True Jim, I surely don't have any probs with folks who just happen to be Christians (or whatever religion) I myself study many forms of mysticism as one of my hobbies, what I take issue with is the folks in government who wanna run our lives according to their personal religious ideals. Religion is personal and has no place in governmental edicts yet the neo-conservatives insist it is their form of religious governance which was given to them by God and attempt to rule in this manner by passing certain laws which all must follow, not just those in their religion. America has never had rule by Hobbesian "Divine Right", nor do I anticipate such a turn of events.
Outsiders, America is not a "Christian country" - this is myth propagated by the religious right. Many of the founding fathers were Freemasons who are in turn, students of worldwide mysticism (hence the Illuminated Eye in the Pyramid on the money). "Nature's God" which is mentioned in some early American documents is not the same as the Judeo-Christian god, it's a Masonic term. Have you not read the Treaty with Tripoli signed by John Adams? If Not here is a link to it from Wikipedia:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fe/TreatyofTripoli.gif Scroll to Article 11. the excerpt is as follows:
"Art. 11. As the Government of The United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Chrstian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan Nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
The treaty was signed by all members of the senate with no dissenting voices to any article.
I made a point of mentioning both the Poor and Blacks... you don't have to be black to be poor. If you are poor, don't have a job and you need help why not ask for it? The worst they can say is no or cut you off if you are one of those dirt bags who abuses it. Nobody of good conscience LIKES being on welfare, I certainly wasn't pleased about being on unemployment back in 2001 but I'm sure glad I was able to get it when I got laid off from one job until I found the job I've had now for 6+ years. If I hadn't had that check every 2 weeks I wouldn't have been able to pay on my car til I got the new job. Hence, I wouldn't be driving to a job today. How'd you like to be paying my way, knowing what a "commie fag junkie" I am? lol
Anyway, ACORN helps people get on welfare and social security as well assists with other inner city community projects and I philosophically support them and their work as I've said, I see nothing wrong with helping people when they need it. This fiasco with the voter registrations is certainly regrettable and I'm sure with handwriting analysis the FBI and state dept will be able to locate the individuals in the organization who did this. If indeed it was done by ACORN and not some "freelancer" pretending to be working for ACORN. like a Republican looking to thwart new voter regs. It wouldn't surprise me at all as they say, the fewer people who vote always works out well for the Republicans. If they could get anything with ACORN written on it tossed out, in all those "battle ground" states wouldn't that be nice? As George WIll said "It shouldn't matter the
quantity of votes a candidate gets but the
quality of the votes they get." Maybe we could flash our W2s at the polling stations, and if we don't make enough we don't get to vote!
The US spends far more on weaponry and getting its tendrils into every country than would cost to give everyone healthcare. I would much rather my tax $ goes to welfare, fixing bridges and roads, levees, etc. than bombs and domestic & international espionage. As far as you helping Katrina victims - good for you - that's very admirable. A woman I work with hosted a family up here. Though I don't see a difference between one kind of help and another. When someone needs help they don't care how they get it or where it comes from, so long as it comes.
BTW please tattoo this on your brain I'm no liberal - I'm a libertine. "No Gods, No Masters!"