If Only Coolidge Ran Again...

The collection of any taxes which are not absolutely required, which do not beyond reasonable doubt contribute to the public welfare, is only a species of legalized larceny. Under this republic the rewards of industry belong to those who earn them. The only constitutional tax is the tax which ministers to public necessity. (Inaugural Address 1925).

Emphasis on the "beyond reasonable doubt." There are many public policies that use tax money and do not "beyond reasonable doubt contribute to the public welfare."

UPDATE One more:

Wealth is the product of industry, ambition, character and untiring effort. In all experience, the accumulation of wealth means the multiplication of schools, the increase of knowledge, the dissemination of intelligence, the encouragement of science, the broadening of outlook, the expansion of liberties, the widening of culture. Of course, the accumulation of wealth can not be justified as the chief end of existence (American Society of Newspaper Editors 1925).

This Will Entertain You For At Least 2 Mins

Enjoy

I promise it's not a virus.

Click on the colorful things and move your mouse around.

Politics. (Just to keep on theme).

What Would Jesus Do?

It's been a long time since I've written something here, on this blog. Not that my mind has been absent thoughts on politics, economics, theology, ethics, etc. That stuff is usually scrambled around my brain amidst my time playing Left 4 Dead 2 with my brothers, movies, reading some cool books, and making lattes. I just haven't had any "new" thoughts I regarded worthy of submitting for your review. Until recently.

At this discussion I went to a couple of nights ago where a group of guys talk about politics, theology, stuff, an attendant in the meeting had a unique twist on the story of the Widow's Mite. We were talking about why some churches are inclined toward a more liberal, "Social Justice" bend on the basis of Jesus's own "social activism." The man at this meeting, a lawyer, said that if Christianity and/or Jesus is inclined toward voting Democrat or Liberal, than how things turned out in the story of the Widow's Mite would have turned out differently. If Jesus wants us to regard larger government as the answer, especially taxing those with more resources, than instead of extolling the widow for giving all she had, even though it was very little, he should have run up to her and said, "No, no, no! You don't have enough to do that. Here, these rich men ahead of you will pay your temple donation and this centurion over here will see to it that it's done."

Now of course there are many levels and themes to the story as told in scripture, but I thought this man's hypothetical take an interesting one.