What do you think of MLK Jr.'s quote?

[MillTownCath]

You are conveniently excusing your made up percentages when you started this thread, yet you criticize?

Made up percentages? I was giving rough estimates of what money went to the “poor” based on the information I cited.

Nothing was just made up.

Did you even look at the link I posted?

 

[MillTownCath]

First of all, let’s make sure you are accurate and not picking and choosing.

2010 budget…

Dept of Defense 664 billion, not 900 billion and many of those employed by the military are poor people trying to make a better life for themselves, which includes retirement, disability and some schooling.

To the poor and needy

12 billion for support for families and youth
onlineforextrading.com/blog/federal-budget-broken-down/

453 billion medicare
290 billion medicaid
571 billion other mandatory programs which include welfare

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_United_States_federal_budget

I think that the times when MLK was speaking, he was mostly correct in helping the poor.

But the problem now is that so many people are dependent on the government, it has created welfare states and does much much more harm than good.

Why are you citing wikipedia? Is the Washington post not a good enough source?

 

[dmelosi]

Why are you citing wikipedia? Is the Washington post not a good enough source?

Because I checked the numbers before I posted with the white house site itself, the link from wikipedia recapped it better.

whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2012/assets/defense.pdf

I was however talking more about the made up number you had as programs for the poor.

 

[MillTownCath]

Because I checked the numbers before I posted with the white house site itself, the link from wikipedia recapped it better.

whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2012/assets/defense.pdf

I was however talking more about the made up number you had as programs for the poor.

That’s fine, I was just thinking “out-loud” really.
I don’t really care about the numbers as much, I just want to know if people agree with his quote on principle.

Even if the US spends 10 times more on social programs for the poor, I’m still curious if you agree with his quote.

 

[St_Francis]

The context was the Vietnam war, just to give you some more info.
Here is the speech if you want to listen. Even if you don’t agree with that statement, It’s still a great speech. youtube.com/watch?v=b80Bsw0UG-U

I’m not against MLK and he gave great speeches, but sometimes people make rhetorical statments in speeches that are not exactly true, but which point out something.

There are several things which one would have to take into account qhen considering this statement. As a Catholic, I do believe the society needs to make provision for the poor. MLK was speaking at a time long after Protestants tore up the system in place in which those in need were taken care of through Church institutions with the resulting transfer or responsibility to the government.

Looking at the situation solely through the eyes of government leaves out the human element. And that is why to me in context of the statement MLK made, we have to take everything into context. It’s not a question of how much the government spends on this or that but how much society as a whole does to help the poor rather than just the government.

Altho I do think that the government has a role to play, esp in a secular context such as ours, I also see that government overinvolvement generates an “I gave at the office” attitude which in turn means that a lot of things which need to be done go by the wayside. That’s why in the end, imo the staement is lacking.

 

[MillTownCath]

I’m not against MLK and he gave great speeches, but sometimes people make rhetorical statments in speeches that are not exactly true, but which point out something.

There are several things which one would have to take into account qhen considering this statement. As a Catholic, I do believe the society needs to make provision for the poor. MLK was speaking at a time long after Protestants tore up the system in place in which those in need were taken care of through Church institutions with the resulting transfer or responsibility to the government.

Looking at the situation solely through the eyes of government leaves out the human element. And that is why to me in context of the statement MLK made, we have to take everything into context. It’s not a question of how much the government spends on this or that but how much society as a whole does to help the poor rather than just the government.

Altho I do think that the government has a role to play, esp in a secular context such as ours, I also see that government overinvolvement generates an “I gave at the office” attitude which in turn means that a lot of things which need to be done go by the wayside. That’s why in the end, imo the staement is lacking.

Great post. Love has to be involved in our care for the poor.