louis c
louis c's JournalMy Mother is Very Religious, and I Am Not
I've been following some threads here at DU that I find troublesome. Criticizing President Obama for invoking God in his Inaugural Address, and the singing of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
I am not a religious person. I don't attend church and I doubt the existence of God. I think the Catholic Church should mind it's own business on social issues and I think the Christian Coalition is made up of people who are intolerant.
However, my beliefs belong to me and anyone who has a different set of beliefs than I do should be respected. I do not think more of someone who holds strong religious beliefs, and that includes all religions, but I do not think less of them, either.
Today, I was pre-planning my Mom's funeral arrangements. She's not sick and I expect to have her with me for a long time, but I did so as a matter of having the arrangements planned during a time that is less stressful and to pay for the services at a time that I know I can afford. As a result, the plan was that she have the service she wants. She will be buried with my late Father, she will have a Catholic Church Mass in the same Church in which she was baptized, received her First Communion, was Confirmed and Married. I discussed this with her in a matter of fact way, but I will not tell her the arrangements are already made. That may upset her.
Since I respect the wishes of my Mother, why would I deny that to any other person. The First Amendment doesn't outlaw religion, it prevents the Government Establishment of one. I have great joy and pride (and even more-so since 2008) in joining in singing God Bless America. I understand the historical nature of Religion in our culture and I try not to offend others with my own belief.
The President swears an oath of Allegiance on the Holy Bible, In God We Trust is on our money. These things will never change and these facts have little impact on our lives, religious or not. They are traditions embedded in our culture. It's not dogma, but an accepted practice. There are major battles ahead involving helping the poor and the middle class. Preserving the Social Services created by FDR and Lyndon Johnson. Those are the real fights and are actually part of the belief system of those we are trying to convince.
When we make an issue out of someone's deep seeded and long-held beliefs, we hurt our cause. We're trying to convince people to agree with us on major issues, and that means not looking to pick a fight where none exists.
A Simple Solution to Permanent Social Security Solvency
The cap is currently at $110,00. That means that once somebody reaches that level of income, they stop making contributions to the system.
Raise the cap to whatever it will take to make Social Security's projected solvency guaranteed for 25 years into the future. Have automatic increases in the cap any time the projection goes below 25 years.
This would always guarantee the Social Security system will be solvent from generation to generation.
Nancy Pelosi and I Think Alike on 14th Amendment Solution to Debt Ceiling
About a week ago, I posted my opinion that the 14th Amendment should be invoked in avoiding the debt crisis.
Some of my DU friends disagreed. Since that posting, former Speaker and current House minority leader Nancy Pelosi has come to the same conclusion as I did.
Does this change any body's mind here?
Link to Article (1/6/13):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/06/14th-amendment-option_n_2420461.html
Link to OP (12/31/12):
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022105764
Teabaggers are, by definition, Anarchists
The literal definition of anarchists are people who despise government in any form and want it's demise.
Please read this Wikipedia definition of Anarchism and let me know if this is not an exact definition of teabagging Republicans?
Although Wikipedia associates Anarchists with the Left, politically speaking, the actual definition, in association with contemporary American politics, defines teabagging to a "T" (pardon the pun).
Link;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchism
Report Circulating of Plan to Unseat Speaker Boehner.....Fox News
It may or may not happen, but their are some people speculating that the long knives may be out to get the inept, bungling idiot Boehner.
Link to article:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/02/boehner-could-face-rocky-vote-for-speakership-amid-republican-angst/
Link to Report of the plan from Right Wing Blog:
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/01/01/Sources-Enough-Republicans-willing-to-band-together-to-unseat-Speaker-John-Boehner-on-Thursday
Now it's Their Turn, "How Does Shit Taste?"
You see, they made the President (and by extension, his supporters) eat shit for four years. "He's a Muslim", "He pals around with terrorists". "He's a Socialist". "He was born in Kenya". "You Lie". "My goal is to make Barack Obama a one term President". These weren't just statements from "crackpots", but from elected officials and spokespeople for the Republican party.
Then there is the Hitler Mustaches and the awful comments from Teabaggers and their supporters. Adelson, Wynn, Trump, the Koch Brothers and on and on. Lies, ridicule, deception, hatred.
Now, he has 4 interrupted years more. He's way smarter than his opponents. Tonight, he has them over a barrel and they don't like it. Graham and McCain are crying on the Senate floor. They have to take a deal they don't like, and the President is rubbing their faces in the shit, and I love it.
I know, their's a lot at stake. I trust this President and he'll get a good deal. It's never perfect, but it will be damn good, considering the Repukes control the House and the teabaggers have a large minority.
My advice to all my DU friends is to not expect to get a 100% deal, but be happy at 80% and enjoy as the other side chokes while they eat the shit that they, themselves, excreted.
It is truly a Happy New Year
On Edit (1/2/13):
Wow, it was better than I could have even imagined. The fuck-up on the Sandy relief really showed the House Repuke leadership as inept and self-serving. The back-stabbing on the Cliff matter was amazing and it could get better. The Republican party could split into two parts, right before our eyes.
Again, my Republican friends who are in the hands of a political master, "HOW DOES SHIT TASTE!!!!!!!!
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: Boston
Home country: USA
Current location: Boston
Member since: Fri May 14, 2004, 05:52 PM
Number of posts: 8,652
