What are you afraid of?

[anahata56]

Over here, on the Mudflats blog, our sturdy Alaskan blogger opens up a discussion of the reality of the Alaskan winter, and the practicalities of life for a good number of outlying rural Alaskan natives. For those of you with click-o-phobia, she points out that the logistics of delivering heating oil to a lot of these folks involves the equivalent

Comments

[wolfette]

it's always seemed to me that there's not a lot of difference between "good socialism" and what a "good Christian" is supposed to do - it's all about sharing and fairness.

[anahata56]

Any number of theologians, over the years, have been proponents of liberation theology, thinking that a more socialistic society is not only what Jesus would want, but what he taught. The fact that these ideas are considered heretical by the more orthodox churches does little to overthrow the idea that Jesus really did teach the concepts of sharing with others and taking care of those needing taken care of, and from what I can see, there is no convincing argument from the opposition against this.

For me, it is about sharing and fairness--which some people find terrifying.

[siliconshaman]

Some of the biggest Capitalists of the past centuries were the organised churches. Who pretty much relied on the socialist teachings of Jesus in order to 'fleece' the flock of their tithing.

[anahata56]

Yes--they are all about Socialism when it comes to what they expect people to give, but they're all about Capitalism when it comes to what they get.

Which is pretty much why I believe that Jesus can't stop puking.

It's interesting to note that the only time we see Jesus completely losing it in the New Testament is when he has to deal with people making money off religion. And yet, even in the face of that, the modern religious hierarchy can justify to themselves that they aren't doing anything wrong.

Considering some of their late involvement in politics, I'm thinking that it's time to seriously consider the revocation of their tax exempt status--that one act alone would probably flood the American government with enough money to balance the budget.

I'm also thinking it's time for Jesus to come back and start overturning some boardroom tables in corporate America.

[anahata56]

I don't know if it's a permanent solution, either. But I know that unregulated Capitalism, without that moderating idea of social responsibility, isn't the answer either.

As for the creation of wealth--I think that it would do us well to be a tad more spiritually socialistic as well. I think of Jesus feeding the 5000. I mean, technically, that little boy could be commended on all he did, as a good little Capitalist. He thought ahead enough to bake those five loaves. He caught his two fish. He packed the whole thing up nicely, to make sure that he had his. All delightful capitalistic ideals. But then Jesus said that he had to share. Give me those fruits of your labor, and give me that evidence of your responsibility, and share what you have. He didn't even offer to leave one loaf for the boy! He took it all! And in his hands, the loaves and fishes became a bounty, and fed the whole multitude, with seven baskets left over

[rickvs]

My feeling is that hoarding, when taken to extremes, is directly analogous to tying a tourniquet in an effort to "conserve" blood ...it ain't a good long-term idea for anyone, since the *circulation* is the important thing.

I can't eat paper money, nor electrons.

[anahata56]

Exactly.

Spiritually speaking, I believe that money is a physical manifestation of energy--the trading of money is indicative and representative of the movement of energy. Work produces goods, goods produce purchases, purchases promote a healthy economy, a healthy economy produces more working people, more goods, more purchases and more health. It's the way wealth grows--perhaps the only way it grows, and it's a cycling process that reflects the movement of energy through nature. Ideally, this is the way that Capitalism would work--until people start hanging onto the energy through greed. And when that happens long enough, ultimately the circuit overloads and all the lights blow out

[batchfile]

whoa! i SO did not know this was happening!

thank you for the heads up!

[anahata56]

You're welcome!

I love that blog--seriously.

[browngirl]

Wow. I don't know if I admire Chavez's statesmanship more, or his grandstanding, but either way he's helping a helluva lot of people. Wow.

[anahata56]

You know, I have stopped caring why Hugo Chavez does what he does. I've stopped caring if he's only doing it for self-promotion, or for ideological persuasion, or power. It would be nice to think that he's doing the right thing for the right reason, but that matters less to me than the idea that he is saving people's asses.

How many old people would freeze in their apartments this winter if not for Venezuelan oil? How many little kids?

I've got to say that there is nothing in the world that gets to me like the idea of anyone being cold or hungry. That's just an abomination to me. And if he's standing between the cold and an American citizen, I don't care what his politics are--he gets my admiration.

[jaxomsride]

Unfortunately politics and good sense rarely go hand in hand with the Republican stalwarts.
If those rural Alaskans freeze to death, who is going to be planting all that grain which Alaska and America needs.
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!

[anahata56]

The failure to take care of the people who take care of us is the stupidest thing I can think of. And this country, for far too long, has neglected the very people who are not only our fellow citizens, but those to whom we owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude.

I'm feeling more confident that we will soon have a president who will begin to reverse that--one who understands the dignity inherent in work, and who wants to get more people working in order to promote not only a healthier economy but also a prouder and more optimistic citizenry. He's made an excellent start. But until we get rid of this unholy reverence that Republicans have for the rich, we've got a long way to go.