Originally posted by Majisto:
Regarding the new Orleans discussion, I don't think many people can comprehend what N.O. is all about. Let me explain why N.O. can never be compared to many other cities.

I have lived there and so has my father's side of the family. It's a town full of people who know nothing about the outside world. Many of them know only about New Orleans and the area around it. They don't take vacations to California, New York, Texas; they go to Slidell or maybe Baton Rouge. The question is, is it my right as a Christian to help them or should I condemn them as a capitalist and say that they need jobs? What if there are no jobs? Obviously there are very few right now.



If it is so bad, what were they doing there? Get on a bus or something and move somewhere that you can get a job. The fact is that our welfare society does nothing to encourage "poor" people to pursue their self interest.

I live next to a guy who purposely works only 12 hours each week so that he can earn just the right amount of income to still receive his welfare reimbursement. He will never have anything because by using his screwed up rationale he has condemned himself to a life just above the poverty level. Every city in the country is full of these so called "poor" people.

I did speak with a woman from New Orleans last week on my lunch hour. She left after the hurricane and came here. What was she doing here? Getting a job (probably low paying, but a job anyway), finding an apartment, taking care of her 2 small children. I had nothing but respect for this young lady. There is a difference between simply being poor or facing unfortunate circumstances and being a complete nuisance on me and the rest of society.

Originally posted by Majisto:

This is the problem I have with the "capitalist" stand on things. Capitalism is extremely short-sighted. Yes, money is great, but what happens when that money is swept away by an un-controllable force? Christianity is a way of life which explains that it is wrong to horde possessions, because there is a good chance you will lose them, and then you will become what you so hated. This hatred is what Jesus came to show us. He gave up his own life, something you obviously value over even money, to show that even the most important thing in your life can be taken away by an un-controllable force.



I think there is a big gap in perspective here. When I talk about economics and capitalism, I am not talking about a love of money. I am talking about a set of theories and models that explain the way that markets all interact. It has something to do with money, but that isn't the big picture. Free market capitalism happens to work very well.

The issue at hand is that Christ tells us help the poor, while economics tells us that welfare systems and subsidies for the poor do the absolute opposite. They don't help the problem, they make it worse. New Orleans is a wonderful example and should enough proof without this discussion.
Originally posted by Majisto:

Let's say you lost your house to the hurricane and have no money because your assets were literally washed away. Don't give me this "I am prepaed for anything, blah blah" because I've heard it before and seen it fail. Since you told me that you pass up "bums" because they are too lazy to get jobs, what makes it any different that I see you as this bum and push you aside like yesterday's garbage? Had I stopped to help you, I would have realized that you are intelligent and know things I might not. I might even give you a job. You do not see the future when you look only for money, and this is what Jesus was trying to tell you. "Stop, help others, and in return, you will be helped." Of course it's hard, but making money or getting an education isn't usually easy is it?



If I wouldn't have spent the better part of my adult life smoking crack,making babies, and collecting welfare checks I would have been better prepared. Where does your money go when you choose to donate? Do you believe that it really accomplishes what you intended it for? I do sympathize with these people because their life is all they know. They think collecting government money is the only thing available to them. Their parent did it, they do it, and their children will do it as well. I will gladly help the poor if you show me how, but throwing them more money does nothing for the problem.

I go back to my recent statement... what should I do when I pass 3 or 4 separate "poor" people asking me for money as I walk to the corner store? If I give them money, they will simply ask for more next time, and this is how they spend their life. What would you do?

My opinion is if you are going to smoke crack, at least get a damn job to pay for it. Don't ask me for a dollar and don't use my tax dollars either.

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