Can a Catholic be Democrat?

[PetraG]

Can a catholic be democrat? No.

Certainly not as an ardent supporter if Bernie Sanders is running things.
“I think being pro-choice is an absolutely essential part of being a Democrat. By this time in history . . . when we talk about what a Democrat is, I think being pro-choice is an essential part of that." Yet he claims to be a fan of Pope Francis?
Let’s not even get into his presumption that he gets to judge what kinds of Christianity are acceptable for people holding public office and which are not.

If you register as a Democrat because you live in an area that only elects Democrats and you want to be able to cast votes in the primaries against candidates who talk like Bernie Sanders, well, I don’t see why not. It is not as if registering as a Democrat compels you to vote for every Democrat running in general elections. In that sense, yes, a Catholic could of course register as a Democrat or a Republican or a Libertarian or anything else, because you’re still free to vote your conscience.

 

[JoeShlabotnik]

Now lets talk about what second four years of Trump will mean?
Trump wants to make massive cuts to social security, Medicare, and Medicaid. This is huge for those of us who will retire.
During his first four years, Trump tried to dump Obamacare. If not for the late Senator John McCain, Trump and his cronies would have repealed Obamacare without any kind of replacement.
As for taxes, we probably can expect another big tax cut for himself and the other rich folks who make up Trump’s GOP.
Like the Ronald Reagan years, I am still looking for that trickle down effect. The rich get richer, and the rest of us get poorer each time a Republican tax cut comes along.
I really don’t care who the Democrats eventually nominate. I will vote for that person.

 

[JoeShlabotnik]

I respectfully disagree.
Having watched Donald Trump operate for nearly four years, I can say without a doubt that I can vote for a Democrat.

 

[PetraG]

trump has put more money in most people’s pockets.

Does it count if he runs up the deficit by over $9 trillion (to $29 trillion) during an economic expansion?
This, after the campaign claim he would retire the deficit entirely? It is worse than when he took office. Look at us there, we could be doing better:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Oh, his spending cuts announced Monday? He’s cutting what people in the social safety net programs are going to get, which he promised he would not touch.

one thing about trump, he does what he says he will do.

Well, no, he doesn’t.

He has no health care plan to cover everybody, which he promised. He has no replacement plan at all! He hasn’t reduced the deficit, let alone retired it. He said, “No one will gain more from tax cuts than low- and middle-income Americans,” which was not true. Corporate tax revenues have plummeted, with 91 Fortune 500 companies paying no tax at all. (Business investment has declined, not risen, so don’t let’s have that one.)

He promised to propose no cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, but that is also not what he’s done. US farm bankruptcies are up 24%, the highest since 2011. I don’t call family farms being forced out of business putting “more money in most people’s pockets.”

So–say you like him better than the Democrats, but let’s not have these blanket statements that he does what he says he’ll do. No, he doesn’t. He’s like a salesman who promises the whole world and hopes you’ll be happy with what you get. That is not the same thing.

 

[JoeShlabotnik]

I remember what health care costs were before Obamacare.
They were out of control.
Each six months or so, they were asking for more money for health insurance.
Had the GOP voted to appeal Obamacare, we now would have literally nothing. Why? Because the GOP can’t agree on a replacement play, except for nothing.
“We don’t like Obamacare, but we have not alternative…” GOP

 

[PetraG]

I remember what health care costs were before Obamacare.
They were out of control.
Each six months or so, they were asking for more money for health insurance.
Had the GOP voted to appeal Obamacare, we now would have literally nothing. Why? Because the GOP can’t agree on a replacement play, except for nothing.
“We don’t like Obamacare, but we have not alternative…” GOP

Exactly. Vote it out when you replace it, GOP, the way you promised you would. No bait and switch.

Medical costs to uninsured families bankrupt people. There is no excuse for that. We can do better.

 

[Robtimus151]

Short answer, No!

 

[Robtimus151]

Then you are not a true catholic.

 

[PetraG]

Now lets talk about what second four years of Trump will mean?
Trump wants to make massive cuts to social security, Medicare, and Medicaid. This is huge for those of us who will retire.
During his first four years, Trump tried to dump Obamacare. If not for the late Senator John McCain, Trump and his cronies would have repealed Obamacare without any kind of replacement.
As for taxes, we probably can expect another big tax cut for himself and the other rich folks who make up Trump’s GOP.
Like the Ronald Reagan years, I am still looking for that trickle down effect. The rich get richer, and the rest of us get poorer each time a Republican tax cut comes along.
I really don’t care who the Democrats eventually nominate. I will vote for that person.

I’d agree that anyone not voting for a write-in will be making some compromises this November, but I’d be careful about promising to vote for the Democratic nominee before you see who it is. Their primary season is barely started. Anything could still happen.

I don’t know that the Democrats have anybody who can beat Trump. He may have beaten himself, though; he hasn’t exactly been Heaven’s gift to farmers or to manufacturing jobs in the “Rust Belt.”

Bernie Sanders, meanwhile, is talking as if Christians who believe in Hell don’t belong in the public sector. It’s like his throwing around the word “socialist”…is he trying to lose?

Then you are not a true catholic.

It is not for you to say who is and is not a “true” Catholic, but especially not by measuring them against your politics. Both major parties do plenty to disaffect a Christian. Nobody has room to judge.

 

[Dan123]

Then you are not a true catholic.

Nor a true Scotsman.

 

[JoeShlabotnik]

I have been and will continue to be a Catholic for as long as I live.
I do not like abortion. But I refuse to vote for Donald Trump solely because of his current stand on abortion.
Please remember that for the big majority of his life, Trump was Pro-Choice. I believe Trump is Pro-Life now only because he wants Pro-Life people to vote for him. He is a typical politician. He tells people what he thinks they want to hear…
There are many, many issues going into the 2020 presidential election next November.

 

[PetraG]

I do not like abortion. But I refuse to vote for Donald Trump solely because of his current stand on abortion.

Chile has outlawed abortion entirely and they have more per capita than we do. They have one of the highest rates in the world. Protecting life is not only about what laws are on the books, then. I can see that argument, just as I can see the argument that opposing certain programs meant to help the poor is not “anti-poor” when the reason for rejecting the program is that it is believed to be a bad way to try to help the poor. You can have the same principles and come to very different conclusions about how to put them into practice.

 

[JoeShlabotnik]

Talk to people who live in England, France, Germany, Japan, or any other nations. They all have more medical benefits, but pay less. Why? Because health care in those countries is not a huge far-profit business.
Health insurance companies in those companies make a profit. But is not nearly as big as companies make here.
Cross the border into Canada or into Mexico, and see how much less they pay for the same drugs were are prescribed here in the United States.

 

[Robtimus151]

So lets bring slavery back then.

 

[PetraG]

So lets bring slavery back then.

Yes, because outlawing human trafficking has eliminated it in the United States. That’s all you have to do is pass a law, and the crime disappears.

The abortion rate now is about what it was before Roe v Wade passed. In other words, when abortion was illegal, there weren’t fewer abortions per capita than now:
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I’m not saying there is a thing wrong with passing laws against abortion. I am saying that it is not realistic to believe that passing these laws is the only thing needed to protect human lives. It turns out that throwing prostitutes in jail really isn’t the best way to stop human trafficking.

There is a difference between what laws seem as if they would have a certain effect and which ones actually do. There is, as it turns out, a certain amount of judgment required to put principles into action.

 

[upant]

Trump wants to make massive cuts to social security, Medicare, and Medicaid. This is huge for those of us who will retire.

he wants to change how it works, less federal government involved. this is good.

During his first four years, Trump tried to dump Obamacare. If not for the late Senator John McCain, Trump and his cronies would have repealed Obamacare without any kind of replacement.

even the Dems are pushing to change it. it needs to be repealed. it was a give-away to the insurance companies and unions.

As for taxes, we probably can expect another big tax cut for himself and the other rich folks who make up Trump’s GOP.

the middle class will also see tax cuts, whereas each dem will have to raise middle-class taxes

Like the Ronald Reagan years, I am still looking for that trickle down effect. The rich get richer, and the rest of us get poorer each time a Republican tax cut comes along.

income has risen for most people.

I really don’t care who the Democrats eventually nominate. I will vote for that person.

that is your choice,

I remember what health care costs were before Obamacare.
They were out of control.

they are still out of control and the quality is worse.

it needs to be repealed and would have been except for a senator that went back on his campaign promises.

There are many, many issues going into the 2020 presidential election next November.

and on the most important ones the democrats go against catholic policy.

the social issues that people think are the big plus haven’t worked. seeking a different approach needs to happen to help the poor.

the US bishops have prioritized abortion.

Please remember that for the big majority of his life, Trump was Pro-Choice. I believe Trump is Pro-Life now only because he wants Pro-Life people to vote for him. He is a typical politician. He tells people what he thinks they want to hear…

his actions speak.

Health insurance companies in those companies make a profit. But is not nearly as big as companies make here.

yet Obamacare gave the insurance companies the red carpet.

Talk to people who live in England, France, Germany, Japan, or any other nations. They all have more medical benefits, but pay less. Why? Because health care in those countries is not a huge far-profit business.

it is about the quality of care, that is why many come here.

 

[Dan123]

yet Obamacare gave the insurance companies the red carpet.

It also limited how much profit they could make, which many of them whined about.

 

[upant]

The abortion rate now is about what it was before Roe v Wade passed. In other words, when abortion was illegal, there weren’t fewer abortions per capita than now:

does this take into account self-managed abortions and the over-the-counter pill?

It is difficult to accurately gauge the extent to which people are self-managing abortion, precisely because it occurs outside of the formal health care system. The Guttmacher Institute’s own state and national abortion data, updated every three years, only capture abortions that occur in clinical settings—hospitals, clinics and physicians’ offices.

but why is what they report going down?

According to a study performed by Guttmacher Institute, long-acting contraceptive methods were having a significant impact in reducing unwanted pregnancies

which is still an issue from a catholic perspective (abortion and contraceptives).

Does it count if he runs up the deficit by over $9 trillion (to $29 trillion) during an economic expansion?

he appears to be working on this, he still has time.

“It balances the budget in 15 years, has more deficit reduction, $4.6 trillion, than any president’s budget in history,” (White House budget director Russ Vought) (ABC News)

Oh, his spending cuts announced Monday? He’s cutting what people in the social safety net programs are going to get, which he promised he would not touch.

he is proposing what the Dems say need fixing.

“There will be no cuts to Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries. This budget complies with the promise,” Vought said in the Fox News interview. “There are changes to mandatory programs that achieve savings that are good government reforms. When we can lower the cost of a CAT scan in Medicare or lower the cost of prescription drugs or have people get back to work with a work requirement in Medicaid or housing programs, those are things that achieve things for taxpayers and help beneficiaries get back to work.” (White House budget director Russ Vought) (ABC News)

He has no health care plan to cover everybody, which he promised.

thanks to John McCain

So–say you like him better than the Democrats, but let’s not have these blanket statements that he does what he says he’ll do

you are correct, no one is 100% and Donald tends to boast more than he can accomplish. yet we rarely see promise kept like he is doing.

 

[upant]

It also limited how much profit they could make, which many of them whined about

the law offered waivers

Does Obamacare Limit Profits for Health Insurance Companies in Your State? – The Health Care Blog

the simple answer for the insurance company is just to raise premiums, which has happened.

Rising premiums have helped insurers’ bottom lines. They’ve also become a major pain point for consumers, and a rallying cry for opposition to the health law. While about 9.8 million people in the individual market get subsidies that insulate them from the rising cost of coverage, about 8 million others, mainly those with higher incomes, don’t get help. Some of those people have opted against buying insurance at all. (bloomber)

 

[PetraG]

…but why is what they report going down?

Probably because the number of pregnancies overall is going down.

…he is proposing what the Dems say need fixing.

He didn’t say he’d do what the Democrats want. He said he would not touch funding for Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. That was false.

thanks to John McCain

No, he had no health care plan for John McCain to vote on.
If he did–by all means, let’s see it. I have not even heard about the existence of a bad health care plan, let alone the beautiful health care plan that will cover everybody that he promised while campaigning.

He beat out other Republicans with that promise, among others. There was nothing behind it. He said they were working on a plan, a great plan. What plan? Where is it?

you are correct, no one is 100% and Donald tends to boast more than he can accomplish. yet we rarely see promise kept like he is doing.

Then people should stop saying he’ll do what he says and he tells it like it is. He doesn’t, not on either count. He wildly overstates what he is going to do and he makes things up that never happened. That’s not a truth that we can just politely cover up because he picked out favorable Supreme Court justices.

He beat out all the other Republicans by pretending he could do things that they wouldn’t pretend to do. He said he’d build a wall and make Mexico pay for it. Totally false. He might get some new wall built, Mexico is paying for none of it, and what he’s actually done is terrorize a lot of families trying to immigrate from our south. He said he had a beautiful health plan to replace Obamacare that would cover everybody and cost less. That was also a fiction.

Frankly, he also beat the other Republicans it by running a nasty name-calling campaign. Now Republicans who won’t pretend he always tells the truth and that he’s totally on the up and up get attacked for not supporting whatever comes out of his mouth. If there has ever been a President who has demanded and gotten the level of obsequious compliance with whatever he says, whether it is true or false, I don’t know who it was.