We write about what we know. So I wouldn't say comments about inflation and printing money are out of line at all. As for being poor, I've been blessed with "neither wealth nor poverty" but live in an old building in a rich, liberal suburb. I don't see any greater concern among my neighbors for the poor and those who are different than anywhere else I've lived. Probably less, because of so little experience. [I've been scolded for hanging my laundry on a line]..........
Our church has a family from Zimbabwe, and the money printing was not done with good intentions. It is done by the last of the old-time African tyrants who will do anything to stay in power a few more months, no matter how destructive of life or property. I believe we can unite in praying for Mugabe's victims, whatever our politics. Blessings,

Carl:
I apologize if I took the comments off track. But I thought DITE's inconsistency deserved to be challenged.

And regarding the situation in Zimbabwe, I lost a point for my comment comparing Zimbabwean hyperinflation to Germany's after World War I. Go figure.

D

Yes, it's interesting how quickly the comments veered off onto American society and politics, isn't it.
And is it a blessing to live in the US? It is certainly easier in many ways - but has God chosen to bless Americans and not Zimbabweans?
But now I'm doing it, too...getting back to Zimbabwe - it is impossible to imagine how people survive, and how the people who have brought about this situation can continue to hold power.
(And it is specious to compare this situation with current economic initiatives in the US.)

Nontando, thank your for posting this.

It would be great if someone offered comments that actually addressed the situation in Zimbabwe.

I agree that God grants us the freedom. I also believe that we can
have too much freedom, especially when people demand rights without
the accompanying responsibilities. Talk is cheap; freedom never comes
without a cost.



Quoting Disqus <>:

Just a minor correction: God grants us the freedoms, the State chooses to honor/respect that, and some actually choose to protect it.

Yes, a free nation can become debauched, but I don't think that's any different from a socialist nation, either.

Yeah, I was poor for a little while the last couple years I was in school. So, I know what it's like to buy Ramen with the change in your car. I got the scar on my arm from donating plasma twice a week. I've slept in my car because I owed my roommate rent money, and I was too embarrassed to face him. I've spent a number of early mornings standing in line at Labor Ready. So, I got a little being-poor-street-cred. But these experiences are irrelevant to my point.

And this happens way too much in politics. We vote for bad ideas because a politician tells a story of old lady so-and-so that doesn't have enough money to feed her cats, or whatever. And anytime conservatives point out why redistribution policy X is a bad idea, it's because conservatives "distain" old lady so-and-so and her cats.

The leaders in Zimbabwe also had good intentions when they printed money. They wanted to use that money to pay back debts and then help the poor with wonderful government programs (and apparently there was no one who had taken a macro economics class there to stop them). But despite their good intentions, Zimbabwe's economy is especially terrible, and the "least of these" are worse off.

"I don't pat myself on the back because I give money away."

Glad to know that. And, thanks to the freedoms this nation affords us, you are able to. Just think if we didn't have a government to provide you those freedoms. It's called anarchy, and that's where the strong eventually beat up the weak. The government steps in -- for better or worse -- because churches have become more interested in mammon than serving and loving others.

I also remember a friend telling after visiting E. Germany in the late 1980s and having a Christian woman telling him that Christians there pray for the West because too much freedom and wealth would eventually lead to our downfall. Ahem.

BTW: I have visited your blog and will revisit it soon.

Thanks for voicing your opinion. Too bad this conversation is only in comments, because you don't get to know me, nor do I get to know you. We'd probably have a more useful discussion.

Please point out my disdain for "the least of these." Also, perhaps sarcasm is the only way to point out irony, because apparently those who disagree with me don't seem to understand the horrible consequences of their good intentions. I'm tired of the disdain of freedom on this blog and those commenting, but I don't tell people to keep quiet about it.

As for being poor, I've not personally been poor, but I have been in the company of those in developing countries who are, have had conversations with them, and have done things to help them. I send money (voluntarily, I might add) to organizations who I believe are improving the lives of many poor in other nations, and I've served here domestically as well.

But I don't talk about it like I'm some saint, nor do I pretend that I'm better than those who aren't "capitalists"; I simply do it because Jesus changed me, and gave me resources to steward and to use wisely, and this is one way to do so. I don't pat myself on the back because I give money away. But since you asked, I replied.

xfree and DITE,
Could I ask you a question: Do you really know what it means to be poor? I mean, really poor. If you can honestly answer yes, okay. If not, please stop your sarcasm and disdain for what Jesus considers "the least of these." Your verbiage is getting old, and I see little that you add to a serious discussion about others' plights.

Must be bizarre , you agree to work at a rate , then by the end of the week
that rate is worth so much less then the beginning of the week . Good point
, barter is most likely more reliable then their money .

Yes blessed it be in the USA . Was not making our economic situation appear
unimportant , but in comparison to these folks , even our non working poor
have it better then their average citizen .

What is a "realistic" price? I would think the price charged would either be considered "acceptable" or not. Duct tape might be $3 a roll under typical conditions; $10 after a hurricane destroys all the other hardware stores is one example...the other is if the currency is becoming so quickly meaningless, you literally could not spend money fast enough.

With currency like that, barter becomes an awkward but serious option.

What do you mean by "count our blessings"? The inflation isn't as bad here, but it doesn't mean our money system is not inflating or becoming diluted and devalued. And yes, we should consider ourselves blessed for being in the USA... I agree w/ that.

I'm glad to learn that you would act in concordance with your beliefs. Consistency is a virtue.

Of course it's a good idea! You'll be a trillionaire, dude! How shortsighted can you be?! This would be the best and proven way to make everybody rich. It would definitely be the quickest and surest way to close the income gap between rich and poor. Just print the poor a bunch of money. It'll help them buy a house they can afford, then they can buy stuff to fill it, cars to drive to school they can now afford, and then to the jobs they'll get becuase of the education they paid for on all that newly printed money.

How could that be a bad idea?

Glad somebody said it. But it's been happening since the Fed started.

Of course I would take the job. If the government decided to print off 1 trillion dollars and give the money to me...I would also take it.

Doesn't make it a good idea.

I wonder if they have a lottery over there ?

How do you even know the price you are paying is realistic ?
Just another reason to count our blessings here in the USA.

I wonder whether DITE, if he were laid off and desperate to find work, would refuse to take a so-called "make work" job offered by the government as a matter of principle.