Archive for Commentary
The Parable Of The Talents Revisited — A Fractured Fairy Tale
Posted by: | CommentsThis Fairy Tale was provided by: Dennis Thurman
There was a President, who newly elected, took a long journey from Chicago to Washington, D.C. He called his fellow Americans to tune in to his State of the Union speech that he might speak of all the bounty with which they had been blessed, but had squandered during the previous administration, through lack of government regulation and programs.
One citizen was a white collar owner of a small family business, another was a blue collar worker trying to meet his family’s needs, and yet another, though poor, was healthy and blessed with the opportunity to make something of his life.
The small businessman invested wisely, worked diligently and became the owner of a Fortune 500 company.
The blue-collar worker scrimped and saved and worked overtime in order to start his own business.
The other man frittered away his opportunity and decided that society was mistreating him, the rich were taking advantage of him and government owed him a living, so he sat around and did nothing—except when he wanted to party, which he always seemed to have time and money to do.
After many days and several trips to the golf course, the President had a press conference from the Oval Office.
He chided the man who had become successful in building a large corporation as being greedy and unconcerned for the poor—not giving his fair share to the government. “I will place you in a higher tax bracket until we bring you to the level of the poor man,” said the all-wise, all-caring President.
Likewise, he scolded the middle class worker who had struggled so long to begin his own little business, for he too had so much more than the poor man and was self-centered according to the President—not giving his fair share to the government, either. “I will raise your taxes also (though not as high as the wealthy man) until we bring you to the level of the poor man,” said the all-wise, all-caring President.
Turning to the poor man, the compassionate President heard him say, “Life has been unfair to me. My welfare check doesn’t go as far as it used to. Gas prices from greedy oil companies make it expensive to fill up my Mercedes. It is hard to make ends meet when big screen TV’s and cable bills are so expensive, not to mention the cost of liquor. I worked for a rich man for a few days and he expected me to be on time and work hard and it was just more than my nervous condition could bear. If I have to work, a government job would be much better.”
To the man who wasted his days in lethargy and his nights with lotteries, liquor and ladies, the President said, “Life has indeed been unfair to you. The educational system has failed you. Greedy corporations have taken advantage of you. Society owes you, but has neglected you. Even if you had a government job, the wealthy bankers where you deposit your money would take it and stuff their own pockets with profits. We will take from the rich and the middle class and give it to you, so there may truly be equality in America at last. We will also remember the plight of the poor in oppressed nations around the world and do all we can to destroy the businesses of America so we can become a third-world country also. At the end of the day, it’s all about equality.” Thus spoke the all-wise, all-caring President as he flawlessly read his teleprompter before the fawning media.
“For to everyone who has, more will be taken, and he will have little; but from him who produces little, we will give a little more,” thus said the all-wise, all-caring President as he departed for another vacation.
“And put the profitable citizen into prison. I’m sure he is abusing the system.”
Then across the once-fruited plain, there was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
(With apologies to Saint Matthew and the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show)
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed are those of Dennis Thurman and are not intended to represent the opinions and viewpoints of Pole Creek Baptist Church. Neither should these be construed as a benediction on the rich and condemnation of the poor. There are greedy rich people and honorable poor people. Some of God’s special saints live on meager funds—disabled, disadvantaged—doubtless the case. Others may prosper materially and be bankrupt morally and spiritually. Also, there is not disrespect intended for the office of the Presidency which God has commanded Christians to honor and obey, as well as pray for—which I have done this morning already. What is intended is to show how this parable of Christ has been turned on its head by the current administration.
Letter to the Editor Causes Intimidating Voice Mail
Posted by: | CommentsToday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press (St. Paul, MN) published a letter I wrote regarding a story about government union (specifically, City) workers loafing (while on the taxpayers dime) on the job when they were supposed to be filling potholes in St. Paul.
A culture of laziness
The story about the public union workers caught loafing on the job is an example of union organizing gone bad (“Pothole loafing gets 17 suspended,” May 11).
When unions first started organizing in the early 20th century, they helped workers in dangerous jobs become empowered against business owners who did not value the lives of their workers. For example, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers was formed because of the deaths of high-voltage linemen while they were installing what is now our power-grid.
However, along with necessary unions, there has been an explosion of non-essential unions in America. Unions that have absolutely nothing to do with the safety of their workers and are in place to bilk the public. These unions are responsible for bankrupting states like California with their salary and benefit demands — demands that private-sector employees can’t imagine requesting from their employers.
Our current administration prefers to demonize bankers, Wall Street, oil companies and talk radio for the breakdown of our great country. This administration is wrong. The real villains are the government and teachers’ unions that refuse to tighten their belts like those of us in the private-sector have to do.
Shame on those public unions for allowing a culture of laziness to flourish within their systems. Shame on them for insisting upon salaries and benefits that out-pace private sector salaries and benefits at the expense of the American taxpayer. It is time to abolish government and teacher unions and go back to a true privatized free-market system.
I had no idea that the letter had even been published until I checked my voicemail and heard the following message:
Was this voice mail, by an alleged Teamsters Union member, intended as intimidation? You decide!
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The caller (coward) made sure to use “Private Caller” on my caller ID and left no name, either. Isn’t it great that when we express our Freedom of Speech and are required to publish our names and hometowns that those in opposition to us, if they feel too cowardly to stand behind their statements, can call or write to harass us for using our Freedom of Speech? Maybe this Teamster should put his money where his mouth is and write his OWN Letter to The Editor, instead of calling to harass me about my point of view.
Editor’s Note: I have now been informed that others have taken interest in playing this audio on some St. Paul area radio stations. I wonder if the voice on this voice mail recording will be recognized by friends and co-workers of this individual?
On Power – Part 2 of 3
Posted by: | CommentsPower Doesn’t Just Corrupt
Or: The Year of the Sand Blaster
It’s been almost a month now, and I apologize for the delay in getting back to this series. In my last post, I related the story of Tea Party backers taking over local unit chair positions, and the establishment hacks being very unhappy about it. Since then, Viginia’s 5th District has elected a new chairman, as well. (He appeared on one of my recent shows, by the way.)
One group that has defined “deafening silence” since then have been the lefty bloggers (and even some establishment GOP types) who had previously been very vocal about the Tea Party Movement and their certainty that it would never be able to have a discernible impact at the ballot box. The reason for their silence now is simple: every one of these local unit chair elections involved, of all things, ballots being cast and counted.
In my last post (part 1 of this series), I also talked about the redistribution of power. This time, I want to make the case for a movement in that direction being absolutely essential to our present struggle.
The Founders laid out very specific powers Read More→
Which Came First the Vaccine or the Increase of Autism
Posted by: | CommentsMedical journal retracts study linking autism to vaccine
…(CNN) — The medical journal The Lancet on Tuesday retracted a controversial 1998 paper that linked the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism.
The study subsequently had been discredited, and last week, the lead author, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, was found to have acted unethically in conducting the research.
The General Medical Council, which oversees doctors in Britain, said that “there was a biased selection of patients in The Lancet paper” and that his “conduct in this regard was dishonest and irresponsible.”
The panel found that Wakefield subjected some children in the study to various invasive medical procedures such as colonoscopies and MRI scans. He also paid children at his son’s birthday party to have blood drawn for research purposes, an act that “showed a callous disregard” for the “distress and pain” of the children, the panel said….
“The mere publishing of this paper created something that will never fully go way: the false notion that MMR caused autism,” said Dr. Paul Offit, author of “Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure,” and the chief of division of infectious diseases at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia…
…The Lancet came under criticism for the initial publication of the paper 12 years ago.
Autism Cases on the Rise Study Shows Increase Is Real, Not Just Due to Changes in Diagnosis Criteria article pertinent portion:
Many researchers have believed that the continuous increase in autism cases over the last decade — particularly the huge increase seen in California — isn’t real, but can be explained by “artifacts.”…
…Jan. 8, 2009 — Environmental factors may be partly behind California’s eightfold rise in new cases, a new study implies…
…But even taken together, they don’t explain even half of the huge increase in cases. “When you put it all together, this doesn’t come close to explaining the increases in the last 10 years,” Hertz-Picciotto tells WebMD. “The more you whittle away at this increase, the more you have to say that what is left over is real. … Given that autism cases keep going up, and can’t be fully explained by artifacts, environmental factors deserve serious consideration.”…
Yet questions remain. Coincidence? Doubtful!
Real Change: Our Time or God’s?
Posted by: | CommentsRecently, I was indirectly chastised on Facebook by an Obama-supporting friend who doesn’t appreciate the fact that I am more than willing to post various informative links about the nefarious activities of the current administration and our Congressional leaders. Her argument was that people shouldn’t try to change things they have no power to change, that we should only try to change what happens in our own little sphere and leave the rest in God’s hands because all things happen on His time. This statement is partly true – obviously, if you are a God-fearing person, you must believe that all things happen on God’s time; however, to say that we must not try to change the things we see going wrong, that we must just pray and put those things into God’s hands. If that were the case, what would happen?
Throughout history, there is evidence of God putting someone into the right place at the right time to affect the things happening around them. In the Bible, the Book of Esther demonstrates exactly how God uses people to affect change. It is the only book of the Bible in which God is NEVER directly mentioned. When the threat against the Jews comes to light, Esther’s Uncle Mordecai says to her, “For if you remain silent at this time, Read More→
Restoring Honor in the Realm of Dumbledore
Posted by: Britt Hanson | Comments (0)The Harry Potter
series may have been written for children, but much of the heart of the books ring true to adults today.
Professor Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)
, JK Rowling, pgs. 723-724
If Glenn Beck were to use this speech at his “8/28 Restoring Honor Rally” on Saturday, it might go something like this:
Dumbledore’s words ring true to those of us who love America, who desire to see her back on track with the Constitution. What happens in Hogwarts School in Book 5 (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5)
) is prophetic – on a smaller scale, obviously – of what we are potentially facing as a country if the current leaders are allowed to continue to take us on the path they’ve set forth upon.
Our current leaders crave a crisis. They crave dissonance. They want us to be battling over a mosque that doesn’t even have enough funding to begin building next year because it takes the focus off of what they are doing to our country. Our current leaders want us to find reasons to be distrustful of one another because that forces us to trust them or to become oblivious to what they are doing, and the essence of what the leaders are doing is spreading evil.
The evil that is being encouraged and exploited by our leaders is the evil of ENVY. Envy is the worst of the Seven Deadly Sins for a reason: all of the other sins originate with ENVY. Lucifer’s fall hinged upon his desire to be like GOD – he was envious of God’s power and wanted it. He was cast out of heaven for that sin. Our current administration plays upon this deadly sin by trying to limit how much people can earn; by trying to “spread the wealth”; by stealing from hard-working people to give their wealth to those who don’t work as hard. Why? Because they are playing the politics of envy.
When we are envious of what others have, we are coveting their belongings and breaking one of the Ten Commandments; simultaneously, we are also playing directly into the hands of the administration who tell us that we don’t have to work as hard as someone else, that the government will take care of us, if only we let them. We are allowing our envy, our desires, our coveting to override our freedoms. By breaking God’s commandments, we are allowing ourselves to be punished and that punishment comes in the form of the blessing of FREEDOM being removed, bit-by-bit, from our lives. While we are distracted by what we don’t have but what we want to have, we allow our government to continue to play upon the basest nature of mankind. We are so busy hating those who have, that we don’t see what precious things are being taken away from us.
We need to heed Dumbledore’s advice. We need to listen to Glenn Beck. We need to come together as AMERICANS – not as Republicans or Tea Partiers or Democrats – and fight the insidious evil that is spreading across our land. We need to teach our children to be self-sufficient; to do for themselves – that urge that takes over every two-year-old child to say “ME DO IT!” when they refuse to let you dress them – we need to raise our children to see what they want and think “Me do it!” – that they can work for what they want instead of coveting what others have and allowing the government to take care of them.
Listen to Dumbledore
. We are coming upon dark and dangerous times. What choice will you make? Will you choose what is right or what is easy?