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A healthy (?) pause for reflectionPosted Saturday, August 1, 2009, at 9:59 AM
By Charlie Crow
"...as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" --Matthew 25:40, The Bible, King James Version So Congress has decided to put off considering reforming health care until after their August recess. Given the high state of confusion about exactly what is being proposed, what it will really cost, and how it will be paid for, this may be a pragmatic way to buy time to clear the air (or not). It has not been easy to follow the legislative proposals during their tortuous paths through each house. It appears that there are at least three different major proposals, and it is unclear which the Obama administration is behind. In his desire to avoid a repeat of the calamitous ambush of the Clinton health care reforms (viciously referred to by its detractors as "Hillarycare"), Mr. Obama chose to let Congress write the legislation. Given his stated priorities, the President might have been better served presenting his proposed legislation up front. The election results seemed to be a resounding endorsement of Obama's vision of what needed to be done: Universal coverage without exceptions. Cost reduction through elimination of duplication and inefficiency. Streamlined record-keeping. Fewer arbitrary decisions by insurance companies. No more denials of care because of job loss, age or pre-existing conditions. Greater emphasis on prevention, with the belief that a healthy society benefits everyone. A safety net for all, including the employees of small businesses and the unemployed. Lower pharmaceutical costs. All are highly desirable goals, only achievable if public pressure demands that both houses of Congress and the Administration work together in good faith. It appeared from the beginning that getting these important reforms through would be a daunting task. The Republicans have made a strategic decision that it is more politically beneficial for them if Mr. Obama loses, rather than to do the right thing regardless of party and improve access to health care for all Americans. With a few notable exceptions, most Republicans are rigidly opposing whatever is offered, rather than propose a bill of their own. Acting through surrogate interest groups who parrot their "talking points," the obstructionists are content to make full use of lies and distortion, skillfully woven into a web of propaganda designed to confuse, distract and create fear and doubt. Make no mistake about it--they know how to do use the Big Lie, and so far, their efforts have been disturbingly effective. In fact, you might think the campaign for the presidency is still going on, the tone is so savage and the slurs are just as insinuating. If it weren't so important, it would be laughable. My inbox is replete with hysterical diatribes loaded with outrageous claims about this legislation. It is interesting that opponents include retired federal employees and military persons--who are already the beneficiaries of socialized medicine. One such screed cited each page of the bill that they claimed proved their point...I was curious about this and I actually consulted the legislation to see what it really said. In every case, the opponents had taken the language out of context or had simply speculated on what they imagined those innocent words really meant. This is the caliber of the opposition, but it accomplishes one big goal--to create doubt. Some of the egregious allegations against the health care reforms include: Government controlled health care is socialistic. Guess what? Medicare is government-supported health care, and it works. It's too expensive. Compared to what? We can't afford what we have now, and too many people are not covered at all. Health care will be rationed--some czar in Washington can decide whether you can live or die. A real concern for us all. Do you not think insurance companies don't do that every day with monetary care caps and restrictions on pre-existing conditions? A public insurance option will kill private insurance companies. Or, maybe they will have to make less money with a competing public plan out there to keep them honest. They will tell you what doctor to use. False. It denies adequate care for old people. Actually, it may improve their care. They will decide how long we can live. The law attempts to encourage people to consider in advance of crisis their care options in their last stage of life. It will create a huge federal bureaucracy. Could be. What's the collective administrative overhead of all the health insurers? Might we not share in the savings from that reduction? Illegal immigrants will flood into the country for free care. Just one more unsubtle race-based appeal to those who oppose immigration. Besides, most of these folks are now clogging hospital emergency rooms for lack of alternatives. It will promote and encourage abortion. No more so than already allowed--but it does address the need for better education on reproductive functions, pregnancy prevention and prenatal care. It will kill small businesses. That concern has been heard and is being addressed. However, without another option, employees of small businesses will fall through the cracks the same way they do now. Politically, matters have become more complicated by a couple of inconveniences--first, the Congressional Budget Office--an ostensibly independent entity--evaluated the cost of the Obama reforms and their numbers were unexpectedly negative. It appears that there are explainable discrepancies between their assumptions and Obama's, but the political damage has been felt. Secondly, the so-called "Blue Dog" Democrats, who like to be called "fiscally conservative but socially progressive," have threatened to take down the bill unless their concerns are addressed. While their political behavior often resembles that of the other party, the Blue Dogs insist they are sincere in their expressed desire to rein in the costs of the program. However, their position is puzzling, given the fact that most of them, like Arkansas' Mike Ross, are from districts that would benefit greatly from the proposed reforms. o now, we wait. Congress will go home and listen to the folks. And the propaganda mills will grind. And, unless a better effort is made to clarify and articulate the legislation and the Administration's plan, the American public will lose again. This little Congressional time out will probably determine whether the legislation will make it. Lobbyists are out in force, zillions are being spent in dishonest assaults on the legislation and the public is bewildered. And when the public is uncertain, they lean toward the negative. Hence: Opposition mission accomplished; country screwed. Failure will mean the costs and inefficiencies will continue ad nauseam. Those who can afford private insurance will get it. Those fortunate enough to have jobs that offer insurance (and who can keep the jobs) will still be covered, with rising costs. Those who lose their jobs and their insurance are covered for a few months only, but at a staggering personal cost. 50 million or so Americans will still not have any form of health care coverage. Medical bills will continue to be the single biggest cause of personal bankruptcies. And life will go on, more or less, until something else breaks. Could we in this grand country of wealth and abundance look in the mirror and for once do what is right for the future, instead of allowing continuation of an abominable mess we have the resources and the power to fix? Charlie Crow © August 1, 2009 Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
Charlie Crow has had long-standing ties to Rector since 1954, when his family moved here to publish the Clay County Democrat. He graduated from Rector High School in 1958. After earning degrees at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and the University of Texas at Austin, and service as a US Army Intelligence officer, he pursued an eclectic career in management. He served in the cabinet of Governor Dale Bumpers. His career experience encompasses state and regional governmental planning, investment banking, executive leadership of recycling technology companies in Alabama and Tennessee, and nonprofit management. He is semi-retired and lives in Little Rock with his wife, Anne.
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A healthy (?) pause for reflection
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Charlie...with this legislation piece it seems that congress will need to fish or cut bait
Mijo
Mr. Crow,
Sadly your blog posts just prove to me that you are a liberal liar. By placing the Scripture quote at the top of this you are saying that it is a religious responsibilitly to support this oversized government hog. I don't agree with you, I respect your view, but I don't agree with your quoting the Word.
Charlie,
By placing the scripture at the top, are you implying that the religious right are the ones spreading the egregious allegations?
Rector Student, I respect your view also, but to call a man a liberal liar, you should stand up for what you think is right and sign your name..I feel like if a person takes the time to blast another person be big enough to say who you are ....Think about that next time you write on a blog...
I was following one of the amendments to the health bill and found on Part I page 18 line 7 "(b) Modifications.- If the Secretary modifies the criteria with respect to minimum qualifying coverage under section 3103, " a group health plan or health insurance issuer that fails to provide such modified minimum qualifying coverage shall provide the notice required under sub action (a) within 60 days of the date of such modification"
__________________________________________________
Even if they change the plan some they will change it anytime they want.....or they loose the right to provide.......
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Subject: Government Health Plan
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Peter Fleckenstein, a blogger and former Marine from Phoenix, Arizona, is going through the ObamaCare bill page by page and highlighting the provisions he finds there.
Clearly, Fleckenstein has struck a nerve. His list, originally published as a series of Twitter posts, has gone viral via email. Within days, the liberal fascists published his personal information on Twitter as a means to silence him. Fleckenstein promises legal action.
It's easy to see why the liberals are tripping over themselves to suppress the information Fleckenstein unearthed. At its best, the information Fleckenstein culled from the bowels of the ObamaCare bill are absurd. When you really understand what the ObamaCare bill is and what Congress and Obama are trying to do with it, however, it turns from absurd to nearly terrifying.
Information has been taken from different sources for formatting purposes but verified back to Fleckenstein's original work. Fleckenstein's blog is here: http://blog.flecksoflife.com/
Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!
Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!
Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)
Page 42: The "Health Choices Commissioner" will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.
Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.
Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID Healthcard.
Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.
Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (read: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)
Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange.
Page 84: All private healthcare plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans)
Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; translation: illegal aliens
Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.
Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter.
Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No "judicial review" is permitted against the government monopoly. Put simply, private insurers will be crushed.
Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages.
Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan. No alternatives.
Page 126: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND their families.
Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll
Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll
Page 167: Any individual who doesn't' have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.
Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes(Americans will pay for them).
Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.
Page 203: "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax." Yes, it really says that.
Page 239: Bill will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors and the poor most affected."
Page 241: Doctors: no matter what specialty you have, you'll all be paid the same (thanks, AMA!)
Page 253: Government sets value of doctors' time, their professional judgment, etc.
Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private healthcare industries.
Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.
Page 272: Cancer patients: welcome to the wonderful world of rationing!
Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions.
Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an initial admission that results in a readmission, you will be penalized by the government.
Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited from owning and investing in healthcare companies!
Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without government approval.
Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on "community" input: in other words, yet another payoff for ACORN.
Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures: i.e., rationing.
Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs, etc.
Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.
Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare by phone).
Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia?
Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time.
Page 425: Government provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.
Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends.
Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient's health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT.
Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.
Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services: more payoffs for ACORN.
Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations: more payoffs for ACORN.
Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy. Government intervenes in your marriage.
Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, creating and rationing those services.
Page 502 Line 5-18 Government builds the "Center" to conduct, support, & synthesize research to define our Health Care Services.
Page 502 Section 1181 Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research Established. - Hello Big Brother - Literally.
Page 503 Line 13-19 Government will build registries and data networks from YOUR electronic medical records.
Page 503 Line 21-25 Government may secure data directly from any department or agency of the US including your data.
Page 504 Line 6-10 The "Center" will collect data both published & unpublished (that means public & your private info)
Page 506 Line 19-21 The Center will recommend policies that would allow for public access of data.
Page 518 Line 21-25 The Commission will have input from HealthCare consumer reps - Can you say unions & ACORN?
Page 524 18-22 Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund set up. More taxes for ALL.
Pages 525-620 deals with the Govt basically taking over nursing homes, long-term care facilities (think assisted living) through regulations of the facilities, the owners of sd facilities, the employees of sd facilities and even the land owners of that sd facilities reside on. Additionally as you read these 90+ pages you can come to the conclusion that any Health related services will be determined and rationed by the Govt for our senior citizens and others in nursing homes. This one post should do enough to raise awareness of the control the Govt is exerting over the older population of American citizens.
Page 620 Line 1-9 The Government will define, prioritize, and nationalize your Health Care Services.
Page 621 Lines 20-25 Government will define what Quality means in HealthCare. Since when does Government know about quality?
Page 622 Lines 2-9 To pay for the quality Standards Government will transfer $$ from to other Government Trust Funds. More Taxes.
Page 624 "Quality" measures shall be designed to assess outcomes & functional status of patients.
Page 628 Section 1443 Government will give "Multi-Stake Holders" Pre-Rule Making input into Selection of "Quality" Measures.
Page 630 9-24/631 1-9 Those Multi-stake holder groups including Unions & groups like ACORN deciding HealthCare quality.
Page 632 Lines 14-25 The Government may implement any "Quality measure" of Health Care Services as they see fit.
Page 633 14-25/ 634 1-9 The Secretary may issue non-endorsed "Quality Measures" for Physician Services & Dialysis Services.
Page 635 - 653 Physicians Payments Sunshine Provision - Government wants to shine sunlight on Docs but not Government.
Page 654-659 Public Reporting on Health Care-Associated Infections - Looks okay.
Page 660-671 Doctors in Residency - Government will tell you where your residency will be, thus where you'll live.
Page 676-686 Government will regulate hospitals in EVERY aspect of residency programs, including teaching hospitals.
Page 686-700 Increased Funding to Fight Waste, Fraud, and Abuse. You mean the Government with an $18 mil website?
Pages 701-704 Section 1619 If your part of HealthCare plan that isn't in Government HealthCare Exchange but you qualify for Federal aid, no payment.
Page 705-709 SEC. 1128 If Secretary gets complaints (ACORN) on Health Care provider or supplier, Government can do background check.
Page 711 Lines 8-14 The Secretary has broad powers to deny Health Care providers/suppliers admittance into HealthCare Exchange.
Page 719-720 Section 1637 ANY Doctor who orders durable medical equipment or home medical services MUST be enrolled in Medicare.
Page 722 Section 1639 Government Mandates Doctors must have face-to-face with patient to certify patient for Home Health Services.
Page 724 23-25 PG 725 1-5 The same Government certifications will apply to medicaid & CHIP (your kids) Page 735 lines 16-25 For law enforcement purposes,the Secretary of Health & Human Services will give Attorney General access to ALL data.
Page 724 Lines 16-22 Government reserves right to apply face-to-face certification for patient to ANY other Health Care service.
Page 740-757 Government sets guidelines for subsidizing the uninsured (That's your tax dollars peeps)
Page 757-762 Fed Government will shift burden of payments to Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH) to States. (Taxes)
Page 763 1-8 No DS/EA hospitals will be paid unless they provide services without regard to national origin
Page 765 Section 1711 Government will require Preventative Services including vaccines. (Choice?)
Page 768 Section 1713 Government - Nursing Home Visitation Services (Hello union paybacks)
Page 769 11-14 Nursing Home Visit Services include-economic self-sufficiency, employment advancement, school-readiness.
Page 769 3-5 Nursing Home Visit Services "increasing birth intervals between pregnancies." Government Abortions anyone?
Page 770 SEC 1714 Federal Government mandates eligibility for State Family Planning Services. Say abortion & State Sovereign.
Page 789-797 Government will set & mandate drug prices, controlling which drugs will brought to market. Goodbye innovation.
Pages 797-800 SEC. 1744 PAYMENTS for grad medical education. The government will now control Drs education.
Page 801 Sec 1751 The Government will decide which Health care conditions will be paid. Say RATION!
Page 810 SEC. 1759. Billing Agents, clearinghouses, etc. required to register. Government takes over private payment system.
Page 820-824 Sec 1801 Government will identify individuals ineligible for subsidies. Will access all personal finances.
Page 824-829 SEC. 1802. Government Sets up Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund. Another tax black hole.
Page 829-833 Government will impose a fee on ALL private health insurance plans including self insured to pay for Trust Fund!
Page 835 11-13 fees imposed by Government for Trust Fund shall be treated as if they were taxes.
Page 838-840 Government will design & implement Home Visitation Program for families with young kids & families expecting kids.
Page 844-845 This Home Visitation Program includes Government coming into your house & telling you how to parent!!!
Page 859 Government will establish a Public Health Fund at a cost of $88,800,000,000. Yes that's Billion.
Page 865 to 876 The NHS Corps is a program where Drs. perform mandatory HealthCare for 2 years for part loan repayment.
Page 876-892 The Government takes over the education of our Medical students and Drs.
Page 898 The Government will establish a Public Health Workforce Corps. to ensure supply of public health professionals.
Page 898 The Public health workforce corps shall consist of civilian employees of the U.S. as Secretary deems.
Page 898 The Public health workforce corps shall consist of officers of Regular & Reserve Corps of Service.
Page 900 The Public Health Workforce Corps includes veterinarians.
Page 901 The Public Health Workforce Corps WILL include commissioned Regular & Reserve Officers. HealthCare Draft?
Page 910 The Government will develop, build & run Public Health Training Centers.
Page 913-914 Government starts a Health Care affirmative action program thru guise of diversity scholarships.
Page 915 SEC. 2251. Government MANDATES Cultural & linguistic competency training for HealthCare professionals.
Page 932 The Government will establish Preventative & Wellness Trust fund - initial cost of $30,800,000,000-Billion.
Page 935 21-22 Government will identify specific goals & objectives for prevention & wellness activities. Control You!!
Page 936 Government will develop "Healthy People & National Public Health Performance Standards" Tell me what to eat?
Page 942 Lines 22-25 More Government? Offices of Surgeon General -Public Health Services, Minority Health, Women's Health.
Page 950- 980 BIG Government core public health infrastructure includes workforce capacity, lab systems; health information systems, etc
Page 993 Government will establish school based health clinics. Your kids won't have a chance.
Page 994 School Based Health Clinics will be integrated into the school environment. Say Government Brainwash!
Page 1001 The Government will establish a National Medical Device Registry. Will you be tracked?
Page 1003 9-11 National Medical Dev Reg (iii) other postmarket device surveillance activities" you WILL be tracked.
Page 1018 States give up some of their State Sovereignty
Good notes Sandra..where did you get this information?
Hello Mijo,
I thought I left the reference must have cut it off, you can find the source here: Family Security Matters
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/pub...
I originally found it here:
http://constitutionallyspeaking.wordpres...
Forgot to add the flip side, as a patriot I always read both sides of the argument. When we limit our view to only one side we become a democrat. (democrat remark made in jest)
Health care For America Now
http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/...
Thanks Sandra,
At a cursory view, it seems the first two are biased. The first had a Fox News plug and the second just seemed to be another fear mongering site. Still reviewing the last website.
All,
Are there any other neutral sites out there?
Mijo
Lets answer these questions together.
- Who is "surrounding" the President in the White House?
-Why thirty CZARS and no vetting?
- Do any of the President's advisers have criminal records?
- Why does the FCC have a diversity "czar"?
- Who is Mark Lloyd and how does he plan to "balance" the airwaves?
- Should a communist have the ear of the President of the United States?
- What role did the Apollo Alliance play in crafting bills?
- Does the President know the co-founder of the Weather Underground is a board member of the Apollo Alliance?
- The Apollo Alliance claimed credit for writing the stimulus bill--why was this group allowed to write any portion of this bill?
- How many people in the administration are connected to the movement for a democratic society?
- If the 'public option' health care plan is so good why won't politicians agree to have that as their plan?
- Why does it seem every member of the Obama advisory team hates capitalism, unless those companies (like G.E., GM, Chrysler) are in bed with the administration?
- Why do we need a civilian force the size of the United States military?
- Who is posing a threat to us?
- Who will this "force" be made up of?
- Who is the real enemy?
- Does the president know of a coming event? If not, who builds an army against an unrecognized enemy?
- Why won't the media get off their butts and look into these radicals in the White House? And into this civilian army?
The citation from the Bible speaks for itself. If you read the reference in context and then read the piece again, it should be clear that the scripture reference refers to Jesus' admonition to help the afflicted and those who are less fortunate than most of us.
If the reader thinks the scripture refers to the deliberate distortions, misleading half-truths and inflammatory comments by those who oppose making health care available to the least among us, it does not. The quote is a simple reminder that those who call themselves Christian are called to live the example set before them by the life of Jesus, rather than thinking only of themselves.
Charlie,
The use of biblical texts to validate one's opinion is commendable, but it is often misused if not abused. To imply a sort of Carte blanche from the text you quoted to prove the validity of your point denies the necessity of context in light of other biblical admonitions.
The one that comes to mind at the moment is the Apostle Paul's admonition in 2 Th 3:10-12 {10} For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. {11} For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. {12} Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
Now in light of these two texts which are both infallible, one speaks of those who are simply not able to make their way due to providential hindrances, and the other relates to those who are simply too lazy to work and want to live off the labors of others.
I would conclude by asking which political party panders to the last of these?
Roy Hargrave
Roy,
The two King James passages are not in conflict, and they address different circumstances, as you point out. I would not argue that those who are able should not be expected to earn their keep.
In my experience, there are many who would twist the passage quoting Paul to condemn the offering of public charity, regardless of the personal circumstances. Those same people seem driven by a belief that most persons of darker skin are inherently lazy and thus more inclined to take handouts than work. This is not a political position; it is a philosophical perspective on the nature of man.
There is a difference of outlook between those who would offer compassionate relief without rendering judgment and those who would only extend charity if it were seen as a debt to be repaid. I seem to recall that Jesus had plenty to say on the subject of judging others and on giving without expectation of return.
Your question as to whether or not Democrats or Republicans favor one verse over the other does a disservice to the generous-spirited persons who may be found in both parties. I think there has been far too much pre-judgement and condemnation in the absence of specific knowledge of the individuals.
Charlie,
To address your response, which is rationally persuasive, does however involve our mutual agreement as to the "different circumstances," of one's situation, which is the point I was making. One cannot look at every instance of need from the same perspective. This is, in my opinion one of the root causes of much confusion among those (including the both of us) who desire that those in need would be given a helping hand if they meet the test of both biblical revelation as well as reason.
For instance, when you speak of those with "darker skin" as being seen as inherently lazy by "most" persons, you are "judging" others (which you apparently disdain and rightly so by referring to, as you recalled, that "Jesus had plenty to say on the subject of judging others"). Does this not also apply to your own judgments of the motives of others, which you cannot possibly ascertain with any certainty. I have no intention of being argumentative with you on this point, and furthermore I agree with the great possibility of your persuasion as being correct in many cases, but neither of us can truly know the inner motives of another.
I would readily apply to the African American's plight, which in most sane minds is still quite bleak, the principle of decreasing expectations. From Jesse Jackson to a myriad of even louder voices, the AA community has been told for decades that they are victims. Now, it is somewhat true in principle in many cases, but to continue the mantra is not practically persuasive in raising them out of their doldrums. To keep giving a person more without the necessity of hard work is to create what communism has proven to be true for decades. If a man works less to gain the same as the man who works more, both the man who works more for less and the man who works less for more will finally create a mindset of entitlement without gratitude or the sense of self-worth. Not to mention the sharp decline of productivity in both which translates into buying products from China instead of the U.S.A..
Charlie, if you look at the present environment I'm certain that you will also see clearly that decades of attempting to persuade those offended by past sins by way of a free handout has done little to raise them from their circumstances.
This is where the biblical admonition I quoted comes into full view. "If a man does not work he does not eat." That is, again, if they are not providentially hindered from such ability to do so. Otherwise we continue down the slippery slope of chance instead of believing in providence.
The proof is in the pudding, in that the decline has been set so steep in our nation that today we buy a lottery ticket (chance) instead of praying for God's bountiful blessings (Providence) upon our families, partially through the proper god-ordained means through the sweat of our brow as God pronounced upon fallen Adam in Genesis.
And what have we to show for such so-called progress but more greed, laziness, godlessness and general malaise in the country we both love. The Bible also states in Proverbs 13:4 {4} The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.(Not necessarily rich in temporal things but in the things of God, His bountiful blessing as well as His smiling providence upon us).
One last observation. Charlie, I know plenty of white lazy people who want a handout as well, because we're manufacturing them with our sordid attempts to gain votes instead of cultivating solid citizens with virtues and desires to help those truly in need as well as their own kith and kin.
As a sad reminder of the present reversal of philosophy from the past yet still profound words of JFK, - Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you. This is what we're creating in our present state, in my opinion.
Let us continue the conversation . . .
Roy Hargrave
Hi Roy and Charlie,
I concur with you both if I'm understanding the implied messages correctly.
I've always felt the folks that won't (not can't) help themselves and the folks who help themselves too much make it hard on everybody else.
Sandra,
Can you control the items on your list? I think you can. Get out of the fear and complain zone and find a person to win back the white house.
Mijo