Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
James Martin, S.J.December 17, 2010

No, as Stephen Colbert tells us, it's worse than that: Jesus is for the poor.

Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
13 years 3 months ago
Kay has the right approach to addressing the culture in its current form; however, most kids watch with friends or in college settings where there is not much discussion beyond the obvious laughs and there is no other view presented.

Everything becomes one (sad) joke - especially, any religion or cultural norms that could challange their cultural liberalism or rebuke the dominant relativism.

For instance, you would never see a joke aimed at the irony of the left's support of abortion on demand while claiming to be compassionate and fighting for the weakest amoung us...
Beth Cioffoletti
13 years 3 months ago
A prophet is one who cuts through great tangled knots of lies.
- THOMAS MERTON

Stephen Colbert is doing a pretty good job.
Kay Satterfield
13 years 3 months ago
Fr. Martin introduced this blog with "Jesus is for the poor".  I think we all agree on that statement.  Maybe we need to put all of our hot air from this blog into some action help the poor in our own way especially this week in celebration of the birth of Christ.   
13 years 3 months ago
This has been going on for a couple days and I will say something provocative.  The statement ''Jesus is for the poor'' may be interpreted in the wrong way.  The message isn't to solve the problem of the poor but to solve the problem of those who are rich.  


There was a gospel a couple months ago about the rich man and Lazarus.  Lazarus seemed to have a free ride into heaven but the rich man was in hell and couldn't even warn his brothers about it.  Are the poor getting a free ride to salvation?  And if so why should we feel sorry for them.  The person we should feel sorry for is the rich man.  After all it is he who lost all.  Why do we automatically defend the poor?  Are the poor there for each of to do something individually.


My point being is that when we try to solve the plight of the poor through some coercive action on the masses are we really missing the point.  Is the real message that the rich must voluntarily use their resources to help the poor.  This is not saying that we shouldn't try to make society better in whatever way we can.  It is saying that each of us will be judged not by what political action we have taken but what we do individually through our actions and not by our votes on what others should do.


I could make a pretty strong case that the actions by liberal Democrats have hurt the poor immensely and that capitalism in general has helped their plight more than any government action.  But is that what Catholicism is all about?  It shouldn't be.  There is a line from the new testament


''For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me.'' 


When we have eliminated the poor by our attempts at establishing a heaven on earth have we missed what it is all about.  We are striving to reach Him not to eliminate every possible source of discontent in our world.


Did Jesus actually come for the ''rich?''
13 years 3 months ago
Wow, still going ;)

Kay, the "hot air" started with the polemic video at the top of this post placed by Fr. Martin.

Great replies on here, though - esp. J.R., even though our poor have even now been infected with the theraputic, liberal vices and solipsim of the elite in the US.  A result, no doubt of materialism and rampant individualism promoted by both the left (sexual libertines) and the right (economic libertines).

In any case, Christ shows us a way past these petty ideologies on both sides so - a Merry Christmas to all the America bloggers!
13 years 3 months ago
And, a Merry Christmas to Fr. Martin!
13 years 3 months ago
Marie,

I assume that people favor raising taxes (letting the Bush tax cuts expire) in order to pay for government programs.  I assume that those who want to raise taxes like those programs otherwise the alternative would be to cut the programs.

If they like the programs then why not donate money in addition to forced taxation?

I donate money to private programs in addition to my forced taxation because i believe in those programs.  Do people who believe in goverment programs voluntarily send money?  If not then why?
Vince Killoran
13 years 3 months ago
As a nation we haven't really committed ourselves to a war on poverty-not like we committed ourselves to becoming say, a nuclear power.

I'm sorry Walter but the NPR report does not "prove" what you assert. No disrespect intended, but have you actually read the piece?! It's bascially a pro-World Bank story but even then it doesn't endorse what Pinochet did. The sad story is told in Peter Winn (ed.), Victims of the Chilean Miracle: Workers and Neoliberalism in the Pinochet Era, 1973-2002 (Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 2004).

The Milton Friedman fan club has been trying to perpetrate a myth about his "free market" reforms in 1970s Chile.  Ten years after he came to power unemployement had skyrocekted and real wages were way down.

It's always interesting to me that so-called hard headed Friedmanites have no success stories-just raw- self-assertion.
Marie Rehbein
13 years 3 months ago
Joe,

I think most people are caught up in worry about what is happening to the world's economy, and the US place in it, when they object to continuing the Bush tax cuts.  There is a real danger at the moment that not only will the US economy not recover without money going to those who are most likely to spend it, but that ratings of US creditworthiness will be downgraded based on the deficit.  For most people, then, the logical thing would have been to have those who could afford it to go back to paying more in taxes and those who had no income or low income to continue to get what amounts to economic stimulus money.

Wars are costly, far more so than any of the social programs that have been in place for decades.  From the government's point of view, providing for the poor, or raising the minimum standard of living, has nothing to do with Jesus at all.  It has to do with the impression the US gives on the world stage.  US credibility suffers when some of its citizens live as though this were a third world nation.  While a high minimum standard of living may draw the attacks of terrorists at this time in history, our country having taken care of its poor did play a role in the triumph of our way of life over Communism.

Furthermore, it is not the welfare eligibility policies alone that have led to weaker families in the inner cities.  It was the defacto discrimination combined with the policies that led to this.  The policies were meant to help families that had lost their breadwinner, but when those who were traditionally meant to be breadwinners were unable to even find employment that would equal what the government provided, the reasonable thing was to set up the circumstances that would qualify the family for aid. 

The government's interests will not be served if it leaves the poor to the care of the charitable, so attributing a charitable government to the influence of bleeding heart liberals who don't want to get their hands dirty is off the mark.  The government's interest will be harmed, in fact, if the ranks of the poor grow, especially if they grow with the ever increasing number of elderly citizens that are anticipated in the coming decades.

All taxation is forced, and to my knowledge, no one has ever volunteered to pay for a war or to impress a foreign government or to build a highway system.  You sound like you would like to protest your taxes because they are used to help the poor just like some people who are opposed to war don't pay their taxes.
13 years 3 months ago
"The government's interests will not be served if it leaves the poor to the care of the charitable"

Exactly!  It is in the government's interest to expand their reach and control into EVERY area of a citizen's life because they will then be dependent on a centralized bureaucracy for needs and services that were once provided by LOCAL communities and religious organizations.  Part of this is due to a decline in religious populations, but a good deal is also due to a power-hungry and expansive secular government.

The more atomized citizens are the better for this secular system - because they are then unable to organize to assist their own neighbors and/or rebuke federal over reach.

They claim to be "charitable" when the reality is that they rely on ever expansive government for their very jobs and power (this applies to both Dems and Repubs - esp on war issues).

Please open your eyes, liberal catholics...liberal programs and centralized power in government are not the pancea that you think they are.  They simply maintain and increase the degredation of the population in the name of compassion.  These programs really uphold the status quo.

Decentralization is coming whether you want it or not - and the Church will be there to help create small, sustainable communities away from the levithian...
Vince Killoran
13 years 3 months ago
What Brett et al. worry about for government I fear has long ago happened through the death grip of corporations(BTW, since the labels get slapped on every contributor I am not a liberal-that's too conservative for me). At least with government we can vote every once in a while!

Brett embraces "small, sustainable communities."  I, too, am intrigued by this way of life, but this is anathama to the ethos of corporate capitalism.

13 years 3 months ago
Well, we agree!  Big business and big government go hand in hand...

Both are perversions of the natural order and of true communities.
we vnornm
13 years 3 months ago
Are the "psychologically wealthy" (i.e., happy, intelligent, attractive, life full of friends) expected to share their "riches" with the "psychologically poor*" (i.e. despondent, unappealling and unattrractive [yes, do exist], anorexic, phobic, etc)?

As in, "share their time"?

Lots of kinds of poor......aren't there?

*poor in spirit, see Mt.

bvo



13 years 3 months ago
Dr. van Ornum,


There are lots of riches.  One of them is intellectual riches.  Some are better educated, read, have more unusual experiences.  Some just think they are better educated, smarter, have better insight.  Sometimes I think that a lot of these people have a harder time finding the truth.  More educated people are atheists than the non educated and are arrogant about their position but they cannot defend it.


From Luke,

''Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it'' 
James Caruso
13 years 3 months ago
Q. Is Jesus a Liberal Democrat?

A. No.

Q. Is Jesus a Conservative Republican?

A. No.

Q. Which way would Jesus vote in a U.S. Presidential Election?

A. Pro-Life.
David Cruz-Uribe
13 years 3 months ago
I love it!!!!  It reminds of the folk song about Jesus as a long-haired radical socialist Jew.

Now I am going to sit back and wait for the angry denunciations to begin.....
ed gleason
13 years 3 months ago
 the Dems in congress are far more rich than the Republicans in congress so maybe they are being 'rewarded' too for having an eye for the poor instead of their purse. O tempra O mores. (-:
Vince Killoran
13 years 3 months ago
Ha!  Humor that hits close to home for some. . .

Carolyn raises the question "whether the government is the best way to help the poor."  Is there an example of a society in modern times where large segments of society were lifted out of poverty without government action? The utopians always roll out the so-called "free market" solution but never offer any concrete examples.
Beth Cioffoletti
13 years 3 months ago
It seems to me that Jesus not only said to feed the poor, but he also said to BECOME poor ("give away everything that you have and come follow me").  I take this to mean that there is plenty to go around for everyone if we could get over our need to accumulate individual and personal wealth.

Recently I was talking to a friend who spends a lot of time in Haiti.  He was telling me that the people survive by depending on each other:  "They really could never make it though a day if they didn't help each other."

Colbert is sounding more and more like a prophet these days, rather than a comedian.  I take it as a good sign that he's popular among the young people.
Carolyn Hyppolite
13 years 3 months ago
Vince,

There are many people who have documented that government often does not solve problem but takes credit for problem solved by civil society. I highly recommend the work of Tom Woods : http://www.tomwoods.com/

There is also much evidence that it is government who is impoverishing us by doing things like inflating our dollar, just to give one example.

But all of that is besides the point. The point is whether the Gospels require that we support these particular regulatory and distributive schemes offered by the democrats. We can debate whether or not they are prudent and effective and that makes for interesting dialogue. But what we have here is not interesting dialogue but the assertion that Jesus must be interpreted through the Robin Hood lenses of the democratic party. I understand that Jesus says if a man asks you for your coat, give your tunic and I think we can all be better about doing that. But that's not the democrats message. Their message is if a man asks for your coat, come together with the village and go to the Rich man's house and take his coat.

And given the relatively low levels of charitable giving reported by those on the left: http://www.amazon.com/Who-Really-Cares-Compasionate-Conservatism/dp/0465008216 ; it seems to me that this rhetoric has an impact on people's practice, and I think that is problematic, morally and spiritually.

Peace in Christ,
Carolyn Hyppoolite
carolynhyppolite.blogspot.com
13 years 3 months ago
Well, Vince, I'm not sure whether you would credit the government or the free market for this but, the following are facts about persons defined as "poor" by the Census Bureau, taken from various government reports (according to a 2007 report published on the Heritage Foundation website):

    Forty-three percent of all poor households actually own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.
    Eighty percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, in 1970, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
    Only 6 percent of poor households are overcrowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.
    The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)
    Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 31 percent own two or more cars.
    Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions.
    Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.
    Eighty-nine percent own microwave ovens, more than half have a stereo, and more than a third have an automatic dishwasher.

So, if Jesus is for the poor, he must be for America.
Vince Killoran
13 years 3 months ago
I think Michael and Carolyn have missed the point (or the meaning of my question).

Michael's ticking off of consumer items and how good the poor have it in the USA is irrelevant. I wasn't necessarily focused on the USA. Besides, I would argue the modicum of security the American poor have come from  our admittedly paper-thin safety net.  If you widen the analysis to include publicly-funded schools, highways, health and safety laws, etc. then your getting closer to addressing my argument about the fanciful notion that libertarian models are Christian.

As to Carolyn's argument, why is a law passed by a representative government "Robin Hood" in nature? I take your point that our compassion and connectedness for the poor must come from the heart (Beth's has a great take on this), but I believe that I do that through my political & voting decisions.  Your argument would be more compelling if, for example, you lived in a collective or commune (e.g., Catholic Worker house) but if you identify with and benefit from our economy, legislation, and public policies then it seems inconsistent to put anti-poverty measures off-limits.   We had this debate several months ago: the people who benefit the most from publicly-funded aspects of our society are the wealthiest. 
Marie Rehbein
13 years 3 months ago
The government's role in looking after the poor is to ensure the stability of society. 

Carolyn, you don't think the government has a right or responsibility to look after the value of the dollar in the world economy given that it created the dollar?
Robert Killoren
13 years 3 months ago
I don't get to watch TV much, but thanks to Fr Jim I got to watch this segment from Stephen Colbert on the computer. Like my brother Vince I feel some people here are sounding a little bit defensive about where they stand. But they shouldn't be offended. Seems to me Colbert likes to make fun of anybody who acts pompous and self-righteous not even seeing their own hypocrisy. I consider myself a proud member of that category of sinners, but I'm trying to recognize my sin and am trying to get over it. That means biting my tongue very frequently. If you are looking for politicians to reflect the frailties of human nature you'll easily find it. If you are looking for sterling examples of moral uprightness and commitment to truth and justice, you'd better look somewhere else than the halls of the Capitol Building. If you read the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church you'll see that neither the Republicans or Democrats have a corner on the market. In fact, you'll find that both fail to come close to those standards by a long shot. But all things considered we have a better government system than just about anywhere else. If you do read it you'll find out about subsidiarity (which is kind of like the conservative view that central government ought to keep its nose out of communities and people's lives) and how it must be balanced with solidarity (which is kind of like the liberal view that we are all in this together and sometimes only a central government is big enough to provide for the common good). It's like anything else: it's all about balance. I personally believe that's how the Constitution is written thanks to the founding generation. Anyway, relax a bit and enjoy some comedy, even if it means laughing at our own foibles. But what do I know, I'm just a deacon.
13 years 3 months ago
Well, Marie, if "take care" of the poor really means promote policies that destroy the family structure, promote dependence and atomization and sexual libertinism, then they are doing a great job.  The government does its best to undermine civil associations (including religious organizations) that rival its power - or to co-opt them via flooding them with federal money.

What we need are healthy, local communities and correctly ordered lives; when virtues are addressed, chairty for the less fortunate is included naturally in the conversation.  There is no federal, technical answer to poverty - no "war on poverty" will fix this human condition.

Those liberals who like to promote the "government solution" to all our problems - esp. the poor - are less likely to get involved on a personal level (this has been well documented by Michael Brooks, the academic). 

Liberals have a great and lofty "love for humanity" in the abstract - they just do not want to get their hands dirty with the actual poor...let the bureaucrats/technocrats handle that.

PS - they also "look after" the value of the dollar by devaluing it through the outrageous printing of money by the central banks...



13 years 3 months ago
Opps, the author is Arthur Brooks:
http://www.amazon.com/Who-Really-Cares-Compasionate-Conservatism/dp/0465008216

Conservatives give at much higher rates to charity than liberals according to IRS stats. 

Liberal believe that paying their taxes to Ceasar all that is necessary (even though that is only half of the equation according to Christ).

Who really cares is right...perhaps it is not the King of Irony, Colbert.
13 years 3 months ago
Dare I say that when it comes to Catholicism Colbert has less credibility than the editors of this Jesuit Catholic magazine?
13 years 3 months ago
I think our conservative bloggers are indeed defensive -no critique of O"Reilly here from them.
What's the poverty rate? One in ten?
One in seven kids in te Us goes to bed hungry.
But the Government  "created dependence, etc."
As long as ideology  drives our view of the Gospel, we'l lget that kind of slick talk.
I know. ala Dickens,"what a way to pick a man's pocket."
We maybe need a new Christmas Carol in this country!
13 years 3 months ago
Wrong, Robert.  I will critique ORielly and Hannity and Limbaugh all day long. 

However, what I have noticed is that liberal Catholics cannot do the same for their side.  When was the last time a Catholic liberal criticized Pelosi for her promotion of abortion "rights"??
Beth Cioffoletti
13 years 3 months ago
Oh, come on Joe (Kash #17). 

Stephen Colbert teaches a Cathechism class!   And what's wrong with the credibility and credentials of the editors of this magazine?   If you don't like it, why are you here???
13 years 3 months ago
I don't think this is a matter of ''liberal vs conservative'' in the first instance.  After all, it was a great liberal Senator, the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who pointed out first the detrimental effect many of the Great Society programs were having on the black inner city family.  The Harvard sociologist William Julius William Wilson who carried some of this research forward and showed how government programs had undermined many of the values middle class Americans live by.  Let's not also forget that Ronald Reagan saved Social Security during his Presidency.  And there is no shortage of ''ideology'' driving interpretations of the Gospel today, left and right.

The diversity of the comments here illustrates for me the need to be cautious of too quickly reducing the message of the Gospel to political platforms, especially on issues of economics (thus the wisdom of the Church's very general formulations).  First off, the words of Jesus should be taken in context - uttered some years (to say the least) before the birth of modern economic systems and certainly before the birth of the modern nation state and the welfare state.  Secondly, the question of applying ''the Gospel'' to economics and public policy is complicated by the fact that we live in a pluralist culture that is, quite frankly, hostile to faith claims.  Its a very complicated matter on which people of goodwill can disagree.  In reality, the real argument isn't over ''socialism'' vs. ''free market''; its over whether ''the rich'' should be taxed at 39% or 32%; its whether gov't spending should be set at 28% of GDP or 24%; its over whether capital gains should be 10% or 15%.  And, finally, its really over how much risk should we tolerate in this country versus how much should we insulate people from risk, even when they themselves are the cause of the risk.  After all, if there were no one willing to accept risky mortgages on houses they couldn't afford, the big, evil, greedy banks wouldn't have made any money in them to beging with.  And in the meantime, the politicians will do what politicians do: doube-speak, get cushy mortgage deals, arrange special favors, and dither. 

What most frustrates me about these types of discussions is the lack of context.  Its as if liberals are wholly unaware of the fiscal reality facing this country.  Sure, we could tax ''the rich'' at 100% of their income levels and spend at such at 70% of GDP in an attempt to end poverty, but the reality is that such actions would be economic suicide and leave everyone worse off.  Perhaps that's not such a bad alternative for folks like Beth C. who seem to embrace a calling to radical poverty.  But for most folk, such a result would likely be detrimental. 

In short, the public policy debate is complicated and acrimonious enough without bringing ''What would Jesus Do'' considerations into it, even as a bludgeon against our ''ideological'' opponents.
Vince Killoran
13 years 3 months ago
Signing off for the weekend but I love Jeff's last plea that we not bring Jesus in on this debate about poverty!
13 years 3 months ago
It's a Christmas miracle, Vince!!!

Now, everyone say something nice about the liberal or conservative next to you...
13 years 3 months ago
Beth,

I admire St. Ignatius and I am a big fan of Ignatian Sprituality.  I also love the Church and long for the day when the Jesuits as a whole defended the teachings of the Pope and the Magisterium.

So I continue to troll this blog in the hopes that one day I will see the Editors more fully defend even those Magisterial teachings where they have difficulties.
Carolyn Hyppolite
13 years 3 months ago
Vince,

I dispute the fact that I have to live in a Catholic Worker Commune to care for the poor. In fact, I actually looked into it and I could find nothing useful in the ones that I looked into. And I agree with you that the wealthy benefit way too much from public welfare. I am pretty upset about corporate welfare as well.

That does not change the fact that believing that individual Christians have a duty to help the poor os the most defensible interpretation of what Jesus says. If you want to pay taxes so that the govt taxes, I am cool with it. What I have a problem with is not being able to opt out. I think there are better ways to help the poor than Uncle Sam.

Peace in Christ,
Carolyn Hyppolite
carolynhyppolite.blogspot.com
13 years 3 months ago
Carolyn,

It is curious that recently there was a poll where a significant portion of the super rich were in favor of increased taxes.  I find it curious that they need to be force to donate to such a noble cause.  Why not just right an extra check to Uncle Sam?

They must not really think this is a good investment of their money, otherwise they would be sending that extra check  to Uncle Sam each year rather than hiring accountants to find loop-holes in the Tax code.

I am curious whether any of the bloggers here who favor higher taxes and increase social progams, donate extra money to the US government?  If not why?
Carolyn Hyppolite
13 years 3 months ago
Marie,

I think the US government is mostly responsible for the weakness of the dollar but that's a little off topic. I only brought it up to say that when people are speaking against government intervention, it is not because they hate the poor but because they think the government is causing more harm than good. Again, we can debate the facts here but at least grant us the benefit of the doubt on our intention.

Frankly, I am tired of both sides of the American Church. The Republican wing acts like all it takes to be holy is trying to overturn Roe v. Wade and the Democratic side of the Church believes that raising taxes on the Rich is the real mark sanctity. I think you're both wrong.

Peace in Christ,
Carolyn Hyppolite
carolynhyppolite.blogspot.com
Carolyn Hyppolite
13 years 3 months ago
Joe,

Thank you for pointing out that. I wish I could find the source but I recently read an article that the office of the IRS that takes donations for the government has receive a few thousand dollars over its life. Warren Buffet who made a big show that we should tax him more is actually going to leave his fortune to the Gates Foundation.

I want  to support those organizations that I believe in. If you believe in Uncle Sammy, send the IRS the check.

Peace,
CKH
Beth Cioffoletti
13 years 3 months ago
I know some very rich people who want the Government to take the responsibility of spreading the wealth.  They want government systems in place to make sure that the wealth of the nation raises the standard of living of all of us.  Private giving simply does not have the breadth to accomplish that.

Bill Clinton has expressed similar sentiments.

That being said, I personally believe that this is a bottom up job, and nothing will change with the poor until enough people give up the quest for personal wealth.  Hoarding huge amounts of money is a symptom of deep spiritual insecurity and fear.  It's a spiritual problem more than an economic or political one.

Crystal Watson
13 years 3 months ago
I do think Jesus is a liberal democrat, and that the government is the best resource or helping the poor.  But thanks to the republicans, the wealthy are getting tax cuts while this is the second year that those who are disabled will get no "raise" in their government checks.  I remember a line from the tv series The West Wing ... "government no matter what it's failures in the past and in times to come for that matter, government can be a place where people come together and where no one gets left behind. No one gets left behind. An instrument of good."  That's the ideal I believe in and I think it best represents the gospel values acted out by Jesus.
Gabriel Marcella
13 years 3 months ago
If you wish to see how government action can lift people out of poverty study the conditional cash transfers of Brazil (called bolsa familia-the family basket or family grant), whereby the government gives money to mothers, who must sign a deal that they will send their children to school, where they are also fed. A health card also provides for access to free medical care. Begun earlier, the program expanded in 2003 and has helped lift out of poverty over 12 million (Brazil has 190 million people.) The purpose is to break the cycle of poverty by raising the quantity and quality of human capital. A number of countries, such as Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, and others have established their versions of conditional cash transfers. Though bolsa familia is not without its problems, it works and it's based on taking advantage of the human desire to better the family's future.
Bill Mazzella
13 years 3 months ago
St Francis chose poverty as a means to bring peace to the world. Since all wars are made over property and money, by renouncing material goods completely he saw this as the way to have a world without wars. Iraq was clearly about oil. Afganistan was just in the sense that it went after those who attacked the US. Yet the conundrum in the Middle East is Israel driven with Israel being quite unjust to the Palestinians. It is one thing for the Jews to seek a safe haven. But their leaders have shamed the Jewish people by persecuting a poor minority. Over land.

The hierarchy has possesions all over the world. No bishops, priests nor monks go homeless. This is a far cry from the homeless Jesus. So our problems are more basic. Do Christian Catholics follow Jesus? There is enough activities like Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services to keep up appearances. But the face of the church is not poor at all and that is where the need for change must focus.
13 years 3 months ago
Hmmm...the problem is Fr. Jim, that Colbert is not truly a "comdey" routine - it is a political commentary through the only medium that our youth culture can now converse in - i.e. the ironic.

Perhaps the problem is with this mode of communication - this completely ironic and hyper-political discourse - rather than the reaction to it?

13 years 3 months ago
This David Foster Wallace quote sums up Colbert all-irony, all the time style and the generation that it addresses:

"Postmodern irony and cynicism’s become an end in itself, a measure of hip sophistication and literary savvy. Few artists dare to try to talk about ways of working toward redeeming what’s wrong, because they’ll look sentimental and naive to all the weary ironists. Irony’s gone from liberating to enslaving. There’s some great essay somewhere that has a line about irony being the song of the prisoner who’s come to love his cage."

It is the opposite of communication, and civil (even incivil) discourse.  It is nothing but a rejection or mocking of the opposition - one step above nhiliism.

How is that for light!  ;)
Marie Rehbein
13 years 3 months ago
Let me try this another way.  Jesus is for the poor, but government has its own reasons for looking after the poor.  It would be the same if this were a kingdom instead of a democracy, in that it would be in the king's best interests to prevent discontent from spreading throughout the lowest classes.

As to people who choose to look after the poor on their own, they do have the government's blessing in the form of tax deductions for charitable contributions.  And, there is a place on the US Treasury website that accepts contributions to lower the Federal deficit.
Chris NUNEZ
13 years 3 months ago
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, WHY WOULD HE CHANGE PARTIES?
Kay Satterfield
13 years 3 months ago
As a family with 4 young adults, we frequently watch Colbert and Jon Stewart together.  We are a mix of Republicans and Democrats and we have some interesting discussions after watching their programs whether we agree or don't agree with the view presented and it's funny.  However, it's not for everyone.  With regards to poverty the Republican contingent would say that stimulating the economy creates jobs and a person having a job is what is needed to help end poverty.  The Democratic side would fight that our government needs to help those who can't help themselves, particularly the ones who fall through the cracks.  As mentioned before there needs to be balance between the two in my opinion.
Beth Cioffoletti
13 years 3 months ago
"So I continue to troll this blog in the hopes that one day I will see the Editors more fully defend even those Magisterial teachings where they have difficulties." (#25)

How does insulting the editors (and writers and readers) of America Magazine by questioning their credibility further that agenda?

Marie Rehbein
13 years 3 months ago
"Well, Marie, if 'take care' of the poor really means promote policies that destroy the family structure, promote dependence and atomization and sexual libertinism, then they are doing a great job.  The government does its best to undermine civil associations (including religious organizations) that rival its power - or to co-opt them via flooding them with federal money."


 Brett, public assistance programs in the US were begun at a time in our history when men were the breadwinners and women and children depended on them for that.  Therefore, the programs were set up to provide for man-less households.  In time, people began to figure out how to exploit the system.  Therefore, it is not really the system, but simple human greed that has led to the destruction of family structure, etc.
13 years 3 months ago
Poster #49 - just what we needed...MORE irony.  

The latest from america

"We, the members of the Society of Jesus, continue to be lifted up in prayer, in lament, in protest at the death and destruction that continue to reign in Gaza and other territories in Israel/Palestine, spilling over into the surrounding countries of the Middle East."
The Society of JesusMarch 28, 2024
A child wounded in an I.D.F. bombardment is brought to Al Aqsa hospital in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on March 25. (AP Photo/Ismael abu dayyah)
While some children have been evacuated from conflict, more than 1.1 million children in Gaza and 3.7 million in Haiti have been left behind to face the rampaging adult world around them.
Kevin ClarkeMarch 28, 2024
Easter will not be postponed this year. It will not wait until the war is over. It is precisely now, in our darkest hour, that resurrection finds us.
Stephanie SaldañaMarch 28, 2024
The paradox at the heart of Christianity is that we must die in order to live again. And few movies witness to that truth like “Romero” (1989).
John DoughertyMarch 28, 2024