imo, legislation cannot fix a nation, only righteousness can. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (King James Version) "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." of course God was talking about isreal/judah. but it is applicable since he sent his son out on the highways and bi-ways to seek and save... will they hear or will they forbear?
You are right, legislation alone cannot fix a nation, but there must be something about government (though government is execution, not legislation) that is necessary and good, according to Romans 13...
Also, we cannot expect non-Christians to behave like Christians, nor is it biblical to withdraw from the world. Legislation needs to be focused on protecting people from others violating their rights and not trying to use the law to try and turn non-Christians into negligibly more moral people. Christ is after their hearts, not their rule-following.
Nyanda, my point exactly. I don't think we need more so-called programs. We have too many as it is. The Gov has become enablers. There's a lot of folks that live off these "programs" just because. Just because they can. Just because they are available. Just because they can get away with it. When my uncle had a massive stroke 30 years ago that left him unable to work, he was told that he did not qualify for any "assistance" because : his 10 year old work truck was too new, he made Three dollars and seventy seven cents too much the previous year to qualify, and he had 3 able bodied grown children that could support him until he could re-apply the following year. At the same time, 1 mile down the road, lived a family of 7 drawing welfare, foodstamps, Hud section 8, and Title 1 assistance because the husband was a "slow learner" so he was declared disabled. He wasn't so slow when it came to making babies, but just when it came to work. All 7 children grew up to draw these same benefits. They drove the best cars in the neighborhood and wore the nicest clothes. Compliments of good old Uncle Sam.
Archi, you have a lot of Thoreau in you, my friend! Very well put. Have you ever read "Civil Disobediance?"
Abe, Tulip, I think the system has gotten out of hand. you can't keep fishing for a guy while he lies in the shade sippin' a soda pop demanding more fish.
Yes, the current -um,er, administration, has certainly made it easier for quite a few, that's what he was elected to do. He's making it very hard for qute a few more, but I'll stop now before i say too much and get kicked off the site.
God bless you! Thanks so much for your thoughts! That's what keeps these forums going!
Right, Edw, I'm glad you stopped. As I was reading I started getting up to start the water to boil for that pot of grits. :boxing:
Don't be messin' wit my President!! :laugh:
Culturally speaking, those who are not black and not Democrat will probably not understand the hope that President Obama represents for us. We who have sat at our parents and grandparents feet and listened to what they went through in this country were ecstatic to have one of our own make it to that House and that esteemed place in history.
I know many don't like what he's doing and the decisions being made. As for me, I am willing to see it through and see what becomes of the decisions he has made. I support him and pray for him. Time will tell.
He would have to do a whole lot to do worse than what we've recently had. Yeah, I said it! :laugh:
I am proud to pay a lot of taxes because I make a lot of money. In fact, I think it is God who is letting me make that money, and therefore I think part of my earned money could be taken to contribute to social systems and programs to help other people in my country who are much less fortunate than I am. I hope I can contribute still for a long time and I also hope that I never have to use it.
I do not know if it makes people more dependant on the government. I know that without social programs, people become dependant on the "good being" of their fellow citizens and that is something that definitely does not work. It provoces judgementality (who will be helped and who not) and leads to social and racial injustice.
Teaching people how to fish will only be useful when there is fish in the water when handing out the bait... Meanwhile these people have to eat and yes, they might want to have a beer as well. But fishing is not difficult to learn so in a few monthes, they should be off the programs.
I think here it is where it goes wrong for everybody. People stay to long on the programs.
So the example of the bears should not be by feeding them so they by keep doing so can be fenced, but breaking the fences down (their unemployment for example) so the bear can walk out and hunt for his own food.
Abuse is the worst that can happen with tax money in any country. Be it by governments (in brazil), be it by citizens (like in the USA as I come to know now).
Just giving money never works, not even in so called socialists countries in Europe.
:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
Oooh and there is one more thing I would like to point out. I am not just a citizen of a socialist county. In my home and my school, as in many homes and schools, we were taught gratitude and loyalty to the United States of America (among others) as they saved and freed us - by giving the precious lives of their military man - from nazi Germany.
Soon, to be exact on the 4th of May each year, at 20.00 hours sharp our country keeps one minute silence to remember and honour those who have been exterminated in the camps or have given their lives for our freedom and that includes your fathers and maybe grandfathers. We look highly upon you american people and it is not because of the bold and the beautiful.....
However we frown when you are being so harsh on your own people when they struggle with poverty, sickness and structural unemployment. Are these the same americans?
I can understand your feelings. My hope is that you believe me when I say I am not disparging the man, but his actions. In the last 30 years this country has borrowed over 1 trillion dollars. In the first 8 months of his administration this country borrowed 1 trillion dollars! This is "credit card" spending. At this rate we will go BROKE! In just a few years you will find yourself paying almost 50 % of your income to "the government" so that they can pay our "debtors" and pay for our "government". Biblical standards such as Marriage will be altered and many more "liberal" morals will become pervasive.
I Love my Country...I have fought for my Country. I want her to remain Democratic and Free. Runned by the people (not by one man) and with a government that does the Will of the people (not have policy "crammed" down our throats).
I hope that we can continue to discuss matters like this without heated emotions and I want to say again that I have nothing against the man...it is his "agenda" that I do not want.
All is well. Edw and I talk on the phone and on Facebook and we have this running joke about throwing grits. I love having debate and am able to do so with my emotions in check. I understand your viewpoint, I do. I am not very political, if you know what I mean, and I am only able to talk about these things intelligently in a very surface way. So, I won't go deep, I know my limitations. Again, I understand and am praying for our country and our President.
Sos,
I think people are often too critical on the poor. It is very easy to criticize when you have never been in that position. I know what you mean when you ask why are we so critical of our own? I feel the same way about black on black crime. It is extremely shameful, especially when observed from someone on the outside.
Someone once proposed a really unusual solution. What if drugs were all simply legalized? This would do away with a LOT of crime. However, for those who wish to liquify their brains, we would need a safe place that cared for them. But, that would cost us less than all of the law enforcement and prison. Once a person checks into the drug b&b, all needs are met as well as providing them the finest and safest drugs of their choice. This would eliminate so much crime and welfare.
Once upon a time, to receive assistance people provided public services. Schools were built, roads and bridges constructed, etc. Why does this no longer happen?
As for those who truly need to be cared for, one hopes we are still a Christian nation and will care for our people who cannot care for themselves.
Lastly, I heard another unusual suggestion today. Congress should receive the same benefits as social security and medicare provide. It would be interesting to see how these two change if that happened. Sadly, my social security has been stolen from me due to nonsense called "double dipping" and "social security recovery", but it would be nice if someone actually were to receive the benefits they invested it.
And yes, I know I went birdwalking. Thank you for the opportunity to indulge in a bit of that.
