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where do you get "jealousy and political greed" out of anything i've said?
it's about Christ for me because Christ teaches me to selflessly care for my fellow man. to reject jealousy and greed (covetousness) - both of which are central to the consumerist capitalism mien that says "mine mine mine and no one else can have it," calls our down-and-out neighbors lazy "takers" and celebrates the growth of the income gap.
so where's Christ in supporting a sexist, racist demagogue, Mitspa? no one seriously believes this guy is a believer. is it about Christ for you, or about "anyone but a democrat" ?
it's about Christ for me because Christ teaches me to selflessly care for my fellow man. to reject jealousy and greed (covetousness) - both of which are central to the consumerist capitalism mien that says "mine mine mine and no one else can have it," calls our down-and-out neighbors lazy "takers" and celebrates the growth of the income gap.
so where's Christ in supporting a sexist, racist demagogue, Mitspa? no one seriously believes this guy is a believer. is it about Christ for you, or about "anyone but a democrat" ?
the government already taxes me. if i took your position, i would be compelled to reject taxation altogether.
this is about wanting those tax dollars to benefit the Republic - the whole citizenry - in the most humanitarian way that they can, providing the most benefit possible for the entire society, in an even-handed way. i consider funding universal healthcare and education to reflect that wish.
this is about wanting those tax dollars to benefit the Republic - the whole citizenry - in the most humanitarian way that they can, providing the most benefit possible for the entire society, in an even-handed way. i consider funding universal healthcare and education to reflect that wish.
M
No..I and others have no responsibility before Christ and as citizens to allow the continued taxation for socialist programs .. These programs in no way represent Christ ...if you want to make that argument ..it just don't work. Now if you want to make a argument based on your personally ideas of compassion and government duties ...then thats different
selfless is when you don't say "MINE" about 'your' money at all, and when it doesn't bother you that some of that money is used to help someone who has less than you, regardless of whether they work or don't work. charity is not imposing conditions on the man in the ditch before you help him out of it.
K
Exactly right. "Nothing in life is certain but death and taxes."
I'd rather that tax money be used to help those in need, even if there are some bad apples that abuse the system. The real crime isn't helping people who abuse the welfare system, it's allowing millionaires and billionaires to get the tax breaks they do or having government bail out big banks and wall street. Why are you content paying a higher percentage in taxes than Warren Buffet? Because you don't have the money to hire people to do your taxes for you to bring it down to a lower percentage for people who make 0 - 250k? To me, that is the bigger crime that I hardly see any conservatives reject...
I'd rather that tax money be used to help those in need, even if there are some bad apples that abuse the system. The real crime isn't helping people who abuse the welfare system, it's allowing millionaires and billionaires to get the tax breaks they do or having government bail out big banks and wall street. Why are you content paying a higher percentage in taxes than Warren Buffet? Because you don't have the money to hire people to do your taxes for you to bring it down to a lower percentage for people who make 0 - 250k? To me, that is the bigger crime that I hardly see any conservatives reject...
look, what you're saying is that you're against k-12 public education, 911 service, paved roads and a host of other "socialist" programs that America has been proud of for an hundred years.
these things are not anti-American. they are, as mme. Silverman put it - "wildly American"
the first Christians sold all their property and held everything in common, giving to everyone as they had need. that is downright communist. using the common resources of the people for the common good of the people sure as anything represents Christ.
& i'm in no way talking about extending unlimited unemployment benefits to people who don't make efforts to get off of it, so don't throw the 'don't work, don't eat' card up again. i believe the temporary job agencies need to hook up with the unemployment office and start putting people to work -- i don't know why that's not been happening for decades already.
this isn't about "free stuff" -- it's about getting actual good use out of the tax dollars you already pay. we already do that as a nation in a hundreds of tangible ways - national parks. streetlights. pell grants for college. fireman. the national weather service.
we're one of the wealthiest countries on the planet, but one of the worst educated at the same time, and have one of the worst cost-to-benefit ratios of healthcare spending.
why can't we fix that?
what's so evil about wanting to?
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what you're calling "socialist programs" are all those things that use the collective tax revenue of the country to benefit the population as a whole.
all those things that take 'your' money and 'my' money in the form of taxes, and 'give' it to someone else that may or may not have put the same amount of money into the system.
medicare. forest rangers. the coast guard. WIC. kindergarten. fireworks displays. parking spaces. rest areas on the highways.
if you're arguing that your tax dollars should not be used to benefit anyone but yourself, because that would be 'socialism' -- then you are exactly arguing that all those things are evil. public libraries. public bathrooms. museums. memorials. police pensions. these are democratic socialist programs.
all those things that take 'your' money and 'my' money in the form of taxes, and 'give' it to someone else that may or may not have put the same amount of money into the system.
medicare. forest rangers. the coast guard. WIC. kindergarten. fireworks displays. parking spaces. rest areas on the highways.
if you're arguing that your tax dollars should not be used to benefit anyone but yourself, because that would be 'socialism' -- then you are exactly arguing that all those things are evil. public libraries. public bathrooms. museums. memorials. police pensions. these are democratic socialist programs.
M
That's fine if you believe your understanding of Christian doctrine shapes your political view ..that's GOOD ..but socialism is really very contrary to sound Christian doctrine ...and to explain socialist ideas as Christian charity is just insulting to many of us who practice real Christian charity and give from our own pockets to help others for the glory of Christ and motivated by His Love.
i'm not "equating" this to Christ; i said that it's because of the teachings of Christ - love your neighbor as He has loved us - that i want my government to use its resources to benefit everyone equally.
the way He loved us, was to do so magnanimously, when we in no way deserved it. He fed thousands without asking for money, healed everyone who was brought to Him without respecting persons, said to pay taxes to whom taxes were due, and had compassion on all the poor and needy.
why shouldn't i want a government on earth that reflects that kind of behavior, if it's possible? we are a tremendously wealthy nation with abundant resources that wastes a tremendous amount of money in corrupt, inefficient programs and giving gifts to the rich. i really believe that if we can fix that, we can prosper and take care of our own homeless and hungry, and give everyone access to basic healthcare and education. it's because i love my country that i think this way, not because i hate it, and because i love Christ, not personal wealth, that i want these things for all of my countrymen. even if you keep disagreeing with me that this is possible for us, i hope you at least see that.
M
Ok ..I cant argue with why you think Christ wants you to do something ...I can as a sincere man of God who loves people reject the idea that these socialist programs represent Christ to me or the majority of Christians. If someone tried to teach what you believe in the church? I would have to identify that as false biblical doctrine and reprove it with the evident truth of scripture.