Posted by
Grace M. Alvarez on Wednesday, July 09, 2008 3:51:44 AM
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Candidate Barack Hussein Obama has grandly, and without reference to, taken President Bush's faith-based initiatives as a bright new idea. Unlike President Bush's plan that would grant exemptions without strings, to churches and other charitable organizations for feeding, clothing and housing the poor and disenfranchised. This, of course, churches and many charities do already without asking for approval - it is simply a timeless tradition.
Enter BHO with his grand plan. Everyone is falling over themselves to applaudt his "innovative" idea. Only it is not new and it has Big Brother at the head of operations. The rules and regulations proposed by BHO would limit how each organization and church operates. A Washington, D.C. entity would regulate and impose strict rules of operation to insure that everyone was treated equally without discrimination.
Sounds noble. However, I will speak from a Catholic point of view and of which I do have some "hands-on" experience. The Church has, from the foundation of its existence, set aside funds to help those in need. Catholic Charities grew from that early beginning. It can be found around the world, (quietly), helping with food, medical supplies, housing, whatever the need is in whatever the situation may be. It is not a "Catholic only" charity. If an individual or family is obviously hungry or homeless, that is the requirement for help.
Like many other charitable groups, the Catholic church does not need government to tell it how or where to spend its funds, which come from the donations of charitable Americans. The Church runs many health care facilities. All of which are bound by the tenets of the Catholic Church. That is procedures which are in convlict with Church teachings are not performed in Catholic hospitals. Procedures such as elective abortions, trans-sexual operations, etc. are contrary to Catholic tenets.
A Catholic hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area was recently forced to perform a trans-sexual surgery under threat of law suits and being dropped as a Medicare/Medicaid provider. Despite the fact that in that area there are many secular hospitals and doctors who willingly perform such procedures, this case was clearly meant to bring down the Church. The only reason the hospital caved was because of its Medicare and Medicaid patients. Anyone familiar with the dollar for value given will understand it wasn't the money! Too many patients were at stake.
That is what letting the government control any aspects of commerce does for "free enterprise." Mr. BHO thinks he can and will provide for everyone out of some unknown pockets - oh yes, the rich. He himself has lately proudly proclaimed how he and Mrs. BHO are products of what anyone can achieve in America if they apply themselves. I applaud that. But now he decides it's ok for him to make the big bucks, but it is obscene for the thousands out there?
His plan to hold high school and college students hostage for a volunteer program in exchange for federal money to further their education is truly dumb, stupid, and utterly without merit. Offering young people money for education in exchange for some kind of public service to those who find such a venture a good solution (for them) is not a new idea. Remember JFK's Peace Corps? That was worthy - strictly volunteer and benefited some students.
It is time we remembered that we are a Republic. A nation of elected officials sent to Congress to represent us - not to arrogantly proclaim to the nation (as have Pelosi, Reid, Feinstein and others) that "the people don't know what they need or what is good for them."