Al Franken's SUPPLY-SIDE JESUS -- an animated comic strip

I fear that some readers of this blog will see this viddie as an act of blaspheme. But, if you view the whole of it, I think it saves itself at the end, and that the message -- that there is something awry with the combination of conservative economics and conservative theology -- is valid.

I am IN NO WAY meaning to impugn the Union Gospel Mission and its good work by posting the video. The mission DOES NOT turn its back on people in need; it very much helps people.

But it seems to me that many conservative Christians who are also conservative politically are at cross (no pun intended) purposes. This would include several of the groups that come to the mission to preach. [During the worship portion of one group's services, on the evening after Ann Romney (I think it was) talked about "the country needing to be lifted up" during the Republican Convention, the worship leader spoke similarly and then led the congregation in singing "God Bless American." Conservative politics wends its way into several services each month at UGM. But, more so, I am sure, liberal politics is a subject, albeit indirect, when Dean Baker speaks at Trinity Episcopal. Odd how God can become a political 'pull toy.']

A fully libertarian view of how society should operate is not consistent with Jesus' mostly-liberal message of compassion.

Human beings are BOTH individuals who need freedom to act as authors of their own lives AND pack animals who can mature and thrive only when in the company of others and when identifying with others such to be able to feel the burden of others' troubles.

The twisted politics of Loaves & Fishes and associated charities sees humans as being exclusively pack animals -- thus their politics, linked to the League of Revolutionaries for a New America.

Ayn Randists, like recent VP candidate Paul Ryan, are attracted to the idea (which is also the title of one of Rand's books) of "The Virtue of Selfishness." This every-man/woman-for-him/herself-ideal may sound particularly good to someone with a lot of drive and skills, but it leads to a lonely life [Who likes selfish, full-of-themselves people?] and the ruination of society.

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Loaves & Fishes implicates Buddhism and Jack Kornfield in its June Donations Plea.

The Sukhothai Traimit Golden Buddha was found in a clay-and-plaster overlaid buddha statue in 1959, after laying in wait for 500 years. It's huge and heavy: just under 10 feet tall and weighs 5 1/2 tons. At the beginning of their June newsletter , Loaves and Fishes relates a story, taken from the beginning of renowned Buddhist teacher Jack Kornfield's 2008 book The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology . The first part and first chapter in Kornfield's book is "Part I: Who are you really?" and chapter 1 is called "Nobility: Our Original Goodness," which ought to serve as a clue to what the beginning of the book is about, not that that sentiment isn't strewn through-out the chapter, section and book such that what Kornfield is telling us should be crystal clear. Somehow, the not-ready-for-primetime management at Loaves & Fishes have managed to use Kornfield's wise and kindly words in a way that mangles th...

In an act of Collective Punishment, Loaves & Fishes closes its park in the morning on New Year’s Day

Calvin [a "green hat" in Unfriendly Park] makes the argument for continued incompetent management. Hobbes represents me — only, in real life, I don't have that good a coat . In an act of Collective Punishment, Loaves & Fishes closes its park in the morning on New Year’s Day In one respect — and only one — that I can think of, Loaves & Fishes is NOT hypocritical: The management hates the way America is run and wants to turn it into a backward communist country . Consistent with that, Loaves & Fishes’ management runs its facility like a backward communist country. The People’s Republic of Loaves & Fishes. A seemingly minor thing happened on New Year’s Day. A couple of people smoked a joint in Loaves & Fishes’ Friendship Park and one of the park directors, or both of them, determined, at about 10am, that, in retribution, they would punish all the homeless there by closing the park for the day. This is something the managers of the park do all the ...

The Big Picture (The good, the bad and the ugly in Homeless World Sacramento) Part I

If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? -- William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice While I feel certain that homeless people (including myself) deserve the sympathies and aid of the public and much robust support from the government, I don’t think this because I believe Sacramento’s homeless population could pass as a cross section of the general population (as we're often portrayed). The homeless, who are the bottom 1% socially and economically in our society are, as you would suppose, disproportionate to the whole in being mentally ill; or mentally unusual; or psychically beat up; or depressed; or addicted; or in having quirks or criminal records or spotty resumes or damaged psyches that frustrate getting or holding onto a job. Too, among the homeless are a great many who are asocial – who will steal or destroy things without a moment’s consideration of others who are hurt by these actions. There are also man...

Sacramento Homeless blog

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