In America, we make money the old fashioned way – we steal it from the Joneses with whom we are trying to compete. We’re a country that firmly believes in the notion that more is better and that competition trumps everything. Money uber alles if you will. But, we’re also one of the most charitable nations on Earth. Name a disaster anywhere on Earth and we’re ready to help. Ordinary folks dig deep and donate clothing, goods, or even their own time to just about every charitable cause imaginable.
Both Republicans and Democrats jabber a lot about jobs, even when times are relatively good. When times are bad the talk turns into a nasty shite-storm. The mantra for both sides is America can’t compete if we don’t [fill in the blank]. But here’s a dirty little secret: America can’t effectively compete regardless of which ideology you prefer.
One of the few things that garners any bipartisan support these days is that America is embroiled in a Class War. The wealthy are doing OK by their own admission. They just want to be more OKer than they are and are willing to hire lobbyists, fund gigantic super-pacs, shut factories, or buy politicians to do it. Their chant is, “Taxes? Taxes? We don’t need no stinking taxes…you do…and more of ‘em too!”
Disclaimer: The Omnipotent Poobah, aka Jack Koeneman, is a former Christian turned atheist. He has nothing against most theists and respects their beliefs – up to the point where they step on his.
PROSPERITY! - It's time for churches to share some of that prosperity with those they profess to want to help.
I have dozens of theist friends. Our discussions are generally polite and lean toward the relative merits of atheist and theist beliefs, not mundane secular topics like religious tax breaks. But with the hew and cry over taxes and spending, perhaps it’s time to start that conversation in earnest.
THE TAX MAN COMETH - You may not like taxes. You may not like what your taxes pay for. But, one thing is for certain; if scofflaws can settle for 'pennies on the dollar' you and are the ones picking up their tab.
Americans like to trumpet the belief that we’re a “nation of laws”. Unfortunately, our laws are unevenly enforced when enforced at all. Congress churns out dozens of laws every year, while at the same time, guaranteeing they’ll fail by not budgeting for enforcement. Tea partiers like to say that most corporate laws constitute “over-regulation”. However, one could make a reasonable case that we don’t over-regulate, we under-enforce – and a law unenforced is no law at all.
