The Marshall Plan grew out of the Truman Doctrine, proclaimed in 1947, stressing the moralistic duty of the United States to combat communist regimes worldwide. The Marshall Plan spent US$13 billion (out of a 1947 GDP of $244 billion or 5.4%, or $632 billion in 2004 dollars) to help Europe recover economically from World War II to keep it from communism. The money actually did not all come out of the US government’s budget, but out of US sovereign credit. The most significant aspect of the Marshall Plan was the US government guarantee to US investors in Europe to exchange their profits denominated in weak European currencies back into dollars at guaranteed fixed rates, backed by gold at $35 an ounce.
The Marshall Plan helped establish the US dollar as the world’s reserved currency at fixed exchange rates established by the IMF, which had been created by the Bretton Woods Conference. The Marshall Plan enabled international trade to resume and laid the foundation for dollar hegemony for more than half a century even after the dollar was taken off gold by president Richard Nixon in 1971. While the Marshall Plan did help the German economy recover, it was not entirely a selfless gift from the victor to the vanquished. It was more a Trojan horse for monetary conquest. It condemned Germany’s economy to the status of a dependent satellite of the US economy from which it has yet to free itself fully.
The Marshall Plan lent Europe the equivalent of $632 billion in 2004 dollars. Japan’s foreign-exchange reserves alone were $830 billion at the end of September 2004. In other words, Japan was lending more to the United States in 2004 than the Marshall Plan lent to Europe in 1947. And Japan did not get any benefits, because the loan is denominated in dollars that the US can print at will, and dollars are useless in Japan unless reconverted to yen, which because of dollar hegemony Japan is not in a position to do without reducing the yen money supply, causing the Japanese economy to contract and the yen exchange rate to rise, thus hurting Japanese export competitiveness.
henryckliu.com/page105.htmlWest Germany’s postwar economy functioned well for several decades, and became one of Europe’s strongest. Much of its success was due to the German tradition of strong social welfare that dated back to the days of Otto von Bismarck a century earlier, and the system of co-determination, which gave workers in factories a voice about their management and provided West German industries a long period of labor peace. The economics of the Cold War also gave Germany guaranteed markets in the US. The export-oriented economy received another boost with the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC) by the Treaty of Rome in March 1957. West Germany was one of the EEC’s founding members. Since the end of the Cold War, this economic order has been under threat from neo-liberal globalization that first attacked the developing economies in Latin America and then the world over.
Obama’s law is not really about healthcare. It is a power grab intended to exert influence over all aspects of our lives. The IRS can go into all of our bank accounts, credit cards, medical info, personal info. etc. It can take money out of our accounts to pay the penalty for not getting health insurance. The law establishes a Natiional Service Force, “as powerful and well funded as the army” Why does the nation need such an organization?A few of these threads have been popping up since the passage of the healthcare bill, and I notice quite a few of you are upset over the mandate section of the bill.
I am curious if you think that it’s also immoral for the government to tax you in any way (re: being forced to purchase something), and if it’s immoral for the government to make you follow any other laws (re: forced charity).
If you think one is okay but not the other, why?
The fact that there was US gain via the Marshall Plan doesn’t erase the fact that Germany was still rebuilt by the same nation it was pitted against. I’m sure most East Germans would have gladly moved to the west side of the border to live under dollar hegemony.I do not think that the Marshall Plan was an act of selfless charity from the US. but an act of Machiavellian politics, much like Pablo Escobar donating some of his money to the poor.
I am too lazy to summarize it myself:
henryckliu.com/page105.html
Being mandated to buy anything is wrong… in my opinion anyway…I am sure the Romans did NOT think it was immoral to feed people to lions, or to have sex with children… Governments Never believe that their conduct is immoral, only those in opposition. That being said for Catholics the only measure should be the Church and that would be the same for all of its rulings, i.e. Abortions, Condoms, things that Catholics violate every single day and many still take the Eucharist compounding their sin. They are no better than any other person in mortal sin.A few of these threads have been popping up since the passage of the healthcare bill, and I notice quite a few of you are upset over the mandate section of the bill.
I am curious if you think that it’s also immoral for the government to tax you in any way (re: being forced to purchase something), and if it’s immoral for the government to make you follow any other laws (re: forced charity).
If you think one is okay but not the other, why?
Pathia, you seem to have disappeared from this thread and I don’t blame you. In spite of your obvious health problems, many of us while feeling bad for you and wanting to help, do NOT change our minds that socialization of the greatest country on earth is NOT the right way to address health care needs.
I hope I am not out of line, but you seem to do well with a computer. Could be a job in your future.
You have received enormous medical benefits throughout your life, liberally citing your costs and bancruptcies. Sometimes, I’m not sure why you want more than you already have and can continue to receive. I know you would like to be healthy, but it seems no amount of money will do that for you. Certainly Obama’s plan won’t. You will soon find that the US Govt will have spent all that is cost effective on you. Please, Please wake up.
Life is a beach for all of us, and perhaps you have more sand than most. But in my experience, feeling sorry for yourself, and using your personal misfortune as a justification for taking property from others, will only merit sympathy from those of a liberal bent, and will not overwhelm the logic of natural law.
Best wishes
The right to life is an absolutely central to catholic teaching. Jesus didn’t charge the leppers, cripple, etc for healing. In fact he went so far as to lay down his life for them. To say what is essentially “Shut Up and Suffer … Don’t Take My Property … Best Wishes” reflects rather poorly in light of our savior actions. I’m sorry to be so blunt, but… how else should I put it?Sometimes, I’m not sure why you want more than you already have and can continue to receive.
I have received enormous EMERGENCY benefits. What I need is chronic care, something I never have really received, regularly anyway. Drugs for example I import black market drugs from Europe that could be seized (and are regularly are so I have to double/triple order). Chronic care in my case would me much much more efficient, but it is still out of my price range currently.Pathia, you seem to have disappeared from this thread and I don’t blame you. In spite of your obvious health problems, many of us while feeling bad for you and wanting to help, do NOT change our minds that socialization of the greatest country on earth is NOT the right way to address health care needs.
I hope I am not out of line, but you seem to do well with a computer. Could be a job in your future.
You have received enormous medical benefits throughout your life, liberally citing your costs and bancruptcies. Sometimes, I’m not sure why you want more than you already have and can continue to receive. I know you would like to be healthy, but it seems no amount of money will do that for you. Certainly Obama’s plan won’t. You will soon find that the US Govt will have spent all that is cost effective on you. Please, Please wake up.
Life is a beach for all of us, and perhaps you have more sand than most. But in my experience, feeling sorry for yourself, and using your personal misfortune as a justification for taking property from others, will only merit sympathy from those of a liberal bent, and will not overwhelm the logic of natural law.
Best wishes
Ad hominem attacks do not a sensible argument make. No one said “shut up and suffer.” That is your straw man and reflects rather poorly on your honesty.The right to life is an absolutely central to catholic teaching. Jesus didn’t charge the leppers, cripple, etc for healing. In fact he went so far as to lay down his life for them. To say what is essentially “Shut Up and Suffer … Don’t Take My Property … Best Wishes” reflects rather poorly in light of our savior actions. I’m sorry to be so blunt, but… how else should I put it?
I have been told to make my peace with God and die for the good of the community, repeatedly in PM and IM outside the forums.Ad hominem attacks do not a sensible argument make. No one said “shut up and suffer.” That is your straw man and reflects rather poorly on your honesty.
True, Christ didn’t charge anyone to heal them, but neither did he forcibly take from one group and give to another.
You are right, it was poorly worded. Jesus however, gave of himself. He didn’t take things from his neighbors to help them.The right to life is an absolutely central to catholic teaching. Jesus didn’t charge the leppers, cripple, etc for healing. In fact he went so far as to lay down his life for them. To say what is essentially “Shut Up and Suffer … Don’t Take My Property … Best Wishes” reflects rather poorly in light of our savior actions. I’m sorry to be so blunt, but… how else should I put it?
First of all, I spend maybe 15-30minutes here a day. You presume too much to know about my personal life that this is the only thing I think about, all the time.You are right, it was poorly worded. Jesus however, gave of himself. He didn’t take things from his neighbors to help them.
My point to Pathia was that I wished she would spend more energy finding what is good about her life, have a more positive outlook, be as happy as she can in is condition, and finally that supporting Obamacare is very unlike to improve her lot one bit.
That is awful to hear and makes me sad, but there is no contradiction in being both compassionate and against socialized medicine.I have been told to make my peace with God and die for the good of the community, repeatedly in PM and IM outside the forums.
Nor did he demand the government do it for him. He did it of his own resources and abilities. Also he did not cure all of them, only ones who showed great faith in him and those whom he chose to use to demonstrate his divinity.The right to life is an absolutely central to catholic teaching. Jesus didn’t charge the leppers, cripple, etc for healing. In fact he went so far as to lay down his life for them. To say what is essentially “Shut Up and Suffer … Don’t Take My Property … Best Wishes” reflects rather poorly in light of our savior actions. I’m sorry to be so blunt, but… how else should I put it?
The other option is to do something of value to the community that equates to the resources required to fill your needs. We all have needs that go unmet because they exceed the resources we are able to generate. That is just a part of the hand we were dealt as a result of the fall of man.I have been told to make my peace with God and die for the good of the community, repeatedly in PM and IM outside the forums.
I would save the community money by killing myself, I can’t really think of anything of value I could contribute.The other option is to do something of value to the community that equates to the resources required to fill your needs. We all have needs that go unmet because they exceed the resources we are able to generate. That is just a part of the hand we were dealt as a result of the fall of man.
Assuming you do not get laid off.First of all, I spend maybe 15-30minutes here a day. You presume too much to know about my personal life that this is the only thing I think about, all the time.
Second of all, my current employer will be giving insurance to all employees not already getting it by the middle of 2012. A memo was sent out that this was directly due to the law passed. So, you’re wrong. It’s going to help me, even before 2014 it seems. Now I just have to keep healthy enough until the benefits kick in.
Not likely, I do more work than people that do with 10-15hours of overtime a week, but I do it in 30-35 hours. Efficiency wise, I’m one of the best employees they have.Assuming you do not get laid off.
When I was unemployed I took my resume to every temp job shop in town and told them I was willing to do what ever work they had. That attitude has paid off every time.I would save the community money by killing myself, I can’t really think of anything of value I could contribute.
Remember the Caterpillar strike of the early 90s? The employees got too greedy and demanded to much so the company finnaly gave in and gave them what they wanted.Then closed at least one of the plants and moved it over seas. Many of those employees won nothing more than a lay off notice regardless of their performance.Not likely, I do more work than people that do with 10-15hours of overtime a week, but I do it in 30-35 hours. Efficiency wise, I’m one of the best employees they have.
My family disowned me already, far too late for that.When I was unemployed I took my resume to every temp job shop in town and told them I was willing to do what ever work they had. That attitude has paid off every time.
I also have three dependents who can not get jobs but they all provide value to me. So I pay for all of their expenses. You may wish to consider being nice to the well off and then the may be willing to take you under their care.
My job cannot be outsourced. I picked it for a reason.Remember the Caterpillar strike of the early 90s? The employees got too greedy and demanded to much so the company finnaly gave in and gave them what they wanted.Then closed at least one of the plants and moved it over seas. Many of those employees won nothing more than a lay off notice regardless of their performance.