Damm those bleeding heart liberals. Due to the sorry, unAmerican healthcare bill, my wife and I are having to change our lifestyle because we are going to have to pay for the healthcare of all the lazy bums.
I’ve just canceled my order for our new yacht.
My wife is now foregoing her breast enhancement surgery.
In tears, kicking and screaming, I took my Rolex to a pawn shop today.
I called our real estate agent and let’s just say the beach house on St. John’s Island is history. Darn it, I really enjoyed the place. It gave us a chance to be away from the commoners.
This one makes me cry. My feet get so cold. Next month we were having heated floors installed in our master bathroom. I mean, my feet really hurt when they are so cold. I should not have to suffer because the government is stealing my money.
And until my wife and I can recover from the finanical strain of this healthcare bill our trip to Australia has been put on hold.
What has happened to our country? Used to be a wealthy person wasn’t forced to give a damm about anybody.
Damm those bleeding heart liberals!
Actually, if I’m reall rich I already have that. All of that. I’m willing to give those who can’t get health care real healthcare, just not Viagra, birth control, or http://www.prolifeamerica.com/fusetalk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=7&threadid=1767
This kind of sarcastic, exaggerated representation of those who opposed the health care reform package is nothing new. Every time I see something like it, though, I wonder–Why are you so resentful of the wealthy? Assuming that there actually was some spoiled, uber-rich dillitant out there bemoaning the scenario put forth in your post, wouldn’t they be justified in doing so? After all, it takes a lot of hard work, ingenuity, intelligence, and courage to take risks to create the kind of wealth it would take to own the kinds of toys and luxuries you mentioned. Why wouldn’t ANYONE be upset if they suddenly had to forego the well-earned fruits of their hard work (however frivolous YOU may believe those fruits to be) in order to support those who were unable or unwilling to achieve the same success? The story you crafted represented the sacrifice of many millions of dollars worth of reward for a life spent producing. Regardless of the value you place upon the particulars, I think one should probably be pretty irked if a new government policy suddenly makes them several million dollars poorer.
Lastly, I think you will find a couple of other facts helpful in readjusting you perspective. First, most people opposed to the health care reform package are against it on grounds of principle–not dollars. They feel that the government has grown far beyond it’s intended scope and that its foray into healthcare represents one of the last, and most important areas of one’s life that could remain under their own control. Second, it is not the Paris Hilton’s or the Warren Buffets of the world that will be most resentful of this new legislation. Tax increases begin on families that earn just 400% of the poverty level. That’s roughly 80k usd. 80K–for a family of four. That’s a plumber, a school teacher and their two kids. Hardly the shallow, leacherous pining for yachts and boob jobs that you portrayed.
John,
Nice try, but I and other exaggerating liberal bloggers are not your problem. Jesus is.
The breast enhancement surgery, the yacht, the Rolex, etc. are fiction. The truth is, though, Jesus has his eyes on our Lexus, our oceanfront beach condo, our nice 3,000 sq. ft. home in Charlotte, etc. Do you need any more info?
May Jesus readjust your perspective.
By the way, Jesus is headed straight for a cross, and he said something about his followers taking up a daily cross and he taught us to pray that “heaven would happen on earth.” People like me got a real problem.
I think–I can’t be too sure since the mere mention of Jesus tends to derail all rational discourse–that you just sidestepped my question entirely, and instead, responded with barely decipherable religious dogma…Color me shocked.
“Nice try, but I and other exaggerating liberal bloggers are not your problem. Jesus is.”
I never said I had a problem with you or anyone else like you. I simply expressed my curiosity about why YOU seem to have a problem with those who value that which they have earned.
“Jesus has his eyes on our Lexus, our oceanfront beach condo, our nice 3,000 sq. ft. home in Charlotte, etc. Do you need any more info?”
Yes…actually I do need more info because I have no idea what this statement means. Is this some villification of property based on the teachings of Christ? More “camels through the eye of a needle” wisdom?
“By the way, Jesus is headed straight for a cross, and he said something about his followers taking up a daily cross and he taught us to pray that “heaven would happen on earth.” People like me got a real problem.”
Again, I’m very confused by what you’re trying to get at here. In fact, this one makes so little sense that I can’t even hazard a guess as to your meaning.
I was simply trying to let you know that the caricature of the idle rich moaning and wailing about healtcare because it means one less gilded toilet is a falsehood. I also wanted to know why liberals–not all, but certainly enough to raise the question–seem to think that they have the right to define how much is too much when it comes to a person’s wealth and that once that line has been reached, redistribution becomes not only necessary, but morally different than stealing.
John,
Thank you so much for your efforts. I do hope you or someone else can convince me I am wrong. So far you have not succeeded. I have no dog in this fight. I would love not to be Christian/liberal. Keep trying. Please, I desperately need your help. I want to change back to being conservative and not caring for the poor. The good old days.
O.K…let me approach this from another angle…
Keep in mind that using religious justification for something that should be rationally self-evident is not something I’m prone to–so while this is NOT how I have come by my belief that entitlement programs of any kind are wrong, it should demonstrate that even within the confines of Christianity, what the government is doing here is wrong.
I’m willing to concede to you that the teachings of Jesus Christ mandate that those of faith should help the poor. I’m even willing to admit that ol’ JC didn’t seem too hip on rich people. I would propose, however, that the requirement to help those less fortunate is a personal one–a mandate upon YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL to be charitable. When the government, however, takes what is legally mine, without my consent, and gives it to someone else–even if it is done with noble intent–they are stealing. Furthermore, by endorsing this behavior through the election of representatives who promise to continue the theft and by ACCEPTING the fruits of theft through the receipt of government funding of any kind, we are guilty of stealing as well. Now, I’m no biblical scholar, but I believe that there is a very sternly worded and unambiguous rule against stealing somewhere in the Bible–am I right?
Look…you may dislike rich people–hell, maybe God even dislikes them. The fact is, however, that the Bible teaches to “judge not, lest ye be judged”–meaing that it is not yours or the government’s place to take from the rich in order to “humble” them–even if you give the ill-gotten swag to the poor. I’m sure that if God exists, he is perfectly capable of smiting those he feels are smite-worthy. You only need concern yourself with your own behavior–which includes the divine commandment to stop taking things that don’t belong to you.
Rev, Jesus never took away from the rich to give to the poor. He also was inclusive of everyone, from the youngest to the oldest.
That bill takes away the God-given rights of the unborn, by allowing them to be killed. Even the Mayans waited until they were born to sacrifice them. It also takes decision making out of the hands of the individual and gives it to the bureaucracy. An elderly patient will have to leave it up to a bureuacrat to decide if he’s worthwhile to save.
You think that the ‘conservatives’ just want to keep healthcare from the poor, well, that’s just wrong. It’s those that need are poor that need a job that go to the rich for that job. In many cases, the rich business owner provides healthcare for the worker and his family in return for the worker’s service.
It is not to take healthcare away from those who can’t get it or afford it, it’s to do it the right way. Restrict the role of the legal system in health care, see what can be done to cut the costs so insurance premiums don’t go up. Help people become doctors and nurses. Fix what needs fixing. This bill doesn’t do that.
Now we are getting somewhere. Y’all almost have me convinced. I appreciate your hard work. Seems like you are working overtime to rid me of this horrible Christian dis-ease that I have. A million thanks, but I am worried about my eyesight and if I’m calling myself a Christian and living in a great state of denial. Maybe I’m just wanting to hear what you are telling me.
Too many examples to mention that are causing me to lose sleep (Christian insomnia, they call it), but I’m reading where Jesus did steal from the rich and give to the poor.
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)
Hey, I don’t want to be perfect, so forget that example. On the other hand, are you a Greek scholar? You know, those bible translators don’t always agree on translations. Translator prejudice, you might call it. And I worry (yes, I worry about people who worry too much so maybe I’m worrying needlessly) – I worry that maybe our translators and interpreters are watering down Jesus to make Jesus more palatable. Some say I’ve domesticated Jesus. I’m thinking the burden of proof is on me. Better do more for the poor than less, but maybe you can get me out of this pickle.
Ever seen a worm in hot ashes? That’s how I feel when I read this verse and when I think about Jesus and what he said about the poor and his life and his cross and heaven on earth. Damm, I’ve got a problem.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I mean the judgment passage “When do I see you and your were …………” You know, Matthew 25ish stuff. The judgment, according to some translators, is directed to nations, what nations do for the poor. Damm. But, on the other hand, I guess I can just find the translator that translates what I want to live and the translation that fits my concept of the great United States, the greatest nation on earth, even if it doesn’t provide healthcare for everybody.
Please help me out of this quagmire because I can think of a whole boatload of things I want and if you can convince me I get to buy that stuff for ME and not pay for some no good person’s healthcare.
I want another lexus. This year is me and the wife’s 30th wedding anniversary and I want to buy wifey a $15,000 ring, take her on a $20,000 four week worldwide trip (China, Australia, Austria, London, South Africa – dying, emphasis on dying, dying to do a safari. I want on those new 3d TV’s. I want to join Quail Hollow Country Club. I want a private jet. I want a robot. I know Wall Street is iffy right now, but I’d like to invest $100,000 in some stocks. My wife has located a house two miles from where we live that is going for $1,000,000. We are dying, emphasis on dying again, to have that house. Who cares if others are dying not having healthcare?
Jesus is crazy if he thinks I’m giving all my wealth, every last penny, to some poor people. Hell, I’m not even willing to give a few thousand dollars more each year for the healthcare of a poor person, particularly if they are an illegal immigrant. Besides, I don’t want to be perfect, so that verse doesn’t have a damm thing to do with me.
Keep up the good work. I’m counting on you to get me out of this Jesus mess more than poor folk are counting on people like me to share the wealth.
Heck, some Christian told me the other day that what I had wasn’t even mine’ that everything in the world belonged to God? Can you believe these crazy Christians?
When I die I’m taking all my possessions with me to heaven. I hope there’s enough room in heaven for all I’m bringing with me.
typical lib. what’s a synonym for liberal? idiot.
What an interesting discussion! I am very new to posting comments and voicing my opinion, but as I feel very strongly about this subject, I feel the need to comment.
My husband and I are “well-off” and comfortable – upper middle class. We worked VERY hard for many years with a small business. So many hours were worked, so many sacrifices were made for this business. And, of course,
I don’t want our hard-earned money given to those who will not get off of their behinds to work.
HOWEVER….. I know MANY people without medical insurance and they all work. And, they pray they don’t get sick or have an accident.
I think as a developed nation we have certain responsibilities to our citizens – to take care of our children,
to take care of our elderly, and to make sure that those
who get sick do not get financially wiped out or lose their house, or have to declare bankruptcy. I pay taxes to finance our schools. Yet, I do not have children. I do not get to choose whether or not to pay theses taxes. I do not mind paying these taxes – the children are our (all of us) future. I pay taxes into the Social Security system.
My husband and I do not collect Social Security (yet).
Our parents are not alive. So, I am paying now for YOU or YOUR parents to collect Social Security. Again, I do not mind paying these taxes. I think it is our country’s responsibility to take care of our elderly. And, now the debate about health care, and taking care of the sick.
Again, I am willing to make this contribution.
I am not willing to make contributions to EVERYTHING, but I do believe that children, the elderly, and the sick are the BASICS.
And, all that hard-earned money my husband and I worked for – I am so terribly afraid of losing it all to one accident or one hospital visit. And, it happens every day.
Rosie,
I hope you will get less new at sharing your opinion.
I think you are crazy. Not crazy loud. You are quiet. You can get lost in a crowd. Seriously, I think you ought to have your head and your heart examined. You have a serious condition. You are a crazy Christian. I think you are an amazing person. I think, in you, the kingdom of God has arrived. I think the world should be full of people like you. Not only because of your sense of moral responsibility, but because in every syllable of the words you typed I detected the weight of a life well-lived, of a love saturated existence, of hands and hearts and feet open and reaching out to the rest of the world. Your words reveal hard work, but not so hard that you are blind to what is occurinig before you. You are well-off, probably play golf and have a boat, but you SEE what is happening to other people every day. You do not expect other people’s backyards to be like your backyard. I bet your backyard is stunningly beautiful, but not as beautiful as your soul. Your husband is a lucky man, as lucky as I am to have my wife. You have no children, and yet you say “our children.” Please say your words out loud, record them, put a bag of ice on your forehead. I think you’ve had a very bad fall, maybe on your boat, or perhaps a golf ball hit your head. Record your words. Play the record to yourself and others a million times, not to force your stuff on others. No, do it because it’s the right thing to do; and if you are getting old, do it so you don’t forget. What you are saying is something you could forget as you get older and have less security. Hard to care for others when you are less secure. One more thing: this is a dangerous week for you. You are already off the deep end. I think you are beyond saving, but do not, I repeat, do not go to church on Easter. Jesus dying on a cross. We don’t want to give you any more crazy ideas. Stay where it’s safe. Enjoy your view. Enjoy the products of all your hard work. Jesus was wrong. Rich people can and do enter the kingdom God. It’s a miracle but I’ve seen it happen many times.