Right-wing socialist

Mary · #1 Dec 16, '04, 3:52 pm

I've come to realize that I'm quite a "socialist" at heart.. I'm a strong environmentalist (will never own a car, want to become a vegetarian) and a universal health care and social assistance advocate. Although I believe that the money you make should be yours to spend, I do have difficulty with our capitalist society. Communism, though impossible, is a wonderful idea.

I'm also staunchly pro-life. I'm against gay marriage. I believe in values, traditional family and classical music.

Am I alone? Is there any one else who finds themselves in this idealistic conundrum? My friends say I must be the seul.. however I hope there are others..

Let me know!

JamesD · #2 Dec 16, '04, 4:17 pm

Mary,

You are still quite young. Don't wory too much about these things. I am more than twice your age and have looked at these things for a long time. When I was your age I saw things much differently than I do today and I am sure that I see things nuch differently than I will in 20 more years. Most importantly don't have fear. The sky is not falling! Earth without end! The gates of Hell will not prevail against God's church! and In the end God, truth and Love will prevail!
Much of what you hear is new to you. Again don't be afraid of these things you hear about. I can tell you that much of what you hear I have heard time and time again.
Form your conscience as best you can through the teachings of the church and prayer.

Just a bit of encouragement.

Peace,
Jim

Cherubino · #3 Dec 16, '04, 4:36 pm

"The reason angels can fly is because they take themselves so lightly"

--Chesterton

cestusdei · #4 Dec 16, '04, 4:39 pm

There must be a support group for people like you. Maybe you could go cold turkey. Buy a SUV.

Mary · #5 Dec 16, '04, 4:41 pm

SUVs!

Don't freak me out!

Ha ha.

chicago · #6 Dec 16, '04, 5:08 pm

SUVs are for those atheist unbelievers! ;-P

Cherubino · #7 Dec 16, '04, 5:11 pm

Then why do so many of them have chrome fishies on the tailgates?

Minerva · #8 Dec 16, '04, 5:12 pm

hey I drive an SUV! Granted it's a small one (a 97 Honday CRV) and it used to belong to my mom. It gets great gas mileage too

chicago · #9 Dec 16, '04, 5:34 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cherubino

Then why do so many of them have chrome fishies on the tailgates?

These are surely the hypocrites of whom the prophets spoke and the Lord drove out of his house.

Leo44 · #10 Dec 16, '04, 5:36 pm

Mary,

That's the problem with socialism, some one has to pay for it, that means those that do work, have less of what they earn to pay for those that don't-won't-can't. The problem with most of us is why should we pay the freight for those that won't. Capitalim provides for a far better quality of life for the more of the population of our country than any other system. Life wasn't ment to be fair and we are not all created equal.

Lisa N · #11 Dec 16, '04, 5:40 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mary

I've come to realize that I'm quite a "socialist" at heart.. I'm a strong environmentalist (will never own a car, want to become a vegetarian) and a universal health care and social assistance advocate. Although I believe that the money you make should be yours to spend, I do have difficulty with our capitalist society. Communism, though impossible, is a wonderful idea.

I'm also staunchly pro-life. I'm against gay marriage. I believe in values, traditional family and classical music.

Am I alone? Is there any one else who finds themselves in this idealistic conundrum? My friends say I must be the seul.. however I hope there are others..

Let me know!

Mary I don't believe issues like respect for life are right or left. IOW there is nothing intrinsic in the Democrat party or the left leaners that says you can have no respect for life. Further, many of those on the right politically are very supportive of the death penalty. There can be a real internal inconsistency with respect to life issues. So I wouldn't base your conclusions about every issue on whether it fits into a political platform. You can be extremely pro life and still be very leftist on other social issues--as some of your statements do indicate.

Reading your post, I am aware of several contradictary statements. First if "the money you make should be yours to spend" how does that fit into "communisim is a wonderful idea" or that there should be all kinds of social services and national health care coverage? Who will pay for these services if the money you earn you keep? (This is right thinking

) Also what problems do you have with our capitalist society since you want to keep the money you earn? Sounds pretty capitalist to me! And it takes one to know one!

You might want to work through a few of these issues and see where the inconsistencies lie, then make a choice of where you really want to take a stand.

Lisa N

aspawloski4th · #12 Dec 16, '04, 7:36 pm

Im anti-invirmentalist! the suv is too small for me, my last car was a 1981 olds custombruiser stationwagon with would eat up and suv and spit it out in a crash. actually it saved my life in 2 crashes that would of made other cars toast. you have a good start on the social issues. but with age you will learn that capitaLISM is the only way to go, not because of money earning power, but because government know matter who is in charge cant be trusted at all. you say you are against cars. I pose this question to you. my job is 9 miles away and not on the busline, and goes later than the busline goes anyway. bike is impossbile during winter with snow. my wifes doctors for her many ailements that most her age dont have are not on the busline either. and are up to 15 miles away. because of arthraitis she cant ride a bike. if cars are wrong, what method of transportation I use? when you start having an adult life with adult responsibilities you will have to put the invirment aside a drive a car. Im a dgree meteorologist and I can tell you global warming isnt happening anyway, drive a car where you need to go.

JamesD · #13 Dec 16, '04, 9:29 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicago

SUVs are for those atheist unbelievers! ;-P

Or good catholics with too many kids for a mini van. Thats why I have a suburban!

Mary · #14 Dec 18, '04, 10:02 am

First thanks everyone for responding!! I appreciate the time you spent in contributing.. I would like to respond to a few comments.. they sparked a lot of thought in this curious head of mine and I'd like to know what you think....

Environmentalists get a bad rap, and many deserve it. Environmentalism becomes a spirituality, a religion, a Truth. Cars are deemed bad, technology is deemed bad. However this doesn't make sense, and I believe that a balance can be found in living in the modern world, and thinking about the environment. It is what makes it possible for us to be here!! (A generous and life sustaining gift from God!)

My family owns two cars- a small Focus and a van (With kid number 6 on the way.. there just aren't bikes built for 8!) however I do believe that we have to examine how much energy we use, how we use it, and make sure we're doing all we can to respect the resources God has given us! It's really about stewardship, and being the responsible keepers of the earth! This doesn't mean we renounce modern technology.. it means we turn off lights when we leave the room, don't leave our car running for more than 10 seconds at traffic lights (contrary to popular belief less gas is used restarting your car than leaving it running for >10 sec at the lights).. it means being aware of where our food is coming from, who is making our clothing, our computers.. It's being aware. Drunkeness is a form of excessiveness.. As is gluttony.. But what about excessiveness in the objects we buy? In the energy we use?

Quote:

Reading your post, I am aware of several contradictary statements. First if "the money you make should be yours to spend" how does that fit into "communisim is a wonderful idea" or that there should be all kinds of social services and national health care coverage? Who will pay for these services if the money you earn you keep? (This is right thinking ) Also what problems do you have with our capitalist society since you want to keep the money you earn? Sounds pretty capitalist to me! And it takes one to know one!

Lisa N, thanks so much for your response! I understand completely.. I was in a bit of a rush writing down my first entry and didn't explain myself fully.. One of my major issues is my contradictory-ness!

I do believe that the money you make should be yours to spend.. to use with as you choose, and I believe in liberties and freedoms, and in a way government staying out of people's private lives! However I do believe that we are responsible for each other, and must take care of others. Not only our families, but strangers. I don't really think communism is the answer. I'm not that crazy! Unfortunetly I just wish people were aware of the reality of poverty in their own backyards.. In a way it's very much what we are called to do as Christians! "Be our brother's keeper"..

Quote:

That's the problem with socialism, some one has to pay for it, that means those that do work, have less of what they earn to pay for those that don't-won't-can't. The problem with most of us is why should we pay the freight for those that won't. Capitalim provides for a far better quality of life for the more of the population of our country than any other system. Life wasn't ment to be fair and we are not all created equal.

Leo 44: thanks for responding too!! Why should we pay for those who won't/can't/don't work? Well- I understand, and I frequently see the reality of lazy people, living off government welfare.. In Nova Scotia it makes more financial sense to be on welfare than to hold a minimum wage job!! But I think Christian compassion is important. I volunteer at a women's emergency shelter, and the situations these women find themselves in are often beyond their control! Home life situations/ mental illness/ violence/ abuse at the hands of father/boyfriends... We are all created equal in the eyes of Jesus.. he who stayed at the house of the tax collector! Who called for the little children to come to him! Who forgave the prostitute! Is that not a call for us to accept these people as children of God (just as worthy of salvation as us), and to help them as we can

I strive to be open to the world around me.. I listen to the news twice a day, I volunteer, I attempt to understand Church teaching to better follow it and defend it.. And of course I'm sure my opinions will change with maturity and experience..

But I don't think it's every too early to start forming thoughts about the world. Too many people are completely unaware of their surroundings..

God bless!

Mary

Lisa N · #15 Dec 18, '04, 12:18 pm

Mary as a Catholic I think you and I agree we are our brother's keeper. THe problem with putting the responsibility on government is that it DOES take away that feeling of being personally connected to the problem. IOW I would rather take my extra money from the tax cut and donate it to an organization that does some good than assume Uncle Sam knows best. I would rather use that money in my parish and each parish take care of their own to the extent they can. That makes it a brother's keeper focus rather than distancing yourself from the problems by not seeing them and assuming the government will take care of things.

But of course many people are NOT charitably inclined. I am not sure how you learn to develop compassion but I guess that's not taught in school! My parents were NOT charitably inclined at all. They were bleeding heart liberals to the core but never thought they ought to help contribute to get people out of poverty or trouble. That's where I have a hard time with what I call leftist thought because they sound compassionate but they really want to take someone ELSE'S money and use it for their pet causes. Still you have to wonder what to do about people who just won't give of themselves. I work for a number of wealthy people and some years my charity donations exceed theirs although they make a whole lotta more than I do. It's just a different way of thinking I guess.

Lisa N