What do you Think of America

[Rankenstein]

The Conservative approach to the poor:

“Let’s get one thing straight. You are behind the counter because you have to work for minimum wage. I’m on this side asking to see the good jewelry because I make considerably more.” - Condoleeza Rice

[John Scott]

Originally Posted by Rankenstein

The Conservative approach to the poor:

“Let’s get one thing straight. You are behind the counter because you have to work for minimum wage. I’m on this side asking to see the good jewelry because I make considerably more.” - Condoleeza Rice

You suppose we should just take all the earnings of the wealthy and hand them to the poor?

Why are the poor poor? Did somebody put a gun to their respective heads and tell them to be poor or else?

The poor are poor, for the most part, because the Liberals make them poor. People who could be working and making good money are enticed out by many and numerous welfare programs. I had a sister making great money as an RN. Decided that all her friends living on the gov't welfare programs needed some company and quit her job to live off hand outs.

And yes, the Liberals do give the farm away. Those people tend to live better than a lot of working folks.

[backgammonnn123]

I wonder how jesus would have answered this

[John Scott]

Originally Posted by backgammonnn123

I wonder how jesus would have answered this

I think Jesus believed in people giving of their own free will, not forcing others to give under penalty of prison.

[backgammonnn123]

100% correct there John

[Rankenstein]

Funny how these 'Christians' don't follow the teachings of Christ, isn't it?

It's pretty clear Jesus was a Liberal, anyway.

"Truly, I say unto you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."

"If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven."

"But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you."

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal."

"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

I think it's pretty clear what being a Christian involves, and sadly for Condi it isn't jabbering about how much money you make...most so-called Christians don't have the guts for Christianity so they just make up in their heads how they think it should go. It's obvious Condi's not a Christian no matter how many times she goes down on her knees in front of Bush. Dubya's no Christian either...I'm more Christian than any of those fakes and I'm an atheist.

[John Scott]

It's pretty clear Jesus was a Liberal, anyway.

Common mistake. Jesus did not tell people to find rich folks, steal all their money and give it to the poor. Jesus told people to give their own money to the poor, not other peoples' money. Big difference there.

Liberalism takes others peoples' money and gives it to the poor. Conservatives give their own money to the poor. See the difference?

[Rankenstein]

Um, Jesus told people what is necessary to be a Christian. If you don't follow that, don't pretend to be a Christian. If you have to give money away, as Christ says is right and proper, why not give it the government who'll do most for the poor? I don't think Jesus saw tax breaks for the rich or for corporations as a priority. And at the end of the day, render unto Caesar, right?

[John Scott]

Originally Posted by Rankenstein

Um, Jesus told people what is necessary to be a Christian. If you don't follow that, don't pretend to be a Christian. If you have to give money away, as Christ says is right and proper, why not give it the government who'll do most for the poor? I don't think Jesus saw tax breaks for the rich or for corporations as a priority. And at the end of the day, render unto Caesar, right?

Rankenstein, nobody is opposing giving money to the government. Where did I say I oppose that? Christians should be opposed to sending the government in to other peoples' homes with guns and taking their earnings and giving those earning to people who choose not to work, opting instead to watch cartoons and shoot heroin all day.

Or, as a Brit, do you not see the difference between

1. taking $100 out of your own pocket, or

2. putting a gun to your neighbor's head and taking $100 out of his pocket?

[Rankenstein]

You shouldn't help those who don't help themselves. That's a given.

It's a question of attitude. When I was off work, I didn't take a penny off the state, I lived off my savings. My mum gave me hell for that BTW, she thought I was stupid. When I was down to a couple of months money left, I started half-heartedly mooching for a job. When I was down to a couple of weeks spends left, it took me about three days to get a job. (Actually that reminds me, I was rejected for a job by McDonald's once. I love that.) But, if I actually really needed money off the state I would have no qualms about taking it because I know I have the right attitude about it.

Sadly, we are also fostering a bunch of sad sacks who go through life with their hands held out. But that is the price you have to pay for a system which provides for the truly needy. There are duplicitous scammers in every walk of life, but that doesn't mean they aren't scamming a system that is truly worthy.

Anyway, Jesus would have known there were false beggars in his time - it certainly did not prevent him doing what he did or saying what he said.

[John Scott]

Rank, you are totally missing the point.

Christians give.

Liberals take from others to give - this is not giving, is it?

Is my English that hard to comprehend? Or is it the concept? Why is it that I am failing to communicate the difference between stealing money from other people at gunpoint and giving one's own money of one's own free will?

[Ferre]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zqbz563pNQ

[John Scott]

Originally Posted by Ferre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zqbz563pNQ

For somebody who claims to be a comedian, he's rather boring, no?

[Rankenstein]

What? Who's taking money at gunpoint? It's called paying taxes. Or are Liberal Commie Pinkos now wandering around taking advantage of good old Conservative-value gun laws to arm themselves so they can target the goodly rich and give money to crack dealers and lazy drop-outs? Do they have a list of all the layabouts they want to sponsor. Where did they get it from? Why isn't this in the news?

[John Scott]

Who's taking money at gunpoint? It's called paying taxes.

Yes, Rank, the poor schmucks are legislating money out of the pocket's of hard working citizens, and you can call it taxes, but it's still money being taken at gunpoint. And not just money. Homes, cars, businesses, and freedom - all of it taken by government, hard working people put in prison, losing everything they worked hard for, so that some welfare mom can sell her food stamps and buy coke.

[Rankenstein]

Originally Posted by John Scott

Yes, Rank, the poor schmucks are legislating money out of the pocket's of hard working citizens, and you can call it taxes, but it's still money being taken at gunpoint. And not just money. Homes, cars, businesses, and freedom - all of it taken by government, hard working people put in prison, losing everything they worked hard for, so that some welfare mom can sell her food stamps and buy coke.

You're focusing on the negative side too much. Like I say, there are always bad apples, but altruism is the noblest stance. You can't say the system is wrong just because people abuse it. People will abuse anything.

[John Scott]

altruism is the noblest stance

There is neither altruism nor nobility in taking money from other. Much less in taking it away at gunpoint and giving it to a government which will undoubtedly misuse over 75% of it.

[Ferre]

Originally Posted by John Scott

There is neither altruism nor nobility in taking money from other. Much less in taking it away at gunpoint and giving it to a government which will undoubtedly misuse over 75% of it.

From where I'm looking at it, POLITICIANS misuse tax money and it doesn't make much difference which side of the political spectrum they are labelled, misuse of tax money is universal in politics all over the world in my opinion.

[G10]

Originally Posted by Rankenstein

Um, Jesus told people what is necessary to be a Christian. If you don't follow that, don't pretend to be a Christian. If you have to give money away, as Christ says is right and proper, why not give it the government who'll do most for the poor? I don't think Jesus saw tax breaks for the rich or for corporations as a priority. And at the end of the day, render unto Caesar, right?

You are kidding me, right

If they gave it to you and I, there would be more chance that it would be used to help the poor than to the government

[Rankenstein]

Huh, yeah, fair point. Better to give it to me. Oh, you can have some. How are The Needy doing in Chester?

Actually, that might be a good Liberal campaigning platform. "This is Hilary Clinton saying 'Show Me The Money!' "