And Now the Pope!

The Pope has been popping off lately.  There is little doubt that cons will have to challenge him in a primary.  The Pope is speaking foolishness and is dangerous.

The Pope is daring to say that there is a culture of waste in the world lead by unfettered and greedy capitalism.  He criticizes the greed, the inhumanity of those who make money with no regard to the environmental and human cost.

In America we meanwhile have cut food stamps, while many areas of our country are still caught in deep unemployment and poverty.  The ACA is being implemented in rich states, who are cooperating, but not well in poor states, whose Republican governors and legislature refused Medicaid assistance and now are hamstringing  implementation.

The Farm Bill is being held hostage by fanatical free market types, resulting in $8.00 gallons of milk!

This is result in two Americas:  one with health care for all, the other with rationed care for the few; one for the rich, one for the poor.

And meanwhile, the Republicans, the Party of business, are on a crusade to repeal the health  law completely.  Greedy insurance companies quietly stand behind these efforts, wanting to return to when they could do anything they wanted, stealing money and providing no protection.

Capitalism kills.  It kills people when it is unregulated, untaxed and runs the show.  This has been the case for hundreds of years  Capitalism gave us slavery and Civil War.

Now, I am not advocating socialism.  But I am advocating control of capitalism, and most of all, ethics and morality in the "captains of industry".  Government regulation is not enough, it is what lies in the hearts of men and women, CEOs of Wal Mart; et al, that will make the difference.

Capitalists need to be reminded, as the Pope just did, that they have eternal souls too.

I have never understood why how Christian Conservatives could fight for the rights of the unborn, yet vote to cut food stamps for children.  How a church going conservative could read Matthew 25, and turn right around and attack Health Care for the poor.

Capitalism creates unfair competition; it always has.  It needs regulation to function.  It needs laws to protect those who lose.

And the Pope sees that everyday.  He came from a developing country.  He knows where the world is headed, with capitalism caused global warming threatening millions every day.  The gap between rich and war will eventually cause war and conflict.  It always has!

And now the Pope speaks out and on this eve of Thanksgiving reminds us all of what being a Christian should mean.