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There are many points of view. And in the end you have to go with the one that is most caring and loving. But to attain the most caring and loving point of view takes a lot of time spent in the eternal mess that is us. ‘I have looked at the enemy and found he is us,’ said Pogo. We are our own worst enemy, others have proclaimed. It is hard to break through our illusions. But I think our country’s life depends on it. We need to see the emperor has no clothes.
The Republicans propose to cut healthcare without a plan that would help even fewer of our citizens. That is empirical fact. But they instead of owning up to this, they tell us it is a better plan and will cover more people than Obamacare. The truth is they are uncomfortable with any big government program and especially those that assist the poor. To them government should not do social welfare programs; that is what charities and churches do. Which sounds good but charities and churches have not ever supplied adequately for the poor. Lord knows some within the church have tried but the Salvation Armies, Union Missions, St. Vincent de Pauls, and other organizations have not done as much as Social Security to end poverty in our country or done as much as Medicaid/Medicare has to provide for poor children or done as much as food stamps to provide food for the struggling. That is the truth at this moment; maybe one day it will change. So to me the most caring and loving thing to do is to leave these programs alone. If you want government out of this type of programming then work with the churches and charities (many of them by the way are in part funded by federal, state, and city governments) to come to the place that government does not need to have social welfare programs. Even today we are presented with a tax plan that enhances the wealth of the already wealthy. Take the inheritance tax that does not assist anyone but those who are already wealthy. You can receive 5.5 million as an individual and 11 million dollars as a couple in inheritance without being taxed. There are few middle class folks who have that much to leave their children. But if they do it is tax free until they inherit more than the amounts mentioned above. This tax relief is only for the wealthy. Yet it is presented as effecting everyone. We live in a society that is not after truth but is only concerned with winning. Winning is everything. So we cannot consider or entertain thoughts or actions that are contradictory to our beliefs. At least that is one perspective. For some of us what is important “what does it profit us if we gain the whole world and have not love” is the only perspective. For me it is not only love but the results of our loving thoughts and actions that matter. If we do not think people can handle our truth, it can be an indicator that our truth has somehow gone awry. It is also paternalistic. If you withhold the full truth of what will happen if a policy or action is carried out you are saying two things: my belief will greatly disturb and anger people or you do not believe they are intelligent or spiritual enough to handle the truth. I know how it is to be ostracized for your beliefs. It is not pleasant. I know how it is to be the most informed person in the room and yet your point of view is not winning the day. But I know I do not want to hold back the truth or talk down to the person or persons in the room. So I try, and even sometimes succeed, to tell the truth as I know it so help me God. But I always know in my doing this others may not necessarily act the same or even hold another perspective that may be valid. But in the end I choose care, respect, love, and achievement of my goal to be the final measures of my actions. At least that is my viewpoint. |
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February 2021
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