Pope Francis, Really?

Up until now I had kind of liked this new Pope, Pope Francis, but after reading (parts) of his latest missive, (some 50,000 words) I'm surprised at his attack on free enterprise. He seems especially aggressive against the US, wealthy people, and trickle-down economics. He points out that:

"Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories, which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world.
This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naive trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power . . . Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting."

I guess the Pope isn't aware of our country's more than two hundred years of prosperity under a free-enterprise system. Further, we are the envy of other nations for our prosperity- where even those living at a "poverty level" in the US would be considered "wealthy" in many nations across our globe. To Pope Francis I say it seems the facts do confirm the opinion.
Further, it needs to be observed, that during the past term and a half under Obama, as he claims to try to "even the wealth out" (another word for Socialism) the wealthy have rebounded and the middle class and poor still struggle. We saw the same disparity in socialistic and communistic societies throughout history and the world. Only in an unfettered free enterprise system do we see opportunity for everyone to get ahead, to succeed... Socialism demands big government and big government creates dependence on it from its people. Dependence on government strips the individual of the incentive, the right to succeed in a free market. Dependence creates social entropy, inefficiency.

Pope Francis also attached the "sin" stigma to wealth. He claimed that free-enterprise was "unjust at its root", leaving the poorest with no means of support, which "is a grave sin". He wrote:

 "Just as the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say 'thou shalt not' to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills."
I caution you Pope Francis, to be careful defining sin, for though you lead the Catholic church you are still but a man, and it is God who defines sin, not us. I remind you Sir, as you attack the "idolatry of money" as you call it, that scripture does not say money, or having money is wrong. It says, "The love of money is the root of all evil". Money itself is a tool to aid us in our lives. To say that we need to redistribute the wealth is, in essence, to take from the wealthy that which they earned to give to others who may not have applied themselves as vigorously in their attempts to earn money. Coveting and stealing are sin, (as God defined in the Ten Commandments), and taking from the "rich" to give to the poor is nothing more than Government sanctioned stealing because you covet what they have. Far better to ask those who have to help those who have not- in allowing individuals and the church to help those in need is far more efficient that having the Government do it, where we've already seen their inability and inefficiency to monitor and get help to those who really need it. With the government in control we see vast and repeated abuses of the system. History confirms this as fact, not opinion. History stands as judge of how free enterprise and small government create wealth for all classes- and it's called trickle down economics Sir. Our past prosperity speaks for itself.
Food for thought...

Tranquility, and other random thoughts...

It's a hectic and ever-changing, fast-paced world out there, and sometimes we need to pull back and find some tranquility, some peace to re-center ourselves. Duc de La Rochefoucauld (or the Duke of Rochefoucauld, a French line of dukes dating back to the 10th century, so I'm not sure which to credit) once said, "When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere." It really doesn't matter whether it was said last week or last century, it is a truth that transcends the ages. Peace comes first from within. Peace, tranquility, is found in solitude, but today people are more and more afraid to slow down and discover the benefits of solitude. Personally, I think they are all too often afraid that who they discover when alone is not the person they desire to be... Solitude has a way of stripping away all the false veneers society coats us with and revealing the stark essence of who we are. And that can be a scary thing...

On another topic, we often find ourselves stealing time from those who love us because we are trying to please those who care about us the least. Why is it that we tend to treat those closest to us so poorly sometimes? Is it because we are secure in their love and ultimate forgiveness? I see people trying to please strangers, while ignoring those who love them and crave their attentions. One of the greatest blessings I've found is spending time with my parents. As they grow older (now in their mid 70's) I realize that our time is limited, and each visit is a chance to make a memory. Conversely, they constantly express how much they enjoy my dropping in once or twice week, and encourage me to do so even more. Isn't that time better spent than trying to please someone who really doesn't care about me? That's some food for thought...

Another axiom it pays us all to remember is that it takes years to build up trust, but only seconds to destroy it. Trust is one of those things in our lives that we need to protect, like our hearts, as precious and irreplaceable. When we destroy trust, especially in an intimate relationship, it can be rebuilt, but it will never be as strong as it was prior to destroying it.  Rebuilt trust is a fragile thing...

Here's a thought- if you find yourself on the edge of a cliff, the best way to move forward is to back up. Sometimes we are so stubborn about reversing ourselves that we remain in peril, we tightrope along the edge of a cliff, rather than backing up and re-evaluating the situation and trying to find a better course of action...

Lastly, keep a sense of humor, especially about ourselves. Taking ourselves too seriously is killer, while a good sense of humor is money in the bank. A good attitude can often control a situation that you have no hope of controlling. I have a note on my bulletin board in my office to remind me of just that. It says, "I cannot control other people or circumstances, I can only control my reaction to it."
Food for thought...

You know the honeymoon is over when...

Obama has had a long and glorious honeymoon with the mainstream (left-wing) media for some five years now, but you know the honeymoon is over when the late-night talk show hosts and political cartoonists turn on you. Many of the Hollywood community are extreme left (especially Letterman) and embraced Obama as some kind of mix of God and guru. But the screw seems to have turned... Below are some recent dandies that made me chuckle. I hope you enjoy as much as I did:

Q: What's the difference between
Obama's cabinet and a penitentiary?
A: One is filled with tax evaders, blackmailers,
and threats to society. The other is for housing 
prisoners. 
--David Letterman

Q: If Nancy Pelosi and Obama were 
on a boat in the middle of the ocean and it 
started to sink, who would be saved?
A: America ! 
--Jimmy Fallon

The liberals are asking us to give Obama time.
We agree...and think 25 to life would be 
appropriate. 
--Jay Leno

 

Q: Have you heard about McDonald's'
new Obama Value Meal?
A: Order anything you like and the guy behind you 
has to pay for it. 
--Conan O'Brien

Q: What's the difference between
Obama and his dog, Bo?
A: Bo has papers. 
--Jimmy Kimmel

 

Q: What was the most positive result 
of the "Cash for Clunkers" program?
A: It took 95% of the Obama bumper 
stickers off the road. 
--David Letterman

 

Good laughs- and Food for Thought!

Slapdown for the ACLU...

Finally an appeals court with some kahunas. The US Court of Appeals in Chicago reversed a lower court decision this week and effectively banned the contraceptive mandate in the new healthcare law, stating it did violate owners' and corporations' religious rights by forcing them to cover contraceptive costs when they are pro-life. The response by the ACLU was precious:

“This decision is a disappointment,” Louise Melling, deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said in an e-mailed statement. The organization said it filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case. “Your boss shouldn’t be able to discriminate against you because of what he or she believes, plain and simple. People are entitled to their own religious beliefs, but they don’t have the right to impose those views on others.”

Louise, I agree with you that each individual is entitled to their own religious beliefs, plain and simple. To that end I say that if your beliefs conflict with those of your employer you have every right to find employment elsewhere. There's nothing that says you have to stay and work in an environment that has contradictory views to your own. As a small business owner I say this to you Louise; How dare you, or the government, or employees, or anyone try and impose your beliefs on me, plain and simple. How dare you tell me what I can or can't believe in my own company! I am creating the jobs, paying the employees, paying taxes, positively adding to the economy, and I have every right to run my business as I see fit within the confines of the law. Who are you, or your organization to tell me what I can or can't project as a business? If an employee doesn't like our work environment they're welcome to leave. By the same token, if they accept my money, and if they like their job and desire to stay, then they are tacitly accepting my/the company position. That's life in the private sector.
And, to remind you Louise, we were established One Nation Under God by our founding fathers. Did you get that, you and your ACLU cronies? Under God- not despite God. You were allowed to live and flourish in America, despite your contrary beliefs, because we accepted all. Now you consistently and constantly try to remove God from our world. I believe in separation of church and state, but that's far different from "elimination of church from state". It would pay for you and yours to learn that distinction too.
Food for thought...