Dude, we can do without the condescension. Marx' critique of capitalism was valid; the rich do tend to get richer. Unbridled capitalism leads to unbridled greed. But capitalism in the context of Christianity is another matter. Individual effort fueled by restraint based on faith and obedience changes the dynamic to one of generosity, magnanimity and philanthropy. Countless hospitals have been built in the U.S. by various religious sects. "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
Religion and Ballet co-exist rather uncomfortably. Oddly enough, socialist countries like Russia often have the finest Ballet troupes. Here in Scotland, I went to the Scottish Ballet production of Cinderella this afternoon, a lavish production with no expense spared, from the cast to the orchestra, the set to the costumes. My guess is that our tickets were probably subsidised in one way or another by the taxpayer, maybe as much as 75%. I didn't see a lot of poor people in the stunning Victorian chocolate box auditorium of the Theatre Royal, Glasgow.
James Madison anticipates Marx in Federalist 10: тАЬTheoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions.тАЭ
Earlier, he makes profound points concerning the realities of human nature: тАЬThe diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties.
тАЬThe latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man...тАЭ
This is where Marx and Lenin lack wisdom. They think that human nature can be processed into their mold, and all will be well when all are equal. They fail to see, or perhaps are loathe to admit, that manтАЩs quest for freedom cannot be dismissed by systems of control. Look at the automatons in North Korea, screaming their approval for their wonderful leader. Ditto the puppets in China, clapping in sync at the Party Congress, with Xi taking it all in. What is the reality in these peoplesтАЩ souls?
We are all different. Some are blessed with a high intellect. Others are disciplined and work hard. Others are lazy, content for their neighbors to carry the load of initiative or industry. Is it right, does it meet the demands of justice, for all to be rewarded equally? Madison says тАЬNo.тАЭ I agree. Furthermore, this system of control must be administered by administrators: the few with the power controlling the many without. That idea might fly in Europe, perhaps even in Scotland, but it doesnтАЩt fly in Texas. And who knows, maybe there were some poor folk at the opera yesterday, there by a gift from someone who was able to share their bounty with someone less fortunate. It would have been a Christian thing to do, and no one else would been the wiser.
тАЬHere is a country that fought and won a noble war, dismantled a mighty empire in a generally benign and enlightened way, created a far-seeing welfare state тАФ in short, did nearly everything right тАХ and then spent the rest of the century looking on itself as a chronic failure. The fact is that this is still the best place in the world for most things тАХ to post a letter, go for a walk, watch television, buy a book, venture out for a drink, go to a museum, use the bank, get lost, seek help or stand on a hillside and take in a view.тАЭ Bill Bryson in Notes on a Small Island
Classes? oh dear, lets go back to the playground: read Das Kapital, by Karl Marx.
Dude, we can do without the condescension. Marx' critique of capitalism was valid; the rich do tend to get richer. Unbridled capitalism leads to unbridled greed. But capitalism in the context of Christianity is another matter. Individual effort fueled by restraint based on faith and obedience changes the dynamic to one of generosity, magnanimity and philanthropy. Countless hospitals have been built in the U.S. by various religious sects. "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
Religion and Ballet co-exist rather uncomfortably. Oddly enough, socialist countries like Russia often have the finest Ballet troupes. Here in Scotland, I went to the Scottish Ballet production of Cinderella this afternoon, a lavish production with no expense spared, from the cast to the orchestra, the set to the costumes. My guess is that our tickets were probably subsidised in one way or another by the taxpayer, maybe as much as 75%. I didn't see a lot of poor people in the stunning Victorian chocolate box auditorium of the Theatre Royal, Glasgow.
James Madison anticipates Marx in Federalist 10: тАЬTheoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions.тАЭ
Earlier, he makes profound points concerning the realities of human nature: тАЬThe diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties.
тАЬThe latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man...тАЭ
This is where Marx and Lenin lack wisdom. They think that human nature can be processed into their mold, and all will be well when all are equal. They fail to see, or perhaps are loathe to admit, that manтАЩs quest for freedom cannot be dismissed by systems of control. Look at the automatons in North Korea, screaming their approval for their wonderful leader. Ditto the puppets in China, clapping in sync at the Party Congress, with Xi taking it all in. What is the reality in these peoplesтАЩ souls?
We are all different. Some are blessed with a high intellect. Others are disciplined and work hard. Others are lazy, content for their neighbors to carry the load of initiative or industry. Is it right, does it meet the demands of justice, for all to be rewarded equally? Madison says тАЬNo.тАЭ I agree. Furthermore, this system of control must be administered by administrators: the few with the power controlling the many without. That idea might fly in Europe, perhaps even in Scotland, but it doesnтАЩt fly in Texas. And who knows, maybe there were some poor folk at the opera yesterday, there by a gift from someone who was able to share their bounty with someone less fortunate. It would have been a Christian thing to do, and no one else would been the wiser.
тАЬHere is a country that fought and won a noble war, dismantled a mighty empire in a generally benign and enlightened way, created a far-seeing welfare state тАФ in short, did nearly everything right тАХ and then spent the rest of the century looking on itself as a chronic failure. The fact is that this is still the best place in the world for most things тАХ to post a letter, go for a walk, watch television, buy a book, venture out for a drink, go to a museum, use the bank, get lost, seek help or stand on a hillside and take in a view.тАЭ Bill Bryson in Notes on a Small Island