Replies

"I answered yours, now please answer mine"

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I sincerely appreciate it.

"1. Can the government create prosperity?"

The Nazi government did it in the early '30s. The US and Japanese interim governments did it for Japan in the late '40s. The US did it in the '30s to escape the worldwide depression. The Aztecs did with organized calendars and agricultural planting schedules. The Ancient Greeks did through lax trade laws. The Romans did it through conquest and heavy taxation of the conquered lands.

So I would say, "yes".

"2. Do you have a right to someone elses earnings or labor?"

I think "earnings or labor" is too broad to offer a response. Of course my answer is "no", but that does not translate into "all social programs are bad".

"3. What is the maximum tax rate that would be acceptable?"

That would depend entirely on what services I was getting for my tax dollars.

If my taxes paid for a live-in-chef, free housing, nightly backrubs, and all the toys I wanted then I'd say 70% would be a fair tax rate. (That's a joke.)

In a free economy, I think we could get by with something like a 15% flat tax, if it were spent wisely and even the rich had to pay taxes. The only thing I really know about economics, though, is that most economists are full of it.

"4. Do you drive an automobile"

Unfortunately, yes. Even better, it's an SUV with really crappy gas mileage. (Maybe that makes me a hippocrat. I happen to think that not-driving-SUVs is not the answer to the problems of an oil economy.)

Frankly, I wish my city were designed such that I could get by without a car. I spend about an hour a day in my car stuck in traffic. I'd much rather spend that with my family.

"5. Are you rebelling from something?"

Nope.

"6.Are you uncomfortable with public displays of religiousity?"

I'm uncomfortable with it, because I think religion is ignorant and destructive. But I believe strongly in the freedom of speech and religion.

"7. Isn't better for children to be raised by two parents, a mother and a father? "

Of course it is.

I give you a lot of credit for coming here to have an honest conversation. On the reason front, though -- seriously, Google Godel and read up on quantum mechanics -- the universe is a much stranger place than even logic can fully handle...(that doesn't mean logic isn't the way to address most problems -- but the universe's truth is mathematically impossible to discern through logic).

PS, I'm exercising serious "self-discipline" in order to honor your request not to turn this into a political discussion -- I disagree with so much of what you said! But I'm so with you on the 15 percent, everyone pays flat tax -- I didn't realize liberals were for this. If so, how can all of us get together on this and actually make it happen?

I think religion is ignorant and destructive

I agree that "religion" can be destructive but you obviously you have confused a relationship with the Creator and living God with religion
Don't throw out a relationship with the Lord because of religion
they are 2 different things

[2] My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. [4] I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

COL 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. COL 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, [10] and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. [11] In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature,* not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, [12] having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

MK 7:7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'*

MK 7:8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

1CO 2:10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. [11] For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. [12] We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. [13] This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.* [14] The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. [15] The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: