If you controlled the US gov for a day

[Aloysius]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Oct 4 2005, 12:33 AM']You saw how well this worked in New Orleans
[right][snapback]745391[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
New Orleans expected the federal government to bail them out, so they didn't use their own buses and they didn't do most of their stuff.

anyway, national secuirit concerns might be applicable to such large-scale disasters and obviously in such a big disaster a local government is not sufficient to completely take care of it.

however, ultimately this is a principle of Catholic Social Justice, what can be sufficiently done at the lowest level should be LEFT to the lowest level to be done. lower levels shouldn't make themselves so dependent on the higher levels.

[tnvolunteer]

Dear "son of angels,"
Do you know what a fascist is? Let me help you understand, Hitler, Mussolini, Pol Pot, etc... It is totalitarianism, i.e. forced subscription to anothers ideals whether or not you believe in them. Not everyone in America is a Christian! (It is great if an individual makes the choice to be Christian, but it is a free country and one can worship whatever they choose!) Not everyone wishes to fend off the dogs of war and greed that come from unregulated corporatism. Again, I hate to harp on about this post but I find it very scary the ideas some people within the church hold that are so absolutely contrary to the ideals of Christ. I am so very thankful that my priest and my congregation have respect for our fellow human kind and try to perpetuate the love and tolerance Christ calls us to. As much as you might wish Christ's example would fit your extremist and hate filled views, it certainly will not! I am not attacking you personally (please forgive me if you feel this way) but rather I am warning you- as it is my duty to do so- that these views are contrary to the example set by our Lord. Yes, in American politics the left has often ignored the fact that abortion is wrong (but let's face it-so is the death penalty!!) and pornography is not protected expression. However, the right has ignored the plight of the poor, the weak, the opressed, and creates policy to enable the wealthy to exploit the lower classes. The right also stands idle as giant corporations rape and destroy God's earth with unsustainable economic practices and wages unjustified wars that result in the deaths of thousands upon thousands of innocent civilians. Christ believed and taught peace and tolerance, not death and persecution! To hear such hate and un-charitableness being spewed out by other believers has been a heavy blow to my faith. Let us follow the example of Jesus and the Church- not the ideologies of extremists.

Edited October 4, 2005 by tnvolunteer

[hierochloe]

[quote name='Paladin D' date='Oct 3 2005, 11:17 PM']I will create a grand army of the Republic, to counter the increasing threat of the Separatists.
Wait, wrong universe.
[right][snapback]745362[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
HAHA i almost fell out of my chair laughing....

[son_of_angels]

Ah, you misunderstand my views.

First of all, it was, and still is, a commonly held view in politics that when heresy becomes an issue of state, it is well within the rights of the state to suppress it. None of my ideas institute a singular religion binding on everyone at all.

Secondly, none of them are hate based. I have many Muslim friends, Jewish friends, and otherwise. I simply am against the West allowing Muslims, who are in fact believers in an ancient heresy, to control any non-monarchical sovereignty, because it perpetuates their views and is a haven for anti-Christian activity. We can deal with pompous sheiks concerned over their own wealth, but it is more difficult to deal with nations like Iran, etc.

Thirdly, I am indeed a totalitarian. I believe that the most political thing most people do every week is walk through the church doors. Here they receive their notion of morality, their belief in authority, and participate with other people in a society. In fact, Jesus's teachings are unabashedly political in the broad sense of the term. Also the most religious thing many people do in a single year is walk into the voting booth. ALL GOVERNMENT IS BASED ON RELIGION. For example, our government derives its ideas from a Puritan/Quaker anti-Papist liberal philosophy. Our enumeration of rights, while based partly on natural law, appeal to a code of morality which transcends the boundaries of most modern "political" thought. ALL TRUTH IS GOD'S TRUTH. I am a totalitarian in that I believe the political person is no different than the religious person, and government, like faith, should minister to both parts of the human experience.

The death penalty is no more wrong than war, and neither of them have anything to do with the morality of abortion. Both war and the death penalty arise out of necessity, and ought to be lessened in frequency by necessity. I quote from the Catechism, "the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust agressor." It goes on to say that modern society has other means to "prevent crime" not "punish crime." Whence we can determine that, indeed, if we can prevent crime without using the death penalty, we should, but that has no bearing on the actual use of the death penalty as punishment. After all, the penal system hardly does anything to "prevent crime."

I also talked about making the Catechism the method for determining natural moral law. What is the difference between this and the Constitution? The very few differences between it and the constitution are only in favor of the poor, the outcast, the destitute, not the other way around. It is the constitution which perpetuates a bloated secular society with no concern for the poor, not the authority of the Church.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='tnvolunteer' date='Oct 4 2005, 03:02 AM']Dear "son of angels,"
  Do you know what a fascist is? Let me help you understand, Hitler, Mussolini, Pol Pot, etc... It is totalitarianism, i.e. forced subscription to anothers ideals whether or not you believe in them. Not everyone in America is a Christian! (It is great if an individual makes the choice to be Christian, but it is a free country and one can worship whatever they choose!) Not everyone wishes to fend off the dogs of war and greed that come from unregulated corporatism. Again, I hate to harp on about this post but I find it very scary the ideas some people within the church hold that are so absolutely contrary to the ideals of Christ. I am so very thankful that my priest and my congregation have respect for our fellow human kind and try to perpetuate the love and tolerance Christ calls us to. As much as you might wish Christ's example would fit your extremist and hate filled views, it certainly will not! I am not attacking you personally (please forgive me if you feel this way) but rather I am warning you- as it is my duty to do so- that these views are contrary to the example set by our Lord. Yes, in American politics the left has often ignored the fact that abortion is wrong (but let's face it-so is the death penalty!!) and pornography is not protected expression. However, the right has ignored the plight of the poor, the weak, the opressed, and creates policy to enable the wealthy to exploit the lower classes. The right also stands idle as giant corporations rape and destroy God's earth with unsustainable economic practices and wages unjustified wars that result in the deaths of thousands upon thousands of innocent civilians. Christ believed and taught peace and tolerance, not death and persecution! To hear such hate and un-charitableness being spewed out by other believers has been a heavy blow to my faith. Let us follow the example of Jesus and the Church- not the ideologies of extremists.
[right][snapback]745538[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

Are you reading different posts than the rest of us??/

[dspen2005]

make the pope the SUPREME AND ONLY JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT

[homeschoolmom]

I'd like to buy the world a home and furnish it with love,
Grow apple trees and honey bees, and snow white turtle doves.
I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony,
I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company.

It's the real thing, Coke is what the world wants today.

(and I also like the cheesecake for lunch thing.)

[cmotherofpirl]

great minds think alike

[Jedi_StClaire]

[quote name='Paladin D' date='Oct 3 2005, 11:17 PM']I will create a grand army of the Republic, to counter the increasing threat of the Separatists.
Wait, wrong universe.
[right][snapback]745362[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

As long as you put an end to corruption and promise not to turn evil


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Um, since evolution EXCLUDES GOD from creation of life (man, animals, the universe, etc), its bunk. I did NOT evolve from a monkey.

Creationism (the 10,000 year old Earth or whatever) is what I don't believe in. I believe that GOD created everything. The only "evolution" is adaptation like flying squirrels and tree frogs. And some animals that are descendants of prehistoric animals (elephants and mammoths, triceratops and rhinocerous for example)/

But I will NOT believe that humans evolved from monkeys!


Evolution is a THEORY, its not proven.

[Paladin D]

[quote name='Jedi_StClaire' date='Oct 4 2005, 09:59 AM']As long as you put an end to corruption and promise not to turn evil
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++[right][snapback]745670[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]



Once I gain the position, I promise to hand it over to the Papacy.

[nacnewman006]

[quote name='tnvolunteer' date='Oct 4 2005, 06:38 AM']If I were in charge.... 
1. Ban abortion.
2. Ban the death penalty.
3. Repeal the tax cuts made for the wealthy.
4. Outlaw off-shore tax havens.
5. Keep American industry strong by creating state run corporations.
6. Phase- out the use of fossil fuels.
7. Ensure every American has a job, health care, and free public (including university) education.
8. Raise the minimum wage.
9. Ensure the freedom of religion for all.
10. Foster understanding and repect between the west and Islam.
11. I would practice my Catholic/ Christian faith and feel grateful that I have the freedom to do so.
[right][snapback]745306[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

I would definitely not agree with some of these. The wealthy get tax cuts because they pay all of the taxes. It is a fact that the top 20% of income brackets pays 80% of taxes. And, 50% of people pay no taxes. Who's gonna pay for free university? What if I want to go to a private university that wants no gov't interference?
If I was the head of the gov't for a day, I'd make a permanent Catholic monarchy. I wouldn't have to be the king (we'd find somebody royal), but we could make some cool laws. And, it would make gov't so much simpler.

[tojo]

[i][quote name='tnvolunteer' date='Oct 3 2005, 11:25 PM']
Wow, some of the things said on this particular post are EXTREMELY un-Christian! Here are some shameful quotes:

[QUOTE] Repeal the seperation of Church and State. [QUOTE] maddest.gif

How would you feel if Christians were the minority in this country and you were forced to obey pagan gods? This nation is based on freedoms, that includes religion. We must respect everyones right to their own faith! [right][snapback]745287[/snapback][/right]
[/quote][/i]

Did I elaborate on what I meant by this? How dare you judge me! The whole speration of Church and state idea has caused endless trouble for peoples of all faiths in this country, because it is now used to suppress all religions, especially Christianity. I didn't say I would merge Church and State, did I? And even if I had proposed that, why do you assume that automatically means that religious minorities will be oppressed? Almost every European nation has an established state religion, and religious minorities and secularism flourish there.

[i][quote name='tnvolunteer' date='Oct 3 2005, 11:25 PM']
These posts sound like a bunch of southern baptist fundamental rants! Let's desire to further Christ's kingdom not promote hate, intolerance, injustice, and evil. Blessed are the peacemakers! [right][snapback]745287[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
[/i]
You dare preach to us about promoting hate and intolerance, while characterizing Southern Baptists fundamentalists as people who rant in promotion of hate, intolerance, injustice, and evil? O hypocrit, remove the beam first from thine own eye!

[tnvolunteer]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[quote]ALL GOVERNMENT IS BASED ON RELIGION.[/quote]

That is contrary to the principles this country was founded upon. The settlers of massachusetts were indeed puritans who founded a theocracy (let us note they were escaping from religious intoleration in England and wanted their views respected but not forced upon non-puritans). Indeed theocracy was such a good idea that people were burned at the stake as witches! The founding fathers of our nation (many were deists not Christians) saw how damaging theocracy was and banned it in the constitution. Our government is based on ideas from the enlightenment, and ancient philosophies of the Greek tradition. Indeed the enlightenment rejected religion as the basis for political process. So, our government is not based on religion, nor should it ever be.

[quote]The death penalty is no more wrong than war, and neither of them have anything to do with the morality of abortion.[/quote]

Why not? It's all killing. War is can be justified (see the Vatican's "just war doctrine" but the illegal war in Iraq does not fit the doctrine. No, I am not saying the US governmnet must follow the Vatican- but I would like to. Also, we must state the war is wrong according to ethical philosophy. Death penalty: "the first shall be last and the last shall be first" the death penalty prevents a person guilty of a crime to confess, repent, and find God's salvation. By killing criminals we deny God the ability to claim one of his children. Also, murder cannot justify murder.

[quote]The very few differences between it and the constitution are only in favor of the poor, the outcast, the destitute, not the other way around[/quote]

Hence, we have through leaders such as FDR, created social programs to aid the poor. The Church should also do as much as it can.

[quote]I simply am against the West allowing Muslims, who are in fact believers in an ancient heresy, to control any non-monarchical sovereignty, because it perpetuates their views and is a haven for anti-Christian activity.[/quote]

What do you intend to do? Conquer them? Impose Christianity upon them? First of all the US is not strong enough to conquer all of Islam. Secondly, they think Christians are heretics and want us to follow their ways. The best solution is mutual respect for them (removing our troops from holy places) then they will respect us. We all have a right to this earth.

[quote]But I will NOT believe that humans evolved from monkeys!  Evolution is a THEORY, its not proven.[/quote]

Most current antrhopological research indicates humans did evolve due to natural selection just like flying squirrels - that is evolution. Also, there were many species of human like animals living at the same time throughout history. Our species simply won out. In science the word "theory" has a different meaning than in everyday English. A scientific theory is regarded as fact. We do not interpret the Bible as a literal account of creation, therefore could God not have created humans using evolution? Science is merely a way to understand how God works.

[quote]I would definitely not agree with some of these. The wealthy get tax cuts because they pay all of the taxes. It is a fact that the top 20% of income brackets pays 80% of taxes. And, 50% of people pay no taxes.[/quote]

The wealthy (income of 326,450 and up) pay taxes at 35%. The poor pay 10-15% (incomes less than $15,000). When the poor pay there share it is much more a burden than the rich. The rich have more, they have used societies recources to obtaian more. They owe a greater share of the tax burden. 50% percent pay no taxes?? Actually when accounting for dependants (remember some people have kids and elderly in there care) 35% don't pay taxes (like my little brother-he is part of that 35%) If we want a more fair tax scheme hold the weathiest corporations accountable. In the 1960's they paid 68% of the taxes, today they pay only 24% (even though they make more today) Why? They hide it in tax havens, and the Republicans give them insane breaks that cause the middle class to shoulder the heaviest tax burdens!

[quote]You dare preach to us about promoting hate and intolerance, while characterizing Southern Baptists fundamentalists as people who rant in promotion of hate, intolerance, injustice, and evil? O hypocrit, remove the beam first from thine own eye![/quote]

Southern Baptists do preach injustice: for women, (be subservient) They are the only religious group to support the illegal killing in Iraq. Many of their members are openly hostile towards gays.