I tend to enjoy the "spiritual" threads more. In those threads one can actually find *gasp* debate and discussion. And - I enjoy philosophical banter.
My experience is that most atheists simply desire a truly secularist society. To me, the interesting thing about the above statement is that it seems to imply that "having an agenda" makes one's viewpoint illogical or devious. Nevermind that you would be very hard pressed to not find a chrsitian with an "agenda"...
sec·u·lar·ism 1. Religious skepticism or indifference. 2. The view that religious considerations should be excluded from civil affairs or public education.
I tend to enjoy your spiritual takes in the political threads. Reminds me not all American Christians are pro-war, pro-death penalty and pro-tax cuts for the rich at the expense of aid to the neediest among us.
i subscribe to the former, not the latter. as long as my kids are taught how to think, i'm not that worried about what subjects they're exposed to.
They are not mutally exclusive. The point I was trying to make is that the latter ideal tends to cause anxiety within the christian community for some reason.
I guess not, basso. We have different opinions about how much money there is to go around. You believe money grows on trees and deficits are good for the economy. I believe we should have a balanced budget so we don't pass on debt to future generations. As such, I believe that when there's less money in the government coffers, we have to make hard choices about how to spend that money. You don't believe that, I know. That's fine. Just a difference of opinion. Let's leave that one out and just say I find it refreshing that Max doesn't belong to that class of American Christians that departs from the church on war, the death penalty and helping those less fortunate than ourselves.
The article oes on to talk about how he will be making large cuts to medicaid(that's the medical program that helps pay for poor peoples medical expenses). It also explains that it won't cut the deficit because there won't be any tax increases and congress wont go along with budget cuts.
it's an opinion piece, and there is no cause and effect demonstrated. it's pure projection on your's, batman's, and abc's part.
well it isn't a pure opinion piece since we are dealing with some concrete numbers. The only thing that is conjecture is that congress won't cut spending, and the administration won't cut taxes, because that is predicting the future. But the fact that both can't co-exist isn't projection or conjecture. The fact that Bush is proposing cutting benefits to the poor, while cutting taxes for the rich isn't projection or a guess. That is fact. If you believe that he is doing that not out of a necessity but for some other reason then it is hard to see how you can support someone who would do such a thing.
tax cuts help the economy, which ultimately benefits us all. the "article," like so much of what's in the media these days, is opinion journalism masquerading as unbiased reporting, and as such, fails at both pursuits.
So you support someone who is going to help the economy but rather than maintain or increase programs that help the sick and ill poor decides to cut them? I said that parts of the story were opinion, and conjecture. Parts are not. Parts are cold hard facts. If Bush, like you, believes that his tax cuts for the wealthy will help the economy why would he see a need to cut a program that helps the poor and infirm deal with their medical expenses? Because the facts are that Bush did propose to cut the program which helps those in poverty pay for their medical expenses.
I fail to see what benefit we derive from tax cuts, yet more tax cuts, in the middle of a war and while we have been running record deficits, and have record deficits as far as the eye can see. We are in uncharted waters. No administration, to the best of my knowledge, has cut taxes during a full scale conflict, while running deficits the size of these. It is insanity, and I'm damned mad that my kids are going to be paying for it the rest of their lives. This "Grow the economy with tax cuts during a war, Daddy! Hurrah! Tax cuts for all! Feed the rich!!" ...is just bull s***. I'm tempted to question the mental stability of those who truly think this makes sense. Take the blinders off. Please. Keep D&D Civil.
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer please indicate where the author, who does not work for ABC, gives his opinion
