Peace and Social Responsibility

Beware of feeding the trolls.

 

You do realize the track record of President Bush on this particular topic, don't you?

 

Right wing panders to greed. Left wing panders to sloth. Libertarianism is the middle way. <G>

Second, the USofA since WW2 has had the best economic conditions for the working class since Adam got kicked out of the Garden. There is no excuse for being poor in the USofA except a mental or physical disability. 90% of poverty in the USofA is the result of bad decisions.

If a person can't "make it" here and now (USofA) he would fail any place, any age.

Third, "poverty" is more a mental state than a lack of cash money. If a person doesn't think that he is poor, he isn't.

 

Errr... where did you get this idea? And I must ask: how are bad decisions made? Are you suggesting that being poor is an inborn condition and/or a moral failing, but it has nothing to do with socio-economic conditions?

What responsibilities are you trying to get out of?

Unless you are starving, then thinking becomes difficult... </font>[/QUOTE]My informative years were spent in poverty (public housing, going to bed hungry, etc.). Didn't know how poor we really were until I looked back on it years later. Do not know where you came from, or where you are now, but I am more than willing to help you if you need any assistance. I am somewhat of an expert on the poor if you want to ask any questions.

 

Proof, please.

In fact, it is just the opposite. It is those on the right who are more inclined to give to the needy through church and charity and benevolent associations.

What tripe! Free public education is hardly a bad socio-economic condition. In fact, if you study hard enough and make good grades, you can get college scholarships.

I sure hope the race card isn't going to be thrown in next...but before it is, I would like to point out people like Condy Rice, Colin Powell, Justice Clarence Thomas, and others who were not born with silver spoons or advantages, but achieved their goals because they got off their duffs and didn't expect handouts. This is America. Everyone here has an equal chance to make it or sit on their rearends and expect society to feed their sorry lazy selves.

 

Unfortunately, we often don't have enough information to make good decisions. And sometimes, things outside of our control reward or punish us arbitrarily with outcomes we had no way of anticipating. And not all of us start out in the same place on the ladder.

Being poor isn't a moral failing, it's just a circumstance.

 

Why shut down debate?

What is so threatening about loving thy neighbor and taking care of the least of us? </font>[/QUOTE]You are not about that. You are about socialism and using government power to destroy the hard work of thrifty people so that you can spend to gain power by using government money to buy votes. The poor are just pawns in your socialistic struggle. No socialistic government has ever raised the standard of living for the poor. We don't care to follow into the ruinous footsteps of England, once ruling the world but now just another pagan nation.

 

JesusandGeorge04:

Let me share one other insight with you. Years ago I was working with a Missionary in Haiti. One morning he caught me giving food and money away on the street. What do you think your doing? he said. Until they come to grips with their real problem and turn to Christ you have not helped them. As long as they think some rich American (trust me all Americans are rich in Haiti) will come along and feed them they will never face the true root of their problems, hearts that have rejected Jesus Christ.

As I spent more time on the island of Hispaniola I realized that what he said was true. I could never feed all of the hungry there, and if I tried to I would be ignoring the real problem. To feed someone and pat them on the back as they proceed on their way to hell is not real compassion.

And by the way your comment

is really true in Haiti and other nations of the world, but I know you can't be referring to the United States. We have a problem with obesity among our poor, something that seems really strange to the rest of the world.

 

Somehow my earlier post never made it onto the board. I asked George if he was in favor of using federal tax dollars to support religious charities that are making a real difference in people's lives.

Here is a link to Effective Compassion: Seven Principles from a Century Ago
by Marvin Olasky

Http://www.acton.org/publicat/books/transformwelfare/olasky.html

Marvis says

I take real offense at JesusandGeorge04's statement that,

All of us have not abandoned the needy. Many people are giving more than they can afford and making a real difference. The problem is that the U.S. Government is doing too much and doing it poorly.

 

&gt;Errr... where did you get this idea?

By living 64 years and observing.

&gt;And I must ask: how are bad decisions made?

How? By not clearly analyzing one's options?

Buying toys on credit. Buying junk food. Smoking factory made ciggy butts. "Keeping up with the Joneses." Buying a bigger house than one can afford. Buying a new car. Getting pregnant. Getting married . . . or not getting married. Gambling. Buying booze.


&gt;Are you suggesting that being poor is an inborn &gt;condition

No, except in the case of some disabilities.

&gt;or a moral failing,

Yes, generally a moral failing.

&gt;but it has nothing to do with socio-economic &gt;conditions?

Very little to do with economic conditions. Anyone with normal smarts can get an education and a job. Disabled people can get jobs.

&gt;What responsibilities are you trying to get out of?

Say again? None that I know of. I've shot my wad, run my race and finished mid pack.

 

04

You also an elder person? Where did you do your observing? I lived in NY/NJ till '62 and the rest in Seattle.


Everything is always someone else' fault, right?

No options? you gots to be kidding. What is your personal difficulty? You doing OK? You dissatisfied with your life? Details?

 

billwald, methinks JesusandGeorge is a college student.