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The picture defines the outcome of a nation led toward socialism and dependence. People are conditioned to look to the government, or a man in control of the government, as the ultimate source.
Socialism is immoral. Capitalism has a moral case, but unfortunately, it is seldom made.
Socialism is not just a good or compassionate idea gone wrong---it is an evil ideology in action.
Socialism isn't driven by compassion, it's driven by greed and jealousy. And a drive for power.
This week, President Obama failed to recognize the 50th anniversary of the launch of President Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" in 1964.
However, he launched his own version of the same thing which he has called "Promise Zones."
The government will funnel substantial amounts of taxpayer funds into 5 "Promise Zones." They are San Antonio, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, southeastern Kentucky, and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
So what's wrong with helping the poor?
Doesn't the Bible command that we are to help the poor?
Indeed it does. But here's what's wrong with this picture.
1. First, history affirms that socialism doesn't work. It didn't work under Johnson and the years that followed and it doesn't work for President Obama. It didn't even work in the New Testament community as the book of Acts explains.
Now, 50 years after Johnson's "Great Society," a record 47 million people are on food stamps---13 million more than when President Obama took office 5 years ago.
Under the Obama administration, which strongly favors the ideals of socialism, the poverty rate has stood at 15% for the past 3 consecutive years.
And America is becoming a dependent nation believing their source to be the government and those who are in power. This leads to tyranny by those in power.
President Obama told the press this week that he has never met any one who would "rather get an unemployment check than a pay check," as he works to extend unemployment again.
Obama blasted as callous those who questioned the need to continue extending unemployment insurance.
He said, "Now, I've heard the argument that says extending unemployment insurance will somehow hurt the unemployed because it saps their motivation to get a new job. I, I really want to, I want to go at this for a second. I can't name a time where I met an American who would rather have an unemployment check than the pride of having a job."
Well, we have Mr. President.
The St. Louis Federal Reserve can as well. A study released last May revealed unemployment insurance fraud costs U.S. taxpayers $3.3 billion. The report found unemployment benefits going to individuals in prison, those who already have jobs, and scammers collecting unemployment insurance checks for dead people.
Certainly government can play a role in providing a safety net for certain needs, but a culture built on government dependence will surely collapse.
2. There is also the element of greed in socialism. Brietbart News is exposing another possible motivation for the "Promise Zones."
It seems there is specific political gain that can be harvested from 4 of the 5 new "Promise Zones." All relating to the elections of 2014. Read the link.
3. Let's look at the bigger and darker picture. Ben Shapiro has written an excellent article which makes the moral case for capitalism.
He says, "The failure to make a moral case for capitalism has doomed capitalism to the status of a perennial backup plan. When people are desperate or wealthy, they turn to socialism; only when they have no other alternative do they embrace the free market. After all, lies about guaranteed security are far more seductive than lectures about personal responsibility."
Consider what he says:
"So what is the moral case for capitalism? It lies in recognition that socialism isn't a great idea gone wrong — it's an evil philosophy in action. It isn't driven by altruism; it's driven by greed and jealousy.
Socialism states that you owe me something simply because I exist. Capitalism, by contrast, results in a sort of reality-forced altruism: I may not want to help you, I may dislike you, but if I don't give you a product or service you want, I will starve."
"Voluntary exchange is more moral than forced redistribution. Socialism violates at least three of the Ten Commandments: It turns government into God, it legalizes thievery and it elevates covetousness. Discussions of income inequality, after all, aren't about prosperity but about petty spite. Why should you care how much money I make, so long as you are happy?"
"Conservatives talk results when discussing the shortcomings of socialism. They're right: Socialism is ineffective, destructive and stunting to the human spirit. But they're wrong to abandon the field of morality when discussing the contrast between freedom and control. And it's this abandonment — this perverse laziness — that has led to socialism's comeback, even though within living memory, we have seen continental economies collapse and millions slaughtered in the name of this false god."
Agreed.
And finally, the Emerging Church, the religious left, as they prefer to be called, trumpets the expansion of government welfare in the name of Christ. And compassion. And social justice. And some buy into their message, believing it to be a mandate from God.
That is not a biblical message, nor is it God's way.
The "religious left," from Rev. Jeremiah Wright to Jim Wallis has misled this president and millions of other people.
Their official web site states, "We're Christians. We're Liberals. We Make No Apologies. Please Get Used To It."
They claim they are not Marxist, Communist or New Age.
However, their silence on biblical issues perhaps says more than their words.
In advancing so-called "social justice," the Christian Left present themselves as defender and the Religious Right as foe of the poor, woman and women's rights (abortion,etc.), families, the environment and human rights (gay rights and marriage "equality").
In doing so, they rehearse Scriptures where Christ helps the victims of society, but never include the rest of Christ's message.
In most of these same passages of Scripture, Jesus also identified sin, telling the victims to "go and sin no more." That is the true message of compassion and restoration---"repent and sin no more." Be restored by God's power.
The religious left is silent on the most critical social and moral issues of our times.
Why is the religious left silent on the one-child-policy in China and the international push by our government to expand abortion on demand in developing countries? Hillary Clinton and other "religious left Christians" have and do work tirelessly to expand abortion in the most vulnerable cultures.
Why have they not spoken out on the abuses of women by Muslims and Islamic honor killing all over the world?
It's because their social positions mirror that of the secular left.
It seems to me that the religious left stands defiantly, telling us what they are not, with a Bible in one hand and Saul Alinsky's "Rules For Radicals" in the other.
A simple study of history will show that Alinsky, the hero of community organizers and the "social justice" movement, used religion to promote socialism and Marxism, declared that he favored hell over Heaven, and dedicated his work to Lucifer.
Consider this. It is a better source than government and presidents. It is the absolute Truth. Psalms 121
Lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Prayerful. Be Pro-Active. Be Blessed.