IS BRIAN MELENDEZ QUESTIONING THE FAITH OF REPUBLICANS?
This is from the DFL's website:
"The second reason that I’m a Democrat is because of my faith. The cardinal maxim behind both religion and politics is the Golden Rule: Treat others as we would want to be treated in their circumstances. The Republican Party betrays the Golden Rule: they exalt selfishness over generosity, wealth over merit, power over justice. As Democrats, we fight for social, economic, and environmental justice — values rooted in the Golden Rule."
"The second reason that I’m a Democrat is because of my faith. The cardinal maxim behind both religion and politics is the Golden Rule: Treat others as we would want to be treated in their circumstances. The Republican Party betrays the Golden Rule: they exalt selfishness over generosity, wealth over merit, power over justice. As Democrats, we fight for social, economic, and environmental justice — values rooted in the Golden Rule."
3 Comments:
I've interviewed Brian extensively on this topic before. He's not questioning Republicans' faith. He's questioning their actions which would seem to be in conflict with their faith.
I will disagree with Brian regarding the actions as well because he is wrong. There is a scripture that says give a man a fish and you feed him for a day - teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Welfare programs are giving them the fish. The Republicans answer to that (Work-fare) has been about making people more self sustaining...
There is also a scripture where Jesus says that the poor will be "with you always". We probably can not wipe out poverty completely, but a thriving economy with businesses that are able to hire new employees is certainly one way to keep it way low.....an economy which we have here in Minnesota by the way....
That scripture is from Mark 14:7
"For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will, ye may do them good; but me ye have not always."
The context is a disciple's decision to use an expensive perfume to wash Jesus' feet rather than sell it to provide for the poor.
Jesus' point was NOT that poverty can't be wiped out. It was that he wasn't going to be around forever.
And let's note the second part of that verse...Jesus said you should help the poor whenever you can.
Workfare is a good idea. But the Republican push to cut Minnesota Care eligibility is not. Forcing someone with a life threatening illness to spend most of their resources before they can have help is not "teaching a man to fish".
Yes, they will survive because there is a minimal safety net. But by definition their existence will be at or below the poverty level. And if the disease is chronic, they will be chronically in poverty. Government should help people succeed. Not force them to be poor if they have the misfortune to lose a job and then need catastrophic health care.
It's the Republican action of trying to force sick people into poverty so the rich can continue to pay a lower rate of taxes than the middle class or the poor that Brian is questioning when he says Republicans "exalt wealth over generosity".
The truth is, most Republicans don't act like that. The problem is they keep voting for leaders who do.
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