This past week a letter to the editor from a Tea Party member who wants us to believe that a seventy year old man who shoved a bottle down a protestors throat at a Republican Rally was staged. The photo did not show that.
Tea Party:
- White at least 55 years old
- Ultra Conservative
- Evangelical Christian
- Fairly wealthy
Per an interview with a Tea Party person last year in the state of Indiana and what they stand for:
- Against all religions except Christian
- Against all labor unions
- Against gays and lesbians
- Against all government social programs (for women-children-elderly)
- Against Planned Parenthood
- Against having their members in Congress doing any kind of reaching out to work with Democrats
Repulican members of House (Tea Party) voted last week to cut $16 billion from the food stamp program. That would eliminate benefits for at least 2 million people and cut more than 200,000 kids from the free-lunch program. It would not cut farm subsidies.
By all of the above they claim to be good Christians is that what Jesus would do?
Dan LaVigne
Avon Lake
Do you have a response to Mr. LaVigne? Post it here or respond with your own letter to Lori.Switaj@patch.com.
Tell us in the comments.
David
7:12 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
Would Jesus recommend we continue to spend beyond our means? We don't have a tax problem in this country (the government takes too much already), we have a spending problem in this country.
Curt Fell
7:59 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
It's kind of hard to make the argument that we do not have a tax problem in this country when we are at the all-time lowest tax rates in the history of the USA. Also, it's kind of hard to make the argument that we have a spending problem when we are not even close to spending at the rate per GDP as we did after WWII. The USA had a higher tax rate for the wealthy and a greater amount of spending vs GDP back in the late 1940's that brought us the booming 50's and 60's.
Those who state we don't have a tax problem but a spending problem should check out some factual history.
David
8:04 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
I will make the argument all day - our taxes are extremely too high. The most effective way to stimulate an economy is to allow people to keep more of their money to push through the economy. With the approaching increases in taxes due to Obamacare we are about to see a revolt from the taxpayers. When we have almost half the country paying absolutely no federal income taxes (in the range of 47-49%) there is no way you can say we don't have a tax problem. We could take 100% of the income of those making over $500,000 and it wouldn't even put a dent in the deficit - it would run the government for 17 days. So, therefore, we have absolutely a spending problem and not a taxing problem.
David
8:05 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
Actually, I would agree we have a tax problem when we have almost half the country not participating as stated above.
jeannetraxler@yahoo.com
8:58 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
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MZ
11:01 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
Dan, I will turn the question back to you. What would Jesus do? I have to assume based on your opinion piece that you think Jesus would be all for the Federal government (at the threat of jail) taking hard earned money from the people, sending it through a bureaucracy, then handing out goodies to those that can actually help themselves.
MZ
11:05 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
Per an interview with a Liberal person last week in the state of Ohio and what they stand for:
•Against all religions
•Against all succesful people
•Against traditional marriage
•Against any cuts to any government program (except defense)
•For free abortions for all
•Against the first, second, and fourth ammendment, unless they feel under attack
What would Karl Marx do?
Abbe
10:56 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
I love this response, MZ. ! I couldn't have said it any better. I and some friends have been to Tea Party gatherings. These are older, not rich, peaceful people who love their country and happen to believe in God. I used to be Democrat. No longer. I cannot support a party who demonizes anyone who disagrees, or calls them racist when they happen to disagree with the president. It is a danger in our society when any elected official is above reproach. Don't they get it? And the media doesn't help. Sometimes, I feel like I'm living in Venezuela. I'm so tired of hearing good, decent conservatives blasted for their beliefs.
MZ
11:06 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
Oh yeah, something about "teach a man to fish..."
Dan LaVigne
12:05 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung - Get rid of the Billion Dollar Cooperations with all their tax breaks and loop holes and you will be able to pay off our National Debt.
David
12:10 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Yes, lets cut all those out so there is further lessened competitiveness for our corporations in the world market. Instead, lets start by making sure everyone who earns a paycheck pays federal income taxes.
Dan LaVigne
12:42 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Now that I got your attention I am sure all the right wing nuts will come out and condemn wwhat was said. MS I am postive that Jesus would line up with the liberal thinking more than what the tea party believes. First cut all tax breaks and loop holes for millioners, corporations (laster figure $1.3 trillion) all farm aid, cut all foreign aid to all countries. Once we do this take the money and pay down the debt. Two to one you will have money left over to support programs for the poor, children, senior citizens and womens health
MZ
2:53 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
"...cut all foreign aid to all countries"
I am not sure that Jesus would only want to help Americans since I am fairly certain we are all God's creations.
Abbe
11:19 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Sadly, Dan you have bought into the divide and conquer tactics of the left. If you taxed the top 1% at 100% it would pay for something like 8 days of our debt. Got it? Why don't you read the other side before blasting? Again, this is why I left the Democrat party. I'm tired of the tactics to divide us by race, sex, social status, etc. We are all Americans. We are all hurting. If the dems keep at this war against successful people, guess what? They will take their success and leave this country. Then who's going to pay for all the programs? The rich are the most generous when it comes to donations to the poor. Without them, who is going to help? The Government? You can't help without taxpayers. And we are almost at the 50% mark of those who don't pay any taxes. Please step out of your hate bubble and read. Learn, educate yourself to facts. Don't just be hypnotized by the constant rant on the left. MHO.
David
1:27 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
"Right wing nuts"? You're going the route of personal attacks? I'm finished here now that that typical left wing strategy has reared its ugly head. No more responses from me nor will I read any more on this topic. Instead of having a mature discussion of the difference of ideas you have to go that route.
Abbe
10:58 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Why can't you disagree without calling people "right wing nuts?" This is why I left the democratic party. I can't stand the hatred anymore.
Abbe
11:01 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
I agree, David. I'm going to unsubscribe from this online newspaper. I get so tired of the hatred. When did it get so ugly in this country? The Liberals have really sunk to new lows and I am saddened that we can't even have disagreements without being vilified. What happened to "agree to disagree?" Or, how about listening with the heart and soul. I listen to my liberal friends all the time, but all I get is screamed at in return. It wears me down.
Laurie
10:05 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Why is someone on FOOD STAMPS able to buy dog food instead of people food?
MZ
10:00 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Perhaps for the same reason they have satellite dishes, flat screen TVs, Xboxes, iPhones, Nikes, etc...
I was driving through a rather rough neighborhood just the other day and counting the satellite dishes on the roofs. It was amazing. The houses were falling apart, not kept up at all. They all had nice, new satellite dishes. Amazing!
Dan LaVigne
1:39 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
I guess my answer to being a Tea Party member and a good Christian is that what Jesus would do? The answer by everyone replying to my note is yes to be a good christian and also a member of the tea party and the repulican party you go to church and carry the bible but when it comes time to help out the people at the bottom is let them fend for themselves. Guess I will have to find a religion that cares for all the people not like the hatred that the far right shows
MZ
2:09 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
When it comes time to help people I don't believe you need to rely on government to do that. Again, teach a man to fish... I am fairly certain that Jesus didn't preach to not directly help people but to send money to the Romans so they could do it for him.
Why wait for the government to collect the taxes, cycle them through a huge costly bureaucracy? Just go out and impact some of "the people at the bottom" yourself. I don't pretend to speak for all Christians or members of the Tea Party but I would guess they just have a difference of opinion in how and where the help should come from.
I am sure your quest for a religion that asks you to rely on a government bureaucracy to "help" people will be a fun and interesting quest for you.