Tom,

Mind if I toss a few ideas in here?

You mentioned about the tradition of the Catholics with hospitals, etc. Actually, I'd like to suggest another point of view on that. Historically it has been Christians (of whatever denomination) that have created Hospitals, Universities, schools, orphanages and countless other humanitarian efforts.

All major universities in the United States with the exception of the one Jefferson started were started as an extension of a group of believers. Princeton, Yale, Harvard, etc.. Every one of them..

No other group has done as much. Period.

Now... Having said that I would also like to suggest a change to one thing you mentioned. Yes, folks must help themselves, but this has never historically been viewd as continaing the notion "at the expense of others", which is the insinuation made these days.

The notion of self-reliance stems philosohpically from the notion of personal responsibility. One must accept personal responsibility for one's actions. Today's culture of the victim flies in the face of that notion and there are folks like Jesse Jackson who make a handsome living off of promoting to specific groups that they are victims.

Now, the notion of personal responsibility flows directly from the notion that a) there is a God, b) He is personal (that is he is self aware), c) He is interested in man, and d) man is responsible to Him. It is actually those who do not wish to acknowledge this issue that tend to want to remove God from public life.

No God = no responsibility = you're a victim = I can enable you = I need to be in power = vote for me = I know better than you = I will do anything to gain and maintain power. If there is no God then the state becomes 'all powerful' ie. God. Those who control power are in essence in the place of God (in their minds only <g>).

Those who do believe in God tend (not always mind you - tend) to understand that government is not the final point of authority and responsibility and so view government service as a duty, not a calling. <g> It's also why those who do view government as the end of all power tend to be better at gaining and maintaining it - to them it is their faith...

Understand that I am NOT asserting that the Republicans are God's choice in any given issue. Neither are the Democrats either. I have just observed that in very general terms the Republican Party seems to be more willing to accomodate those of religious faith.

Add to the the split between the country club Republicans and the fundamentalists plus the notion that many fundamentalists are trying to get government to do God's work (bad isea IMO <g>) and you can pretty much see the landscape clearly.

Anyway, just another take..

>Interesting post Jay.
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>As I tell my friends there is a basic difference between the democratic and republican parties. The democrats throw the dogs (us) a bone and the republicans take it away.
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>My concept of the Republican party seems to somehow relate the basic concepts of the American Protestant faith of the 18th century to the Republican Platform of today. The individual must help themselves. We can extend the concept to say that the community must help itself. Question: Who is the community? Perhaps the group or individual in need is looked down upon by society. Leave government out but should this exclusion be for Federal, State or Local government?
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>I recall Ronald Reegan making a statement: "Taxes should hurt"! That statement was made the year he paid no taxes. Also, I recall Howard Hughes, who was worth about $7 1/2 billion at the time, paid $630 in taxes one year. I am sure his lawyers got a higher salary than that.
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>A good friend of mine sent me an e-mail that I found humorous. He said: “I am going to enjoy the Republican Retirement Plan (take my pick up truck into the desert and never be seen again) and enjoy my Republican Retirement Medical Plan (do not get sick).
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>I must say I believe in assisting others that cannot assist themselves. As an Irish Catholic I look at American History and see my value system is very close to my ancestors. When the Irish Catholics came here in large numbers they established schools for the children and Hospitals and Medical care for all. The period after 1845 saw the first medical care in the United States for those unable to pay. Catholic Hospitals in this country today still do not charge those unable to pay. However, corporate America is purchasing Catholic Hospitals (among others) and free care is no longer available from these establishments. Many communities and religious groups have over the years established medical care for the poor and have done an excellent job.
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>I believe in helping others to help themselves. Helping big business has its value (for investors, etc.) but I would rather see business help the community. We have many older workers here in Silicon Valley who with some retraining could be productive. When unemployment was over 10% and 60,000 electronics engineers were out of work in my area (1990-1993) nothing was done until President Clinton took office. Alliances with government and business provided training for the workers who were without work and no opportunities for employment. This was a very beneficial program (NOVA and ProMatch were two of the programs). I was one of those electronics engineers who benefited from these programs. What I see now is industry would rather hire an H1B and not make any investment in the community.
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>During the 1980’s Boeing in Seattle, Washington had a large layoff (about 20,000 as I recall). The community was unable to assist the workers as Boeing and no governmental action was taken at any level for this problem. Japan was sending over large shipments of food and other necessities to assist the laid off workers. Too bad we could not help our own neighbors.
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>Neither of our two major political parties is perfect and as we know their ideologies are very different. The last 8 years have seen more time spent attacking the President and little real progress to assist the Nation and our people. We all have a point of view and personal interests. I for one do not believe in “every dog for himself” and do everything I can to assist others, as do the other members of my family.
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>When our daughter was 13 (she is 20 now) she said if she won the California Lotto, she would use all the money she won to train adults who need help to get new jobs. She still feels the same way and that makes me happy.
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>Well, sorry guys it is impossible to put down all your thoughts and have anything of much value come out of it. I just hope we all enjoy good health which is something you cannot pay for, enjoy prosperity and do our best to assist others.
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>Tom