Why I'm a liberal socialist.

Jonathan Walkerin

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That's not true. The Roman Empire fell because of:

1.) Their government changed from a Republic to a Democracy.

2.) Inevitably Socialism was the next step. The greedy and the lazy, demanded that the government give them free stuff.

3.) Inevitably, the government couldn't afford that, so they resorted to fiat currency. They devalued their coins by mixing in less valuable metals; until their coins became practically worthless.

See a pattern?

Rubbish. Rome went from Republic to Imperial system ; that is about as far as you can get from democracy.

All the other reasons look similiarly simplistic and inaccurate.

The fall of the Roman Empire was a complex process that took centuries not something you can neatly tie to your own misapprehensions and prejudices explaining it in ten lines.
 
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jgarden

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Jesus would say to the liberal "Go sin no more."
The liberal would probably hurl rocks at him for hate speech.
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Yekcidmij

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However you define a liberal socialist, Jesus pretty much matches that description.

Hmmm guns? Let's see:

Luke 22:36
He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.

Matthew 26:52
Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

Matthew 10:34
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

This looks like you're explaining why you don't want a sword? The title was something about liberal socialism though...

But this has to be about you owning a sword. If someone else wants to own a sword it seems that you wouldn't be justified in paying for and sending out guys with swords to prevent them from doing so, as that would look to violate your principle.

But not sure what this has to do with liberal socialism. I would assume that if fascist jackboots were running amok through the streets then liberal socialists would really like to have at least a few swords. So it can't be that liberal socialism is identical to non-ownership-of-swords.
 
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Quartermaine

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Apparently Ronald Reagan, didn't understand the purpose of the 2nd Amendment.

You might be surprised by this; but the Founders didn't have such a tremendous affinity for duck hunting; that they felt it imperative that they write a constitutional amendment to protect their sporting rights. That amendment was written in the wake of a Tyrannical King named George, who attempted to disarm the American people.
the same way as you claimed Stalin did?
 
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Quartermaine

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In communism or socialism, the government confiscates and then redistributes the wealth.

Jesus teaches to take what wealth that God has blessed us with and share it with those who are less fortunate.

There is a huge difference between forced generosity and "free will" generosity by following the teachings of Jesus.

Communism and socialist are anti-Christian because they teach dependence on your government and to look for the government to provide your needs, not to trust God.
What is Socialism and how it is not Communism.
 
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GodLovesCats

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I dislike how this thread started because liberal socialism is not primarily about gun control, but the OP is right about Jesus fitting that area on the political spectrum. If Jesus belonged to a political party, I'm sure he would vote for Bernie Sanders.
 
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GodLovesCats

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Amazing how we try to fit Jesus into our political ideology. Conservatives do the same.

We don't try to, but actually do. It is not amazing if you know what Jesus said that lines up perfectly with liberal and Democratic socialist beliefs. What amazes me is conservatives totally disregarding what Jesus said about rich people who want tax cuts, keeping money they don't need, etc. Why do all conservatives think they do what Jesus wants if they are being greedy and complaining about high taxes?
 
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Yekcidmij

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I dislike how this thread started because liberal socialism is not primarily about gun control, but the OP is right about Jesus fitting that area on the political spectrum.

Based on what? I'm trying to figure out how 2nd Temple Judaism "fits" into an American "political spectrum."

If Jesus belonged to a political party, I'm sure he would vote for Bernie Sanders.

Assuming for a second that Jesus is Messiah, I doubt he would vote for anyone. He is king already. In fact, King of kings and Lord of lords. Right?
 
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Steve97

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We don't try to, but actually do. It is not amazing if you know what Jesus said that lines up perfectly with liberal and Democratic socialist beliefs. What amazes me is conservatives totally disregarding what Jesus said about rich people who want tax cuts, keeping money they don't need, etc.
We don't try to, but actually do. It is not amazing if you know what Jesus said that lines up perfectly with liberal and Democratic socialist beliefs. What amazes me is conservatives totally disregarding what Jesus said about rich people who want tax cuts, keeping money they don't need, etc.

Jesus warned all of us about our love of money. He never instructed his followers to give money to Rome and let them take care of the poor.
 
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Steve97

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Based on what? I'm trying to figure out how 2nd Temple Judaism "fits" into an American "political spectrum."



Assuming for a second that Jesus is Messiah, I doubt he would vote for anyone. He is king already. In fact, King of kings and Lord of lords. Right?

BRAVO!!!! Couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you!
 
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Steve97

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Based on what? I'm trying to figure out how 2nd Temple Judaism "fits" into an American "political spectrum."



Assuming for a second that Jesus is Messiah, I doubt he would vote for anyone. He is king already. In fact, King of kings and Lord of lords. Right?

...and may I add you're pretty smart for a Calvinist :oldthumbsup::wave::swoon:(that's a joke)
 
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GodLovesCats

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Assuming for a second that Jesus is Messiah, I doubt he would vote for anyone. He is king already. In fact, King of kings and Lord of lords. Right?

Jesus is also 100 percent human. I am talking about the human side of him - the "what if he was not also God" aspect.
 
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GodLovesCats

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Jesus warned all of us about our love of money. He never instructed his followers to give money to Rome and let them take care of the poor.

I am talking about the concept that we should all want to give our money to the poor, which translates to not complaining about paying higher taxes or wanting tax cuts, which all conservatives always do despite knowing the money goes to poor people who actually need it. People get rich by saving it for themselves and giving nothing to the poor. That is what Jesus preached against doing.
 
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Steve97

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I am talking about the concept that we should all want to give our money to the poor, which translates to not complaining about higher taxes or begging for tax cuts like conservatives always do despite knowing the money goes to poor people who actually need it.

Again, Jesus warned about the love of money.
 
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Silmarien

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I am talking about the concept that we should all want to give our money to the poor, which translates to not complaining about paying higher taxes or wanting tax cuts, which all conservatives always do despite knowing the money goes to poor people who actually need it. People get rich by saving it for themselves and giving nothing to the poor. That is what Jesus preached against doing.

The traditional conservative argument is actually that government bureaucracy leads to mismanagement, and that large-scale governmental programs are not actually an efficient way to help the poor. They also argue that welfare programs lead to dependency upon the state, and therefore exacerbate rather than mitigate the problem of poverty.

I am a socialist, but these critiques at least go deeper than the typical capitalist nonsense, and should be taken into serious consideration.
 
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Steve97

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That is what I just explained to you. Jesus told people not to save it up, but to give it away to those who don't have what they need.

There is nothing wrong with saving money...it's the love of money including the desire to have more. Putting money, political or religious ideologies or anything else, equal or above God is the warning.
 
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