Many years ago, a comedy radio program entitled: “The Life Of Riley”, featured a very typical and ordinary hard-working character who was trying to survive and to make ends meet. When he was confronted by tenuous, frustrating or exasperating situations, his expression was always: “What A Revolting Development This Is!” One is caused to wonder how often Riley would be expressing – “what a revolting development this is!” – if he was a true character who was alive today. The Novelist, Ernest Hemingway is quoted as having mused: “You know that fiction, prose rather, is possibly the roughest trade of all in writing. You do not have the reference, the old important reference. You have the sheet of blank paper, the pencil, and the obligation to invent truer than things can be true. You have to take what is not palpable and make it completely palpable and also have it seem normal and so that it can become a part of experience of the person who reads it.” Another person observed: “Truth may be stranger than fiction, but fiction is truer.”
President Obama appeared on The Tonight Show on Thursday, March 19th. In the midst of his various comments he said in terms of “reinvestment” that “the rich can afford to pay more taxes…” I can almost hear Riley utter: “what a revolting development this is”! This entire concept of “reinvestment” is Washington-Speak for New Taxation that will essentially tax the wealthier Americans so additional Welfare and Benefits can be given to the poor, non-working, or under-achievers. This causes one to wonder where all of this “take from one to give to another” will end. It can be called many things – Welfare State, Socialism, Taxation Without Adequate Representation, etc. – but the bottom-line is that it is wrong, wrong, wrong from start to finish. People should be motivated to be productive! This system generates the spirit of entitlement! It is quite simply – “gimme, gimme, gimme” and “more, more, more!”
Some people have referenced this as a type of Robin Hood approach. More than 70 years ago, The Adventures of Robin Hood was popularized in film. The story is intriguing: “When Richard the Lionhearted, the King of England, is taken captive by Leopold of Austria while returning from the Crusades, his brother John takes power and proceeds to oppress the Saxon commoners. Prince John raises their taxes, supposedly to raise Richard's ransom, but in reality to secure his own position on the throne. One man stands in his way, the Saxon Robin, Earl of Locksley. Robin goes alone to see Prince John and announces to John's assembled supporters and a contemptuous Maid Marian that he will do all in his power to oppose John and restore Richard to his rightful place. He then escapes, in spite of the efforts of John's men. His lands and title now forfeited, Robin takes refuge in Sherwood Forest. One day, Robin and his men capture a large party of Normans transporting the collected taxes through Sherwood. King Richard returns to England disguised as a monk. Richard and his escort travel to Sherwood Forest to find Robin. Richard is soon restored to the throne; he exiles his brother, pardons the outlaws, returns Robin's title and possessions.
Consider these things with me - - - The essential difference between the fictional Robin Hood and the actions of our day is that Robin Hood was a defender of justice and what was right. He championed decency and order, and his activities underscored that point. The problem we have today, although complex, could begin with the Work Ethic. A “welfare State” will be a very weak one. We will (a) run out of assets and resources, and (b) we will lose the ability and motivation to defend ourselves. The Biblical focus is clear and unambiguous – II Thessalonians 3:10-12, “when we were with you, we gave you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.” In I Timothy 5:7-8, we read: “Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” We should not expect God to bless America when we so willfully ignore Him and His Word. We can only reply to the actions of our nation, elected representatives, and non-productive citizens: “What a revolting development this is!”
President Obama appeared on The Tonight Show on Thursday, March 19th. In the midst of his various comments he said in terms of “reinvestment” that “the rich can afford to pay more taxes…” I can almost hear Riley utter: “what a revolting development this is”! This entire concept of “reinvestment” is Washington-Speak for New Taxation that will essentially tax the wealthier Americans so additional Welfare and Benefits can be given to the poor, non-working, or under-achievers. This causes one to wonder where all of this “take from one to give to another” will end. It can be called many things – Welfare State, Socialism, Taxation Without Adequate Representation, etc. – but the bottom-line is that it is wrong, wrong, wrong from start to finish. People should be motivated to be productive! This system generates the spirit of entitlement! It is quite simply – “gimme, gimme, gimme” and “more, more, more!”
Some people have referenced this as a type of Robin Hood approach. More than 70 years ago, The Adventures of Robin Hood was popularized in film. The story is intriguing: “When Richard the Lionhearted, the King of England, is taken captive by Leopold of Austria while returning from the Crusades, his brother John takes power and proceeds to oppress the Saxon commoners. Prince John raises their taxes, supposedly to raise Richard's ransom, but in reality to secure his own position on the throne. One man stands in his way, the Saxon Robin, Earl of Locksley. Robin goes alone to see Prince John and announces to John's assembled supporters and a contemptuous Maid Marian that he will do all in his power to oppose John and restore Richard to his rightful place. He then escapes, in spite of the efforts of John's men. His lands and title now forfeited, Robin takes refuge in Sherwood Forest. One day, Robin and his men capture a large party of Normans transporting the collected taxes through Sherwood. King Richard returns to England disguised as a monk. Richard and his escort travel to Sherwood Forest to find Robin. Richard is soon restored to the throne; he exiles his brother, pardons the outlaws, returns Robin's title and possessions.
Consider these things with me - - - The essential difference between the fictional Robin Hood and the actions of our day is that Robin Hood was a defender of justice and what was right. He championed decency and order, and his activities underscored that point. The problem we have today, although complex, could begin with the Work Ethic. A “welfare State” will be a very weak one. We will (a) run out of assets and resources, and (b) we will lose the ability and motivation to defend ourselves. The Biblical focus is clear and unambiguous – II Thessalonians 3:10-12, “when we were with you, we gave you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.” In I Timothy 5:7-8, we read: “Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” We should not expect God to bless America when we so willfully ignore Him and His Word. We can only reply to the actions of our nation, elected representatives, and non-productive citizens: “What a revolting development this is!”
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