Peace and Social Responsibility

"I am a teacher in his thirties who comes from a familiy of teachers, and has done many studies on the socio-economic effects on development."

Long line of people who never worked for a living? <G>

 

Professional students?

I know a couple of those - never held down a full time job in all their lives. Constantly working on degrees. Now middle aged. But know all the answers to everything (according to them) except real life, raising a family, interpersonal relationships, etc.

 

Not the one of the "unicorn."

 

Similar discussion here - come and join in!
Three questions:-

1. Are we all sure that the Bible does not exhort governments to relieve poverty?

2. If your answer is still 'yes' to #1, and that churches should be the sole or primary providers of poverty relief, why do we not have a BB forum dedicated to that aim?

3. For those who say taxation is theft, I presume you would also be totally against paying taxes for defence and law enforcement?

Yours in Christ

Matt

 

Exactly what is the minimum of consumer goods that the govt and charities are to provide for people who choose not to work and live responsibly?

Is the govt responsible to keep every person alive as long as it is technically possible?

 

#1 Always believed the 'Bible' was written to and for Christians.

#2 Not saying 'churches', but individual Christians--I do not know how the justification for BB forums are decided upon

#3 I am not against taxation,--big proponent of a National Sales Tax--but I am against feeble governmental attempts to redistribute wealth. I am definately pro-Defense and pro-Law Enforcement.

 

#1. Are you sure? Read any of the OT Prophets recently?

Yours in Christ

Matt

 

Considering your term 'the Bible', I am pretty sure. As we have it today, the Bible is 'foolishness' to those that are not saved. I believe that the Bible can provide a strong foundation from which to build effective government ideas; however, I do believe that the Bible does not specifically address instructions to governments, but to individuals that are Christians. Of course, the more Christian elected representatives within the government, then maybe the more we will see an influence of biblical teachings. I seriously doubt that one would consider the Bible speaking to a communist government, other than for Christians to present the gospel.

 

Well, JaG, like they say, "power corrupts."

 

From the looks of some politians it's addictive also.

 

Who says they choose this, when many are born into generational poverty?</font>[/QUOTE] There are few if any "born into generational poverty" who are as disadvantaged as the millions of immigrants that have come to America with nothing and without even knowing the language. Untold millions have refused to excuse their failures by the past and seized the opportunities of the present and future.

Being born into poverty is NOT an excuse not to "work and live responsibly". Opportunity is everywhere if folks will simply stop blinding themselves to it.

Think not? A few years ago many young Mexicans came to the US and took low paying jobs in landscaping or other hard labor. Today, many own their own businesses.

Many immigrants take dangerous, low paying jobs in convenience stores... learn the business and start their own.

There is nothing disrespectful about taking a job at McD's. The enterprising person can climb out of poverty if they are simply willing to learn to work and to do business.

And in good health. Why not? </font>[/QUOTE]Because it is not their money and it isn't yours... If you want to pay for the health care of others, go ahead. If you want to start a private foundation to buy insurance for poor people without it, go ahead... in fact, let me know and maybe I will volunteer a contribution.

But if you want to pick my pocket by proxy using the gov't... my answer is NO.

 

Jesus lived in a zero sum land based economy where for someone to become richer, someone else had to become poorer. Theoretically everyone passed "GO" every 7 years and the game was restarted in the 50th year.

In our electronic economy, the rising tide raises all boats . . . but not submerged logs.

In the USofA, the nature of poverty has changed. The people on welfare can own every kind of personal property that the rich people have but it is a lower quality stuff and poor people have to stand in lines to get it.

 

So do you support euthanasia?

 

I don't want bureaucrats deciding who gets what treatment, who lives, and who dies.

 

They already do, Ken. It's called "legal" abortion.