Posted by Tina
“Wealth: To help the poor on his South American visit, Pope Francis has come out harder than ever against capitalism, calling the making of money “devil´s dung.” How sad, when capitalism has freed so many from poverty. The tone of the trip was so in line with the region´s left-wing, anti-American regimes that President Evo Morales might be forgiven for thinking His Holiness would actually like the tacky gift he presented him with in Bolivia: a blasphemous sculpture of Christ crucified on a hammer and sickle, the emblem of communism and its 100 million dead.” – IBD Editorial
Read more here.
Related :
Why the recent Papal Encyclical is dead wrong —
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2015/07/06/have-fossil-fuels-diminished-the-worlds-sustainability-and-resilience/
(This is but one of several articles on Anthony Watts blog.)
The pope seems more interested in politics than saving souls.
Pie the following from your article link on the Popes outrageous GW claims also makes the case against the liberal “white privilege” meme:
Those industrious white folks are just too nasty and stingy to share the wealth.
Oh yeah, if that’s true please explain how the horders of wealth managed to achieve the condition that “human wellbeing is at or near its peak by virtually every objective broad measure.”
And before any of you lefties try to claim the government is responsible please remember that the upper and middle class producers of the world pay the most in taxes…either through private investment, business investment or taxes poor people’s lives have improved across the globe. Capitalism works!
So when will you open the Vatican coffers, sir?
The more we hear of this pope’s convoluted “thinking” the more that rational folks will seek spiritual guidance elsewhere.
Re #2 Tina “Those industrious white folks are just too nasty and stingy to share the wealth.”
Not to mention yellow privilege. Those industrious yellow folks in Asia (China, Taiwan, Japan etc.) are just too nasty and stingy to share the wealth.
The left is an ass.
The pope is combatting the evils of fascism. The prior pope sent political letters to be read in church not a word then.
jesus was a Progressive Liberal in Political Terms.
The Old Testament is not to be how we govern.
This Pope deserves proper respect fr doing what is right.
capitalism…. without a balance of socialism makes Money GOD
Dewey respects the Pope! All hail Dewey! Evidently Dewey does not understand that the Catholic Church has been a capitalist enterprise since its inception.
Those monks do make some good wine, though.
If Jesus was a Progressive Liberal then Satan is Santa Claus.
On second thought : Maybe Dewey is right, it could be Jesus was (is) a Progressive Liberal depending on how you interpret “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.”
That could be read in the Progressive Liberal canon as “Let Progressive Liberals raise taxes as high as we damn well please, create as many new taxes as we damn well please and shut your damn yap.”
Pie I understand exactly who and what the Catholic Church is. Did I say give the Church respect? NO!
I respect no organized religion which goal is to control the population. That said Sister Simone Campbell and This pope are doing good things.
Pie My roomate in NorCal was a staunch Conservative Catholic I know more than you think about the inner workings and falsehoods of the catholic church.
The only thing worse is being here at the top of the south seeing the ignorance in real time. I will be traveling down the eastern coastline soon to document the ignorance that lies in the conservatives here. And Yes racism is very much a conservative value and they are darn proud of it except when a camera is around.
Dewey: “The pope is combatting the evils of fascism.”
Oh really? In case you have trouble connecting the dots, here’s the definition of fascism:
Fascism:
The Pope hails from Argentina, a nation with a strong history of fascism:
SJSU:
economonitor.com:
“capitalism…. without a balance of socialism makes Money GOD”
The ever present group think! If there is a single greedy capitalist then all capitalists are greedy and capitalism wrong and unworkable.
Jesus Christ never once said, “Be charitable through your local government”…I defy you to find a single passage! He did encourage individuals to be personally charitable.
Capitalism has uplifted millions of people all around the world. In fact it’s because of capitalism and freedom that poverty has shrunk and people are better off. Even the very progressive lefty Bono was gracious enough to admit it after spending years trying to do it the government way:
Forbes:
Forbes:
Get a clue Dewey. You’re living in a nation of opportunity when it’s functioning as intended! Wake up! That nation is being undermined by the left nuts who ignorantly believe corporatism, fascism, Marxism, and socialism are superior. Their policies and programs are strangling us, diminishing self reliance and the entrepreneurial spirit.
Contrary to the left and Obama claiming the US is not a Christian nation the Supreme Court ruled it is.
Ever hear of Supreme Court Decision, 1892 Church of the Holy Trinity Decision v United States? I hadn’t until this morning and found the below very interesting.
It just amazes me how progressive Democrats keep trying to rewrite our history and to the extreme measures they will go to promote the communist/progressive agenda.
“Christian nation[edit]
The case is famous for Justice Brewer’s statements that America is a “Christian nation.”
These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation. 143 U.S. 457 (1892)[3]
In a 1905 book, Justice Brewer explained further:
But in what sense can it be called a Christian nation? Not in the sense that Christianity is the established religion or that people are in any matter compelled to support it. On the contrary, the Constitution specifically provides that ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.’ Neither is it Christian in the sense that all of its citizens are either in fact or name Christian. On the contrary, all religions have free scope within our borders. Numbers of our people profess other religions, and many reject all. Nor is it Christian in the sense that a profession of Christianity is a condition of holding office or otherwise engaging in public service, or essential to recognition either politically or socially. In fact, the government as a legal organization is independent of all religions. Nevertheless, we constantly speak of this republic as a Christian Nation–in fact, as the leading Christian Nation of the world. This popular use of the term certainly has significance. It is not a mere creation of the imagination. It is not a term of derision but has substantial basis–one which justifies its use.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Holy_Trinity_v._United_States#Christian_nation
This pope’s words on capitalism are nothing new. The Catholic Church has critiqued capitalism for a long time. In 1987, Pope John Paul II wrote, ” “The tension between East and West is an opposition… between two concepts of the development of individuals and peoples, both concepts being imperfect and in need of radical correction… This is one of the reasons why the Church’s social doctrine adopts a critical attitude towards both liberal capitalism and Marxist collectivism.”
Similar critiques about the necessary of balancing capitalism with socialism were made by Martin Luther King, Jr.
The pope isn’t denigrating the good that free markets have done, he’s saying the system is in need of reform. That’s not a controversial opinion to most people. Capitalism isn’t perfect and nearly everyone believes that there should be limits, whether they’d admit it or not.
Calm down Dewey. Take your Ritalin.
Who ever said capitalism is perfect? Humans are not perfect. Free market capitalism just happens to be the best system for raising the standard of living for more people than any other system.
Capitalism does not need socialism to limit the abuses by unscrupulous people. A Democratic Republic like ours can handle that. The notion that socialism be around to balance or tame capitalism is a silly vanity of socialist progressives.
Dewey’s and Chris’ comments are the perfect example of how progressives think.
They don’t.
Re #9 Tina : Wonderful post. But it is wasted on the likes of Dewey and Chris. They just plug their ears, shut their eyes and do the progressive zombie chant, “No, no, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.” (repeat)
Just saw a story on Breitbart regarding the pope –
http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/07/11/jerry-brown-becomes-climate-change-expert-for-pope-francis/
Nearly fell off my chair laughing at the idea that anyone would ask Moonbeam for anything other than for directions to the restroom.
Tina fascism:Like I said it is now called Corporatism and the dictator? The corporate money that threatens politicians and congress. The Oligarchy.
“Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power.” – Benito Mussolini.
Yes we have crossed over to corporatism which I prefer to call fascism here to fit the old school terms used here.
Multinational Corporations, Foreign Governments, and Banks control everything in this Citizens United country.
we gave our economy to our enemy China, For Greedy 1% profit. We can not even make a computer here.
Peggy: “Contrary to the left and Obama claiming the US is not a Christian nation the Supreme Court ruled it is.”
The Supreme Court was not designed to write legislation. That is not the Job of the courts and they are not a monarchy.
WHy do people think religious freedom is to dictate to others how to live taking away their freedom?
Jesus gave us Freewill. The founding fathers wanted people to be free to practice their religion freely. Period.
Tina:
Notable characteristics of fascism:
1) The suppression of organized labor (organized labor is the bane of corporations and the only real check on corporate power other than government or the legal system.
2) Supremacy of the military (it is necessary to produce and protect corporate profits abroad and threats from abroad)
3) Cronyism and governmental corruption (it is very beneficial to have ex-corporate employees run the agencies or make the laws that are supposed to regulate or check corporations);
4) Fraudulent elections (especially those where corporations run the machinery of elections and count the votes or where judges decide their outcomes);
5) Nationalism (disdain for other countries that might promote individual rights)
6)Obsession with national security (anti-corporatists are a security risk to the corporate status quo)
7) Control of the media (propaganda works)
8) Obsession with crime and punishment (anti-corporatists belong in jail)
9) Disdain for intellectuals and the arts (these people see corporatism for what it is and are highly individualistic)
10) All of these characteristics have a fairly obvious corporate component to them or produce a fairly obvious corporate benefit.
Even Britt’s last two characteristics, the merger of state with the dominant religion and rampant suppression of divorce, abortion and homosexuality produce at least some indirect corporate benefit.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7260.htm
America is a corporate Fascist State even your friend Trump says America is a Brand.
Our wars are fought to protect corporate interests not security. Time to admit what America Has become and fix it.
Chris: “Capitalism isn’t perfect and nearly everyone believes that there should be limits, whether they’d admit it or not.”
Capitalism supported by the rule of law isn’t perfect but it is superior to big government control of business.
No conservative I know has ever suggested having no limits on business or absolute unfettered business; we ask for reasonable, workable regulation and taxation.
The capitalist system allowed Bernie Maydoff to steal from his clients. The rule of law and the courts were there to punish those who abused the system and ripped people off.
What has happened to Maydoff, his family and colleagues? A 2013 report outlines some of what has happened: Maydoff went to jail and his assets were seized. His brother Peter got a ten year sentence and had all of his assets seized. DiPascali, the front man who dealt with clients, admitted to knowingly constructing false documents. He pleaded guilty on ten counts and is cooperating with the government, testifying about the involvement of five others. In 2010, Irving Picard, the trustee overseeing the bankruptcy of Bernard Madoff’s investment firm launched a $19.6 billion lawsuit against Austrian banker Sonja Kohn and dozens of related firms. Earlier this year, Ms. Kohn, the chairwoman of Bank Medici, testified at trial brought by Grant Thornton, the liquidators of Mr. Madoff’s U.K. business, to reclaim about £33 million ($49.1 million) on behalf of investors in his Ponzi scheme. Other lawsuits have been filed and are pending.
No system can stop white collar crime. Under big government systems the leadership can deal with those criminals and will use the power of government to protect and shield them.
In a big federal government fraud and abuse is just as rampant, if not more so, but it isn’t regularly reported or prosecuted. Big government supporters don’t seem to mind about that. In fact, although it is the politician, bureaucrats, and officials that have the power to make regulation and law, grant fat bonuses, pad the budgets, cook the books, plan extravagant “conference,” make deals with foreigners or foreign government…the list goes on…most that prefer big government only hold (evil) corporate people accountable.
When you consider all of the various programs, departments, personal agenda, and the trillions of dollars that flow to Washington, is it surprising that there is waste, fraud, theft, and abuse of power? I just wish the left would bother to notice.
Peggy: “Contrary to the left and Obama claiming the US is not a Christian nation the Supreme Court ruled it is.”
Peggy, the Supreme Court can’t “rule” on issues which are not brought before it. The case you mentioned was not meant to decide whether or not the United States is a Christian nation–that’s not even a Constitutional question, and it’s so vague that it could never be an issue the Supreme Court could weigh in on. The case was about an immigration issue. Justice Brewer did use the idea that the U.S. is a Christian nation as the rationale in his ruling, but this rationale has been criticized by many on both the left and right, including by Justice Scalia, who criticized the ruling as an example of judicial activism. It’s also a pretty irrelevant ruling with little bearing on law today, as the immigration law it was in reference to no longer exists.
There’s a lot of interesting analysis of the case here:
http://ejas.revues.org/8882
I get uncomfortable with the phrase “Christian nation,” though it might help if people clarified what they meant when they use that phrase. If you’re just saying that our nation has Christian roots, or that our culture and people are heavily influenced by Christianity, then sure, I can’t disagree with you. But if you’re saying that our laws should comport entirely with the laws of the Christian religion, that’s where we get into the Constitutional issues.
Tina, it does not matter how much you try to inform and educate a progressive like Chris, it will not take.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCis1U1nFR0
If Chris is uncomfortable with the words that the USA is a Christian Nation, then a Christian Nation it is.
A Christian nation…yeah, that’s the ticket. In the words of John Kerry, “Would that it were.”
Amen to that.