To understand Mary and the Saints, one need only find a pool of clear, still water. Glance into the water, what do you see? You likely see your own reflection. With Mary and the Saints it works very much the same.
Look once more into the stilled waters and partake of our Mother or perhaps one of the Saints. Do you see the difference? This time when you looked into the waters you saw not that particular person, but rather Christ Jesus our Lord. For you see, just as the waters first reflected our own image, so indeed do the lives of our Blessed Mother and the Saints reflect the person of Jesus Christ.
It is then for this end that we should strive - not for our own glory, but rather the glory of Jesus Christ so that when others look upon us, they see not us, but the Christ. For everyone who gains his life shall lose it, and everyone who loses his life for Christ's sake shall find it. Let us therefore deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him. How can we do these things? My friend, all this time and you did not notice the living waters we reflected therein? Verily, I say unto you the very God who makes pools of water in the wilderness indeed gives you the grace sufficient for thee. Now go forth and do whatever He tells you.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Bitter Snows
"I'm pregnant and it's a girl."
"Well, what did Joe say?"
"You know Joe - he never wanted a girl. Besides, having another baby right now would mean he would have to give up his golf trips."
"Then it's settled, you'll kill it."
"Yeah..."
"Oh come on, don't be such a downer! Here, let me get you some wine."
"Kathleen, I really shouldn't..."
"You're not keeping it so why let it ruin your fun? Come on, lighten up!"
I watched the glass slip through my fingers and shatter into a million fragments on the orange vinyl flooring. It all seemed so unreal. How could such an exchange happen, and at a baby shower no less? Kathleen and Michelle came out of the darkened hallway just off the kitchen where they were talking and came to see if I was okay.
"Sarah, honey! Are you okay? My you gave me such a fright!"
"Yes, Kathleen, I'm fine."
"Oh good, good! Well, I'm going to go freshen up my drink. Can I get you something?"
"No, thank you."
Michelle returned just then with a broom and a dustpan. She knelt down and began helping me pick up the shards of glass. I looked over at her and was immediately greeted by a worried and questioning expression on her face. I quickly looked away and tried desperately to put everything out of my mind. In any case, it was none of my business. She's family, how could I possibly confront her? I was so frustrated I didn't even notice the gash in my hand from gripping the shards of glass more tightly then I ought to have.
"Here Sarah, hold this rag to it."
"Thanks, Michelle."
"I know that you know it's the right thing to do, even if you don't agree with it right now."
"It's a baby! I remember how you used to be, Michelle. You've always wanted a daughter - a little princess of your own."
"Please, don't make this harder than it already is. I have two boys that mean the world to me! This is the right thing to do."
"You know as well as I do that if she was a baby boy, we'd be planning a baby shower right now instead of talking about ... this."
"Please Sarah, try to understand. It's what everybody else wants. It'll make everybody else happy. Why can't you just be happy too?"
"This is your choice, not anyone else's. It's your choice to make."
"No Sarah, it really isn't my choice to make."
The glass was all cleared up now, and I had bandaged my hand from the first aid kit underneath the sink. The guests began to depart, and Joe arrived shortly thereafter to pick-up Michelle. He quietly told her that he'd made an appointment on her behalf, and that they would swing by Mill Street on the way home to, "take care of business." She was a little taken aback by this, but quickly replied that it was very considerate of him to do so. He smiled and wrapped his arm around her. She turned to me and I could see that she was fighting to look like everything was okay.
"I guess this is goodbye then."
"Goodbye, Michelle."
When they had gone, it was all I could do to not scream and curse. It was so wrong - so immoral! And that man, that no good deadbeat of a man! I tried to calm myself and reminded myself to be charitable. My pulse was racing and I felt desperately ill at ease. Staring at the car keys hung on a hook by the door I could no longer stand to be in the same room with myself. I knew I had to do something, and so I grabbed the keys and sprang out the door. Maybe it wasn't too late to stop them - to stop her.
The brakes of the car screamed to a stop outside the local Planned Parenthood. I got out of the car and saw Michelle and Joe going up to the entrance.
"Michelle, stop! I'll do anything - you can stay with me and we'll do this together! You don't have to do this!"
"Now woman, you shut-up, turn your ass around and get back in that damn car. I'll be damned if I let you get in my way."
"Michelle, please! Please!"
"I'm so sorry Sarah, I'm so sorry."
Michelle started to cry as they stepped inside the building. I collapsed to my knees on the side walk; pulling at my hair in frustration. As it happened, gentle snowflakes started to flutter down around me. It was the first snow fall of the year, and had it been an other day I would have rejoiced and marvelled at the newly arrived winter scape. I got back to my feet and trudged back to the car. Some how, I managed to pull myself together enough that I could start making my way home again. However, when I turned the key in the ignition the radio also came to life, and just in time to hear the final verse of a song.
"Well, what did Joe say?"
"You know Joe - he never wanted a girl. Besides, having another baby right now would mean he would have to give up his golf trips."
"Then it's settled, you'll kill it."
"Yeah..."
"Oh come on, don't be such a downer! Here, let me get you some wine."
"Kathleen, I really shouldn't..."
"You're not keeping it so why let it ruin your fun? Come on, lighten up!"
I watched the glass slip through my fingers and shatter into a million fragments on the orange vinyl flooring. It all seemed so unreal. How could such an exchange happen, and at a baby shower no less? Kathleen and Michelle came out of the darkened hallway just off the kitchen where they were talking and came to see if I was okay.
"Sarah, honey! Are you okay? My you gave me such a fright!"
"Yes, Kathleen, I'm fine."
"Oh good, good! Well, I'm going to go freshen up my drink. Can I get you something?"
"No, thank you."
Michelle returned just then with a broom and a dustpan. She knelt down and began helping me pick up the shards of glass. I looked over at her and was immediately greeted by a worried and questioning expression on her face. I quickly looked away and tried desperately to put everything out of my mind. In any case, it was none of my business. She's family, how could I possibly confront her? I was so frustrated I didn't even notice the gash in my hand from gripping the shards of glass more tightly then I ought to have.
"Here Sarah, hold this rag to it."
"Thanks, Michelle."
"I know that you know it's the right thing to do, even if you don't agree with it right now."
"It's a baby! I remember how you used to be, Michelle. You've always wanted a daughter - a little princess of your own."
"Please, don't make this harder than it already is. I have two boys that mean the world to me! This is the right thing to do."
"You know as well as I do that if she was a baby boy, we'd be planning a baby shower right now instead of talking about ... this."
"Please Sarah, try to understand. It's what everybody else wants. It'll make everybody else happy. Why can't you just be happy too?"
"This is your choice, not anyone else's. It's your choice to make."
"No Sarah, it really isn't my choice to make."
The glass was all cleared up now, and I had bandaged my hand from the first aid kit underneath the sink. The guests began to depart, and Joe arrived shortly thereafter to pick-up Michelle. He quietly told her that he'd made an appointment on her behalf, and that they would swing by Mill Street on the way home to, "take care of business." She was a little taken aback by this, but quickly replied that it was very considerate of him to do so. He smiled and wrapped his arm around her. She turned to me and I could see that she was fighting to look like everything was okay.
"I guess this is goodbye then."
"Goodbye, Michelle."
When they had gone, it was all I could do to not scream and curse. It was so wrong - so immoral! And that man, that no good deadbeat of a man! I tried to calm myself and reminded myself to be charitable. My pulse was racing and I felt desperately ill at ease. Staring at the car keys hung on a hook by the door I could no longer stand to be in the same room with myself. I knew I had to do something, and so I grabbed the keys and sprang out the door. Maybe it wasn't too late to stop them - to stop her.
The brakes of the car screamed to a stop outside the local Planned Parenthood. I got out of the car and saw Michelle and Joe going up to the entrance.
"Michelle, stop! I'll do anything - you can stay with me and we'll do this together! You don't have to do this!"
"Now woman, you shut-up, turn your ass around and get back in that damn car. I'll be damned if I let you get in my way."
"Michelle, please! Please!"
"I'm so sorry Sarah, I'm so sorry."
Michelle started to cry as they stepped inside the building. I collapsed to my knees on the side walk; pulling at my hair in frustration. As it happened, gentle snowflakes started to flutter down around me. It was the first snow fall of the year, and had it been an other day I would have rejoiced and marvelled at the newly arrived winter scape. I got back to my feet and trudged back to the car. Some how, I managed to pull myself together enough that I could start making my way home again. However, when I turned the key in the ignition the radio also came to life, and just in time to hear the final verse of a song.
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun's love
In the spring becomes the rose.
At that point I just lost it. As the pure white snow continued to fall I cried, and I cried.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Libertarians Are Naturally Pro-Life
Before we begin I would like to clarify that this statement only applies to philosophical libertarians and not cause-libertarians. Cause-libertarians are those who hold a libertarian perspective on only certain issues, for example supporting the full legalization of marijuana, or perhaps only going to war when said nation is actually attacked by another nation as opposed to so called "pre-emptive wars" or "humanitarian wars." A philosophical libertarian is someone who tries to apply libertarianism into every possible issue.
Since libertarianism is ultimately about removing unnecessary force and enjoying freedom which is tethered to personal responsibility, a philosophical libertarian will inevitably come to the conclusion, at least in my opinion, that abortion is morally wrong. What is abortion? The murdering of an unborn child. Libertarians value life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness which although these have been enshrined in the US Constitution they are in fact natural rights. That is, rights which are self-evident. Libertarians do not subscribe to using unnecessary force against their fellow human beings. Wait, wait - there are occasions when the use of force is okay? Well, yeah Libertarians are neither pacifists nor door mats. An example of justified force would be if I attempted to murder you or do you harm, you then have the right to use force in the form of self-defence to protect yourself. Likewise, an example of unjustified use of force would be for a complete stranger to molest you under the pretence of preventing potential terrorist actions. Yes, the TSA is an enshrinement of illegitimate force.
So how does this apply to the issue of abortion? Well, first of all genuine libertarians tend to be very well read since they no longer rely on others to do their thinking for them so that they can fit in comfortably with whichever group they like being a member of. As such, a genuine libertarian when deciding on the issue of abortion will inevitably study biology, or to be more specific, embryology. At which point they will confront the fact that since an unborn child is a human being they therefore have full human rights which can never be revoked, by the way. Libertarians, since they are not collectivists, do not believe in "women's rights" or "LGBT rights" or "African-American rights" or "rights for the unborn." Rather, they believe in human rights. That is, you do not get rights because you are a certain age, or a certain gender, or you skin is a certain colour, but rather you have rights simply by the virtue of being a human being. Of course, since these rights are self-evident this means that they do not come from the state, and since they do not come from the state the state can never revoke them.
Before you bring up rape, incest, and occasions when the mother would quite literally die -which is quite the knee-jerk reaction you have there- please be aware that these situations together only occur in less than 2% of abortion cases. You should also be aware that incest, rape, and fatal events for the mother do not magically make that unborn child cease to be a human being and thus its rights must nonetheless be considered. First, rape and incest - if you want to kill someone so badly why not go after the rapist? Why do people have such blood-lust for the innocent child? You realise you lose your credibility to feign outrage when children die for the actions of adults in other situations such as war, right? What, do you seriously think that because you don't see or hear the child being torn up in the womb that some how makes it okay to murder them for the actions of the father? Rather, and scientific studies back this up, it is better for the mental health of the mother to carry the child to term, and definitely better for her in a more tangible physical sense. What about cases when she could quite literally die? As it stands in the Western world, there is already almost no occasion that this is a justifiable reason as our medical science has advanced to such an extent and continues to, so really this is a none issue. For those handful of cases this is the case, more often women are being emboldened to refuse treatment for the sake of the child, and you know what - more and more often they both survive. Science is awesome!
This by the way is because unlike the Democratic and Republican conventions in the US, the Ron Paul "We Are The Future" /rally had such a loud and genuine pro-life vibe. If you missed it, I have located a playlist of it on YouTube and encourage you to watch it, as it was very awesome even if one is not American.
Since libertarianism is ultimately about removing unnecessary force and enjoying freedom which is tethered to personal responsibility, a philosophical libertarian will inevitably come to the conclusion, at least in my opinion, that abortion is morally wrong. What is abortion? The murdering of an unborn child. Libertarians value life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness which although these have been enshrined in the US Constitution they are in fact natural rights. That is, rights which are self-evident. Libertarians do not subscribe to using unnecessary force against their fellow human beings. Wait, wait - there are occasions when the use of force is okay? Well, yeah Libertarians are neither pacifists nor door mats. An example of justified force would be if I attempted to murder you or do you harm, you then have the right to use force in the form of self-defence to protect yourself. Likewise, an example of unjustified use of force would be for a complete stranger to molest you under the pretence of preventing potential terrorist actions. Yes, the TSA is an enshrinement of illegitimate force.
So how does this apply to the issue of abortion? Well, first of all genuine libertarians tend to be very well read since they no longer rely on others to do their thinking for them so that they can fit in comfortably with whichever group they like being a member of. As such, a genuine libertarian when deciding on the issue of abortion will inevitably study biology, or to be more specific, embryology. At which point they will confront the fact that since an unborn child is a human being they therefore have full human rights which can never be revoked, by the way. Libertarians, since they are not collectivists, do not believe in "women's rights" or "LGBT rights" or "African-American rights" or "rights for the unborn." Rather, they believe in human rights. That is, you do not get rights because you are a certain age, or a certain gender, or you skin is a certain colour, but rather you have rights simply by the virtue of being a human being. Of course, since these rights are self-evident this means that they do not come from the state, and since they do not come from the state the state can never revoke them.
Before you bring up rape, incest, and occasions when the mother would quite literally die -which is quite the knee-jerk reaction you have there- please be aware that these situations together only occur in less than 2% of abortion cases. You should also be aware that incest, rape, and fatal events for the mother do not magically make that unborn child cease to be a human being and thus its rights must nonetheless be considered. First, rape and incest - if you want to kill someone so badly why not go after the rapist? Why do people have such blood-lust for the innocent child? You realise you lose your credibility to feign outrage when children die for the actions of adults in other situations such as war, right? What, do you seriously think that because you don't see or hear the child being torn up in the womb that some how makes it okay to murder them for the actions of the father? Rather, and scientific studies back this up, it is better for the mental health of the mother to carry the child to term, and definitely better for her in a more tangible physical sense. What about cases when she could quite literally die? As it stands in the Western world, there is already almost no occasion that this is a justifiable reason as our medical science has advanced to such an extent and continues to, so really this is a none issue. For those handful of cases this is the case, more often women are being emboldened to refuse treatment for the sake of the child, and you know what - more and more often they both survive. Science is awesome!
This by the way is because unlike the Democratic and Republican conventions in the US, the Ron Paul "We Are The Future" /rally had such a loud and genuine pro-life vibe. If you missed it, I have located a playlist of it on YouTube and encourage you to watch it, as it was very awesome even if one is not American.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
What Is The Mark Of The Beast?
The most popular belief about the meaning of the mark is that it is perhaps a barcode or microchip. This was made most popular by "Left Behind" author Tim LaHaye. If you were to only look at those verses which are specific to the mark you would be hard pressed to disagree as the conclusion makes perfect sense given the description provided.
"And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand, or on their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six." (Revelation 13: 16-18)
The fate of those who have the mark can be found in Revelation 14:9-11.
However, my motive is not to critique these very popular beliefs, but simply to offer an alternative. Of course, since this is my own private revelation it has no real authority and should not be taken as such.
"Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole strength. And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart: And thou shalt tell them to thy children, and thou shalt meditate upon them sitting in thy house, and walking on thy journey, sleeping and rising. And thou shalt bind them as a sign on thy hand, and they shall be and shall move between thy eyes." (Deuteronomy 6:4-8) [Emphasis mine]
We often forget that during the time of Jesus Christ, as with the New Testament writers, that the Jews had memorised the Torah - that is, the Old Testament. So for example, when the Gospel of John opens with, "In the beginning, " the Jews would have immediately recalled the opening of the book of Genesis. So it is that when John had written of the mark of the Beast, the Jews would have immediately recalled those specific instructions of Moses and thus understood what was meant.
If then the mark of God is of those who keep His commandments and follow Him, what is the the mark of the Beast? I propose that the mark of the Beast is of those who do not keep the commandments of God and do not follow Him. What about not being able to buy or sell? There are many examples of this now and down through the ages when Christians have been persecuted. They have been subject to personal sanctions which means that one could have their livelihood, their rights, et cetera withheld until they were willing to deny Jesus Christ.
One knows very well if they have read the New Testament in full that faith in Jesus Christ is no light-hearted, everything is good, happy-happy adventure. Rather one has to look forward to persecutions, to hatred, to sufferings, and for some - martyrdom. There is no "Heaven is Now" for as St. Paul wrote in Romans 8:24-25 saying, "For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen, is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth he hope for? But if we hope for that which we see not, we wait for it with patience." Does not Jesus Christ command us to deny ourselves and follow him? Ponder upon His life, for He is our example of what comes next for us and lo, the great tribulation comes and then the end. As St. Paul put it:
"Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize? So run that you may obtain. And every one that striveth for the mastery, refraineth himself from all things: and they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible one. I therefore so run, not as at an uncertainty: I so fight, not as one beating the air: But I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection: lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
What is the number of the Beast - 666, what does it mean? I do not know about you, but since I am not wise I do not know. However, if I were to hazard a guess I would say its meaning can be found in John 6:66 which says, "After this many of his disciples went back; and walked no more with him."
I find it interesting that the cause of this great apostasy is due to a rejection of the Eucharist. Yes, the same God who created all things, who turned water to wine, and caused water to spring from a rock in the desert - yes this same God could not possibly give us His blood to drink under the appearance of wine and His flesh to gnaw on under the appearance of bread. "Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, 'This is a hard saying, who can hear it?'" (John 6:60)
"And from the time when the continual sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination unto desolation shall be set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred ninety days." (Daniel 12:11)
"When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth let him understand." (Matthew 24:15)
I found it very interesting to discover that St. Peter's Basilica in Rome -or more specifically, the Vatican- offers Mass daily. Some great Catholics did believe that the Anti-Christ will sit in the throne of Rome which makes sense as this is where the believers of Christ look to and it is the children of God the evil one has declared war on. Other great Catholics, however, believed that the evil one will sit in the throne in Jerusalem proper. For these, there are two Catholic Churches which offer daily Mass on the Mount of Olives (upon which Jesus ascended and will return), and the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre offers daily Mass as well (where Jesus was crucified and we know the Anti-Christ will try to pull himself off as the Christ). The Dome of the Rock was a Catholic Church at one point during the Crusades. Perhaps some day it might become a Catholic Church again, but that is very unlikely. Sorry dispensationalists.
"And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand, or on their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six." (Revelation 13: 16-18)
The fate of those who have the mark can be found in Revelation 14:9-11.
However, my motive is not to critique these very popular beliefs, but simply to offer an alternative. Of course, since this is my own private revelation it has no real authority and should not be taken as such.
"Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole strength. And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart: And thou shalt tell them to thy children, and thou shalt meditate upon them sitting in thy house, and walking on thy journey, sleeping and rising. And thou shalt bind them as a sign on thy hand, and they shall be and shall move between thy eyes." (Deuteronomy 6:4-8) [Emphasis mine]
We often forget that during the time of Jesus Christ, as with the New Testament writers, that the Jews had memorised the Torah - that is, the Old Testament. So for example, when the Gospel of John opens with, "In the beginning, " the Jews would have immediately recalled the opening of the book of Genesis. So it is that when John had written of the mark of the Beast, the Jews would have immediately recalled those specific instructions of Moses and thus understood what was meant.
If then the mark of God is of those who keep His commandments and follow Him, what is the the mark of the Beast? I propose that the mark of the Beast is of those who do not keep the commandments of God and do not follow Him. What about not being able to buy or sell? There are many examples of this now and down through the ages when Christians have been persecuted. They have been subject to personal sanctions which means that one could have their livelihood, their rights, et cetera withheld until they were willing to deny Jesus Christ.
One knows very well if they have read the New Testament in full that faith in Jesus Christ is no light-hearted, everything is good, happy-happy adventure. Rather one has to look forward to persecutions, to hatred, to sufferings, and for some - martyrdom. There is no "Heaven is Now" for as St. Paul wrote in Romans 8:24-25 saying, "For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen, is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth he hope for? But if we hope for that which we see not, we wait for it with patience." Does not Jesus Christ command us to deny ourselves and follow him? Ponder upon His life, for He is our example of what comes next for us and lo, the great tribulation comes and then the end. As St. Paul put it:
"Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize? So run that you may obtain. And every one that striveth for the mastery, refraineth himself from all things: and they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible one. I therefore so run, not as at an uncertainty: I so fight, not as one beating the air: But I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection: lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
What is the number of the Beast - 666, what does it mean? I do not know about you, but since I am not wise I do not know. However, if I were to hazard a guess I would say its meaning can be found in John 6:66 which says, "After this many of his disciples went back; and walked no more with him."
I find it interesting that the cause of this great apostasy is due to a rejection of the Eucharist. Yes, the same God who created all things, who turned water to wine, and caused water to spring from a rock in the desert - yes this same God could not possibly give us His blood to drink under the appearance of wine and His flesh to gnaw on under the appearance of bread. "Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, 'This is a hard saying, who can hear it?'" (John 6:60)
"And from the time when the continual sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination unto desolation shall be set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred ninety days." (Daniel 12:11)
"When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth let him understand." (Matthew 24:15)
I found it very interesting to discover that St. Peter's Basilica in Rome -or more specifically, the Vatican- offers Mass daily. Some great Catholics did believe that the Anti-Christ will sit in the throne of Rome which makes sense as this is where the believers of Christ look to and it is the children of God the evil one has declared war on. Other great Catholics, however, believed that the evil one will sit in the throne in Jerusalem proper. For these, there are two Catholic Churches which offer daily Mass on the Mount of Olives (upon which Jesus ascended and will return), and the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre offers daily Mass as well (where Jesus was crucified and we know the Anti-Christ will try to pull himself off as the Christ). The Dome of the Rock was a Catholic Church at one point during the Crusades. Perhaps some day it might become a Catholic Church again, but that is very unlikely. Sorry dispensationalists.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
First Presidential Debate in Colorado on October 3, 2012
The following includes a brief summary of the debate, and my take on what was said. A video of the full debate can be located here for full transparency. You may also find Presidential Candidate Gary Johnson's follow along and answers to the debate here. DemocracyNow! did a special rebroadcast of the debate where they paused between questions to allow Green Party Presidential Candidate Jill Stein and Justice Party Presidential Candidate Rocky Anderson time to respond as if they were actually present which can be viewed here. Also of note the Free & Equal Elections Foundation announced their hosting of the 2012 Presidential Debate. Presidential Candidates Gary Johnson (Libertarian), Virgil Goode (Constitution), Jill Stein (Green), and Rocky Anderson (Justice) have all confirmed participation. Details here.
Opening Statements, Economy:
So far, Obama is the most real candidate, as you can clearly see him struggling without being aided by the Teleprompter. He had the initial advantage by mentioning his anniversary, but Mitt Romney stole the advantage with a good joke. Mitt Romney has a greater grasp of how the economy works, than Obama, but Romney only understands the economy on the surface and in the short term. Obama hasn't got a clue, and misunderstands for example what caused the housing bubble to pop. That said, Romney also does not understand what caused the housing bubble to pop.
Economy: Resolve the Debt, Taxes:
Neither candidate understands how to resolve the debt. Romney does get points for schooling the debate host, but stating he will cut funding to Big Bird might hurt him. Obama gets points for mentioning the tax breaks to Big Oil, but is he willing to cut tax breaks for other multi-billion dollar corporations such as the banks or Planned Parenthood.
Economy: Entitlements:
Both candidates desire the same ends, just by different means. Regardless of who gets in, both social security and Medicare are set to collapse within the next decade or so. Neither candidate has a proposal to prevent this from happening, nor to assist people when it does. Both candidates, being funded by Big Insurance, obviously cannot imagine an alternative to insurance like for example, people saving their own money and possibly transferring portions of it into physical gold or silver which they would also keep personally.
Economy: Regulation:
Both candidates support regulation instead of a free economy. Mitt Romney tries to blame Obama for the bank bailouts, when Romney himself agrees with such a move since both candidates are backed by the Big Bankers who wrote their own regulations by the way, to prevent small business start ups of loaning or banks, which Romney clearly stated he was not in favour of such small business start ups, as this would threaten the monopoly over financial services that the Big Banks have.
Obamacare:
Mitt Romney points out that yes, small businesses are less likely to hire due to the cost on them from Obamacare. Obama also correctly points out concerns of families who are concerned about going into bankruptcy because they do not qualify for coverage and because healthcare is so expensive. Neither understands that the reason healthcare is so expensive is precisely because of government intervention in past decades. Neither will admit, since both are funded by Big Insurance, that the reason insurance is so difficult to get in the first is because Big Insurance wrote their own regulations which effectively give them a monopoly over providing insurance since small business start -ups, which through competition would lower the cost and make insurance easier to get, because small business start-ups cannot afford the fees that Big Insurance has set up through the regulations. Are you starting to notice a trend?
The Role of Government:
Obama says that the role of government is to keep people safe, as well as, at the federal level, to fund national projects and direct the states in how they are to conduct their business. Romney the role of government is to protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. States that federal government is to provide the way life is protected, as well that it is responsible for providing for the means to pursue happiness. Here is what the Constitution has to say on the topic: http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html. Also of interest would be "The Law" by Frederic Bastiat.
The Federal Government's Role in Education:
Mitt Romney would set up an allowance per student. Obama would continue the Race to the Top program. Obama would continue to allow the Big Banks to profit from students trying to get Post-Secondary education, which is why the cost is so high in the first place. Romney declares he also will support the Big Banks taking advantage of post-secondary bound students. Here is what Peter Schiff has to say.
Partisan Gridlock:
Romney talks about how being a big government, big spending "conservative" was an advantage to him while he was governor of MA. States going along to get along is what he'll do if elected. Obama states that the solution is for people to go along and get along with him. Note: The Iraq War has not ended, nor will the Afghanistan War end under Obama or Romney.
Closing Statements:
Obama states that people who believe as he does are satisfied with the current state of America. Romney claims that he is not the same as Obama, and attempts to illustrate this point. States he'll put in his own versions of everything Obama has done. He will continue Obama's warmongering policies.
Opening Statements, Economy:
So far, Obama is the most real candidate, as you can clearly see him struggling without being aided by the Teleprompter. He had the initial advantage by mentioning his anniversary, but Mitt Romney stole the advantage with a good joke. Mitt Romney has a greater grasp of how the economy works, than Obama, but Romney only understands the economy on the surface and in the short term. Obama hasn't got a clue, and misunderstands for example what caused the housing bubble to pop. That said, Romney also does not understand what caused the housing bubble to pop.
Economy: Resolve the Debt, Taxes:
Neither candidate understands how to resolve the debt. Romney does get points for schooling the debate host, but stating he will cut funding to Big Bird might hurt him. Obama gets points for mentioning the tax breaks to Big Oil, but is he willing to cut tax breaks for other multi-billion dollar corporations such as the banks or Planned Parenthood.
Economy: Entitlements:
Both candidates desire the same ends, just by different means. Regardless of who gets in, both social security and Medicare are set to collapse within the next decade or so. Neither candidate has a proposal to prevent this from happening, nor to assist people when it does. Both candidates, being funded by Big Insurance, obviously cannot imagine an alternative to insurance like for example, people saving their own money and possibly transferring portions of it into physical gold or silver which they would also keep personally.
Economy: Regulation:
Both candidates support regulation instead of a free economy. Mitt Romney tries to blame Obama for the bank bailouts, when Romney himself agrees with such a move since both candidates are backed by the Big Bankers who wrote their own regulations by the way, to prevent small business start ups of loaning or banks, which Romney clearly stated he was not in favour of such small business start ups, as this would threaten the monopoly over financial services that the Big Banks have.
Obamacare:
Mitt Romney points out that yes, small businesses are less likely to hire due to the cost on them from Obamacare. Obama also correctly points out concerns of families who are concerned about going into bankruptcy because they do not qualify for coverage and because healthcare is so expensive. Neither understands that the reason healthcare is so expensive is precisely because of government intervention in past decades. Neither will admit, since both are funded by Big Insurance, that the reason insurance is so difficult to get in the first is because Big Insurance wrote their own regulations which effectively give them a monopoly over providing insurance since small business start -ups, which through competition would lower the cost and make insurance easier to get, because small business start-ups cannot afford the fees that Big Insurance has set up through the regulations. Are you starting to notice a trend?
The Role of Government:
Obama says that the role of government is to keep people safe, as well as, at the federal level, to fund national projects and direct the states in how they are to conduct their business. Romney the role of government is to protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. States that federal government is to provide the way life is protected, as well that it is responsible for providing for the means to pursue happiness. Here is what the Constitution has to say on the topic: http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html. Also of interest would be "The Law" by Frederic Bastiat.
The Federal Government's Role in Education:
Mitt Romney would set up an allowance per student. Obama would continue the Race to the Top program. Obama would continue to allow the Big Banks to profit from students trying to get Post-Secondary education, which is why the cost is so high in the first place. Romney declares he also will support the Big Banks taking advantage of post-secondary bound students. Here is what Peter Schiff has to say.
Partisan Gridlock:
Romney talks about how being a big government, big spending "conservative" was an advantage to him while he was governor of MA. States going along to get along is what he'll do if elected. Obama states that the solution is for people to go along and get along with him. Note: The Iraq War has not ended, nor will the Afghanistan War end under Obama or Romney.
Closing Statements:
Obama states that people who believe as he does are satisfied with the current state of America. Romney claims that he is not the same as Obama, and attempts to illustrate this point. States he'll put in his own versions of everything Obama has done. He will continue Obama's warmongering policies.
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