tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post6221004844111803692..comments2023-08-21T03:51:17.425-06:00Comments on Enlightened Catholicism: Why Are The Shepherds Silent When The Sheep Are Getting Fleeced?colkochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-66162774567134102802012-04-11T21:51:00.385-06:002012-04-11T21:51:00.385-06:00" I can't believewe arererunning this li..." I can't believewe arererunning this lie again." . Believe it. I really saw through it after Hurricane Katrina ,when conservative media began recycling the whole " welfare state made the poor helpless in the face of disaster" meme. That so many conservatives repeated this despite taking a victory lap just a few years before on passing the 1996 Welfare Reform Act, in which they touted that their policies were finally breaking the cycle of dependency among the poor. Furthermore, George W's Compassionate Conservatism was continued on this and that this was all of the more reason to vote GOP if you want to help the needy. Then Katrina happened and these hits like "The GOP Ended Welfare As We Know It" went off the playlist and the ol GOP hits of yesteryear like "Welfare Makes Poor People Lazy" roared back up the charts again. It was at that point I began reevaluating my conservative and libertarian political leanings much more closely. Well this , the Iraq war and the <br />many conservative pundits defending "enhanced interrogation" all did.<br />John FremontAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-67760876493194461002012-04-11T08:11:43.611-06:002012-04-11T08:11:43.611-06:00I think the problem with Iran, and with North Kore...I think the problem with Iran, and with North Korea is simple: Lack of trust between the various parties. Yes, it is or will be over resources too. But until we have a majority of humans on both sides willing to truly forgive the other side for past transgressions whether real or simply perceived, the centralized authority structure won't work. Until we can guarantee that selected leaders will work for the common good, nothing can change for the better. There is something in human nature which makes it natural to think that the other is lazy and taking advantage of your hard work - whether it is day shift vs. night shift in a manufacturing plant or the political realities of international trade. It is really easy to decide that some 'other' is abusing your good nature and must be held to account for that abuse. Violently if there is no other obvious method.<br /><br />It is a simple thing to put out something like Caritas in Veritate. And yet, after how many centuries even The Vatican cannot be trusted to put those principles into effect for example via its bank with any measure of public confidence.T'Pelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14497973041430354008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-79243669688237790462012-04-11T06:31:05.304-06:002012-04-11T06:31:05.304-06:00Well said. What the "conservatives" igno...Well said. What the "conservatives" ignore is that their arguments, including those about tax cuts and charities, are failing miserably.khughes1963https://www.blogger.com/profile/16118365554189078448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-40108882931281311392012-04-11T05:55:30.212-06:002012-04-11T05:55:30.212-06:00I'm still trying to find the gospel passage wh...I'm still trying to find the gospel passage where Jesus says take from the poor and give to the rich so they can give to the poor. The Republicans lost me in 1984 when it was pretty obvious trickle down economics was voodoo economics. I can't believe we are rerunning this lie again.colkochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-6572315175039678742012-04-10T22:32:42.932-06:002012-04-10T22:32:42.932-06:00What conservative Catholics and Protestants will a...What conservative Catholics and Protestants will always reply with is that helping the poor is an act of charity and that charity is done out of freedom and not coercion. Catholics like the late William F Buckley and Russell Kirk made these arguments throughout the 50's, 60's and 70's. I recall Micheal Novak making a similar argument on a radio show 15 years ago. Yes, I agree helping the poor is an act of charity except that doesn't mean that is the only way that the poor are to be helped. Our personal duty to help the poor through works of mercy does not prohibit the state from duties to serve all of its citizens. That is where conservatism<br /> started losing me years ago.<br /><br />John FremontAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com