Thursday, August 6, 2015
Tonight's GOP Debate: The Trump Show | National Catholic Reporter
Tonight's GOP Debate: The Trump Show | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Trump is more Herman Cain than Mitt Romney. I am not wasting my time tonite on this debate. I will be binge watching Orphan Black (if I have not moved into a homeless shelter - anything not to pollute my mind with GOP crap). The fact that the GOP voters love a lud mouthed plutocrat is all you need to know about them.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Links for 08/05/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 08/05/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Happy Feast Day to the Basilica constructed with the money of the poor to honor a woman who stood for both the poor and liberation. Irony reigns.
That Berkowitz would quibble with any critical analysis of zionism is no shock, or that MSW would agree with the quibbling - or more appropriate, kibbitzing. The author probably could have swapped out India for the Soviet Union, with Stalin being the fundamentalist following Lenin's realpolitick.
I don't read or trust anything Breitbart. Any time spent on anything they write cannot be reclaimed.
That Berkowitz would quibble with any critical analysis of zionism is no shock, or that MSW would agree with the quibbling - or more appropriate, kibbitzing. The author probably could have swapped out India for the Soviet Union, with Stalin being the fundamentalist following Lenin's realpolitick.
I don't read or trust anything Breitbart. Any time spent on anything they write cannot be reclaimed.
Faith vs. Ideology | National Catholic Reporter
Faith vs. Ideology | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: When it was first spoken, the Kingdom of God was ideological in the way we know it now, as well as transcendant. It can be both and so can Francis. This is what scares both the Trads and the Conservatives. The tone, of course, comes because they are finally feeling a much needed consciousness of guilt, even if it is below the surface. The Hound of Heaven is after them and they are not surrendering quietly.
Bringing Christ to the revolution, as I do, is not only good PR, but it forms a better understanding for all whose side Jesus is on - and its not the side of exploitation. Revolution is hard work, and the Bread of Life is needed to make an impossible journey possible - and indeed make its success inevitable. The Gospel is a bold statement. It would have helped the movement then and will now, even a movement now essentially led in the US by a Jewish atheist from Vermont.
Bringing Christ to the revolution, as I do, is not only good PR, but it forms a better understanding for all whose side Jesus is on - and its not the side of exploitation. Revolution is hard work, and the Bread of Life is needed to make an impossible journey possible - and indeed make its success inevitable. The Gospel is a bold statement. It would have helped the movement then and will now, even a movement now essentially led in the US by a Jewish atheist from Vermont.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Links for 08/04/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 08/04/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Cardus should read and incorporate Douglas and Wildavsky's Risk and Culture, although if he did there would be nothing left for him to say. Of course, I have the University of Waterloo copy of Culture and Social Theory, which was sold to me on Amazon. Risk and Culture, which explains the egalitarian, anti-capitalist roots of the environmental movement and its sectarian tendencies is right in with this thesis. There is likely still enough to do to justify a dissertation incorproating their work.
Statistics are suspect when we talk of the middle class. It is better to speak of the working class and the middle class. Back when we were all living on cheap credit, both of these groups did well. Now, not so much. The middle class is still mostly up - although many have fallen through the cracks or retired early. They are the ones Francis needs to challenge, more for their politics than their consumption. The working class is under attack - and Francis needs to focus on this big time.
Its fairly hard to out-life the GOP in a Democratic big tent if a war on women theme is at play. Of course, the GOP does not like it if we do (especially on the economic side) because they want the movement for themselves for electoral purposes (not to actually stop abortions).
Statistics are suspect when we talk of the middle class. It is better to speak of the working class and the middle class. Back when we were all living on cheap credit, both of these groups did well. Now, not so much. The middle class is still mostly up - although many have fallen through the cracks or retired early. They are the ones Francis needs to challenge, more for their politics than their consumption. The working class is under attack - and Francis needs to focus on this big time.
Its fairly hard to out-life the GOP in a Democratic big tent if a war on women theme is at play. Of course, the GOP does not like it if we do (especially on the economic side) because they want the movement for themselves for electoral purposes (not to actually stop abortions).
Planned Parenthood: The Videos & the Vote | National Catholic Reporter
Planned Parenthood: The Videos & the Vote | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: This vote is probably the beginning of the end of the 15 minutes of fame of the producers. Ironically, what is done regarding aborted fetuses is similar to what is done regarding those who miscarried late in the pregnancy. While their moral status is important, their legal status is the question.
Abortion is as much a rule of law question as a libertarian one - and the pro-life movement has no taste for answering it. The Susan B. Anthony Fund, the USCCB Pro-Life Activities staff and the National Right to Life Committee sadly are not a moral force, they are an electoral one. Like John Stewart said about FoxNews, its a design feature, not a flaw.
When the Bishops quit talking about pregnancies and force pro-lifers to start talking about supporting families all the way to maturity, we will know that they have turned the corner to the moral question. They also have to start by having all Catholic employers pay a living wage of $1000 per month per additional child or I simply won't take anything the Church says seriously during its 40 days for life.
Do what I ask and the contraception issue goes away and abortion will become so rare that PPUSA will shutter its windows and door - not because we somehow become disgusted about the procedure. That is like being disgusted with sodomy. It has no ethical force. Solve the legal question and the economic question or the issue will be seen as part of a war on sexuality. Hint: want to make a profound statement this is not about women? Ordain some. This is why the Trads can't do anything on these issues.
Abortion is as much a rule of law question as a libertarian one - and the pro-life movement has no taste for answering it. The Susan B. Anthony Fund, the USCCB Pro-Life Activities staff and the National Right to Life Committee sadly are not a moral force, they are an electoral one. Like John Stewart said about FoxNews, its a design feature, not a flaw.
When the Bishops quit talking about pregnancies and force pro-lifers to start talking about supporting families all the way to maturity, we will know that they have turned the corner to the moral question. They also have to start by having all Catholic employers pay a living wage of $1000 per month per additional child or I simply won't take anything the Church says seriously during its 40 days for life.
Do what I ask and the contraception issue goes away and abortion will become so rare that PPUSA will shutter its windows and door - not because we somehow become disgusted about the procedure. That is like being disgusted with sodomy. It has no ethical force. Solve the legal question and the economic question or the issue will be seen as part of a war on sexuality. Hint: want to make a profound statement this is not about women? Ordain some. This is why the Trads can't do anything on these issues.
Monday, August 3, 2015
Links for 08/03/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 08/03/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I did not see that Lake divided out the Trads as a category. I am quite sure some of them are not happy. Just look at Weigel (I would rather not, actually). If he does not like Kasper, then I like him. The bit of a trial baloon a few days after this post aired saying remarried Catholics are not excommunicate could not have helped George's blood pressure. He seems to like having people to resent.
Anyone of good conscience would denounce Brook's piece on Hillary, although we need to get a little more democratically socialistic about employee-ownership and larger subsidies for families than Hillary is likely to demand. That guy from Vermont still seems to call for all the right things, even without adherence to Francis or Leo XIII.
I don't read LifeSiteNews, its calumus on a good day. It essentially shows that the RTL movement is about sex and keeping it away from anyone not using it to have a kid (though if you have one, you are on your own for feeding it). That they would have an opinion on gay marriage shows this, even though gays often are called upon to foster other siblings kids or their husband or wives kids from a prior bad marriage all too often.
Anyone of good conscience would denounce Brook's piece on Hillary, although we need to get a little more democratically socialistic about employee-ownership and larger subsidies for families than Hillary is likely to demand. That guy from Vermont still seems to call for all the right things, even without adherence to Francis or Leo XIII.
I don't read LifeSiteNews, its calumus on a good day. It essentially shows that the RTL movement is about sex and keeping it away from anyone not using it to have a kid (though if you have one, you are on your own for feeding it). That they would have an opinion on gay marriage shows this, even though gays often are called upon to foster other siblings kids or their husband or wives kids from a prior bad marriage all too often.
The Koch Brothers and Justice | National Catholic Reporter
The Koch Brothers and Justice | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The Koch view of liberty, which is distinctly Austrian by nature, includes elements of corporate collusion to identify and not hire trouble makers, which would force them to compete against their former employer. The problem is, this is easier said than done. While schemes such as Georgism, Catholic Distributism and a Basic Guaranteed Income mitigate against such power, they are also libertarian in nature and mitigate against solidarity.
Solidarity, of course, is not just unions, which the Church likes until pro-choice unions want to organize Catholic school teachers or advocates demand a living wage for Church workers. Indeed, Subsidiarity is not enough in these cases – indeed, they could make things worse for Church employees. They need some decent brand of libertarianism, where teachers can take a challenging view on the legality – but not the promotion- of abortion and are free of interference (Church Power) when picking health care options that may include abortion. Liberty is essential to those of us who think the Magisterium is a bad joke and the natural order a sophistry – that morality is to humanize mankind, not to diefy it. The locus of those moral decisions is not just a well-formed conscience – it’s a free discussion by all Catholics – not just the priests and theologians. While MSW’s union card is helpful, it does not bestow monopoly status in a natural law argument.
Solidarity has to include socialism – employees making decisions as owners of the enterprise. Profit sharing alone is inadequate – the authoritarianism of both economic benefit and control must be smashed and union solidarity alone won’t do that. Secretary Clinton won’t do that. There are alternatives, however, that will. These alternatives should not only be used to bring us back to FDR era concessions by the plutocrats, but implemented for their own value. Solidarity is necessary for revolution, but not sufficient.
Solidarity, of course, is not just unions, which the Church likes until pro-choice unions want to organize Catholic school teachers or advocates demand a living wage for Church workers. Indeed, Subsidiarity is not enough in these cases – indeed, they could make things worse for Church employees. They need some decent brand of libertarianism, where teachers can take a challenging view on the legality – but not the promotion- of abortion and are free of interference (Church Power) when picking health care options that may include abortion. Liberty is essential to those of us who think the Magisterium is a bad joke and the natural order a sophistry – that morality is to humanize mankind, not to diefy it. The locus of those moral decisions is not just a well-formed conscience – it’s a free discussion by all Catholics – not just the priests and theologians. While MSW’s union card is helpful, it does not bestow monopoly status in a natural law argument.
Solidarity has to include socialism – employees making decisions as owners of the enterprise. Profit sharing alone is inadequate – the authoritarianism of both economic benefit and control must be smashed and union solidarity alone won’t do that. Secretary Clinton won’t do that. There are alternatives, however, that will. These alternatives should not only be used to bring us back to FDR era concessions by the plutocrats, but implemented for their own value. Solidarity is necessary for revolution, but not sufficient.
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