Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) on Monday accused Democrats of stealing elections by using completely legal methods of registering and convincing potential Democratic voters to support them.
As is usual for a Right Winger who rules by Snark, Rand Paul intended it as an accusation. I dont get his "accusation." Convincing potential voters to cast legal ballots is the how you win elections in a democracy.😳There seems to be an assumption that the major responsibility in society towards the poor is to create some kind of legislative policy that will “take care of” the poor.
As I am reading the Book of Proverbs this week, I am noting that it seems to see treating the poor more as a matter of personal responsibility.
“Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor” (Proverbs 14:21).
“Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him” (14:31).
“It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud” (16:19).
“Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished” (17:5).
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed” (19:17).
“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered” (21:13).
“Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor” (22:9).
“Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty” (22:16).
“Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor” (28:8).
“Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse” (28:17).
Adding all that up is simple math:
Proverbs doesn’t measure care for the poor by what kind of policies you support. It seems to care more about what you as an individual do with other people which equals: You share your stuff.
Jesus made a oft overlooked promise when he said, “The poor you will always have with you" (Matthew 26) and even back in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 15:11 declares “the poor will never cease to be in the land," which means if you're looking for something to do "for the Lord," there's always someone somewhere you can bless.
“When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.”
― Benjamin Franklin
Ive read a lot of quotes from the founders and I think most of them misjudged human character. Or they just didnt think that far out. Franklin is right on that point...and the "Republic" has not existed for quite a while now. It's a Democracy, which historically they are very fragile and, like Rome, our end may be in sight. Man was never created to rule. Power will always corrupt him as he attempts to rule autonomously.
