Your political views reflect who you are, unless you are lying to yourself.
My political views do not affect who I am,
What I mean is it doesn’t affect me in terms of my social life and who I choose as my friends
What tax credits are those? Most tax credits begin to phase out once a persons income exceeds $125,000. Warren Buffest top tax rate on his ordinary income is 35% Unless he pays his secreary over $186,000 per year I suspect hers is lower. The tax rate on his capital gains is 15%-the exact same it is on his secretary. In fact it may well be she only pays 10% on her captial gains depending on her income level.
The idea that 47% of Amercans(with a poverty level of 12%) are financially incapable of paying inocme taxes is specious. Even if that were true it belies the myth that the so called “rich” dont pay their fair share.
As the Arab proverb goes, “when you lie with dogs don’t be surprised when you get fleas”
Isn’t that a trip??? I’m hecka poor and don’t give them as much thought as most middle classer’s do. It’s gotta be jealousy.
And if I’m ever rich, I don’t want people thinking their entitled to my property, or to be heavily taxed just because I did well in life for myself.Why should anyone (by force of law) pay more in terms of percentage? I have never understood that “Robin Hood” mentality, and yes I care very much for the poor, so no blasting on that point. I just do not understand why people think a person earning a certain amount should pay nothing, or perhaps a few percentage points, while the rich should be forced to pay 50% or more of their income. Why isn’t it that everyone who earns an income has to pay the exact same percentage? Aren’t we all supposed to have a stake in this nation? Freedom ain’t free–and should not be for anyone.
I choose my friends based on advancing causes and values that I feel are important.
My political views do not affect who I am, Scott. I don’t pick my friends based on political views. I believe in respectfully disagreeing with people. I’ve had long, heated arguments with friends over politics and then afterwards hang out and have fun. If I chose my friends based on politics, I would be intolerant
He’s still liberal. While senator he got to vote in favor of liberal programs and laws and vote against convervative ones. Now that he is president he can’t just ram through everything he wants to - there would be too much of a backlash. Like I said, liberalism can only be passed piecemeal. When Obama had majorities in the House and Senate, rather than pass measures that would help the economy recover, he opted for an overhaul of the healthcare system, in spite of the majority of Americans opposing him. Now we are on our way toward socialized medicine. the rhetoric of Obama, while it used to be about bi-partisanship is now clearly the old liberal textbook class-warfare, exploit envy, “tax the rich” strategy.
I would tend to agree. I have friends of all political stripes and some who are apolitical. Its not like I give aquaintences a questionaire before I decide to become friends. I suppose I make friends for other reasons than politics, e.g. from sports or work or school. When I find our they’re liberals, it can make for interesting conversations, but we don’t stop being friends.
Maybe I’m just wired funny. I cannot make deep, abiding connections with anyone that I fervently disagree with on certain fundamental issues.
You’re not alone.
You know, being left-leaning (particularly economically, as we’re discussing) doesn’t necessarily make you evil, much like being right-leaning doesn’t necessarily make you virtuous. /
How can we ever hope to change their minds if we do not stay in their lives?
I never said it did. However, it creates an atmosphere of commonality or conflict and creates a bubble of life circumstance that you have to dance around in certain circumstances.You know, being left-leaning (particularly economically, as we’re discussing) doesn’t necessarily make you evil, much like being right-leaning doesn’t necessarily make you virtuous. /
It has nothing to do with righteousness. And Jesus was “acquaintences” with most of these people. His Apostles were with him 100% (except Judas, but that was done with intent). Do you think Jesus would have walked the Earth for 3 years with 12 guys who had fundamental disagreements with Him? The Apostles were his friends. The rest were acquaintences (in a worldly manner of thinking, Jesus is God and is friends with everyone).
I pray for LCMS_No_More (God bless him, wherever he’s gone off to). I would hang out with them, have them over for a cookout and beer, watch the game on TV, but I probably couldn’t have them as part of my inner circle. Maybe it is because all of my family are old school New England Democrats (alla the Kennedys). Things are well and jolly until politics comes up. Then we have wars. I just don’t need that agravation in my life.“I come not to bring peace, but the sword.”
If Christians pulled back from the world, and disengage with people simply because it makes them feel uncomfortable, then the world truly is lost.It has nothing to do with righteousness. And Jesus was “acquaintences” with most of these people. His Apostles were with him 100% (except Judas, but that was done with intent). Do you think Jesus would have walked the Earth for 3 years with 12 guys who had fundamental disagreements with Him? The Apostles were his friends. The rest were acquaintences (in a worldly manner of thinking, Jesus is God and is friends with everyone).
Not being “friends” with someone never stops me from praying for them, liberal or not. I pray for Rich all the time.
I can see your point, and believe me, I’ve been there. I am not sure that I could be great friends with those who are so into politics that they insist on bringing politics into the discussion every time we go out. As I mentioned, I have friends who don’t really discuss politics - they’re more apolitical. We are more likely to discuss sports or music for example. Not everything revolves around politics.
I think we need to distinguish between morality and politics. We Christians are called to live a life of moral righteousness. Often, politics is an approach to this. Politics is all about control and imposition of power. Jesus wasn’t a politician. He has all of the power (the real power) in this world.