Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Work, Government Checks, Socialism, and Idleness

"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat." We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat." (II Thess. 3:10-12)


The Bible is amazingly practical. Though the apocalyptic prophecies of Daniel in the Old Testament can seem at first obscure and complex, by the time you come to the ageless principles of Paul in the New Testament, the Bible leaps off the page with wisdom for individuals and societies

Let's take a look at the concept of work or labor from the Bible's perspective and compare it to what "We the People" have allowed our government to do in violation of biblical principles. 

Restaurants like this pizzeria in Chicago are closing due to a shortage of help. National supply lines are choked for a lack of truck drivers (80,000 are needed). Unemployment is low because people are choosing not to work because they don't have to work. The United States government has created a massive problem by ignoring one of the basic principles in God's Word. 

If a man will not work, he should not eat. 

The United States government is giving people money so that they can eat without working. 

If you feel the government should be giving people monthly income, then maybe your ears have grown as soft to the LORD'S Word as the hands of men have grown soft to laborious work.  When a nation removes God from its governance, chaos comes to its culture. 

Three examples: 

1. Last week I met with a sweet, Christian grandmother who needed help with the Department of Human Services. She was caring for her grandchildren. "Where are their parents?" I asked. She explained that the mom and dad are living in a tent, smoking dope and meth, drinking alcohol, and playing games on their phones. "What?" I said. "Are they drug dealers?" No, explained the grandmother. They don't need to work because the government gives them "child tax credits every month" as well as "unemployment checks." They spend the money on their addictions. I was stunned. I live in the heart of conservative Oklahoma. If that's happening in our city, I guarantee you it is happening all over the United States. 

2. The non-profit where I work is looking to hire cooks for our kitchen. We have had over 20 people apply, but nobody hired. I asked our management staff, "Why?" They explained to me that at the end of the interview, the interviewee that they  "sign this government form to prove that I came in for this interview." My staff could tell I was puzzled by this explanation, so they continued. "They don't really want a job. They just want to continue receiving unemployment. The government says as long as they go in for an interview and turn in the documentation that proves it, they'll continue to receive unemployment. It doesn't make any difference if they get a job or not, the government keeps paying them because 'They are trying to get a job.'" Unbelievable. 

3. Forbes magazine says that the United States is on the fast road to 50 TRILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT. That is an incomprehensible number. It is not repayable. The United States is bankrupt and will default on its obligations. It's not a matter of IF, but only WHEN. We are like the family who doesn't care how much they spend, they intend to charge the credit cards to the max and then commit suicide. It's shocking how little "We the People" care about the financial suicide of our country. All because we ignore the biblical principles - "If a man will not work, he will not eat."

Don't get me wrong. We should all desire to help the poor. We should work to provide shelter for the needy. We ought to do all we can to make our city a better place. But everyone who benefits from the food and shelter provided should work for it. Pick up trash. Paint a building. Move some dirt. Deliver some supplies. Do something, don't just sit there and smoke weed. 

Maybe you'll remember the biblical principle "If a man will not work, he should not eat" with a visual of our nation's debt.

One hundred dollars


One Million dollars


One Billion dollars




32 comments:

Rex Ray said...

Wade,

If I was guessing, I’d say you’ve been watching Fox News.

The picture of a trillion dollars looks huge.

Think how large the 3.5 trillion would look that Pelosi and Biden want.

Wade Burleson said...

Yep - just imagine, Rex.

Crazy.

Rex Ray said...

CHRISTIANE,

Well, old friend, do you think Trump is feeling? ‘Do you miss me yet?’

Rex Ray said...

Some may not of heard this story; its my final revision.
Dad’s World War II Stories by twins Hez & Rex Ray
Our Dad, Dave Ray, was in World War I. He wanted to be a Chaplin in World War II, but was told he was too old. He went to Washington and appealed to the main recruiter. Again, he was turned down. He lived near Sam Rayburn (Speaker of the House) in Bonham, Texas, and they were friends. He asked Rayburn to help him. “Go back tomorrow, and if he doesn’t let you in, we’ll give him the axe.” He served in Patton’s 4th Armored Division.

Hundreds of years ago, bushes called Hedgerows were grown instead of fences. In the battle of Hedgerows, Germans had cut holes in bushes to see through. Americans used bayonets to cut a hole; the bushes moved. Germans killed many Americans by shooting moving bushes.

Dad and his assistant, Jack, went back to the motor pool and got hundreds of hacksaw blades that cut bushes without them moving.

Germans knew the road Americans would travel. From many miles away, they fired their shells that exploded on impact on a sharp curve where the convoy had to drive slowly. Their plan worked until Dad didn’t drive on the curve, but drove across a field marked with mine-warnings.

Jack yelled, “You’re going to get us killed.” Dad yelled back, “Germans may have put the signs up.” After they made it, the convoy followed them while shells kept falling on an empty corner.

Once, Jack wanted to skip breakfast and sleep in his foxhole, but Dad made him get up and eat. A few minutes later, a German shell blew Jack’s Bible to pieces. It was under his pillow.

Medics told Dad they could not prevent a soldier from dying. He told Dad, “Yesterday, I thought I’d be killed. I asked Jesus to save me. He stepped into my heart. I was so happy I thought I’d live forever; don’t know why I was hit today, but tell my mother I’ll meet her in heaven.”

His mother knew her son wasn’t a Christian, and was heartbroken when informed he was killed in action. A letter from Dad arrived later. She wrote Dad, “You’ll never know how much your letter meant to us!”

Rex Ray said...


Dad left the front to attend a mandatory meeting of all Chaplains. A Catholic General, “X” ordered all Chaplains to stay 50 miles behind the front. Dad got in his jeep and started to leave, and “X” shouted, “Where are you going!” “Back to the front; I take my orders from God; not you!”

Catholic soldiers began to ask why their Chaplains were not on the front, which made “X” angry. He promoted Dad from Captain to Major, but Dad turned it down because Chaplain Majors were not allowed on the front. Later, Dad received orders from General Patton ordering him to the rear, but Patton’s secretary said Patton’s name was a forgery.

After the war, the 4th was stationed at Rothenburg, Germany. He and others made friends by playing soccer with children. One girl, Monika Beyer, about five, troubled Dad: “When is my daddy coming home?”

Her father, John Beyer, was the town’s best doctor. In 1942, he was in the German army. He was at the battle in Stalingrad which started the end for Hitler. Germans had 85% casualties of a million men. 90,000 were captured, and because of food shortage and harsh treatment only 5,000 survived. The chance of Monika’s father being alive wasn’t good.

He always answered Monika question: “Your daddy is coming home soon. You’ll see him in the big meadow by the oak tree that has a rope swing. He’ll be calling your name.” Her face would light up and she kept telling her family Chaplain Ray’s good news. It wasn’t long until Monika’s mother, Helen Beyer, spoke to him. “I’ve accepted my husband’s death. All my children with the exception of Monika have also. I must ask you, Chaplain, never again say her father is coming home. You’re going to break my little girl’s heart!”

Rex Ray said...


Dad told her about his brother being reported killed in World War I. Their mother had eight young children when her husband died and she remained a widow 38 years. She believed God would save her son. After the war, he was in the barn’s hay loft and saw a man walking on the road to their house. His brother was coming home. The army lost track of him when he was hospitalized from Mustard gas.

With tears down her face, Helen asked, “Oh Chaplain Ray, what am I to do? I’ve never heard a single word from my husband in three years. If he were alive, he’d move heaven and earth to find us. I remain here, alone, and without hope.”
“If he’s alive, I’ll find your husband.” She began to cry again.

“I don’t think I can do this. The children will be torn apart, our hopes dashed once more.” Catching her hands, he prayed.

“But where will you go? If my husband can’t find us, and he knows where to look, how can you possibly find him?
“I’ll search the four sectors of prisoners that Allies have in Berlin.” “Before you go, I want you to have a picture of my husband and a lock of Monika’s hair. He said he would carry another lock always. If you find a man that claims to be my husband, ask him for Monika’s hair. The children and I will pray for you every day.”

It was 340 miles to Berlin. His jeep had a new motor because a German 88 shell had missed his head a foot and blown the engine to pieces. He searched the Russian, French, British, and American prison camps with millions of POWs in large open fields with barbed wire without success. The American camp was last. As he was driving away disappointed, he heard a GI yell, “Wait!”

He asked if he wanted a ride. “No Sir, but I know something. I overheard your story to the captain. I have a friend in the British Sector that knows about a German surgeon that’s extremely talented. He doesn’t know his name but the British kidnapped him from the Russians to save a British soldier near death. Since then, they’ve kept him hidden.”

Returning to the British prison camp with renewed hope, he told the guard he had orders to find Dr. John Beyer. He retraced his steps with an interpreter, but no luck. “What’s that small building way over there?”
“That’s a destroyed jail. It’s deserted and is going to be torn down.”

“Let’s take a look anyway.” One undamaged cell had four men on their knees. They looked like they were gambling, but they were praying. None looked like the picture, but the interpreter hoped they might know something. “The American Chaplain is looking for Dr. John Beyer. He has good news. Do you know where he can be found?”

Slowly, a man stood and spoke in perfect English. “I’m John Beyer. My family and village are lost. I’ve been a prisoner for three years. What possible good news could an American have for me?”

“You look too old for me to believe you unless you can match this lock of hair.” Producing a lock of hair, he grabbed Dad through the bars. “Does my family live?”
Loud praises to God drowned his reply because Dad’s smile was their answer. Hearing there were God’s orders to take him home, there were more praises.

Rex Ray said...


The British Commander said Dr. Beyer was needed and denied his release, but they’d talk more after lunch. “You go ahead, I’m going to stay here and pray.” “If that’s the way you feel, you can take him home.”
Our father was a fast driver and had many wrecks. He slowed down when Dr. Beyer said, “I don’t think God saved me from prison to die in a jeep wreck.”

At Rothenburg, they stopped at the meadow. “Your daughter comes here every afternoon to see if this will be the day her daddy comes home,”
Not trusting himself to speak, Dr. Beyer shook hands and turned toward the meadow where a little girl was swinging. He ran towards the big oak. “Monika! Monika! I’m your daddy!” There was fantastic joy when he arrived home with Monika on his shoulders.

German prisoners were not allowed to return home, but were used as forced labor to repair war damage in Russia, France, and England. Two years after the war, one million had died, and four million were still prisoners. But at Rothenberg, the town had a large celebration for their doctor where Monika’s mother said, “I’m going to kiss the Chaplain”, and her husband said, “If you don’t, I am!”

Later “X” transferred Dad to France and tried to have him court-martial. When that failed, “X” told him he’d stay there until he agreed to take a colored-discharge without honor. For 13 months, we asked Mother when is our Daddy coming home.

Philip Damon, a friend of Dad, wrote a letter, pleading to General Eisenhower to investigate why Chaplain Ray was being detained in France. Eisenhower’s letter said, “I’ve received a report from the overseas commander concerning Chaplain David Ray. You’ll be pleased to know Chaplain Ray has returned to the U.S.” (Eisenhower’s letter is now in the Bonham, Texas Museum.)
Dad’s discharge: “David Ray is one of nine Chaplains in the U.S. Army who was awarded a Cluster to the Bronze Star Medal for Heroic Action.”

My twin brother, Hez, and I were 16 when our parents went to Germany to teach Army kids. We met Monika and wondered why they were so glad to see Dad. We didn’t know the story until 20 years later.

Rex Ray said...

Hez, was Athletic Director of Fairbanks, Alaska. He helped: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Olympic_Games. He also organized moving an abandoned World War II airplane hangar 150 miles to Fairbanks for kids to play in. During the winter, many from boredom had overdosed on drugs. (If you Google “Big Dipper Fairbanks, Alaska”, there are many pictures of the hanger that Hez named Big Dipper.) He also taught school eleven years and is in their Hall of Fame.

Indians had used the hanger many years and were resentful for it being taken. They began stealing. Hez got Dad to be a nigh watchman. As all the loaded trucks were about to leave, they saw the worker’s bedrolls on fire that Indians had poured gasoline on. Hez and Dad rushed to put the fire out. When they got there, bullets started exploding which Indians had put on the bedrolls. They dove behind a low wall where Dad started laughing. “Why are you laughing?” “This is just like World War II.” There, Dad told Hez the story of Monica.
Dad wanted to be a chaplain in Vietnam. He stayed in a hotel near President LBJ’s ranch. He began asking how he could see LBJ. After three days, the Secret Service said, “Listen old man, go home or we’re putting you in jail.
Dad and Hez are buried in the Carson Cemetery near Bonham, Texas.

Christiane said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anon.E.Moose said...

On the last thread, someone suggested that we read Romans 1:16. "16I’m not ashamed of the gospel: it is God’s own power for salvation to all who have faith in God, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (CEB)

In my desire to do research, I always want the context -- actually, I want the original but can not read Greek nor Hebrew so I am stuck. But that verse chapter continues, " 17God’s righteousness is being revealed in the gospel, from faithfulness for faith, as it is written, “The righteous person will live by faith.”
Gentiles are without excuse
"18God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodly behavior and the injustice of human beings who silence the truth with injustice. 19This is because what is known about God should be plain to them because God made it plain to them. 20Ever since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—God’s eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through the things God has made. So humans are without excuse. 21Although they knew God, they didn’t honor God as God or thank him. Instead, their reasoning became pointless, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22While they were claiming to be wise, they made fools of themselves. 23They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images that look like mortal humans: birds, animals, and reptiles. 24So God abandoned them to their hearts’ desires, which led to the moral corruption of degrading their own bodies with each other. 25They traded God’s truth for a lie, and they worshipped and served the creation instead of the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
"26That’s why God abandoned them to degrading lust. Their females traded natural sexual relations for unnatural sexual relations. 27Also, in the same way, the males traded natural sexual relations with females, and burned with lust for each other. Males performed shameful actions with males, and they were paid back with the penalty they deserved for their mistake in their own bodies. 28Since they didn’t think it was worthwhile to acknowledge God, God abandoned them to a defective mind to do inappropriate things. 29So they were filled with all injustice, wicked behavior, greed, and evil behavior. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, deception, and malice. They are gossips, 30they slander people, and they hate God. They are rude and proud, and they brag. They invent ways to be evil, and they are disobedient to their parents. 31They are without understanding, disloyal, without affection, and without mercy. 32Though they know God’s decision that those who persist in such practices deserve death, they not only keep doing these things but also approve others who practice them."

Ouch.

But what a statement for our times.

Anon.E.Moose said...

The Bible amazes me. I can read it and it fails to speak and then other times, the words jump off the page.

We have become lazy in our blessings. We have become arrogant. We have become stiff necked.

I spent over a decade of my life in the Halls of Science. When I realized that I did not have the social currency or the intestinal fortitude to deal with the Ivory Tower, I left. However, as I worked on trying to define the workings of cell, it became obvious to me that there was a Great Designer. I was asked 'how can you believe in God' doing that work, and my answer was 'how can you not' (so I lived that Ben Stein video).

In my mind, I trace the downfall to the removal of prayer in schools. Likely, it started before that when the welfare state was being developed and the church gave up care of the poor to the government. I lived through prayer being removed from schools in my state, having started my elementary days with prayer and pledge, and by HS, the prayers had been removed although the pledge persisted. At one level, I agree with the idea -- the separation of church and state, but at another level, the idea that schools are not responsible for teaching morality, especially in a culture where the family has been degraded to celebrate and encourage single motherhood -- where do we expect teaching of morals?

As I watched the schools morph into something that celebrated the individual (every child gets a prize; no child left behind) rather than achievement, I knew that the eventual outcome would somehow be devastating, but I couldn't imagine it. I think this celebration of the individual to the exclusion of achievement has created a very me-centric culture that we see now -- young adults uninterested in being independent, but militant about protecting their rights and unaware of the consequences.

We have also morphed into a society and culture where sexual depravity is taught in schools where we are told that we have to celebrate sexual depravity.

The reality is that when we removed prayer from schools, something filled that vacuum. When you can't teach judeo-Christian principles, it becomes pagan principles. The fact that schools are now teaching children sexual ideas inappropriate for their age, racist principals.....we have fallen so rapidly. Is my thinking off?

Christiane said...

LOVE your stories, REX RAY, as always. :)


About the post, I am hopeful that some of the monies going out to single mothers find there way to the children whose fathers don't support them, and whose mothers can't afford the high costs of child-care. If there is one more group that needs a hand-up, I think single mothers are that group. And yes, way too many old grandmothers are raising their grandchildren without proper support, and they are doing the best they can with very little sometimes. I saw this when I worked in the inner-city schools, but my understanding is that now, many suburban families are having the grandparents raise their grandchildren, and yes, the addiction problem is ONE of the causes.

Although there are those who will try to scam the system, I would not take the giving of monies for the care of children away, but surely there are some indicators of responsible stewardship of the taxpayer's money; such as tax credits per child for WORKING families, this:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/child-tax-credit/

Perhaps our nation will one day FEED its school children real meals at school that are nutritionally balanced and healthy meals, like some of the SOCIALIZED Scandinavian countries and some of the other European countries that provide excellent meals, well-cooked, for school children.

Helping children is one area I would never regret supporting. I agree that it is/would be expensive to do this, but the children don't know how to feed themselves yet. So many children in schools have 'hunger issues' and YES, it impacts on their ability to learn.

The 'scammers'? Hold them ACCOUNTABLE, but if 'interventions' are needed because of addictions, mental and emotional illnesses, and related issues are present, that requires attention that is productive for getting them to a 'better place' and out of the 'pit' they are in. May God BLESS those who help recovering addicts ! That is a real work of mercy:

https://youtu.be/s-psuowFTkk

Christiane said...

The country of Finland in Scandinavia has provided a free meal to its school children since 1948. Today, it is known that Finland has one of the best school systems in the world. I think the good nutrition provided to its children MATTERED in how they learned and thrived in having a good, healthy hot meal provided for ALL of them each school day.

If THIS is 'socialism', you might want to re-think the word when it comes to caring for a nation's children. Tossing out money to scammers doesn't come up to the level of actually CARING for ALL of a country's children in ways practical and healthy. It's not the 'money' spent, it's so much more about actually providing what children need to be healthy and to learn in school. Take a look at how students are fed in Finland:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seKyUjiCJL8

Neil Cameron (One Salient Oversight) said...

Here's something from the 1936 Soviet Constitution:

"In the USSR work is a duty and a matter of honor for every able-bodied citizen, in accordance with the principle: "He who does not work, neither shall he eat". "

Rex Ray said...

CHRISTIANE,

Thanks; I knew if anyone responded, it would be you. I’ve said that before. :)

Rex Ray said...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Dipper_Ice_Arena

“In 1968, Hez Ray, a teacher and coach at Lathrop High School, organized a crew of high school students and volunteers and undertook a project to move the derelict hangar to Fairbanks and repurpose it as an ice skating arena. Coach Ray's initial group of boys were “First Boots on the Ground” in the beginning of the enormous project. The incredible story of this adventure is in Coach Ray's book “The Big Dipper, A Dream is Born”. The group purchased the hangar for a dollar and, using equipment donated by Fairbanks construction companies, dismantled the building and moved it to Fairbanks. The volunteers then reconstructed the building in its present location from the dismantled parts of the hangar.”

On page 2 of my brother’s book: “Our daughter, Diane, contracted cancer while serving as a part time missionary in South Korea…she whispered so softly I could barely hear her: Dad, I’m not afraid to die. I know Jesus.”

A short time later, she caught my hand and said, “Dad, when you write your book about the Big Dipper, be sure you give it a heart! Dad, give it your heart!”

I whispered back, “Diane, I can do better that that, girl, God willing, I will give it your heart.”

His book of 210 pages has 80 pictures. This is some of what’s on the back cover:

“Not since Jack London’s “Call of the Wild” has such a heart-rending story been written of Alaska…Coach Hez Ray is known as “The Pied Piper” …It’s all here: the excitement, heroes, work, love, betrayal, and victory!

Rex Ray said...

Wade,

To summarize Biden; he’s got too big for his britches.

Anon.E.Moose said...

On October 12, 2021 the board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System released the “Beige Book”. (https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/beigebook202110.htm) “Overall Economic Activity: Economic activity grew at a modest to moderate rate, according to the majority of Federal Reserve Districts. Several Districts noted, however, that the pace of growth slowed this period, constrained by supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and uncertainty around the Delta variant of COVID-19……Employment and Wages: Employment increased at a modest to moderate rate in recent weeks, as demand for workers was high, but labor growth was dampened by a low supply of workers. ….Firms reported high turnover, as workers left for other jobs or retired. Child-care issues and vaccine mandates were widely cited as contributing to the problem, along with COVID-related absences.Many firms offered increased training to expand the candidate pool. In some cases, firms increased automation to help offset labor shortages. The majority of Districts reported robust wage growth. Firms reported increasing starting wages to attract talent and increasing wages for existing workers to retain them. Many also offered signing and retention bonuses, flexible work schedules, or increased vacation time to incentivize workers to remain in their positions.” Ahhh, but then the next section, “Prices: Most Districts reported significantly elevated prices…” There went the wage increases.

Rex Ray said...

Wade,

Judy’s favorite TV news is “Outnumbered”. Today, they showed Biden saying: “Police that don’t get the shots should be fired.”

RB Kuter said...

An indication that there will not be a corrective swing of the pendulum from the current acute socialist direction back toward a more centrist one is that we never see expressions of regret from those who voted in this socialist/chaotic regime which campaigned on the very policies it is not enacting.

Saw in the news that border agents now say that we have totally lost control of the southern border.

Heard on the news that a huge percent of the current unemployment figures are those who "HAVE RESIGNED" from their jobs! (Confirms premises of Wade's blog post.)

Took a picture and put it on my Facebook yesterday of one sign at Bojangles Chicken reading that they may not be able to provide items on the menu due to the supply chain shortage.

The big display sign in front of that Bojangles read that they would pay "Hire On Bonus $1500 Manager" and "Hire On Bonus $750" for other positions!

Regime's approval rating 36% yet we hear none of its supporters commenting on this blog or elsewhere that they think they made an egregious error in voting in this catastrophe.

Given the indifference of those who voted in this regime along with the millions of illegals entering who are likely to be given the opportunity to vote in 2022 either by authorized or unauthorized ballots to maintain the presence of this current regime, I see the chances of there being any changes taking place in our current direction about as likely as my Boston Terrier getting his drivers license.

RB Kuter said...

One other observation that sends chills up my spine is the current saber-rattling between China and this regime's Administration over Taiwan.

Today this US regime said it would go to war if China makes moves on Taiwan, which it has been moving closer to doing in recent days. China, like the rest of the world, apparently sees this Administration as being weak, indecisive, divided within its own ranks, and incompetent.

Although the US has always taken a supportive stance toward Taiwan, it has formerly avoided saying directly it would go to war should China invade. The rationale being that it was better not to say the US would go to war but to leave that as an unspoken "given", should it come to that. This allowed some degree of civility between the two foes, US and China,over the always-contested Taiwan.

Today's announcement by the US is a considerable escalation in its militant stance and China responded saying the US should shut-up and keep it's nose out of China's internal affairs. All the while China continues to fly fighter jet sorties over Taiwan air space and maintaining a very visible naval military presence as never before.

Given that the current Administration's popularity is hitting rock bottom, it is likely to become "desperate" and that is VERY concerning (except for those who voted in the regime). An Administration's popularity dips in the extreme has always meant the staging and mobilization for military action in the past. Example, Reagan's march on Grenada, of all places, when his ratings were taking a dip, and others have taken the same strategy.

Nothing is considered to be as effective in uniting the nation behind the President and increasing his popularity as "WAR". Would war with China be worth the cost? Absolutely in the perspective of those desperate to maintain control they currently have.

Rex Ray said...

RB Kuter,

A War with China? I heard the next war would be fought with drones carrying atomic bombs.

Of course, with Biden’s reputation, war wouldn’t last long before he quit, and your dog might vote without a driver’s license.

Rex Ray said...

RB Kuter,

I meant to say if the election was on the up & up as it was when Biden was elected, your dog might vote.

RB Kuter said...

I agree with you, RR. Could be that China would simply lay claim to all of the US missiles and armory in payment for the debt we owe them.

I hate sounding to pessimistic and it could be interpreted as having a defeatist viewpoint but I don't think so. I consider it to be an assessment of reality. I don't think Wade or RR have "defeatist" or pessimistic viewpoints but only view things with concern over what has taken place.

It is sad to see such an amazing, God-favored nation crumble but given in historic perspective, it could have been predicted. Pretty much the way other empires came unraveled though most of the global empires maintained their sovereignty much longer. Not sure about the Greek empire, though its influence lasted much longer than the actual empire was in control.

Rex Ray said...

RB Kuter,

About 15 years ago, Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm, wrote how to destroy America in seven steps. How much do you think America has come on Governor Lamm’s list? Do you think ‘Black Lives Matter’ would qualify for his “grievance” group?

1.Turn America into a bilingual or multi-lingual and bi-cultural country. History shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of two or more competing languages and cultures.
2.Invent ‘multiculturalism’ and encourage immigrants to maintain their culture. Make it an article of belief that all cultures are equal; that there are no cultural differences. Black and Hispanic dropout rates are due solely to prejudice and discrimination by the majority. Every other explanation is out of bounds.
3.Celebrate diversity rather than unity. Replace the melting pot metaphor with the salad bowl metaphor. It is important to ensure that we have various cultural subgroups living in America enforcing their differences rather than as Americans
4.Make our fastest growing demographic group the least educated. I would add a second underclass, un-assimilated, under-educated, and antagonistic to our population. I would have this second underclass have a 50% dropout rate from high school.
5.My fifth point for destroying America would be to get big foundations and corporations to give these efforts lots of money. I would invest in ethnic identity, and I would establish the cult of ‘Victimology.’ Get all minorities to think that their lack of success was the fault of the majority. I would start a grievance industry blaming all minority failure on the majority.
6.Include dual citizenship, and promote divided loyalties. I would celebrate diversity over unity. I would stress differences rather than similarities. Diverse people worldwide are mostly engaged in hating each other. People undervalue the unity it takes to keep a nation together. ‘E. Pluribus Unum’ — From many, one. If we put the emphasis on the ‘pluribus’ instead of the ‘Unum,’ we will ‘Balkanize’ America as surely as Kosovo.
7.Place all subjects off limits. Make it taboo to talk about anything against the cult of ‘diversity.’ Find a word similar to ‘heretic’ in the 16th century – that stopped discussion and paralyzed thinking. Words like ‘racist’ or ‘xenophobe’ halt discussion and debate. Having made America a bilingual/bi-cultural country, having established multi-culturalism, having the large foundations fund the doctrine of ‘Victimology,’ I would next make it impossible to enforce our immigration laws. I would make every individual immigrant symmetric and ignore the cumulative impact of millions of them.

RB Kuter said...

Rex Ray, I agree with that list but of course there are many other factors in place today that serve to accelerate the unraveling of this nation's fabric.

8.Government support to people becomes so high that business cannot compete thereby increasing the non-working majority.

9. Government increases the taxes it requires from any and all who do have income independent from government as the means to pay those who choose not to work.

10. Government increases its infringement into the private lives of its citizens as a means to enforce its own control and deprive citizens of the ability to protest the abduction of their liberties.

11. Government increases its control over the lives of citizens by assessing, not only the "income" but the "possessions" of its citizens by intruding on their private bank accounts and investment holdings.

12. Government abandons its role as being the means of maintaining a structure of law and order in the land; hence, anarchy.

13. Government becomes the greatest advocate for diminishing the value of "life" of its citizens thereby justifying its own ideology as being sovereign.

Plus, plus, plus.

Rex Ray said...

RB Kuter,

I read your reply to Judy as she has her head against the ceiling removing a 10-inch border of wall paper. She agreed with everything you added.

I think I’d join a march to Washington caring a pole to remove you know who from the Whitehouse.

Rex Ray said...

Wade,

The Homan Christian Standard Bible has a Copyright of 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2004.

For many years our Sunday School has used lessons with the Holman Christian Standard Bible as Scripture reference.

In my opinion it’s the worst translation I’ve ever read. Tomorrow’s lesson has Genesis 12:19.

Holman: “Why did you say, ‘She’s my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife?”

Living Bible: “Why were you willing to let me marry her?”

KJ: “Why sadist thou, she is my sister? So, I might have taken her to me to wife…”

NLT: “Why did you say, “She is my sister, and allow me to take her as my wife?”

Wade, what Bible translation does you SS use?

Neil Cameron (One Salient Oversight) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Neil Cameron (One Salient Oversight) said...

“Australia is a police state” says country where police are 17 times more likely to murder civilians

https://www.theshovel.com.au/2021/10/24/australia-police-state-us/

Australia has been labelled a “police state” by far-right pundits who live in a country where police murdering people is so common, each month needs its own Wikipedia entry.

The talking heads, all living in the United States – a country where the incarceration rate is four times higher than Australia’s, and where 1 in every 150 citizens is in jail, the highest rate in the world – have criticised Australia’s approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it “tyrannical” without even the slightest hint of irony.

Speaking from a place of assumed knowledge, the critics have stated that they “want to save Australians from its government’s oppressive coronavirus strategies”, suggesting they implement the United States model, which has resulted in a per capita death rate thirty five times higher than Australia’s.

The commentators – living in a country where law enforcement can seize assets from individuals suspected of a crime without ever being charged – went on to describe the government’s efforts to ensure the public comply with health orders as “totalitarian.”

The pundits also described attempts made to track compliance with home quarantine as “Orwellian”, while describing an estimate that 5 percent of American prisoners (totalling 120,000 people) are innocent as “not at all Orwellian”.

Scott Shaver said...

Down under sounds like no place I want to be. Thank you.

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