Thursday, February 28, 2019
Links for 2/28/19
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/links-22819
Living wages are outside the GOP playbook, which stresses self-reliance. When Jesus said it was more difficult for the rich man than getting a camel through the gate known as the Eye of the Needle, he was referring to the need to rely on others (and God) to enter the Kingdom and understand the Gospel. This is why the GOP does not break bread with Democrats for Life.
In a battle to be Speaker Pelosi's Vice President, money is not necessary. Of course, not accepting high dollar donations is why the Green Party remains fringe. Sanders has the same problem and his supporters are also a bit doctrinaire. The left will not succeed without some adult supervision. The Green New Deal and Medicare for All (at Medicaid prices) must be financed with a payroll tax (bad) or a subtraction value added tax, which also would include profits. I outlined how to pay for GND in comments on the Tax Policy Center web page. The article is at https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/green-new-deal-would-cost-lot-green
I won't bother with Wohl. He is best ignored No one who reads him will read this column. Give ink to comrades instead, including those who can explain to single-issue Democrats why Roe was correctly decided, based not on the value of the unborn but on the power of the state v. the individual (as protected by the Federal Courts). At least maybe the USCCB will take notice of a reasonable argument against their attachment to the GOP. I would hope that they know that the Senate bill amounts to requiring extraordinary measures for children born alive. If they do, then they have done their homework and are doing deliberate evil by lying. If not, they need to hire staff who will.
The glorification of chastity shows a bias in Catholic sexual teaching toward asexuals, who believe that their natural inclinations are like everyone else's and that they are holy rather than different. That lack of self-knowledge often bespeaks sexual immaturity, which along with a history of being abused, is a main driver in abusing children. As for the Times editorial, such articles are made to persuade, not report all the facts. Sadly, they do pile on to the grandstanding about the issue.
I like Canterbury. The main blocks to ecumenicism are not accepting the primacy of New Rome or their finding that Anglican Ordination is valid (Melitios, 1922, with the Great Synod). Welcoming them brings in the Methodists and possibly the Presbyterians, all of whom accept the True Pressence and have valid ordination. They also do not dwell on chastity over standing up for the poor.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Reaction of conservative Catholics to abuse summit reveals a lot
https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/distinctly-catholic/reaction-conservative-catholics-abuse-summit-reveals-lot
The right-wing media and homophobic hierarchy are best ignored. That the latter holds onto this bone while ignoring the role of the lack of sexual development among asexual clergy is why the Church needs to listen to dissent and outside experts. Indeed, a married gay or lesbian priest is much safer for kids to be around than a celibate cleric with out of control hormones that he does not know how to deal with. Such celibacy is no gift to the Church.
The right-wing media and homophobic hierarchy are best ignored. That the latter holds onto this bone while ignoring the role of the lack of sexual development among asexual clergy is why the Church needs to listen to dissent and outside experts. Indeed, a married gay or lesbian priest is much safer for kids to be around than a celibate cleric with out of control hormones that he does not know how to deal with. Such celibacy is no gift to the Church.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Links for 2/26/19
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/links-22619
Nostra was a product of the Council. To make real change, a new Council is needed (but in New Rome) to make the changes required in the Church to advance ecumenicism and leave Medievalism behind.
Vive' le France. I am Catholic because of prior anti-Antisemitism in the German Church. Bindner comes from Bittner, which is Ashkenazi.
Demographics is emptying the entire Midwest. Even the old people are moving away. Even with the fact that technology and therefore modern culture is everywhere, it is too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. That matters.
The only way to have a free press is to own one. Crux likely prints what either they or their readers believe in. Even in religious media, its all about the Benjamins.
Nothing about the Green New Deal requires austerity. Government purchases, salaries and entitlement creates household spending. Higher taxes on the wealthy to fund these items creates household spending and reduces the market for the inflation of asset prices. Carbon taxes reduce bad production decisions. As an economist that knows how to read the definition of GDP, I see no downside. To enact the GND, getting rid of capitalism (not just ameliorating its effects as the Democratic Socialists advocate) is essential. Capitalists control too much political speech, including the socially conservative nonsense endorsed by the Church. For this reason, capitalism cannot be defeated by election. It must be occupied within and turned to cooperative socialism.
I agree that it is folly for any party to challenge an incumbent president. If the GOP is smart, they will help rid us of Trump and hope that Gen. Flynn had nothing bad to say about Pence. As long as Mr. Charisma remains unchallenged, they have two chances, slim and none, as Gerry Ford found out (it would have been the same sans pardon and sans Reagan). It may be that the best thing for the GOP is a President Pelosi (or Pelosi using Article I, Section 2, Clause 5 to make Biden, Harris or Warren Speaker and then President). Then the Democrats would have to drop all of their campaigns and the GOP, although it would lose, can at least find a leader not infected with the MAGA virus.
As the national emergency is no crisis, neither is using a legislative veto to reverse it. Trump will be gone soon enough that it does not matter either way. Senate override of a veto to of the legislative veto helps Pelosi justify going forward with impeachment because she will know where the votes are to remove.
Poverty can always be ended for most by giving them more money. Poverty of ability could be solved by giving them more money to go to a Catholic remedial education program (which should also be publicly funded). Such programs should be the rule, not the exception.
The hot 100 CEOs heading for Hell could be saved by ending capitalism and making their ilk compete for their jobs in open auction, with ties settled by a vote of the workers. That is true for managers as well. Occupying capitalism means starting to do such things in employee and union owned firms, who will outperform capitalist firms if they put in post-facto rather than bureaucratic incentives (pay for results, not position) for managers, engineers, scientists and sales and start enlarging their firms based on bringing what employees purchase, especially housing, in-house.
Nothing can stop good Catholic Marxism but lack of courage to think outside the box.
Nostra was a product of the Council. To make real change, a new Council is needed (but in New Rome) to make the changes required in the Church to advance ecumenicism and leave Medievalism behind.
Vive' le France. I am Catholic because of prior anti-Antisemitism in the German Church. Bindner comes from Bittner, which is Ashkenazi.
Demographics is emptying the entire Midwest. Even the old people are moving away. Even with the fact that technology and therefore modern culture is everywhere, it is too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. That matters.
The only way to have a free press is to own one. Crux likely prints what either they or their readers believe in. Even in religious media, its all about the Benjamins.
Nothing about the Green New Deal requires austerity. Government purchases, salaries and entitlement creates household spending. Higher taxes on the wealthy to fund these items creates household spending and reduces the market for the inflation of asset prices. Carbon taxes reduce bad production decisions. As an economist that knows how to read the definition of GDP, I see no downside. To enact the GND, getting rid of capitalism (not just ameliorating its effects as the Democratic Socialists advocate) is essential. Capitalists control too much political speech, including the socially conservative nonsense endorsed by the Church. For this reason, capitalism cannot be defeated by election. It must be occupied within and turned to cooperative socialism.
I agree that it is folly for any party to challenge an incumbent president. If the GOP is smart, they will help rid us of Trump and hope that Gen. Flynn had nothing bad to say about Pence. As long as Mr. Charisma remains unchallenged, they have two chances, slim and none, as Gerry Ford found out (it would have been the same sans pardon and sans Reagan). It may be that the best thing for the GOP is a President Pelosi (or Pelosi using Article I, Section 2, Clause 5 to make Biden, Harris or Warren Speaker and then President). Then the Democrats would have to drop all of their campaigns and the GOP, although it would lose, can at least find a leader not infected with the MAGA virus.
As the national emergency is no crisis, neither is using a legislative veto to reverse it. Trump will be gone soon enough that it does not matter either way. Senate override of a veto to of the legislative veto helps Pelosi justify going forward with impeachment because she will know where the votes are to remove.
Poverty can always be ended for most by giving them more money. Poverty of ability could be solved by giving them more money to go to a Catholic remedial education program (which should also be publicly funded). Such programs should be the rule, not the exception.
The hot 100 CEOs heading for Hell could be saved by ending capitalism and making their ilk compete for their jobs in open auction, with ties settled by a vote of the workers. That is true for managers as well. Occupying capitalism means starting to do such things in employee and union owned firms, who will outperform capitalist firms if they put in post-facto rather than bureaucratic incentives (pay for results, not position) for managers, engineers, scientists and sales and start enlarging their firms based on bringing what employees purchase, especially housing, in-house.
Nothing can stop good Catholic Marxism but lack of courage to think outside the box.
Monday, February 25, 2019
The church took a large step forward after abuse summit
https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/distinctly-catholic/church-took-large-step-forward-after-abuse-summit
Since this meeting included Conference Chairs, I would be interested in any quotes from Archbishop Kurtz. Of course, with norms of collegiality in most conferences, any summit that tries to put them in a hierarchy misses the point.
A General Council would be a better setting for real change, although real changes that bring about more accountability from below by reverting to more ancient methods of appointing pastors and bishops would be welcome. Those of us who demanded such reforms (and that includes some victims groups, like Voice of the Faithful, remain disappointed.
Action from the top may have an effect on bishops may have an effect on clergy, but only if we bring back the informant system of Pius X to fight the straw man of modernism. This will just drive issues underground rather than solve them.
We most urgently need guidelines for lawyers representing the Church, especially in terms of ethical and correct advice rather than merely protecting the client.
While informants certainly brought priests to heel, it did not stop the move to modernism. Only more accountability to and responsibility from below, including the laity, will really bring change.
Parishioners must elect Deacon administrators and assign priests, who then elect Bishops. Bishops should elect Metropolitans, not the other way around, and the Metropolitan should be the person, not the See. Metropolitans should also elect Patriarchs. Smaller self-directive leadership instead of ultramontism will bring about even faster change, especially to ordination.
Dealing with unconscious asexuality rather than attacking gay clergy will bear fruit. Indeed, surveys on the sexuality of priests will remain invalid until we bring asexuals out of the closet, especially to themselves. Then we will know the extent to which sexual orientation causes abuse. Openness is key as well. As long as gay sex is considered sinful, categorizing it as abuse will remain a problem.
Most importantly, ordain women at all levels, as well as married and gay clergy.
Friday, February 22, 2019
Martel's Vatican closet book exposes his motives and mistakes, not truth
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/martels-vatican-closet-book-exposes-his-motives-and-mistakes-not
I reacted to America's review of the book last night.
"I wonder how he treats the question of the Hellenistic glorification of asexuality as ideal rather than statistical deviation. After reading the Times piece, I suspect that Brother Ted was more Ace than Gay but made a great scapegoat for the latter. I doubt that there are any heteros left in the Vatican, but who am I to judge?"
After Michael Sean's review I added additional comments.
"I posted on this last night. I noted in the discussion on America's FB page that in some situations authors do not quote soured so that they be anonymous. It appears from the review that there were few sources and that Martel missed the boat on the difference between homosexuals and asexual in the Vatican.
It is the asexuals who are misogynistic, thinking their abnormality a form of holiness rather than a simply different orientation. This misogyny the part of the Hellenism that martyrs from Jesus Maccabee to Jesus Christ to the victims of Diocletian resisted.
Our asexual theology, from the imagined radical chastity of the Holy Family to Sacred Continence (which assumes that sex with a woman renders a priest unclean to say Mass) to Humanae and Evangelium Vitae to not ordaining women all spit on the graves of the martyrs and onto the Sacred Heart. Too bad Martel and MSW missed this."
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Sen. Klobuchar has candor, clarity, strength
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/sen-klobuchar-has-candor-clarity-strength
If VP Pence has been fingered by Flynn and resigns, Speaker Pelosi will be President. If she appoints Klobachar as VP, she would be the likely nominee of the DLC side. The DSA side will bolt and Amy a nd Lindsey would split the establishment vote (assuming President Pelosi does not run.
If Pence is not implicated, the GOP will survive but Mr. Charisma will be easy pickings for anyone with a pulse. A split Democratic Party looses unless GOP senators run to the exits next week. Then Klobachar wins. Joe has probably had his day and Gillibrand has no hope in Iowa or even New Hampshire. Harris still wins the DSA side and probably the White House with VP Warren.
If VP Pence has been fingered by Flynn and resigns, Speaker Pelosi will be President. If she appoints Klobachar as VP, she would be the likely nominee of the DLC side. The DSA side will bolt and Amy a nd Lindsey would split the establishment vote (assuming President Pelosi does not run.
If Pence is not implicated, the GOP will survive but Mr. Charisma will be easy pickings for anyone with a pulse. A split Democratic Party looses unless GOP senators run to the exits next week. Then Klobachar wins. Joe has probably had his day and Gillibrand has no hope in Iowa or even New Hampshire. Harris still wins the DSA side and probably the White House with VP Warren.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Links for 2/20/19
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/links-22019
Is a synodal Church enough or do we need more synodal churches? I am not hinting that we go full Orthodox with a Patriarch for each nation, but maybe for each language. Such a structure has a better chance at ecumenicism, both nationally and within the larger Catholic Church in union with the Imperial See.
The Democrats should support Israel, but not to the exclusion of Palestine. My guess is that the latter will be part of a DSA party once MAGA kills the GOP. After Trump gets his just deserts there may be a rush for the exits in the congressional GOP, forcing a split. Single member Districts always resolve into a duality. Neither the Federalists nor the Whigs just became the GOP. They actually died.
My guess is that 7 MPs changed sides because the saw Tories about to run for the exits. Israel is not that big a thing in the UK. They don't have neocons, unlike this column.
Like the Catholics in the mid-20th Century, the issue is more likely secularization, however both sides will find a home in the DSA wing. I can't see either wing of Islam going DLC or MAGA unless the DLC rejects Zionism. The social progressives will likely dominate the DLC and DSA wings or parties. The question is whether the African American vote splits on class grounds. Sherrill, like Gillibrand, will go DLC with her voters.
The end of Trump will end the Trump wing and bring us back to the serious business of dealing with class in America as the cultural conservatives stay in the MAGA fringe.
I detect a theme here.
Is a synodal Church enough or do we need more synodal churches? I am not hinting that we go full Orthodox with a Patriarch for each nation, but maybe for each language. Such a structure has a better chance at ecumenicism, both nationally and within the larger Catholic Church in union with the Imperial See.
The Democrats should support Israel, but not to the exclusion of Palestine. My guess is that the latter will be part of a DSA party once MAGA kills the GOP. After Trump gets his just deserts there may be a rush for the exits in the congressional GOP, forcing a split. Single member Districts always resolve into a duality. Neither the Federalists nor the Whigs just became the GOP. They actually died.
My guess is that 7 MPs changed sides because the saw Tories about to run for the exits. Israel is not that big a thing in the UK. They don't have neocons, unlike this column.
Like the Catholics in the mid-20th Century, the issue is more likely secularization, however both sides will find a home in the DSA wing. I can't see either wing of Islam going DLC or MAGA unless the DLC rejects Zionism. The social progressives will likely dominate the DLC and DSA wings or parties. The question is whether the African American vote splits on class grounds. Sherrill, like Gillibrand, will go DLC with her voters.
The end of Trump will end the Trump wing and bring us back to the serious business of dealing with class in America as the cultural conservatives stay in the MAGA fringe.
I detect a theme here.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
People seize on McCarrick laicization for their own agendas
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/people-seize-mccarrick-laicization-their-own-agendas
The world is getting tired of this affair. The Times story of Uncle Ted's advancement from exhibitionist to abuser of his friend's child to Uncle Ted and the seminarians shows the childishness of the progression of his abuse. It should beg the question of his possible abuse as a young teen. This is no example of a mature homosexuality.
The response of the usual Anachronists who long for in the Catholic moment in American social life shows their usual opportumism. Their cultural Potemkin Village featured Catholics leading official censorship and Spencer Tracey as Father Flanagan in Boys Town.
Everyone went to Mass on Sunday where the Cross was the focus rather than the people of God. Everyone seemed to go to Confession on Saturday and eat fish on Friday and not doing so caused public censure in small ethnic parishes. All that changed, starting in New York in 1959 and the Second Vatican Council (where a Polish priest led th dissenters).
The social pressure which held back liberalism and liberation seemed to vanish overnight, never to return. Their usual echo is best ignored. It will fade more quickly if we do. Their opportunism only prolongs the pain, as do the victim advocates who love the spotlight. We all forget at times like these that forgiveness is the best medicine for victims moving forward in peace.
What is truly unfortunate is the seeming change in the Roman Inquisition from hunting heretics to priests who might be gay, making them the NCIS of the Church who sought out gays during the years of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. With now Brother Ted, they got a twofer.
Let us not encourage them in making a public example, which also prolongs the pain and gives those who have issues with the Church more ammunition. Outsiders may give us the perspective we need to right the Bark of Peter.
Unmentioned by MSW is our usual call on the Left to end celibacy and advance gay liberation, even in the clergy. In truth, reform will do nothing to prevent a sexually awkward cleric from seeking those of his own sexual underdevelopment.
The world is getting tired of this affair. The Times story of Uncle Ted's advancement from exhibitionist to abuser of his friend's child to Uncle Ted and the seminarians shows the childishness of the progression of his abuse. It should beg the question of his possible abuse as a young teen. This is no example of a mature homosexuality.
The response of the usual Anachronists who long for in the Catholic moment in American social life shows their usual opportumism. Their cultural Potemkin Village featured Catholics leading official censorship and Spencer Tracey as Father Flanagan in Boys Town.
Everyone went to Mass on Sunday where the Cross was the focus rather than the people of God. Everyone seemed to go to Confession on Saturday and eat fish on Friday and not doing so caused public censure in small ethnic parishes. All that changed, starting in New York in 1959 and the Second Vatican Council (where a Polish priest led th dissenters).
The social pressure which held back liberalism and liberation seemed to vanish overnight, never to return. Their usual echo is best ignored. It will fade more quickly if we do. Their opportunism only prolongs the pain, as do the victim advocates who love the spotlight. We all forget at times like these that forgiveness is the best medicine for victims moving forward in peace.
What is truly unfortunate is the seeming change in the Roman Inquisition from hunting heretics to priests who might be gay, making them the NCIS of the Church who sought out gays during the years of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. With now Brother Ted, they got a twofer.
Let us not encourage them in making a public example, which also prolongs the pain and gives those who have issues with the Church more ammunition. Outsiders may give us the perspective we need to right the Bark of Peter.
Unmentioned by MSW is our usual call on the Left to end celibacy and advance gay liberation, even in the clergy. In truth, reform will do nothing to prevent a sexually awkward cleric from seeking those of his own sexual underdevelopment.
Monday, February 18, 2019
New stars of the left need to learn to persuade
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/new-stars-left-need-learn-persuade
AOC did the resolution with Sen. Markey, who us no rookie. As for Capitalism, it is the problem. The best way to get the privileged to see the gravity of global warming is to either cap or means test flood insurance in the coast so they have some skin in the game. Sounds reasonable? Yes. Possible? Absolutely not. The Donor Class controls our politics and use a the socialism card to keep poor whites in step against reforms that hurt the rich by making a god if self reliance while relying on their work effort.
We cannot get rid of capitalism by election unless we separate the poor reactionaries from the rich ones. The only solution is to Occupy Capitalism from within, starting with employee owned firms (who now mostly use capitalist management structures and rewards).
As for the GNDR, paying for it is an eventual part of reform that might fly under the reactionary radar.
The Tax Policy Center had a piece today regarding the lack of specifics in the GND and how much it might cost (and that may slow the economy).
You can find the article and my response at https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/green-new-deal-would-cost-lot-green
It is not true that the GND will slow the economy. Just the opposite. What passes for modern economics is flawed, not even keeping with the official definition of GDP, which equal government spending, consumption from government employee, contractor, transfer recipient and second order private sector spending, which leads to private sector investment, and exports net of imports (which creates a source of funds for debt finance). Nothing in that definition reduces growth and it is the model of the GND that Representative Ocasio-Cortez ran on and Senator Markey embraced.
From separate proposals, we know that part of the freight will be picked up by putting in a 70% tax rates on income over $10 Million (which would probably capture only CEOs of companies with over 1,000 employees. An interim level would also be useful, say 50%. It goes without saying that the Trump tax cuts would be repealed and a carbon tax instituted.
If looks at what her fellow DSAs propose, you may have to actually score my tax plan. As a reminder it includes:
Any presidential candidate flying the DSA/Warren/Harris radical democratic party flag will find this all very useful. We can also include a wealth tax that could also be dedicated to paying down the national debt - possibly at 13 times the prior year's income tax collections net of Treasury notes already possessed and canceled (which may result in a refund). If that figure is untenable in one year, it can always be split into two or more years.
The Federal Reserve would have to shift to funding employee owned company debt, possibly as part of an insurance fund to protect against another Enron type loss.
AOC did the resolution with Sen. Markey, who us no rookie. As for Capitalism, it is the problem. The best way to get the privileged to see the gravity of global warming is to either cap or means test flood insurance in the coast so they have some skin in the game. Sounds reasonable? Yes. Possible? Absolutely not. The Donor Class controls our politics and use a the socialism card to keep poor whites in step against reforms that hurt the rich by making a god if self reliance while relying on their work effort.
We cannot get rid of capitalism by election unless we separate the poor reactionaries from the rich ones. The only solution is to Occupy Capitalism from within, starting with employee owned firms (who now mostly use capitalist management structures and rewards).
As for the GNDR, paying for it is an eventual part of reform that might fly under the reactionary radar.
The Tax Policy Center had a piece today regarding the lack of specifics in the GND and how much it might cost (and that may slow the economy).
You can find the article and my response at https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/green-new-deal-would-cost-lot-green
It is not true that the GND will slow the economy. Just the opposite. What passes for modern economics is flawed, not even keeping with the official definition of GDP, which equal government spending, consumption from government employee, contractor, transfer recipient and second order private sector spending, which leads to private sector investment, and exports net of imports (which creates a source of funds for debt finance). Nothing in that definition reduces growth and it is the model of the GND that Representative Ocasio-Cortez ran on and Senator Markey embraced.
From separate proposals, we know that part of the freight will be picked up by putting in a 70% tax rates on income over $10 Million (which would probably capture only CEOs of companies with over 1,000 employees. An interim level would also be useful, say 50%. It goes without saying that the Trump tax cuts would be repealed and a carbon tax instituted.
If looks at what her fellow DSAs propose, you may have to actually score my tax plan. As a reminder it includes:
- an income and inheritance surtax for all income received from employment, divdends and cash from inheritances (including the sale of assets) over $50,000 (double for joint filers and widows) to eventually fund net interest (no rollover), overseas defense spending (greatly reduced) and debt pay down, starting with Social Security for the Boomers;
- a net business receipts/subtraction value added tax (SVAT) to pay for social spending (Medicare for All, FICA employer contributions credited equally for old age and survivors insurance and all unemployment and disability insurance and education (including paid remedial, vocational and college) with offsets for the increased child tax credits in the GND (I propose $1000/month/child), and any retirement savings (equal for each worker) that is devoted toward employee-ownership (with a $15 minimum wage so that people work for more than their CTC);
- employee contribution to FICA (if retained);
- Carbon Taxes (CVAT) for infrastructure and remaining GND items and a Goods and Services tax to fund the rest of domestic spending (military and civil).
Any presidential candidate flying the DSA/Warren/Harris radical democratic party flag will find this all very useful. We can also include a wealth tax that could also be dedicated to paying down the national debt - possibly at 13 times the prior year's income tax collections net of Treasury notes already possessed and canceled (which may result in a refund). If that figure is untenable in one year, it can always be split into two or more years.
The Federal Reserve would have to shift to funding employee owned company debt, possibly as part of an insurance fund to protect against another Enron type loss.
Friday, February 15, 2019
We do not need another businessman in the White House, Mr. Schultz
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/we-do-not-need-another-businessman-white-house-mr-schultz
A President is a moral leader and a CEO is by nature amoral. Morals get in the way of profit. His stiffness will be fixed by practice. He is no Perot but Starbucks "volunteers" may solve his ballot access problem, although I bet he cannot understand why that would be both wrong and stupid, although he is not the idiot Trump is.
If Trump is taken out by Mueller the GOP may die, but that would give us an incumbent DLC candidate, unless he could beat her or she doesn't run. Either way, the energy is with a DSA party.
Howard Who? should follow his Starbucks model and spend a few years in program control, a few in contracts, a few in a program office, a few as an appointee and a few as a Beltway Bandit. Wait! That would make him me!
A President is a moral leader and a CEO is by nature amoral. Morals get in the way of profit. His stiffness will be fixed by practice. He is no Perot but Starbucks "volunteers" may solve his ballot access problem, although I bet he cannot understand why that would be both wrong and stupid, although he is not the idiot Trump is.
If Trump is taken out by Mueller the GOP may die, but that would give us an incumbent DLC candidate, unless he could beat her or she doesn't run. Either way, the energy is with a DSA party.
Howard Who? should follow his Starbucks model and spend a few years in program control, a few in contracts, a few in a program office, a few as an appointee and a few as a Beltway Bandit. Wait! That would make him me!
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Links for 2/14/19
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/links-21419
I am glad to see this. May his prayers change the stance of the Church on homosexuality and lead to mercy for Theodore McCarrick.
Agreed. The Church should not trade its hierarchism for the authoritarianism inherent in Capitalism. This does not mean that it is not in need of a new governance model. We need to move from mediaeval structures to Democratic ones.
Sadly, the neo-conservatives that support Israel against Palestinians and play the anti-Semitic card against those of us who don't are the biggest obstacle to peace. AIPAC is a Get Out The Vote PAC. That influence is how it keeps people in line.
The Church cannot play the ministry card against its employees and Catholics must insist they rethink their homophobia in recognizing marriages generally and in ordination. It is time for sexual hellenism to be purged from the Church.
Mueller is about to unredact his court filings within a few weeks. Trump won't be in the mix after that. As for the Senator, there is also the Maddow interview.
Even after the Kavanaugh dissent, Roe is still dead and President Pelosi is about to bury it.
Workers must be made owners and nobody else.
Muslims are the model of generosity that we must emulate. He gives meals to all, including regulars. He is not enabling them. He is enabling the government, who need yo do more yesterday.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
No clear-cut solution to sex abuse, but next week's meeting won't be a failure
https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/distinctly-catholic/no-clear-cut-solution-sex-abuse-next-weeks-meeting-wont-be
The question is not clerical culture but Medieval governance. It has past its prime. The people need to demand change. Franklin Douglass got it right. Power does not cede anything without a struggle. Of course, it is hard to get parishioners excited about parish council elections, let alone change in the Church. Of course Francis can be unpredictable. He may yet turn his Council of Cardinals to Patriarchs and let each handle these matters.
I find it ironic that the meeting occurs at the same time that an obviously gay Cardinal gets his wings at the same time the Vatican is seeking to make an example of another obviously gay ex-Cardinal.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Links for 2/12/19
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/links-21219
Ending celibacy is not about abuse. It is about ending Sacred Continence, the asexual dominance of Catholic sexual teach and misogyny and about ordaining women.
I would agree on seem less garment issues, especially a bigger child credit, however the pro-lifers seem to have gotten what they wanted with Kavanaugh.
It seems Klobachar is also the real deal and that Fox News is still propaganda. Sadly, no one is talking about arresting Trump or if Pence is dirty. If the answer to both is yes then the question is who is her or Biden's VP. Sherrod would be OK for Biden but Harris would be better. Pelosi should pick Booker. Yes this is identity politics. So were JFK and Al Smith.
Assad may not have gassed his people and Cheney may have been right about WMD. Quite a few Sunni Baathists fled Iraq when Tummy fired them and took their nerve gas with them. Not to suspect this is a huge failure of imagination.
Rep. Omar stated her case badly. Most did not know that AIPAC was NRA & NEA (GOTV) and not like a corporate PAC. The name is misleading. She is still right about Palestine and the Neocons are wrong.
Barron and the USCCB Pro-Life office are also about GOP GOTV. CUA should be Trustee owned and only responsible to Cardinal Wheel or the assembly of lay deacons and priests (male & female) in the Archdiocese, which is national in scope.
My young Comrade AOC agrees with me on Occupying Capitalism. I have been writing about this before she was born. I also include better cash and prizes (like 0 interest mortgages) from cooperatives.
Ending celibacy is not about abuse. It is about ending Sacred Continence, the asexual dominance of Catholic sexual teach and misogyny and about ordaining women.
I would agree on seem less garment issues, especially a bigger child credit, however the pro-lifers seem to have gotten what they wanted with Kavanaugh.
It seems Klobachar is also the real deal and that Fox News is still propaganda. Sadly, no one is talking about arresting Trump or if Pence is dirty. If the answer to both is yes then the question is who is her or Biden's VP. Sherrod would be OK for Biden but Harris would be better. Pelosi should pick Booker. Yes this is identity politics. So were JFK and Al Smith.
Assad may not have gassed his people and Cheney may have been right about WMD. Quite a few Sunni Baathists fled Iraq when Tummy fired them and took their nerve gas with them. Not to suspect this is a huge failure of imagination.
Rep. Omar stated her case badly. Most did not know that AIPAC was NRA & NEA (GOTV) and not like a corporate PAC. The name is misleading. She is still right about Palestine and the Neocons are wrong.
Barron and the USCCB Pro-Life office are also about GOP GOTV. CUA should be Trustee owned and only responsible to Cardinal Wheel or the assembly of lay deacons and priests (male & female) in the Archdiocese, which is national in scope.
My young Comrade AOC agrees with me on Occupying Capitalism. I have been writing about this before she was born. I also include better cash and prizes (like 0 interest mortgages) from cooperatives.
Monday, February 11, 2019
Democratic candidates should listen to party's people, polls, not the elites
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/democratic-candidates-should-listen-partys-people-polls-not-elites
I can't see Schultz getting on the ballot as an independent. Bloomberg can self fund a Democratic run, but he will never get out of Iowa if he does. The folks at the DNC are behind Biden, just as they were behind Kerry and Clinton, neither of whom had the political smarts or the vision to win nationally. Party infrastructure matters, but it can be beaten. What will not happen is a Democratic candidate winning that is squishy on abortion rights. Even if the Democrats split into two parties because the GOP is MAGA only (which is not unlikely), half the delegates will be women and still most likely will be NEA members.
If Pence is dirty and Pelosi is the sitting President, the job is hers in 2020. If she puts Biden in as Speaker in her place before Pence leaves, Biden will be nominee. Right now, everyone running is really applying for the job of Vice President. A sitting President will not result in a partisan split, but no one in the mold of Casey will be chosen for either position.
Donald J. Trump will not be the GOP nominee. Mr. Mueller will unredact his filings in a couple of weeks (to use Trump's own words). If he is exonerated by the Report, he will likely be portrayed as too stupid to have been in the center of the conspiracy. That is not likely. The evidence against him will likely be so strong that the only question will how quickly he will resign. If Pence is not indicted, he will be the GOP nominee and will be running against Biden, who will not defend Partial Birth Abortion, although he won't attack it either. That will be his VP nominee's job.
Clinton's mistake was that she was sure that she would win and picked a VP that would be a good POTUS. Biden (or Warren) will put Sen. Harris or Sen. Booker on the ticket, unless either of them wins the nomination.Then it will be Warren as VP. The VP or some other surrogate will do what Obama did and put the word out that the GOP is behind the pro-life movement. He or she may get an assist if Mueller shows that Clinton was hacked and the GOP knew she was vulnerable to a PBA question. If so, the question becomes if the Bishops also had advance warning. Regardless, the Democratic line on PBA is that it is already illegal and that late term abortion will be an issue dealt with after the election (if it is not dealt with before). If the GOP stops one, everyone will know.
If the GOP goes full MAGA or has Pence (Mr. Charisma) as its nominee, it will lose, even in Indiana and even if Pence can separate himself from the MAGA base. He is decent enough to try, but then the GOP has no constituency. . Even if the DLC Democrats and their like-minded Republicans get together to form a new moderate party, that will only split the right and it will also lose 50 states. Nothing ill stop the wave.
I can't see Schultz getting on the ballot as an independent. Bloomberg can self fund a Democratic run, but he will never get out of Iowa if he does. The folks at the DNC are behind Biden, just as they were behind Kerry and Clinton, neither of whom had the political smarts or the vision to win nationally. Party infrastructure matters, but it can be beaten. What will not happen is a Democratic candidate winning that is squishy on abortion rights. Even if the Democrats split into two parties because the GOP is MAGA only (which is not unlikely), half the delegates will be women and still most likely will be NEA members.
If Pence is dirty and Pelosi is the sitting President, the job is hers in 2020. If she puts Biden in as Speaker in her place before Pence leaves, Biden will be nominee. Right now, everyone running is really applying for the job of Vice President. A sitting President will not result in a partisan split, but no one in the mold of Casey will be chosen for either position.
Donald J. Trump will not be the GOP nominee. Mr. Mueller will unredact his filings in a couple of weeks (to use Trump's own words). If he is exonerated by the Report, he will likely be portrayed as too stupid to have been in the center of the conspiracy. That is not likely. The evidence against him will likely be so strong that the only question will how quickly he will resign. If Pence is not indicted, he will be the GOP nominee and will be running against Biden, who will not defend Partial Birth Abortion, although he won't attack it either. That will be his VP nominee's job.
Clinton's mistake was that she was sure that she would win and picked a VP that would be a good POTUS. Biden (or Warren) will put Sen. Harris or Sen. Booker on the ticket, unless either of them wins the nomination.Then it will be Warren as VP. The VP or some other surrogate will do what Obama did and put the word out that the GOP is behind the pro-life movement. He or she may get an assist if Mueller shows that Clinton was hacked and the GOP knew she was vulnerable to a PBA question. If so, the question becomes if the Bishops also had advance warning. Regardless, the Democratic line on PBA is that it is already illegal and that late term abortion will be an issue dealt with after the election (if it is not dealt with before). If the GOP stops one, everyone will know.
If the GOP goes full MAGA or has Pence (Mr. Charisma) as its nominee, it will lose, even in Indiana and even if Pence can separate himself from the MAGA base. He is decent enough to try, but then the GOP has no constituency. . Even if the DLC Democrats and their like-minded Republicans get together to form a new moderate party, that will only split the right and it will also lose 50 states. Nothing ill stop the wave.
Friday, February 8, 2019
Conservatives don't own the nation's founding
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/conservatives-dont-own-nations-founding
Reality has a liberal bias. Sadly, Capitalism does not. It is more neo-liberal. The founding came because the capitalists of the day (who were also Masons) had no say in Parliament and it was too far away for them to be very effective. An interesting counter-factual exercise is to wonder what would have happened if they had been and if that model had been carried over to the entire British empire, but enough of that.
When the first American government, whose President was essentially the Speaker of the British Parliament (rather than the American), proved ineffective at creating an effective union, they Capitalists had a convention and created a government that would allow them to effectively protect their property rights while also being effective. Capitalism and the American system go hand in hand, which effects the law and the rulings of the Court, the plurality of which are unanimous and always in support of the Constitution and laws of the United States.
Equal protection and due process protections work in favor of both capitalism and individual freedom, which is a check on moralist majorities at the state level. Some would say they simply create a better cage, although in truth, the justice system has a bias for freedom for moralists. Gone are the days of Plessy and KKK membership on the Court. No justices marched in Unite the Right.
The main bone of contention on the civil rights side is affirmative action. This is the area where freedom and capitalism collide and Capitalism wins, partially because no good solution has been found to assure affirmative action that does not cramp the style of the system.
It is possible through use of random selection from the middling majority (after the excellent have been accepted and the unworthy culled). Sadly, this solution has not gotten much press. Neither has any method which could overturn or even occupy capitalism. Again, we have hopes that employee-owned firms will become both more democratic and offer their member-owners better toys in financing, housing and the selection of executives. To be continued.
The Federalist Society is a nice debating club, the real power over the judiciary is the American Bar Association. Indeed, the Society was created as a counter-weight to the American Bar Association, but the ABA rating is still the most important consideration in being a judge. All lawyers have to be members. For the most part, appointees to the Federal Bench are "Mainstream Conservative" meaning Capitalists with a decent appreciation of individual rights. Even the Democratic appointees are in that group. Outliers are usually culled, but not always.
Even the most conservative judges and justices followed the law and let Terri Schiavo die, despite her families fall hopes. Almost all of them (and after Justice Thomas dies or retires) consider Roe and Casey settled law, with all of them supporting gay rights and the power of the Courts to overturn state law on due process and equal protection grounds. Thomas and the notorious RBG are part of the dying breed that were not themselves Supreme Court clerks from the best law schools. No one from Ave Maria or Liberty will ever make it onto the Court and until Capitalism is replaced with Cooperation, the law will have a liberal (or rather neo-liberal) bias toward it.
Reality has a liberal bias. Sadly, Capitalism does not. It is more neo-liberal. The founding came because the capitalists of the day (who were also Masons) had no say in Parliament and it was too far away for them to be very effective. An interesting counter-factual exercise is to wonder what would have happened if they had been and if that model had been carried over to the entire British empire, but enough of that.
When the first American government, whose President was essentially the Speaker of the British Parliament (rather than the American), proved ineffective at creating an effective union, they Capitalists had a convention and created a government that would allow them to effectively protect their property rights while also being effective. Capitalism and the American system go hand in hand, which effects the law and the rulings of the Court, the plurality of which are unanimous and always in support of the Constitution and laws of the United States.
Equal protection and due process protections work in favor of both capitalism and individual freedom, which is a check on moralist majorities at the state level. Some would say they simply create a better cage, although in truth, the justice system has a bias for freedom for moralists. Gone are the days of Plessy and KKK membership on the Court. No justices marched in Unite the Right.
The main bone of contention on the civil rights side is affirmative action. This is the area where freedom and capitalism collide and Capitalism wins, partially because no good solution has been found to assure affirmative action that does not cramp the style of the system.
It is possible through use of random selection from the middling majority (after the excellent have been accepted and the unworthy culled). Sadly, this solution has not gotten much press. Neither has any method which could overturn or even occupy capitalism. Again, we have hopes that employee-owned firms will become both more democratic and offer their member-owners better toys in financing, housing and the selection of executives. To be continued.
The Federalist Society is a nice debating club, the real power over the judiciary is the American Bar Association. Indeed, the Society was created as a counter-weight to the American Bar Association, but the ABA rating is still the most important consideration in being a judge. All lawyers have to be members. For the most part, appointees to the Federal Bench are "Mainstream Conservative" meaning Capitalists with a decent appreciation of individual rights. Even the Democratic appointees are in that group. Outliers are usually culled, but not always.
Even the most conservative judges and justices followed the law and let Terri Schiavo die, despite her families fall hopes. Almost all of them (and after Justice Thomas dies or retires) consider Roe and Casey settled law, with all of them supporting gay rights and the power of the Courts to overturn state law on due process and equal protection grounds. Thomas and the notorious RBG are part of the dying breed that were not themselves Supreme Court clerks from the best law schools. No one from Ave Maria or Liberty will ever make it onto the Court and until Capitalism is replaced with Cooperation, the law will have a liberal (or rather neo-liberal) bias toward it.
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Links for 2/7/19
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/links-2719
While some historians and economists are Marxian, most are neo-liberal supporters of the status quo narrative. Political Scientists seem to have their finger on the pulse, but their academic work has shifted from theory to mathematics. Some are simply right-wingers, like Gingrich. No on in the academic world takes him seriously. He is regarded in the same way as students of Marx. He offers a skewed vision of Executive time. Trump is hard ad work, but he is mostly obstructing justice while doing so. Again, he should be arrested. THAT will make it into the history books. The best modern history providing context is The Reactionary Mind by Corey Robin. He puts conservative thinking in perspective from Burke to Trump and Scalia. Note to MSW, review Robin's book. It is a fantastic read.
All Popes seem to be Social Democrats. This makes them all an essential part of the Catholic Left on economics, however they do not cast a critical eye on the Church (until Francis) or on a more humanistic view of natural law. That would take courage and sideline them as happened to Hans Kuhn. While they also resist adopting modern democratic structures, the have not quite made the jump to protecting individual rights separate from natural law. If they were to explore it, they would see how Dignitatis Humanae relates to the decision by Catholic Democrats to not impose the Church's views on abortion on non-Catholic states. They might even understand the constitutional theory behind Roe v. Wade, or at least be open to a reasonable explanation. Not doing so makes them vulnerable to alliances with right-wing parties who will do nothing to enact Catholic Social Teaching, especially with regard to guaranteed income.
Politics creates such strange bedfellows. Otherwise reasonable Catholics politicians (both to the left and the right), allow their principles to be bent to please constituents. It is why a Muslim would run in an Anti-Muslim party. Popes have this problem in reverse. As heads of state, they must deal with nations who would otherwise martyr them if they were just a priest saying Mass in those nations. Sometimes workers who would otherwise vote their pocketbooks vote instead based on racial animus. Sadly, one is never sure whether such politicians really follow such beliefs or simply believe they have to in order to be part of the herd. Most politicians are not known for moral courage, even though history is full of such people. Of course, many are assassinated.
While some historians and economists are Marxian, most are neo-liberal supporters of the status quo narrative. Political Scientists seem to have their finger on the pulse, but their academic work has shifted from theory to mathematics. Some are simply right-wingers, like Gingrich. No on in the academic world takes him seriously. He is regarded in the same way as students of Marx. He offers a skewed vision of Executive time. Trump is hard ad work, but he is mostly obstructing justice while doing so. Again, he should be arrested. THAT will make it into the history books. The best modern history providing context is The Reactionary Mind by Corey Robin. He puts conservative thinking in perspective from Burke to Trump and Scalia. Note to MSW, review Robin's book. It is a fantastic read.
All Popes seem to be Social Democrats. This makes them all an essential part of the Catholic Left on economics, however they do not cast a critical eye on the Church (until Francis) or on a more humanistic view of natural law. That would take courage and sideline them as happened to Hans Kuhn. While they also resist adopting modern democratic structures, the have not quite made the jump to protecting individual rights separate from natural law. If they were to explore it, they would see how Dignitatis Humanae relates to the decision by Catholic Democrats to not impose the Church's views on abortion on non-Catholic states. They might even understand the constitutional theory behind Roe v. Wade, or at least be open to a reasonable explanation. Not doing so makes them vulnerable to alliances with right-wing parties who will do nothing to enact Catholic Social Teaching, especially with regard to guaranteed income.
Politics creates such strange bedfellows. Otherwise reasonable Catholics politicians (both to the left and the right), allow their principles to be bent to please constituents. It is why a Muslim would run in an Anti-Muslim party. Popes have this problem in reverse. As heads of state, they must deal with nations who would otherwise martyr them if they were just a priest saying Mass in those nations. Sometimes workers who would otherwise vote their pocketbooks vote instead based on racial animus. Sadly, one is never sure whether such politicians really follow such beliefs or simply believe they have to in order to be part of the herd. Most politicians are not known for moral courage, even though history is full of such people. Of course, many are assassinated.
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Trump: Another unconvincing stab at statesmanship
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/trump-another-unconvincing-stab-statesmanship
When Citizen Trump calls for unity, he is really demanding obedience. Not recognizing he is a dangerous fascist and a Russian pawn, or soft pedaling that fact out of either loyalty to the pro-life movement or in anticipation of the 2020 election is abetting his conduct. He needs to be arrested yesterday. I am sure Mr. Mueller has probably cause to seek this.
Anyone advises delay is personally responsible for abetting his conduct. I am including both elected officials, journalists and their staffs - including the interns in this (both MSW and his readers). Impeachment and indictment can come later, when we can have public education through these procedures, but after the cancer of his presidency is removed.
As to Dr. Northam's comments, he is correct about withholding care from doomed children. It is allowed to omit extraordinary measures. As for what happens before pregnancy is induced, it is merely a legal nicety for what is euthanasia. God is not an Ogre. I am sure She does mind ending avoidable suffering. Birth should be induced so the baby can be baptized and allowed to die naturally (but with heavy sedation). Ending a doomed pregnancy is a mercy and should be endorsed by the Church (especially the hospitals), as not doing so leaves the unborn at the mercy of outside clinics.
Arguing from first principles is not sufficient to deal with this situation. Life is grittier than that. Allowing such an issue to abet election of a tyrant to the Presidency shows how much the movement has been co-opted by the Republican Party. Of course, Trump does not understand the intricacies of abortion law and politics. Indeed, his employment practices likely caused many of his employees to seek abortion. I (thankfully) did not watch the speech and turned it on while he was pivoting from abortion to military spending. This had to be the oddest part of the speech, even odder than his attempt to yet again obstruct justice.
I am sure that Ms. Ocasio-Cortez appreciates the implicit mention of her politics in the speech. Trump has as little knowledge of her socialism, which echoes Eisenhauer (who signed off on an even higher tax rate as well as a national highway system) and includes the Social Security and Medicare programs that even (and especially) his followers cling to. Trump and his followers do not understand this either and shame on those who do, but go forward anyway.
Regardless of his lack of knowledge or stupidity, his speeches show yet again that he is a fascist surrounded by fascists. Failure to understand that is to fall prey to the banality of evil.
When Citizen Trump calls for unity, he is really demanding obedience. Not recognizing he is a dangerous fascist and a Russian pawn, or soft pedaling that fact out of either loyalty to the pro-life movement or in anticipation of the 2020 election is abetting his conduct. He needs to be arrested yesterday. I am sure Mr. Mueller has probably cause to seek this.
Anyone advises delay is personally responsible for abetting his conduct. I am including both elected officials, journalists and their staffs - including the interns in this (both MSW and his readers). Impeachment and indictment can come later, when we can have public education through these procedures, but after the cancer of his presidency is removed.
As to Dr. Northam's comments, he is correct about withholding care from doomed children. It is allowed to omit extraordinary measures. As for what happens before pregnancy is induced, it is merely a legal nicety for what is euthanasia. God is not an Ogre. I am sure She does mind ending avoidable suffering. Birth should be induced so the baby can be baptized and allowed to die naturally (but with heavy sedation). Ending a doomed pregnancy is a mercy and should be endorsed by the Church (especially the hospitals), as not doing so leaves the unborn at the mercy of outside clinics.
Arguing from first principles is not sufficient to deal with this situation. Life is grittier than that. Allowing such an issue to abet election of a tyrant to the Presidency shows how much the movement has been co-opted by the Republican Party. Of course, Trump does not understand the intricacies of abortion law and politics. Indeed, his employment practices likely caused many of his employees to seek abortion. I (thankfully) did not watch the speech and turned it on while he was pivoting from abortion to military spending. This had to be the oddest part of the speech, even odder than his attempt to yet again obstruct justice.
I am sure that Ms. Ocasio-Cortez appreciates the implicit mention of her politics in the speech. Trump has as little knowledge of her socialism, which echoes Eisenhauer (who signed off on an even higher tax rate as well as a national highway system) and includes the Social Security and Medicare programs that even (and especially) his followers cling to. Trump and his followers do not understand this either and shame on those who do, but go forward anyway.
Regardless of his lack of knowledge or stupidity, his speeches show yet again that he is a fascist surrounded by fascists. Failure to understand that is to fall prey to the banality of evil.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Links for 2/5/19
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/links-2519
The disease of inequality is abetted by low taxes for two reasons. The first is that it provides an incentive to make money by controlling or reducing labor costs and taking the profits. If the taxes are high enough, the government gets the bonus, not the CEO and stockholders. The second is that it encourages asset speculation (and lower entitlement and direct spending) to essentially provide monopoly money to inflate the price of good assets and to create bad ones (which are then sold in the usual Ponzi scheme to less savvy investors who then lose their money when the price tanks).
Part of tax avoidance is the assumption that debt is owed on a per capita basis, meaning each family owes the same thing. This is untrue. Borrowing is possible because we have income taxes and the debt can only be paid back or maintained with income taxes (if rollovers are no longer allowed). Currently, the debt is 13 times the total income tax collected. This means that families owe 13 times what is paid. If you pay nothing, you owe nothing. If you pay $1,000 your share owe $13,000. If you owe $10,000 you owe $130,000, etc. Normal Income should also include, rather than inheritance taxes on the very wealthy, tax on all cash payouts from the estate or from selling estate assets, or from receiving trust funds or life insurance policies (with a $50,000 year floor on payments (twice that for joint filers and widows). Of course, people with great wealth spend less (unless you make them pay a value added tax for buying assets. 25% is fair. Suddenly, everyone is paying enough, unless you wish to have a wealth tax that simply takes 13 times income taxes in wealth (less Treasury bonds held).
Neither Howard Who? (which could be a campaign slogan if he were smart) or Donald Trump will be on the ballot in 2020. If he thinks that pandering to the wealthy so that they can avoid taxes has legs, he can certainly try, but it will help the Democratic Socialists more than his chances.
Dr. Northam simply reiterated Catholic doctrine. That providing extraordinary methods are not required when a child is born with severe deformities (and we are not talking Downs'). That some obstetricians induce birth early is for the good of the mother and is better than D&C or D&X. This is not infanticide. Trap laws can be enacted by states,but if they violate limits on undo burden found in Casey, they will be overturned before they even get to the Court, will not be granted Cert. Injunctions to preserve them until the case is heard have been settled. see last Friday's ruling on Louisiana.
Anyone claiming Trump is caught in the Prosperity Gospel, which prizes self-reliance above reliance on others and God. As for being pro-choice, that is a question of law, not morality. If you object to the morality but not the law, you are also pro-choice. The answer is to follow the Magisterium and provide for a family size sensitive income, which includes a living wage (fight for $15+ including inflation) and, because the free market cannot do so, government action and taxation until it can. Late word has it that Trump has changed his focus to dealing with abortion. This, and patriotism, are the last refuges of the scoundrel. I hope that Abrams adjusts and, rather than defending abortion, attacks Trump and his MAGA legions as running a scam on unsuspecting pro-life voters.
Phone sex with a minor is about asexuality and prior abuse. Gays don't do such things, especially outed ones (unless they think their partner on the phone is of age). This is probably why conversion therapy works in some cases. The person is really a blank slate sexually, although their development is always stunted, leaving celibacy a reasonable option.
Pastors keeping watch for abuse (as well as the laity) has been going on for a while. As for past bad actors, most have retired or passed on to their eternal punishment or reward if their repentance was sincere rather than transactional.
The disease of inequality is abetted by low taxes for two reasons. The first is that it provides an incentive to make money by controlling or reducing labor costs and taking the profits. If the taxes are high enough, the government gets the bonus, not the CEO and stockholders. The second is that it encourages asset speculation (and lower entitlement and direct spending) to essentially provide monopoly money to inflate the price of good assets and to create bad ones (which are then sold in the usual Ponzi scheme to less savvy investors who then lose their money when the price tanks).
Part of tax avoidance is the assumption that debt is owed on a per capita basis, meaning each family owes the same thing. This is untrue. Borrowing is possible because we have income taxes and the debt can only be paid back or maintained with income taxes (if rollovers are no longer allowed). Currently, the debt is 13 times the total income tax collected. This means that families owe 13 times what is paid. If you pay nothing, you owe nothing. If you pay $1,000 your share owe $13,000. If you owe $10,000 you owe $130,000, etc. Normal Income should also include, rather than inheritance taxes on the very wealthy, tax on all cash payouts from the estate or from selling estate assets, or from receiving trust funds or life insurance policies (with a $50,000 year floor on payments (twice that for joint filers and widows). Of course, people with great wealth spend less (unless you make them pay a value added tax for buying assets. 25% is fair. Suddenly, everyone is paying enough, unless you wish to have a wealth tax that simply takes 13 times income taxes in wealth (less Treasury bonds held).
Neither Howard Who? (which could be a campaign slogan if he were smart) or Donald Trump will be on the ballot in 2020. If he thinks that pandering to the wealthy so that they can avoid taxes has legs, he can certainly try, but it will help the Democratic Socialists more than his chances.
Dr. Northam simply reiterated Catholic doctrine. That providing extraordinary methods are not required when a child is born with severe deformities (and we are not talking Downs'). That some obstetricians induce birth early is for the good of the mother and is better than D&C or D&X. This is not infanticide. Trap laws can be enacted by states,but if they violate limits on undo burden found in Casey, they will be overturned before they even get to the Court, will not be granted Cert. Injunctions to preserve them until the case is heard have been settled. see last Friday's ruling on Louisiana.
Anyone claiming Trump is caught in the Prosperity Gospel, which prizes self-reliance above reliance on others and God. As for being pro-choice, that is a question of law, not morality. If you object to the morality but not the law, you are also pro-choice. The answer is to follow the Magisterium and provide for a family size sensitive income, which includes a living wage (fight for $15+ including inflation) and, because the free market cannot do so, government action and taxation until it can. Late word has it that Trump has changed his focus to dealing with abortion. This, and patriotism, are the last refuges of the scoundrel. I hope that Abrams adjusts and, rather than defending abortion, attacks Trump and his MAGA legions as running a scam on unsuspecting pro-life voters.
Phone sex with a minor is about asexuality and prior abuse. Gays don't do such things, especially outed ones (unless they think their partner on the phone is of age). This is probably why conversion therapy works in some cases. The person is really a blank slate sexually, although their development is always stunted, leaving celibacy a reasonable option.
Pastors keeping watch for abuse (as well as the laity) has been going on for a while. As for past bad actors, most have retired or passed on to their eternal punishment or reward if their repentance was sincere rather than transactional.
Monday, February 4, 2019
Julian Castro has executive experience that a president needs
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/julian-castro-has-executive-experience-president-needs
Julian Castro has executive experience that a president needs. I would think His next job should be Governor. Winning at home is essential for a run at POTUS.
Julian Castro has executive experience that a president needs. I would think His next job should be Governor. Winning at home is essential for a run at POTUS.
Friday, February 1, 2019
Abortion extremism will yield more laws like New York's
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/abortion-extremism-will-yield-more-laws-new-yorks
Last time I checked the history of abortion legalization in America, New York was one of the first states to legalize the procedure pre-Roe. Overturning Roe would have no impact on it at all. To put the new law in context, for a long time the Republican dominated New York State Assembly was a continuing criminal enterprise. It no longer is and the pro-choice organizations that helped with the change wanted payback. The assembly gave it to them.
They probably should not have, since it gave the pro-life side, including the bishops, permission to breathe. Corey Robin demonstrated in his book, The Reactionary Mind, that without some form of radical progress, reactionaries have nothing to react to. They really still don't. Partial Birth Abortion is still illegal under federal law. States are still not a competent jurisdiction to change that (although some did pile on after Gonzalez v. Carhart, but that meant nothing for the unborn and this law changes nothing in the federal law or the decision to uphold it.
Lest we forget, the Partial Birth Abortion Law was not passed because of a spate of such procedures and certainly because women were having them because they were bloodthirsty, nor do doctors relish the thought of doing them. Late term abortions are always medically necessary and tragic for any family. They are not done because a diagnosis of Downs Syndrome has been made,those occur in the second trimester. Often, such procedures are done because the child has no chance of living until its birthday and it is better to end the pregnancy sooner for the life of the mother. Catholic doctrine disagrees because they think this would make God angry. The fact that they consider God an Ogre says more about them than a desire to save innocent life.
This law was passed as a stalking horse to overturn Roe v. Wade. It failed because, while Kennedy objected to the procedure because he considered it infantice, he found justification for it in the Commerce Clause and Chief Roberts and Justice Alito agreed (I had counseled the Respondents to use the Fifth Section of the 14th Amendment and the fact that it was not cited to rule the law invalid, but they did not agree because it would become a tool to ban abortion later).
They were not about to bring back Plessy v. Ferguson, which would have made the Church happy by throwing out federal protection for gay rights to marriage and sodomy and abortion and contraception. Scalia excoriated them for it and Thomas relied on the power of the Court to change the terms of citizenship. He was correct. The Civil Rights Act of 1875 gave the Court enforcement power in this area, however the other justices would no go along either. As Kennedy acolytes, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh (and anyone who went to law school or took civil liberties in a poli-program in the 80s know the logic of Roe and state power, as well as privacy, which is not secrecy but the right to be protected from the whims of state legislative power. That provision ended all debate in legislatures, although Congress could pass laws affecting when life begins. It has not.
President Obama promised to revisit partial birth abortion and all late term abortion procedures (which are grisly), but the Republicans in Congress did not want to discuss any kind of compromise. They knew and still know that compromise would end both the pro-life and pro-choice movements, which are essential for turning out voters. The myth that Roe will be overturned if we get two more Republican justices is responsible for keeping voters engaged on each side. Solving it or dealing with the reality that there are likely 8 pro-Roe justices and when Thomas dies, there will be 9. The Court cares little for this debate and it is clear that Plessy will come back any time soon, nor will there be any compromise in Congress to end the debate.
In this environment, Cuomo signed a bill that simply codified the status quo as payback. Predictably, Albany Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger and the Catholic Conference in New York opposed the bill. Cardinal Dolan, however, rejected calls to excommunicate the governor from Bishops outside of New York. He hit back, which was a bit graceless, given the fact that the Cardinal had stood up for him. Governor Sebelius was not so lucky, when her local Ordinary denied her Communion for signing a bill that was blatantly unconstitutional. Doing so would have violated her Oath of Office. Reacting to her action was the wrong thing then and would be the wrong thing now. It is essentially putting a finger on the scales for the Republican Party.
This was a teachable moment for the Church that Cuomo missed. Instead of explaining why Roe was rightly decided, he He was correct not wrong to sign the bill, because regardless of the passage of the bill, it does not change the status quo. States simply don't have that power. While his father was correct in claiming that it was not his place to impose his Catholic beliefs on the masses, a provision that also comports with Dignitatis Humanae from Vatican II, it was no profile in courage. Catholic voters don't like attacks on the Church, and an explanation of Roe would have been seen as rebellion. Given the response to the younger Cuomo, including from Michael Sean, maybe his father had a point.
Governor Northam and others support parents to have the option to not resuscitate a child with birth defects that had little chance of survival, with others supporting similar messages (as State Senator Obama did in Illinois). As doing so would come under the heading of extraordinary measures, Catholic doctrine supports this stance. It is extremism on the right that sees this as somehow murderous.
Attacking Democratic candidates over Partial Birth Abortion is based on the falsehood that this is an issue. Then candidate Trump raised it in the debate and Clinton, instead of rebuking him for bringing up an issue that was already settled by Congress and the Courts, opted for supporting her base, which was both unnecessary (they were going to vote for her anyway) and stupid because it activated the other side.
In 2007, I counseled her (and she agreed) that the best option on this issue was to call the Pro-Life movement out as being a Republican scam for money and support. The attacks of the Susan B. Anthony Fund against Catholic Pro-Life Democrats who supported Obamacare shows how partisan the issue is. For the record, they and some bishops lied about what the bill did.
In 2008, the word in the Obama campaign was not to justify abortion, but to attack, through surrogates, the Republican involvement in the issue. I know this because I left a message for Alice Germond, formerly of NARAL, that this would work. She got the message. A press aid there confirmed that they transmitted it and it worked. Catholics voted for Obama as readily as anyone. I do not apologize for upending their usual scam and THEIR extremism on the issue.
My question, which Robert Mueller may answer, is how did the Trump campaign know that Clinton was vulnerable on this issue. It is as if someone had hacked the campaign. Imagine that. That the bishops seemed ready to pounce is troubling, although more so for the bishops themselves if they were involved in this effort. It certainly was the other factor in pro-life voters rejecting her. Worse, it gave us Donald Trump as President. The bishops involved will have to answer to God as well as Robert Mueller.
This argument is extremism and a lie. That the GOP milks an already decided issue (which most voters do not know is decided) and that the bishops go along with them in doing so is a scandal.
Note that America Magazine also addresses this issue, although in a more measured way. See their site for my comments, as well as their Facebook page.
Last time I checked the history of abortion legalization in America, New York was one of the first states to legalize the procedure pre-Roe. Overturning Roe would have no impact on it at all. To put the new law in context, for a long time the Republican dominated New York State Assembly was a continuing criminal enterprise. It no longer is and the pro-choice organizations that helped with the change wanted payback. The assembly gave it to them.
They probably should not have, since it gave the pro-life side, including the bishops, permission to breathe. Corey Robin demonstrated in his book, The Reactionary Mind, that without some form of radical progress, reactionaries have nothing to react to. They really still don't. Partial Birth Abortion is still illegal under federal law. States are still not a competent jurisdiction to change that (although some did pile on after Gonzalez v. Carhart, but that meant nothing for the unborn and this law changes nothing in the federal law or the decision to uphold it.
Lest we forget, the Partial Birth Abortion Law was not passed because of a spate of such procedures and certainly because women were having them because they were bloodthirsty, nor do doctors relish the thought of doing them. Late term abortions are always medically necessary and tragic for any family. They are not done because a diagnosis of Downs Syndrome has been made,those occur in the second trimester. Often, such procedures are done because the child has no chance of living until its birthday and it is better to end the pregnancy sooner for the life of the mother. Catholic doctrine disagrees because they think this would make God angry. The fact that they consider God an Ogre says more about them than a desire to save innocent life.
This law was passed as a stalking horse to overturn Roe v. Wade. It failed because, while Kennedy objected to the procedure because he considered it infantice, he found justification for it in the Commerce Clause and Chief Roberts and Justice Alito agreed (I had counseled the Respondents to use the Fifth Section of the 14th Amendment and the fact that it was not cited to rule the law invalid, but they did not agree because it would become a tool to ban abortion later).
They were not about to bring back Plessy v. Ferguson, which would have made the Church happy by throwing out federal protection for gay rights to marriage and sodomy and abortion and contraception. Scalia excoriated them for it and Thomas relied on the power of the Court to change the terms of citizenship. He was correct. The Civil Rights Act of 1875 gave the Court enforcement power in this area, however the other justices would no go along either. As Kennedy acolytes, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh (and anyone who went to law school or took civil liberties in a poli-program in the 80s know the logic of Roe and state power, as well as privacy, which is not secrecy but the right to be protected from the whims of state legislative power. That provision ended all debate in legislatures, although Congress could pass laws affecting when life begins. It has not.
President Obama promised to revisit partial birth abortion and all late term abortion procedures (which are grisly), but the Republicans in Congress did not want to discuss any kind of compromise. They knew and still know that compromise would end both the pro-life and pro-choice movements, which are essential for turning out voters. The myth that Roe will be overturned if we get two more Republican justices is responsible for keeping voters engaged on each side. Solving it or dealing with the reality that there are likely 8 pro-Roe justices and when Thomas dies, there will be 9. The Court cares little for this debate and it is clear that Plessy will come back any time soon, nor will there be any compromise in Congress to end the debate.
In this environment, Cuomo signed a bill that simply codified the status quo as payback. Predictably, Albany Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger and the Catholic Conference in New York opposed the bill. Cardinal Dolan, however, rejected calls to excommunicate the governor from Bishops outside of New York. He hit back, which was a bit graceless, given the fact that the Cardinal had stood up for him. Governor Sebelius was not so lucky, when her local Ordinary denied her Communion for signing a bill that was blatantly unconstitutional. Doing so would have violated her Oath of Office. Reacting to her action was the wrong thing then and would be the wrong thing now. It is essentially putting a finger on the scales for the Republican Party.
This was a teachable moment for the Church that Cuomo missed. Instead of explaining why Roe was rightly decided, he He was correct not wrong to sign the bill, because regardless of the passage of the bill, it does not change the status quo. States simply don't have that power. While his father was correct in claiming that it was not his place to impose his Catholic beliefs on the masses, a provision that also comports with Dignitatis Humanae from Vatican II, it was no profile in courage. Catholic voters don't like attacks on the Church, and an explanation of Roe would have been seen as rebellion. Given the response to the younger Cuomo, including from Michael Sean, maybe his father had a point.
Governor Northam and others support parents to have the option to not resuscitate a child with birth defects that had little chance of survival, with others supporting similar messages (as State Senator Obama did in Illinois). As doing so would come under the heading of extraordinary measures, Catholic doctrine supports this stance. It is extremism on the right that sees this as somehow murderous.
Attacking Democratic candidates over Partial Birth Abortion is based on the falsehood that this is an issue. Then candidate Trump raised it in the debate and Clinton, instead of rebuking him for bringing up an issue that was already settled by Congress and the Courts, opted for supporting her base, which was both unnecessary (they were going to vote for her anyway) and stupid because it activated the other side.
In 2007, I counseled her (and she agreed) that the best option on this issue was to call the Pro-Life movement out as being a Republican scam for money and support. The attacks of the Susan B. Anthony Fund against Catholic Pro-Life Democrats who supported Obamacare shows how partisan the issue is. For the record, they and some bishops lied about what the bill did.
In 2008, the word in the Obama campaign was not to justify abortion, but to attack, through surrogates, the Republican involvement in the issue. I know this because I left a message for Alice Germond, formerly of NARAL, that this would work. She got the message. A press aid there confirmed that they transmitted it and it worked. Catholics voted for Obama as readily as anyone. I do not apologize for upending their usual scam and THEIR extremism on the issue.
My question, which Robert Mueller may answer, is how did the Trump campaign know that Clinton was vulnerable on this issue. It is as if someone had hacked the campaign. Imagine that. That the bishops seemed ready to pounce is troubling, although more so for the bishops themselves if they were involved in this effort. It certainly was the other factor in pro-life voters rejecting her. Worse, it gave us Donald Trump as President. The bishops involved will have to answer to God as well as Robert Mueller.
This argument is extremism and a lie. That the GOP milks an already decided issue (which most voters do not know is decided) and that the bishops go along with them in doing so is a scandal.
Note that America Magazine also addresses this issue, although in a more measured way. See their site for my comments, as well as their Facebook page.
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