House Passes Trump-Backed Rescissions Package Slashing $9 BILLION in Bloated Spending — FOREIGN AID, NPR, and PBS on the Chopping Block — Two Republic

[Ophiolite]

It’s philosophy, as such, it is not required to “make sense”.

That is a feeble excuse for a poorly phrased post. I've tried reading it as an attempt at humour. It didn't work that way either. I suggest a graceful withdrawal.

 

[Pommer]

That is a feeble excuse for a poorly phrased post. I've tried reading it as an attempt at humour. It didn't work that way either. I suggest a graceful withdrawal.

It works for me.
I’m glad that you’ve found so much incorrect with it, though; sometimes we’re allowed to use rhetorical devices, (like an ill-worded maxim) to spur on further discussion. You chose to go the critical route (and that’s fine) to tear it apart without seeking to go through the ramifications of whether we’re in a deterministic universe where “free-will” is merely a persistent illusion or actually do have free-will and manifest it by “being better then just what our DNA tells us to be”.

Have a super day.

 

[Richard T]

How sad that on this a Christian website, obvious sarcasm is taken at face value.

Sadly, there are Americans who think exactly like the premise. That overdependence on government has created a welfare mess. I doubt the rest of the world has such notions of this. So while it may have seemed like sarcasm to some, it is a plausible position by many.

 

[durangodawood]

Perhaps America would be greater as a sink or swim Darwinist type society?

 

[Larniavc]

That overdependence on government has created a welfare mess.

The Right have created your mess. European country's societies are much less hard hearted.

 

[Larniavc]

Perhaps America would be greater as a sink or swim Darwinist type society?

It's been that way since its inception. The 'screw you I got mine' American Dream has eroded American compassion for the unfortunate.

 

[Richard T]

The Right have created your mess. European country's societies are much less hard hearted.

True, but even the bible has some tough love. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 states, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." But of course few study the unintended consequences where the government themselves stands in the way of these people working. Most don't know in the USA either that many of the needy are either disabled, elderly or children that are receiving the aid. I am not against work requirements or other qualifiers to aid for those that are able, but yes, some compassion is needed.

There used to be the idea of conservative compassion in the USA. President George W. Bush on Compassionate Conservatism | George W. Bush Presidential Center Trump seems to have thrown much of that out so my guess is that he will fare well for the moment to possible crash the USA from dizzying heights. Unfortunately, the rest of the world will likely suffer too if that is God's will.

 

[durangodawood]

It's been that way since its inception.

More or less. But theres lingering collectivist sentiments that could still be stamped out.

These are impediments to domination by the strong and morally/sentimentally unencumbered.

 

[Pommer]

Sadly, there are Americans who think exactly like the premise. That overdependence on government has created a welfare mess. I doubt the rest of the world has such notions of this. So while it may have seemed like sarcasm to some, it is a plausible position by many.

If we could just get corporations and billionaires away from the trough!

 

[7thKeeper]

I expect more money in the long run.

Why would you? That sort of expectation isn't based on anything. Might as well expect every single person to win the lottery.

 

[Fantine]

Do we need to be motivated? If we REALLY want to help we will.

I donate to churches and a number of charities. I volunteer in local compassionate charities. I also make political donations and donate to the climate change Lobby and sometimes the ACLU.

As I stand reeling from the massive attacks on our country's compassionate infrastructure- NIH, CDC, Department of Education, HHS, Medicaid, snap, student loans, FEMA, and more- I realize that the only way we can restore every one of those necessary services to hurting people is by changing the current Administration. I could choose to give more to charity than I do but with the need exponentially ballooning with every executive order I am beginning to decide that my money is better spent in political advocacy. It doesn't matter that it's not tax deductible because the standard deduction is over $30,000 for my husband and myself.
I learned from the climate change Lobby that we could write letters till our fingers ached, stay on hold on the phone 6 hours a day, March on Washington, and more and my State's solid red delegation would pitch them in the trash without opening them. But guess what? We started working on the city and county governments and have been very successful in getting them to embrace solar energy and get valuable Federal grants. We have Community Gardens now where poor people can get a plot to grow their own vegetables. I think the best Federal effort I can make to address climate change would be to contribute to congressional candidates in swing States. Our state is hopeless and while I will contribute to the campaigns of local candidates as well, my new bang for the buck theory is regaining Congress and the presidency. I have decided that that is the best way I can help the homeless, hungry children, the uninsured, and people around the world. I will still give what I've been giving to charity but any extra I give would be like a finger in the dike.
The damage is too great.

 

[BCP1928]

True, but even the bible has some tough love. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 states, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." But of course few study the unintended consequences where the government themselves stands in the way of these people working. Most don't know in the USA either that many of the needy are either disabled, elderly or children that are receiving the aid. I am not against work requirements or other qualifiers to aid for those that are able, but yes, some compassion is needed.

There used to be the idea of conservative compassion in the USA. President George W. Bush on Compassionate Conservatism | George W. Bush Presidential Center Trump seems to have thrown much of that out so my guess is that he will fare well for the moment to possible crash the USA from dizzying heights. Unfortunately, the rest of the world will likely suffer too if that is God's will.

The thing to remember is that 2 Thessalonians 3:10 was addressed to people who were largely self-employed, as small farmers and craftsment. In that situation, one's sustenance was indeed proportional to how much labor one was willing to engage in. To apply it to the industrial model of employment in use today as an argument against safety nets is a degenerate corruption of Scripture.

 

[rjs330]

We've been through this already. Churches have had 6,000 years to get their act together and they failed.

No we havent. Our mandate as believers has NEVER been to end world wide poverty. What utter nonsense.

We are capable of ending poverty, of providing Universal Health Care, and giving our children a world class education that will prepare them to live in a more competitive world.

No we aren't. Poverty cannot be eliminated.

Universal Healthcare is doable.

We already spend enough money to give everyone a world class education. Why aren't we?

Hiding behind the excuse of letting the churches do it is hypocritical. Christians should want to live in a just society, free from the greed and income inequality that increases every year.

Once again, we dont live in a Christian nation. Our secular government is not beholden to Christian values. Correct? The only people who are is us. Christians.

Now if you want to offer a secular argument, be my guest. But making a Christian argument doesn't apply to a secular government.

Christians shoild know that we live in a fallen world filled with sin and greed and an unjust world. Thinking that will ever be fixed is naive and unscriptural.

And greed is not limited to the rich. The poor are just as greedy and often those who proclaim the loudest are nothing more than jealous and covetous. And just to be clear I am not making that claim about you.

 

[rjs330]

Is that the Christian view?

Why would it be? The Bible says nothing about global warming.

 

[rjs330]

I think denial is rooted in greed and intransigence. Who cares about responsibility? Future generations? Selfishness is a hollow emotion.

Huh?

 

[rjs330]

It’s the ‘screw you, I got mine’ American Dream.

Is it?

 

[BCP1928]

Why would it be? The Bible says nothing about global warming.

Then why shouldn't we do anything about it?

 

[rjs330]

Yes, because it's going to require a massive uptick in giving to match the good USAID has been doing around the world.

Wrong. USAID was only rhe mechanism by which our tax dollars were given. We will continue to do good, just not through an organization that decided to spend our rax dollars on pet leftist projects and leftist NGOs.

How will Americans know which local NGOs in far-flung corners of the world need funding for a health clinic, feeding program, or immediate funds for humanitarian assistance or disaster relief?

That will be up to the government organization tasked with it.

As for individuals you will have to do what youve always done. Figure it out yourself.

 

[rjs330]

I donate to churches and a number of charities. I volunteer in local compassionate charities. I also make political donations and donate to the climate change Lobby and sometimes the ACLU.

See, you are making a difference in rhe world around you. Just as Christ asked us to.

As I stand reeling from the massive attacks on our country's compassionate infrastructure- NIH, CDC, Department of Education, HHS, Medicaid, snap, student loans, FEMA, and more- I realize that the only way we can restore every one of those necessary services to hurting people is by changing the current Administration.

Many of those changes will be good for the country in the long run.

We have Community Gardens now where poor people can get a plot to grow their own vegetables.

I think rhats great!

I think the best Federal effort I can make to address climate change

There's nothing we can do about climate change. Its a natural phenomenon.

 

[rjs330]

In that situation, one's sustenance was indeed proportional to how much labor one was willing to engage in. To apply it to the industrial model of employment in use today as an argument against safety nets is a degenerate corruption of Scripture.

As it is today. If you are unwilling to work we shouldn't be supporting you. If you are willing to work, often how well you do is also proportional on how much or at least what you are willing to do.

However again that scripture in Thessalonians is not written to be applied to government programs. To apply it to such is a violation and corruption of scripture.

Scripture says NOTHING about safety nets. Safety nets for the general public are a secular invention. Now I'm not saying we shouldn't have safety nets.

And arguments for or against them should be secular.