by Christine Davidson
If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday. ~Pearl Buck
The Book of Mormon gives a precise definition of socialism. Anciently, it was called the philosophy of Gadianton. People called the Gadiantons robbers, for they had an organized system of plunder. In this ancient American history, the Gadiantons took over the government and judgment seats, thereby legalizing their plunder. At that time, the democratic nation, called the Nephites, began to build up and support this philosophy of plunder. Soon the Gadiantons had "seduced the more part of the righteous until they had come down to believe in their works and partake of their spoils." (Helaman 6:18) Other people's stuff, the fruits of other people's labors, were just too tempting. None of them would think of stealing, but if the government did it, it was OK.
Gadianton was a consumate flatterer.
Now, today's news.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, in a report at Politico.com, said the following: (about Obama) "He's the quarterback, he's the captain--- everybody is pulling for him." The title of this report? "Obama Tries to Seduce Republicans". Sound familiar?
On the surface, socialism is seductive, but its fruits are the bondage of poverty.
Christine Davidson is the author of Epic World, a collection of free epic stories (download your free copy)
We Are All Socialists Now
by Maurine Proctor
As the Senate prepares to pass the stimulus package today, Newsweek has a cover story that names the "S" word. "We are All Socialists Now" the cover story gloats.
They say it's time to quit pretending that we are a free market nation and openly acknowledge what we are. They say, we are starting to look like France.
Newsweek reports: "If we fail to acknowledge the reality of the growing role of government in the economy, insisting instead on fighting 21st-century wars with 20th-century terms and tactics [how's that for calling capitalism outmoded?], then we are doomed to a fractious and unedifying debate. The sooner we understand where we truly stand, the sooner we can think more clearly about how to use government in today's world. [Wake up all, you capitalist cretins, and bow to the inevitable.]
"As the Obama administration presses the largest fiscal bill in American history, caps the salaries of executives at institutions receiving federal aid at $500,000 and introduces a new plan to rescue the banking industry, the unemployment rate is at its highest in 16 years. The Dow has slumped to 1998 levels, and last year mortgage foreclosures rose 81 percent.
"All of this is unfolding in an economy that can no longer be understood, even in passing, as the Great Society vs. the Gipper. Whether we like it or not-or even whether many people have thought much about it or not-the numbers clearly suggest that we are headed in a more European direction.
"A decade ago U.S. government spending was 34.3 percent of GDP, compared with 48.2 percent in the euro zone-a roughly 14-point gap, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In 2010 U.S. spending is expected to be 39.9 percent of GDP, compared with 47.1 percent in the euro zone-a gap of less than 8 points. As entitlement spending rises over the next decade, we will become even more French."
Less, you doubted there's the acknowledgment.
So c'mon all you capitalists. They say. it's time to throw up your hands and admit our nation has changed.
And while, according to Newsweek, our economy is morphing toward the "S" word, President Obama insists we were dragging our feet on the stimulus bill.. (After all, he's been in office almost three weeks now.)
Hurry, Hurry
You can't spend a trillion dollars too quickly, according to our leaders. Why spend all that extra time on such silly things as debate, scrutiny and careful analysis? Who is the genius who has thoroughly digested the hundreds of pages of the bill and considered its impact on the country?
President Obama says, "Because if we don't move swiftly to put this [stimulus] plan in motion, our economic crisis could become a national catastrophe."
When the House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wisc) was asked by NPR about the perceived lack of direction from Congress as to how money in the stimulus package should be spent, he answered, "So what?"
0 comments:
Post a Comment