Some in the GOP, especially libertarians, hate government so much that they refuse to recognize the scriptural mandate to governments to help the poor. Marron's post #2 is an example.
The same characters typically also hate taxes so much that they refer to it as "theft at the point of a gun", instead of recognizing the scriptural mandate to pay taxes to those whom taxes are due.
Sleight of hand. Government wants to raise taxes because it wants to increase the reach of government. Repubs oppose the increase of taxes because they seek to limit the reach of government. Since explaining the whole notion of classic liberalism and limited government is complicated, the whole argument winds up being about tax cuts.
I’ve often made the comment myself that Repubs have to make the whole limited-government argument, they have to make the whole classic liberal case again and again, they can’t rely on some kind of short-hand argument about tax cuts, because half the people in America don’t pay income tax anyway, and aren’t going to get it.
Dems want to extend the reach of government into every aspect of your life, and keep jacking tax rates to pay for it even though raising taxes (and micromanaging the economy) suffocates the economy and pushes people out of work thus creating more poor people as you well should know.
If we push back on taxes, they say, what, you don’t like poor people? Or they’ll add program after program and if you push back on taxes they’ll threaten to lay off police and teachers. What, you don’t like teachers? No, we want to roll back the other programs that have extended the reach of government where it doesn’t belong.
Sleight of hand. You oppose running a $4 trillion dollar budget with $2 trillion in income. What, you don’t like poor people? What, are you a radical libertarian who doesn’t pay his taxes? We oppose looting social security and Dems accuse us of hating old people. Its a con game.
Pro 29:14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
Dan 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
Jer 22:15 Shalt thou reign, because thou closest [thyself] in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, [and] then [it was] well with him?Jer 22:16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then [it was] well [with him: was] not this to know me? saith the LORD.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil. Rom 13:5 Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Rom 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
While rulers can be evil and such rulers have to be dealt with. Generally scripture clear supports rulers and tells us to pay tributes and dues. It does not say that such taxes are theft.
When such taxes are duly voted upon by the elected representatives of "We the People", how do people accuse those whom scripture calls God's ministers of theft?
Pro 29:14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
Dan 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
Jer 22:15 Shalt thou reign, because thou closest [thyself] in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, [and] then [it was] well with him?Jer 22:16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then [it was] well [with him: was] not this to know me? saith the LORD.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil. Rom 13:5 Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Rom 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
While rulers can be evil and such rulers have to be dealt with. Generally scripture clear supports rulers and tells us to pay tributes and dues. It does not say that such taxes are theft.
When such taxes are duly voted upon by the elected representatives of "We the People", how do people accuse those whom scripture calls God's ministers of theft?
“I see in scripture a mandate to individuals, churches, AND governments to help the poor and needy.”
The scriptural references regarding individuals and churches are so abundant that there’s no need to provide any citations.
Care to give any chapter-and-verse citation to support your assertion regarding the mandate for governments to help the poor and needy? Seriously, I want to know what you think.
Because I think that the state has nothing — absolutely nothing — to offer in this area, and I find no scriptural justification for coercive wealth redistribution.
When the state interferes in this regard, it not only harms the poor but also deprives the well-off of the joy of helping others. It impoverishes us all.