Paul Ryan once said: "Ayn Rand, more than anyone else, did a fantastic job of explaining the morality of capitalism." The Wisconsin congressman and GOP nominee for vice-president has been known to give copies of Rand's books for gifts and has told many he bases policy after Rand's views. What did Rand believe so strongly? "What I am fighting is the idea that charity is a moral duty," once said the philosopher, and perhaps that is why Ryan has fought to cut Medicare and lead a revolution in the U.S. House to gut social services.
Roman Catholics, evangelicals and mainline Christians are among the many faith voices in the U.S. that have condemned Ryan's efforts.
Faculty at Georgetown University wrote Ryan a letter last year that stated in part: "...your budget appears to reflect the values of your favorite philosopher, Ayn Rand, rather than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her call to selfishness and her antagonism toward religion are antithetical to the Gospel values of compassion and love."
Ryan's budget proposals affects the support of seniors, cut assistance to programs aimed at combating childhood hunger, and would leave people who have lost their jobs without heat during cold winter months. This isn't hyperbole but reasoned analysis of his budget goals from non-partisan groups like the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Ryan's plans would eventually end "everything from veterans' programs to medical and scientific research, highways, education, nearly all programs for low-income families," according to the CBPP.
At the same time, Ryan and his allies - including Mitt Romney - want to cut taxes for the wealthiest. That is why I joined over 60 religious leaders last week in writing to Congress that: "Favoring the wealthiest 2% over working families is irresponsible public policy that fails a basic moral test. We are not economists or tax experts. But this debate is about more than dry statistics or competing fiscal theories. Ultimately, these choices reflect our values and reveal our priorities as a nation. We urge Members of Congress to put families and workers before ideological agendas that favor the powerful."
Christians can come to different conclusions on difficult issues and there is no Christian ticket in this presidential election. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are both faithful people and we should assume the same of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.
Yet President Obama - who fought to extend health care to all Americans - and Mitt Romney, who has promised to cut health benefits even to the elderly (as Paul Ryan has advanced) have certain moral differences in their platforms that should give all Americans regardless of faith background or ideology pause.
Are we our brother's keeper, our sister's keeper?
Or are we fighting the idea that taking care of one another is a moral responsibility?
This election will matter.
Follow Rev. Chuck Currie on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RevChuckCurrie
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 |
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| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
His recent and phony conversion away from Ayn Rand is a phony scam to try to make his image more palatable to independents and moderates. He knows he needs moderates and independents because he has been contemplating higher political office since he was one of the people being talked about for a potential presidential run this year and he knew he was one of the guys being considered for VP this year. Paul Ryan figured out that he had to conceal his true Ayn Rand affinity and support of her philosophy in order to pursue higher political office. His new-found and fake disapproval of Ayn Rand is just a case of him hiding his true support of Ayn Rand.
And BTW Ayn Rand, the supposed rugged individualist, ended up leaning on the government for both social security and medicare so she turned out to be a big phony and a hypocrite.
Would not the better question be: Do we want to hold to our duty or shirk it and make government the keeper of our brothers, our sisters and ourselves?
At this point, we would think that conservative Christians would object to the elimination of moral obligations but there are three factors that the Republicans can rely on to keep religiously conservative Christians loyal to their cause. First, the Conservative brand. Religiously conservative Christians can rarely distinguish between political conservatism and religious conservatism. Second, conservative Christians prefer to follow authority figures and that is conducive to both the business model and the Republican Party. And third, the abortion issue. These three factors prevent many conservative Christians from seeing the moral bankruptcy of the Republican Party's policies.
And DON'T bring up that old propaganda from the revolution that murdered her about "Let them eat cake". That lie was proven long ago.
Um, no "We urge Members of Congress to put CITIZENS FAMILIES AND WORKERS OF THE USA before ideological agendas that favor the powerful."
We demand that Congress return from their treasonous ways and become once again Patriots of the USA.
Outsourcing jobs, and importing more immigrants will not support America, it will cause and is causing it's collapse. How much debt does Congress think our children can bear?
"it's aint heavy, their my brother?" Outrageous!!
Trillions of dollars are being poured into countries that do not support Human Rights, the money being lost to corruption, and jobs are being sent to countries that do not support Human Rights but support corruption and terrible human abuses, and crimes against humanity.
Social engineering scientists "claim" that this is to prevent an environmental and human catastrope in developing nations but the facts don't add up. Check the facts folks!!
The rich are simply getting richer, developing countries are producing even worse pollution then the west, are refusing reasonable environemtal guidelines, and their people are being enslaved.
Ironic, would be putting in nicely.
China is a government that uses military force to maintain control over hundreds of millions that live in conditions of economic deprivation beyond our American understanding. And their poverty supports the benefits that this bloviator thinks every American must have.
Try this, Rev. Currie, after the next time you criticize a politician that sincerely desires for us to live within our means. Go to the wall where you have your favorite clever little self righteous saying posted and turn it over. What does that sticker on the back say...?
It was provided to you by the poverty of hundreds of millions. Are you your brother's keeper?
Who writes such nonssense? Have you ever, I don't know, watched 5 minutes of fox news?
Did Ryan say how well she explained the reconcilation of her free-market, anti-government philosphy with how she wound up in the last years of her life on the goverment dole under an assumed name?
Jesus looked at him and said: “How difficult a thing it will be for those having money to make their way into the kingdom of God! It is easier, in fact, for a camel to get through the eye of a sewing needle than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God.” -Luke 18:24, 25
The rich tend to have gotten rich as a result of how uncharitable they are towards their fellow man. While there are exceptions, it is the case often enough to prompt things such as that passage.
24 Jesus looked at him and said: “How difficult a thing it will be for those having money to make their way into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier, in fact, for a camel to get through the eye of a sewing needle than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard this said: “Who possibly can be saved?” 27 He said: “The things impossible with men are possible with God.” 28 But Peter said: “Look! We have left our own things and followed you.” 29 He said to them: “Truly I say to YOU, There is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 who will not in any way get many