What would Jesus say about Republican attack on food stamps?

[cbayer]

Last edited Tue Oct 15, 2013, 01:53 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/topoftheticket/la-na-tt-attack-on-food-stamps-20131014,0,3707915.story



By David Horsey
October 15, 2013, 5:00 a.m.

Most Republican members of Congress claim to believe in Jesus Christ, but their votes against the food stamp program suggest they do not share their lord and savior’s love for the poor.

In September, House Republicans sent a bill to the Senate that would cut $40 billion from funding for the food stamp program over the next decade. The tea party caucus, a group that is quite evangelical about its economic theories and its religion, justified the spending reduction in terms that echoed Ayn Rand more than the Gospels.

“In the real world, we measure success by results,” said Rep. Marlin Stutzman, an Indiana Republican, speaking in favor of the cuts. “It’s time for Washington to measure success by how many families are lifted out of poverty and helped back on their feet, not by how much Washington bureaucrats spend year after year.”

That sounds like good old common sense, but, of course, it is actually just more tea party nonsense. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the food stamp program has kept about 4 million above the poverty line and has been a lifeline to millions of others already in poverty. If the Republican cuts were to go into effect, 4 million people would be kicked off the food stamp program next year, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and another 3 million would be dropped annually in subsequent years.

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[M.G.]

1. I don't what this Jesus you're talking about...

I have no idea what the Jesus described in the Gospels would say about today's political controversies, but I bet this Jesus would be down with today's GOP:

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/09/17_franken.html

[cbayer]

2. Supply side Jesus?

It's pretty good satire.

[Agnosticsherbet]

3. What ever Republians want him to say.

Phrases that justify their beliefs will be quoted, and t hose that don' will be re interpreted.

[cbayer]

5. While that's true, ignoring the parts about taking care of the poor

requires quite the stretch.

[Agnosticsherbet]

14. They've made a science of ingorting the parts that condemn the rich to the point

that a number of the Mega Churches preach that believing in Jesus will get you wealthy. No less a person than Calvin actually considered wealth as a sign that one was blessed by God and destined to heaven.

It isn't a stretch, just a willingness interpret the Holy Word of God in the most favorable light.

[cbayer]

15. Prosperity Gospel - pretty sickening stuff.

I know what you are saying and agree.

[cleanhippie]

4. Nothing.

Fictional characters don't have opinions, their authors do.

[trotsky]

6. "Render unto Caesar..."

Some folks interpret that to mean government shouldn't be doing god's work. That private charity should be taking care of it. Is that not a valid biblical viewpoint?

Good luck trying to out-Jesus the fundies, though.

[hrmjustin]

7. IMO he would not be pleased. Then again if he came to me he would not be happy with me either.

[cbayer]

8. Why would he not be happy with you, Justin?

[hrmjustin]

9. I am not very good at being a Christian.

[cbayer]

10. I could not disagree more.

[hrmjustin]

11. I could do better.

[cbayer]

12. We can always do better.

Who would want a world full of perfect people?

[hrmjustin]

13. This is true.

I think I could be more attentive to my prayer life and remember that I am a Christian at al times and act as I preach.