is what most responsible people do when expenses are greater than income...

 

What are you going to eliminate.

I have read only the introduction to Amos in my NIV. I plan to read the book tomorrow. But with the intro and Fastbreak's comments, I would have stand by original thought. It is between an individual and God, there is nothing about government that I have seen, at least at the moment

 

3Thus says the LORD,

"For (I)three transgressions of (J)Damascus and for four

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron.

4"So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael

And it will consume the citadels of (K)Ben-hadad.

5"I will also (L)break the gate bar of Damascus,

And cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven,

And him who holds the scepter, from Beth-eden;

So the people of Aram will go exiled to (M)Kir,"

Says the LORD.

6Thus says the LORD,

"For three transgressions of (N)Gaza and for four

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they deported an entire population

To (O)deliver it up to Edom.

7"So I will send fire upon the wall of Gaza

And it will consume her citadels.

8"I will also cut off the inhabitant from (P)Ashdod,

And him who holds the scepter, from (Q)Ashkelon;

I will even unleash My power upon Ekron,

And the remnant of the ®Philistines will perish,"

Says the Lord GOD.

9Thus says the LORD,

"For three transgressions of (S)Tyre and for four

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they delivered up an entire population to Edom

And did not remember the covenant of (T)brotherhood.

10"So I will (U)send fire upon the wall of Tyre

And it will consume her citadels."

11Thus says the LORD,

"For three transgressions of (V)Edom and for four

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because he (W)pursued his brother with the sword,

While he stifled his compassion;

His anger also (X)tore continually,

And he maintained his fury forever.

12"So I will send fire upon (Y)Teman

And it will consume the citadels of Bozrah."

13Thus says the LORD,

"For three transgressions of the sons of (Z)Ammon and for four

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they (AA)ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead

In order to (AB)enlarge their borders.

14"So I will kindle a fire on the wall of (AC)Rabbah

And it will consume her citadels

Amid (AD)war cries on the day of battle,

And a (AE)storm on the day of tempest.

15"Their (AF)king will go into exile,

He and his princes together," says the LORD.

 

 

Just thought I'd post it so you can see better. :lol:

 

So who do you think Tyre, Damascus, Gaza, Ammon and all the others that come alone in the subsequent chapers are? :ohbrother:

 

They are nations. The collective body of people. BTW, Amos later includes Jerusalem (which didn't bother the crowd he was preaching too since that was Judah and the "other Jewish kingdom," But he also comes down harshest on Israel (Northern Kingdom of the day). :walk:

I agree that there is accountability of nations to God. In this regard, I believe certain nations have been/are blessed that honor God's laws, and other nations are not blessed for defying God's laws. IMO, America has been blessed for much of her history due to the fact that the foundations of our nation honored God... regardless of the form or manner individuals chose to worship Him. Many things over the past century have eroded this foundation.

 

I do not believe that forced redistribution of wealth aligns with God's plan. Voluntarily yes... but not by the government under threat of imprisonment.

 

Okay... have at me.

 

 

The founding fathers paid much more "lip service" to the God of Scripture than practical implementation. We didn't honor "God's Laws" many times and still came away with blessing. BTW, I'm all for using Scripture only as the mandate for our Government. Let's start with observation of the "Year of Jubilee." :thumb:

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Yeah it is. The difference is 5.1%. That is 6% of 81.2.

 

A man after my own heart.