Paul Ryan's Budget Inspired by Ayn Rand, Not Jesus Christ

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Simply put, this letter is absurd. I recently graduated from Georgetown University, and I know some of the academics that signed this letter. I have stood in or taken some of their classes, and of all the names I recognized I can tell you this: within the first ten minutes of my class I knew that the professors where liberal, atheists, and they all had an equal hatred of former President George W. Bush. In almost every class, these three aspects had nothing to do with the class. So what’s my point? Georgetown academics are using Catholic tenants (which they don’t believe in) to mask their secular bias. The exception being Jesuit priests, and some, notably Father Thomas J. Reese considers Rep. Ryan’s point of view as non-Biblical, or rather non-Catholic. Is there a difference? Yes.
If this “holy” list of Georgetown academics were at their core truly concerned about Catholic tenants than they would welcome Rep. Ryan as a champion of Catholicism because Rep. Ryan is firmly aligned with the Pope on the topic of abortion when our Georgetown academics are not. Did they send President Obama a letter regarding his position on abortion? Over one million unborn babies are murdered every year in this country, but the fact that Rep. Ryan wants to stop this inhumane practice to show love and compassion – Catholic Principles – is of no matter to our “Georgetown Academics”. Did these same academics send a letter to Georgetown University when a certain Georgetown University student testified before this nation’s senior levels of government regarding why contraception should be made free and accessible to all? Were they not outraged that Georgetown’s name was dragged through the mud because its Catholic principles firmly stand against contraception? Or did the university’s president stand up and defend this anti-Catholic viewpoint? I’m sorry, but Christian free-will does not give us the ability to do as we may, but it should embolden us to do as we ought. Hippocrates.
I believe that Christians can make both arguments on the responsibility of taking care of the world’s sick, wounded, and hungry. Some would say that Jesus Christ fed the hungry and healed the sick, and others would say that through the teachings of Jesus Christ, namely the parables, one could gather that it would be better to teach a man to fish, thus providing for his family, than to simply hand him a fish. Despite what some would say the Bible says Jesus Christ did both. Is it the responsibility of the government to carry out either one of these viewpoints, or is it the responsibility of the church and of citizens? Democrats and Republicans both want to help the needy, but one side wants to create dependency and the other side wants to create educated work. If every church-going Christian would tithe then there would be no hunger in this world, but sin we are sinful and do not step up to the plate we should expect our secular government to take the place of the Church?
Father Reese was quoted saying, “I am afraid that Chairman Ryan’s budget reflects the values of his favorite philosopher Ayn Rand rather than the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Thank you Father Reese for your eloquent and judgmental quote, and might I add that some of your viewpoints are also outside of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To come to the conclusion that Rep. Ryan, a devout Christian, does not comprehend what it means to have compassion and love simply shows society your ignorance and intolerant mind. Rep. Ryan is a faithful husband, and a loving father. To say that his views are not Christian in nature because they are not aligned with yours is wrong. Not because there is disagreement, but because you believe that you are representing the Church. If there would be only one priest that would disagree with Father Reese than logically my point is valid. Father Reese, you are not the final word on the Church. The Church is comprised of every believer. If Georgetown University was so consumed with its Catholic principles then it would appoint a Jesuit as the President of Georgetown University – a private university. The Jesuits would re-claim their institution instead of being marginalized on our campus. There is a reason why clergy are supposed to refrain from politics, and this is why.

ATA of DC 4:00PM August 14, 2012

The ryan Budget...a supreme crock of CORPORATE COMMUNIST excrement...
40 years of FAILED voodoo nixon/reegonomics...sho'nuff

Fred of CA 11:42PM May 31, 2012

To RANJIT: Well thanks for acknowledging the unfairness to Rand in your earlier post, but your claim that "The Virtue of Selfishness" can't help a budget is wrong. If you have read Ayn Rand at all, you would know that politics and economics are not isolated subjects but depend on a philosophical base, including ethics. "The Virtue of Selfishness" outlines the ONLY ethical code that can properly defend freedom (i.e. Capitalism), something that the religious crowd continues to evade.
To all: A government that extorts money from some to pay for the lives of others is not compatible with freedom and individual rights - and will ultimately lead the country to bankruptcy. You have to ask yourself why the country refuses to go back to freedom when the evidence is so clear that government controlled economies lead to economic disaster. The answer is that people refuse to challenge that anti-life code of morality called "altruism" that has characterized most of human history and is inherent in the teachings of the bible (and all other mystical philosophies).

GLENN J of TX 9:05PM May 03, 2012

Ranjit , I assume you are a typical arrogant atheist because only an atheist could object to bill which goes against the word of god . The Paul Ryan Budget is one of the very few serious attempts by politician to restore the judeo-christian values which this country was founded upon , like it or not .

Mellissa of AZ 8:12PM May 03, 2012

No need to get so angry. I simply don't think our country will be helped by a budget based on either the Bible or The Virtue of Selfishness, since neither were written by economists. Social programs have helped countless Americans--including Rand--and I don't believe in a budget that tries to eliminate them in the name of "repairing" them.
We're probably not going to see eye to eye on this one, though I do apologize--you're right to point out that my earlier comments were unfair to Rand.

Ranjit of GA 7:19PM May 03, 2012

To RANJIT: Why the "h" shouldn't Ayn Rand accept social security - she paid into it, as well as paying taxes all her life. Call it restitution, if you like. Why is it that people cannot understand context when discussing issues, whether moral or otherwise. Ayn Rand, like everyone else, had to live within the context of this society - a society with rules she did not agree with and which are forced down all our throats. Quoting her "morality ends where a gun begins". And people like you are advocating the use of that gun, all the while squawking that they are the proper defenders of this country which originally stood for FREEDOM. So who is the hypocrite here?
And why didn't you answer any of the contradictions regarding religion and America I made in my earlier post?

Glenn J of TX 8:11PM May 02, 2012

"This country needs more of Ayn Rand and less of the Bible."
True, this country needs more people who will rail against social programs for decades (and impugn those who participate in such programs), and then quietly accept social security and medicare when they themselves face old age and high medical bills.
See "100 Voices: An Oral History of Ayn Rand" by McConnell

Ranjit of GA 3:25PM May 02, 2012

What Paul Ryan knows about real Christianity could pass through the eye of a needle, and I don't think he'd have a very easy time entering the kingdom of God. I'm not a big fan of the Catholic Church, but I am so proud of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Jesuit faculty of Georgetown for putting this d-bag in his place.

Kevin of AR 1:31AM May 02, 2012

Conservatives-hypocrites all. Business as usual for the conservative party. They talk the talk but simply do not walk the walk. No surprises there ! Sadly they have a following that is not into fact and are easily manipulated. Whoever said "conservatives are complaining that dems didn't clean up the mess they left behind fast enough" hit the nail squarely on the head. Other then the top 1% I cannot imagine why anyone would support a political party that has brought this country to its knees and is determined to continue on that same path. What is wrong with this country? The "dumbing down of America" is the most successful "program" of all time !

Terry of ME 3:22PM May 01, 2012

This post is an indication of why America is in so much trouble. If the west had consistently applied the injunctions of the Bible, it would still be in the dark ages. It is a confession of philosophical ignorance to claim the foundation of America is based in any way on Christianity. How do you reconcile the Biblical ethics of Altruism with "Every man's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"? How do defend the self confidence and assertiveness necessary to succeed in a free market, while simultaneously preaching that "the meek shall inherit the earth? How can a man lead his own life, which is required in a free society, when the Bible tells him to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding"? It can't be done.
This country needs more of Ayn Rand and less of the Bible.

Glenn J of TX 10:40PM April 29, 2012