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scipio337
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A WaPo op-ed slamming Ryan? No way!
Interesting to note “The PX90 VP” is trending on WaPo.
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kykid
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The choice of Paul Ryan for VP is a home run. I was going to vote for Romney regardless of who he picked because the stakes are too dire to do otherwise. My first choice was Marco Rubio, but I can enthusiastically support Romney-Ryan and will work tirelessly for the election of the entire ticket, both on the national and state level.
The reelection of Obama-Biden would be a disaster for our country. After four more years of this crew, our country will be unrecognizable. Liberty will vanish and the state will grow to gargantuan proportions, with the average American being drowned out by the ruling elites. This will truly be the beginning of the tribulation talked about in the book of Revelations.
Stand up, be counted, and take back our country from these socialists elites.
The reelection of Obama-Biden would be a disaster for our country. After four more years of this crew, our country will be unrecognizable. Liberty will vanish and the state will grow to gargantuan proportions, with the average American being drowned out by the ruling elites. This will truly be the beginning of the tribulation talked about in the book of Revelations.
Stand up, be counted, and take back our country from these socialists elites.
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LisaA
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Yes Scipio, amazing but true! And it’s an opinion piece written by the weekly author of a Lefty blog on a Lefty website. I’m shocked that Mr Miller does not appreciate Mr Ryan’s amazing intelligence and courage…or as my granny used to say, “Consider the source.”
Hey P90X sales will go through the roof though!
Lisa
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buffalo
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"It is rare in American politics to arrive at a moment in which the debate revolves around the fundamental nature of American democracy and the social contract. But that is exactly where we are today.
"One approach gives more power to unelected bureaucrats, takes more from hard-working taxpayers to fuel the expansion of government, and commits our nation to a future of debt and decline. This approach is proving unworkable – in Congress, in our courts, and in our communities.
"This path fails to do justice to either subsidiarity or solidarity. It dissolves the common good of society, and dishonors the dignity of the human person.
"Our budget offers a better path, consistent with the timeless principles of our nation’s founding and, frankly, consistent with how I understand my Catholic faith.
"We put our trust in people, not in government. Our budget incorporates subsidiarity by returning power to individuals, to families, and to communities.
"We draw inspiration from the Founders’ belief that all people are born with a God-given right to human flourishing.
Protecting this equal right of all persons is required for solidarity – trusting citizens, not nameless government officials, to determine what is in their best interests, and to make the right choices about the future of our country."
(Paul Ryan - Speech at Georgetown University, April 26, 2012)
"One approach gives more power to unelected bureaucrats, takes more from hard-working taxpayers to fuel the expansion of government, and commits our nation to a future of debt and decline. This approach is proving unworkable – in Congress, in our courts, and in our communities.
"This path fails to do justice to either subsidiarity or solidarity. It dissolves the common good of society, and dishonors the dignity of the human person.
"Our budget offers a better path, consistent with the timeless principles of our nation’s founding and, frankly, consistent with how I understand my Catholic faith.
"We put our trust in people, not in government. Our budget incorporates subsidiarity by returning power to individuals, to families, and to communities.
"We draw inspiration from the Founders’ belief that all people are born with a God-given right to human flourishing.
Protecting this equal right of all persons is required for solidarity – trusting citizens, not nameless government officials, to determine what is in their best interests, and to make the right choices about the future of our country."
(Paul Ryan - Speech at Georgetown University, April 26, 2012)
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maber43
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Paul Ryan will helps to get our country back.
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Luigi_Daniele
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I am deeply convinced that this is true. He and Mitt need our prayers.
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stinkcat_14
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To be fair, oil companies do benefit from a separate set of tax rules, which seem to stem from political favoritism, not economic rationality. Now, the oil industry is not the only industry to get special rules, nor is it only republicans who get influenced by special interest money.
Below is a link from the Cato institute on the issue, which you certainly cannot describe as left leaning.
cato.org/publications/commentary/eliminating-oil-subsidies-two-cheers-president-obama
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LisaA
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All natural resources companies have specific industry related deductions. There is a very specific provision related to timber harvest for example. Just as there are special deductions for high tech companies and R&D credits for companies that do research. Obama himself orchestrated a special break for the evil corporate jet owners although he made a lot of hay about this deduction that HE pushed as part of the Stimulus.
While I don’t know that this kind of economic engineering is always appropriate, the point is that these are not SUBSIDIES. IOW XYZ Oil doesn’t get $500 billion dollar “loans” or price supports as for agricultural businesses.
The problem is that either there is direct obfuscation…calling business deductions “subsidies” or there is a great deal of ignorance. I think a bit of both. The point of course is to demonize “Big Oil” and pretend that their profits are evil whereas profits by Apple or other solar panel companies (probably an oxymoron) are good! The hypocrisy of the Left knows no bounds
Lisa
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CMatt25
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I of course totally reject your premise and thus what you advocate in your post and therefore your conclusion because I believe government leaders can show compassion. In many ways it is simply an honest difference of opinion we have as to the role of government. You obviously believe individuals alone can and would handle the problems facing the poor and the sick. I OTOH believe individuals, faith based groups, government, and its leaders can all play a role in helping Christ in His effort. Because I don’t believe Christ would turn down any help He could get including if offered by government. You of course can believe differently. Government leaders and their constituents though are not coerced into coming up with and supporting social programs which out of the goodness of their hearts they might believe could help the poor and the sick. And taxpayers don’t have to pay their taxes towards social programs grudgingly unless they choose to do so. In any case what is remarkable to me is people not having difficulty with Paul Ryan’s budget which makes such drastic cuts to the poor and the sick while increasing defense spending while benefiting the rich with further tax cuts. I’m on board with the nuns on the bus and those Catholic bishops who have expressed concerns about how this fits with the message of Christ towards the poor and the sick. While it further benefits the rich. But if Christian conservatives are fine with it, that’s partly why you’ll never see me be part of a conservative tradition I suppose. We each walk in faith though and in any case may God bless you always along the road you walk in faith and His peace be with you always.
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salusanimarum17
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Nice article. However, it doesn’t entirely support your opening line about “separate set of tax rules” since the biggest tax break is one that is for all manufacturing. It is also interesting to note that “about 41% of the net income earned by the oil and gas industry is already paid out in federal taxes compared to 26.5% for the rest of the businesses in the S&P 500.” I probably would support eliminating some of the tax breaks but they are often proposed within a “big oil doesn’t pay taxes, they only get handouts” narrative. That turns me off, so to speak.
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PJD1987
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This topic was already discussed many pages back, and has been beaten to death. It is a false argument with a faulty application and understanding of Catholic Social Teaching, totally ignorant of the concept of subsidiarity. The USCCB coming out against the Ryan Budget is not tantamount to the Bishops coming out against the Ryan Budget, any Catholic worth their salt understands that (sadly) the USCCB is run by the liberal lay staff.
Several Bishops at their annual meeting came out and said as much that they should not have been so quick to dismiss the Ryan Budget and admonished them for not even applying the Catholic Social Teaching of subsidiarity when analyzing budgetary and fiscal concerns, also saying that they should not meddle in these things which they do not fully understand.
God bless.
-Paul
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DeniseNY
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But your opposition to that budget is based on myths.
Tax rates would stay at current levels. There is no decrease. What would be done is a cancellation of tax increases that would go into effect in 2013. At the same time, it would eliminate several deductions and loopholes in the current tax code.
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LisaA
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Government by definition cannot show compassion. That is a human characteristic and can be expressed only by humans (although I understand there are instances of animals apparently doing so). Of course individual members of government can and do show compassion. I’ve worked with many in social services and believe me they aren’t in it for the high salaries and cushy working conditions.
OTOH the fallacy of your argument is that these government officials are using SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY obtained through coercion, not through charity. And we find it’s much easier to spend someone else’s money than part with your own. You might check the charitable giving rates for conservatives vis a vis liberals. It’s amazing how often the big government supporters think it’s great to play Lord and Lady Bountiful with other people’s hard earned money.
Further the problem with far away government workers taking in and redistributing our funds is that there is no connection between the money and the use. We send our dollars to Washington and then trust them (NOT!) to properly use it? They’ve done such a bang up job in the past. How’s that War on Poverty goiing? (started by LBJ when I was in first grade and I’m over 50)
You truly think having a good heart means taking my money and giving it to someone you think is more deserving or frankly someone who can do you (as in you Mr Politician) some political favor. Do you not think all the expansion of entitlements, including free ABC is not intended to buy votes?
Sorry CMatt but you and I must live in alternative universes.
Lisa
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PJD1987
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Lisa,
It’s the same old argument, rehashed and reworded, same faulty premise, same misrepresentations. Gonna be a fun 3 months!!!
God bless.
-Paul
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rlg94086
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Feelings. Nothing more than feelings…
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CaptFun
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Thanks, maybe I will. I always felt bad for Clarence Thomas, a true success story and*You should read about how Clarence Thomas was double-crossed by Joe Biden - read his book. Joe Biden is a hypocrite and certainly not a good Catholic. I sometimes suspect that some Catholics remain in the Church because of the beautiful setting for weddings and funerals!! The photographs are enhanced by the beauty of the Churches!!! Look at the funeral of Edward Kennedy and the weddings of the other Kennedys. They are mostly pro-choice and Democrats!
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a person who was unjustly pilloried for his expected pro-life votes to come on the SCOTUS.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, 9 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
It’s nice to see faithful Catholics beginning to represent more publicly.
It seems that those “Catholics” who scofflaw well known Church doctrines for their political careers have a fast track to power in some quarters. And yes, Biden, Sibelius, Kerry, Ted Kennedy, the Cuomos, Nancy Pulosi and Jerry Brown are all Democratic leaders. While Catholics publicly obedient to Church teachings include Sam Brownback, Rick Santorum, and Paul Ryan (Republicans).
William Casey Jr. is a “pro-life Democrat” though a quiet one, and was possibly picked to bring BACK “pro-life Democrats” in Pennsylvania who’d crossed over to elect Santorum to the Senate. Can’t think of a “pro-choice Catholic Republican” of substance at the moment. Maybe there isn’t one. :clapping:
New Catholics and converts like Newt Gingrich and Tony Blair (e.g.) rarely come into the church complaining and confronting Church leadership.
As you seem to allude to - there are of course the problems of the “barely Catholics” or the “Cafeteria Catholics” (aka part time apostacizers), and the “I’m a PROUD Catholic but …” crowds. Hopefully they are on their way BACK to something better and not still drifting further away.
I do see a lot of public scandal in the moral gymnastics of those who perform amazing
logical contortions to get to the conclusion that abortion doesn’t matter as much as (fill in the blank with something MUCH less important or immoral).
It’s rather like watching Godfather I. All that beautiful Church ritual, the baby, the denunciation of Satan, the pouring of the water, family witnessing and gathering for the after party … when elsewhere the “whited sepulchres” were committing Murder, and indulging their lust for power and money.
As for the Ted Kennedy funeral. It was to make his family feel nice I’m sure.
And if *somehow * the late Senator misses out on the beatific vision due to, oh,
some unrepented, unconfessed, unatoned for mortal sin he may have committed -
well at least he had a nice procession to the door of …?
In the meantime outsiders will view the Church askance as not standing for much. Or
compromising principles for money. Or a number of other side effects that counterbalance
making someone’s family “feel nice.”
Praying for Paul Ryan of course. So far he looks to have represented (the Church and his district) well.
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stinkcat_14
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I think it depends on how you define what a subsidy is. If the government allows you to pay less taxes for some arbitrary reason, then that arbitrary tax break is no different than a direct subsidy. Tax for example, the mortgage interest deduction, which is a deduction that has no economic justification. Canada has no such deduction and their housing market is just fine. So, the government gives a lower tax bill to those who borrow money to buy houses. Suppose a typical household saves $2000 because of the deduction. How is that any different than eliminating the deduction and sending people a check for $2000? Its not, your spending power has gone up either way.
The Cato institute which is right leaning says the following, are they hypocrites too?
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_Abyssinia
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Article criticizes Ryan but does not mention a single time that Democrat Senator Wyden contributed to the plan, it is the Wyden-Ryan plan, not the Ryan plan.
Where is Obama’s plan? Where are the Democrats plan? There is no plan. Medicare will go bankrupt in 2024 say the medicare trustees, even if you do agree with the Wyden-Ryan plan, it attempts to deal with it, Obama and the democrats have no plan
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LisaA
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Yes let the games begin! Last night by coincidence I was watching Theology Roundtable on EWTN. There was a lengthy discussion of Catholic Social Teaching and it was so clear how this would benefit our approach to government. Subsidiarity and solidarity in combination to protect the vulnerable and marginalized with the most direct and effective support, combined with the dignity of work and the primacy of the family. If only our government would take a page from this good book! I truly believe that Paul Ryan does approach his economic proposals from a Catholic point of view and it gives me hope for the future.Lisa,
It’s the same old argument, rehashed and reworded, same faulty premise, same misrepresentations. Gonna be a fun 3 months!!!
God bless.
-Paul
Lisa
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