“Are religious beliefs inconsistent with economic conservatism?”
Of course not. As a weekly churchgoing, daily Bible-reading and praying Christian, I assert that economic conservatism is the priciple most closely aligned with the Gospels. Nowhere does Jesus say we have a collective responsibility to the poor. We don’t. Rather, we each have an individual responsibility to put our faith in action by helping those in need.
It is unChristian for the government do-gooders among us to take that prerogative away in the form of excessive taxation. It is not Huckabee’s or any other government official’s job to be compassionate on my behalf, for the Scriptures tell me that no one can be compassionate on my behalf. That is my job, my Christian obligation and no one else’s, and I deeply resent being taxed to the point that it is difficult to fulfill my personal obligation to do charitable works.
re:#6, well said
jw
“It is unChristian for the government do-gooders among us to take that prerogative away in the form of excessive taxation. It is not Huckabee’s or any other government official’s job to be compassionate on my behalf, for the Scriptures tell me that no one can be compassionate on my behalf. That is my job, my Christian obligation and no one else’s, and I deeply resent being taxed to the point that it is difficult to fulfill my personal obligation to do charitable works.”
exactly.
If people kept more of what they earn, there would be people who would spend it on themselves, but christians who wish they could be more charitable would be able to increase their donations.
Charities are more efficient than government beauracracy anyway.
“Charity” via government has only enslaved poor americans to that check and has discouraged behavior (like marriage) that would help lift them out of the lifestyle.