[DannyTN]

The priority part was good, but Fred's wrong that government doesn't have any responsibility and it's all left up to the individual.

God did indeed tell kings to consider the cause of the poor and needy. And he took ruling power away from one king for failure to do so.

[joebuck]

"but Fred's wrong that government doesn't have any responsibility"

Please show me where Fred said the government doesn't have any responsibility. In fact he said just the opposite.

[mmichaels1970]

but Fred's wrong that government doesn't have any responsibility and it's all left up to the individual

He didn't say that. He said that the government has to weigh problems and prioritize where it can do the most good.

And a president who will tell you the truth is that we have to look across the board and do what we can and what we should based upon the severity of the problem and the chances that our research money will do some good in these areas.

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

“God did indeed tell kings to consider the cause of the poor and needy. And he took ruling power away from one king for failure to do so.”

Reference, please. I hope you are not projecting God’s specific commands to Israel onto the US of A.

[georgiagirl_pam]

And Jesus said Whatever YOU do for the least of these, YOU did for me. It is a personal, heart issue. Not a “let the government take it from you, give it to a bureaucratic government agency that ends up wasting most of it and not really helping anybody anyway” you did for me.

[CharlesWayneCT]

But that’s because that was how those governments were set up. Our government is not, and there is no reason for Government to be involved in charity.

[isrul]

Are you saying that God mandates that one man should take the fruits of another man’s labor and distribute it as e sees fit?

[ellery]

The priority part was good, but Fred's wrong that government doesn't have any responsibility and it's all left up to the individual. God did indeed tell kings to consider the cause of the poor and needy. And he took ruling power away from one king for failure to do so.

First, Thompson didn't say the government had no responsibility.

Second and IMO more important, our Republic is not governed by kings. Its power resides with the People.

[pgyanke]

God did indeed tell kings to consider the cause of the poor and needy.

How can you hold this view of our country and feel at home on FR?

[Raymann]

So you advocate taking more of my money cause God told you too?

[untrained skeptic]

God did indeed tell kings to consider the cause of the poor and needy.

We don't live in a monarchy. The government doesn't rule us, the government serves us. In a monarchy, the assets of the country belong to the monarchy to use as the monarch sees fit. In a democracy or representative republic, the assets of the government belong to the people to use as the people dictate the government should use them.

It is not for the government to take our money and use it as it sees fit. The people are able to determine to who and to what causes their money should be given.

With self determination comes responsibility. We all have that same responsibility that God placed on kings.

The liberal approach is to put the government in charge and then to say the government is responsible for addressing issues of poverty and disease, which works out even better for them since most of them are voting to use other people's money to address their own issues as well as others.

And he took ruling power away from one king for failure to do so.

Did he punish the king for failing to be generous with what God had given him, or for failing to be generous with what God had given others?

[Old Teufel Hunden]

“God did indeed tell kings to consider the cause of the poor and needy. And he took ruling power away from one king for failure to do so.”

You know, I’m not an expert on the Bible but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn last night. So I’ll take a stab at this. God commanded kings to do a lot of things, but they were kings of Israel and it was the old testament. I assume you are a Christian (If Jewish then never mind!!!), Jesus said his kingdom is not of this world. Jesus never talks of government charity, but individual charity. His kingdom in this world is made up of the church. He commands the church and Christians to be charitable to the poor etc., but he is silent on the government’s role in it.

Another thing is that how are we any different than the Muslim fascists if we try to impose Judeo/Christian philosophy on everyone in this country? This country was set up to worship freely and we are able to have religion in our public discourse. However, we should not be imposing any religious beliefs through the force of government. That’s what it means when the first amendment talks about not establishing religion.

This is no different than the liberals. Liberals are very charitable with the public’s money. Not sure about their own money though. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that a vast majority of liberals are tightwads when it comes to giving to charity.

[okie01]

but Fred's wrong that government doesn't have any responsibility and it's all left up to the individual.

I believe you misunderstood Fred. See below...

And a president who will tell you the truth is that we have to look across the board and do what we can and what we should based upon the severity of the problem and the chances that our research money will do some good in these areas.”

In other words, he's not saying that government has no role. Instead, he's saying the government's role shouldn't be defined by politics -- but, rather, the degree of need and the liklihood of success.

An altogether defensible position -- though not necessarily a popular one with those who want the government to fix everything, absolving themselves of responsibility.