I just downloaded all of my mail which I hadn't done for a few days -- and I
see this hot topic going on. What has happened to all of us is indeed,
unfair. I don't know what God's plan or reason is, but I'm sure it will
someday become apparent. I have to say that I totally disagree with the
posting by the person who "blames" the "rulers of this country" (whoever
that may be) and the "billionaires" for everyone's woes. I agree with
Barbara in that hard work and achievement are a personal issue and not
anybody else's business. Why should someone who worked hard for a living be
"punished" for doing so? Since when are the handful of so-called wealthy
people responsible for everybody else's existence? Anyone has the
opportunity to make something of him/herself and become rich. When the left
wing of our government talks about "tax breaks for the wealthy", they are,
in reality, talking about middle income people. They consider anyone that
makes a halfway decent salary "wealthy". They also treat any type of wealth
as though it were a crime. And boy, does Barbara hit the nail on the head
about the athletes and their salaries. My husband always says that they
would never get these ridiculously exhorbitant salaries if people weren't
willing to spend the high prices that the tickets cost. When I first was
afflicted with TM, my husband and I were shown an outpouring of kindness by
friends and coworkers. We had meals prepared for a month, and vacation time
donated to help us financially. This is true human and Christian spirit.
The government had nothing to do with it.
you write:
>
>> We do live in an unfair society. The burdens placed upon us by the rulers
>of
>> this country are indeed heavy. Every wrong we must suffer, we can lay at
>> the feet of the rulers of our country. This ammounts to the 100
>billionairs
>> who own and control the means of wealth i.e. the means of production.
> Having
>> the burden of chronic illness and inability ; makes the life in our country
>
>> that much more difficult. The quality of life issues discussed below, and
>by
>> others, are not indivdual decisions : but made FOR us. Many of our friends,
>
>> who post here, are deeply worried about the issues of coverage, insurance
>and
>> tomorrow. They FEAR and believe the garbage that the extrem right says
>about
>> government. Government is a weapon of class that can cut BOTH ways. It
>can,
>> as this government does--take from the poor and give to the rich--OR it can
>
>> be a weapon that can destribute the wealth of this society, so ALL of us
>have
>> decent housing, income, heat in the winter, food , education, access to
>> culture and UNIVERSAL access to QUALITY healthcare, for all. Why do so
>many
>> believe this is utopia? Might I answer--because they buy the garbage sold
>
>> by the ruling class--that they must spend more on prisons than on
>education--
>> that our youth are potential criminals--not the future of the
>country.Peace -
>> -and fight for your right to thrive, not merely survive. We spend 1
>Trillion
>> dollars a year on healthcare--we deserve so much more than they dole out to
>
>> us.
>> -----------------------------------------------------------
>
>What country are you in, man? What burdens of the "ruling class"? What ruling
>class? What 100 billionaires?
>"Redistributing wealth" means taking from those who have worked to earn what
>they have. You call THAT fair? What does that do to anyone's incentive and
>motivation? Kills it. What did that do to the Soviet Union? It didn't work.
>There was still a ruling class and much more unfairness than here. Even if a
>billionaire inherited his money, so what? It's his, not for any government to
>take away from him. Now, it would be wonderful if he were generous and
>compassionate and gave to those in need. But that is his choice, a choice he
>will answer for to the ultimate Authority (his Maker). You know, everybody is
>richer than somebody. If someone saw your car and took it for himself, you
>wouldn't call that redistribution of your "wealth" to his. You'd call it
>stealing, and it is, no matter how much in "need" of it he may have been.
> I know there are some (baseball players, rock musicians, actors, etc.) who
>make an incredible amount of money, disproportionate to what they do to earn
>it. But I think the fault there lies with those who willingly pay absurd
>prices to see these things. They don't care if you complain about it, as long
>as you come and pay the price. Wonder what would happen if the fans
>boycotted?
>
>>Every wrong we must suffer, we can lay at
>> the feet of the rulers of our country.
>??????????????????????????
> >They FEAR and believe the garbage that the extrem right says about
>> government.
>I'm not sure what you're talking about or what the "extreme right" says about
>government.
>>we deserve so much more than they dole out to
>> us.
>We don't deserve for anyone to dole out anything to us. What about individual
>responsibility? Yes, there are many who for various reasons cannot work and
>meet their own needs, and we need to help them.
>The Bible has things to say about the other matters discussed above also.
>Ecc 2: 24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and
>drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I
>saw, that it was from the hand of God.
>2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any
>would not work, neither should he eat.
>Notice it said would not work, not could not work. For those who can't: James
>2:15-16 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And
>one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;
>notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body;
>what doth it profit?
>1 John 2:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have
>need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the
>love of God in him?
> 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in
>deed and in truth.
> 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our
>hearts before him.
>There are many, many verses on all of these subjects.
>
>No, this country is not a utopia. None is. Our government is far, far from
>perfect, but it is not to blame for all of our problems. Neither are any
>billionaires or "ruling class".
>At least we are able to have a voice in our government by voting and writing
>congressmen.
>
>No one wants to build more prisons just to put people away, especially youth,
>but rather because of the increasing crime. The evening news is so full of
>crime reports, it's sickening. Education helps, but it is not the whole
>answer. Educated people are not morally better; some just find more clever or
>sophisticated ways to do wrong. The major problem each individual has is his
>own heart's wanting its own way. How about these verses from Romans 3:
> 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
> 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
> 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become
>unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
>23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
>
>And this from Ecclesiastes 7:20: For there is not a just man upon earth, that
>doeth good, and sinneth not.
>But, thankfully, "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were
>yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8. And, "That if thou shalt
>confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
>God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart
>man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
>salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
>saved." Romans 10: 9, 10, 13
>
>Barbara
>
>
>