[Vision2020] Melynda a Marxist? I'm shocked

[Ron Smith]

Ms. Opyr,
Thanks so much for quoting the words of Christ at length. I certainly enjoyed reading them. The part at the end troubled me, though. You know very little about me and yet you presume to call me a goat simply because I do not think that passage you quoted in any way refers to state sanctioned redistribution of wealth. Christ certainly calls His people to care for the poor and I will be the first to admit that they do not do it enough. As well, I doubt you are willing to argue that the state should compel each citizen to believe and live by the teachings of Christ. As for your comparison of US taxation to that of France, Germany, and Canada, I can only say that robbery is robbery and no kudos are due to the one who robs less.
 
Merry Christmas
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From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com on behalf of Joan Opyr
Sent: Thu 12/23/2004 7:14 PM
To: Vision2020 Moscow
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Melynda a Marxist? I'm shocked


Ron Smith (whoever he is) writes:

 

"Matthew 25:40 says nothing about a 'Robin Hood' style of stealing from the rich in order to give to the poor, which is clearly what our government does."

 

I wonder to what government Mr. Smith refers?  Does he live in France, or Germany, or perhaps Canada?  He must, because by "our," he cannot possibly be referring to the United States of America, which neither "robs" the rich nor gives much in the way of aid to the poor.  The truly wealthy in this country are taxed at the lowest marginal rate in the industrialized First World, and as for our largesse to the poor, well, let's just say that we're still a cut above China and Russia but that's no recommendation.  (As a testament to our national attractiveness, I'd rank it right up there with "She don't sweat much for a fat girl.")  We do not have universal health care.  We do not provide government grants for paid maternity leave to new mothers.  Social Security, disability, and SSI do not provide an indexed living wage; at this point, they scarcely qualify as subsistence.  

 

When Bill Clinton and Newt Gin-grinch ended welfare as we know it, they replaced it with a system of block grants to the states which allows Scrooges like Idaho to place a two-year lifetime limit on public assistance - public assistance which is no great shakes to begin with.  How many single parents with two kids can actually survive on four-hundred odd per month?  I mean without breaking down and actually eating one of the little tots, a la Jonathan Swift?

 

As for the rest of Mr. Smith's point, let's end the speculation and head straight for the source.  Here's what Matthew 25:31 through 25:43 has to say:

 

When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, he will sit in state on his throne, with all the nations gathered before him.  He will separate men into two groups, the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.  Then the king will say to those on his right hand, "You have my father's blessing; come, enter and possess the kingdom that has been ready for you since the world was made.  For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was a stranger you took me into your home, when naked you clothed me; when I was ill you came to my help, when in prison you visited me."  Then the righteous will reply, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and fed you, or thirsty and gave you drink, a stranger and took you home, or naked and clothed you?  When did we see you ill or in prison, and come to visit you?"  And the king will answer, "I tell you this: anything you did for one of my brothers here, however humble, you did for me."  Then he will say to those upon his left hand, "The curse is upon you; go from my sight to the eternal fire that is ready for the devil and his angels.  For when I was hungry you gave me nothing to eat, when thirsty nothing to drink; when I was a stranger, you gave me no home, when naked you did not clothe me; when I was ill and in prison you did not come to my help."

 

Now it seems pretty clear to me that in Matthew 25, Jesus is spouting some terrifying socialist clap-trap.  He is indeed playing Robin Hood.  If we don't take care of the least among us, then we will have failed the big JC, and when he comes back, he'll be kicking ass and taking names.  Yours, Ron, will be Goat, as in "Billy the."  As John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John sang long, long ago, "Better sheep up."

 

Baa to your humbug,

Joan Opyr/Auntie Establishment      


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