Wednesday, September 3, 2008

WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING?




[Sarah Palin is] "someone who's stopped government from wasting taxpayers' money on things they don't want or need and put it back to work for the people."

-- John McCain, August 29, 2008


Alaska gives its Governor line item veto in the state's budget. This allows her to specifically veto projects and spending she determines in wasteful and unwarranted, unpackaged from any other item. In April of this year, the Alaska Legislature sent Governor Palin the budget. Among the items she vetoed was funding for a Covenant House Alaska, a highly regarded Catholic social services shelter for troubled youth, particularly teenage mothers. Covenant House Alaska witnesses the Catholic faith by providing young mothers a place to live with their babies for up to 18 months while they gain the necessary skills and resources to change their lives.

Helping teenage unwed mothers, particularly those who are from families that cannot provide them the support they and their babies need, seems to be "wasteful government spending" to some Republicans, at least the Alaska governor.

For many Catholics, however, this is part of our comprehensive pro-life witness and a way of standing for the common good.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

A zinger, Kate. You do have the best research staff!!!!

Anonymous said...

Actually I would say a pretty poor research staff and typically dishonest. The way you make it sound she eliminated funding for the program. What she actually did, and you knew this but refused to explain it accurately, was to continue funding the program at previous year levels. In fact this additional funding appears to be for expansion of facilities. I don't know the economic condition of Alaska but given the economics of most of the rest of the country it is not unrealistic to not fund expansion of programs. As someone who sits on the board of a Catholic crisis pregnancy center I understand all to well the funding we receive from the government. In Minnesota our Center received less money this year than previously (actual cuts to funding) led by 'Catholic' Democratic legislators. They actually wanted to eliminate all funding for the program only by the grace of our Republican governor Tim Pawlenty was funding restored at all.

Katherine said...

Sean2,

It is good to hear that Gov. Pawlenty took the exact opposite action Governor Palin did.

Alaska is rolling in oil revenue. I don't think it is asking too much for the Governor to go along with a provision the Republican Legislature (both houses) passed to help a Catholic charity assist unwed mothers. Particularly when the Governor's own household has this same matter before it.

Anonymous said...

The only taxpayer funded home for unwed mothers Palin supports is the Governor's Mansion.

Anonymous said...

Kathryn,

I just am finishing a number of press releases for a Catholic foundation that gave over $1 million dollars away this year to approx 60 groups including a number similar to Covenant House. Nearly everyone of the grants was less than requested in order to fund the maximum number of requests. Many other worthy groups were denied altogether.
Does that make us hypocrites? Some of them actually received less money than in the past.

Why don't you go to this website http://24ahead.com/blog/archives/007978.html and take a look at the actual documents relating to their funding. Check out the letter from Covenant House to Gov. Palin thanking her for her leadership and "we are proud of you and believe Alaska is benefiting greatly from your administration."

Anonymous said...

"rolling in oil revenues" Oh brother! How ignorant. She did not EXPAND funding...the covenent home still has existing funding. There are other ways of helping pregnant teens...not all of whom are CATHOLIC. This is such a typical exchange. The libs want to remove all responsibility from people who make poor choices. Can't you understand that with responsibility comes strength and grown of character? Sarah walks the walk, and its killing libs who just don't understand why any one would want to! Bless her.

Anonymous said...

I think helping unwed mothers is a much better use of money than building a bridge to nowhere and the $200 million of silly earmarks Palin requested.

Rustler45 said...

What a bunch of lying hypocrits!

KATHERINE: "I don't think it is asking too much for the Governor to go along with a provision the Republican Legislature (both houses) passed to help a Catholic charity assist unwed mothers."

What a crock Katherine! You and the other liberals are always talking out of both sides of your mouths. You just violated a liberal principal of separation of church and state just so that you can criticize a woman who out shines all the other politicians and is going to ensure that John McCain beats Obama. If she had approved the legislation you'd have ben yelling your head off that she was promoting religion with taxpayer money. Whatever works. Right?

O is going dowwwwwwwwnnnnnn! Stick a fork in him. He's done.

Ya'll have been PALINIZED!!!

Oh, you don't have to post this. It's way tooo embarrassing for you isn't it? Oh I know, you won't anyway just because you hate me.

You're a typical woman. Somebody makes you mad and you never get over it. So don't think you ever fooled me with your sanctimonious "praying for you."

http://lubiankaprison.phpbb-host.com/ftopic744.php

CatholicsForDemocracy said...

sean2

There is a world of difference between a foundation with how a foundation with a set funding budget decides to divvy up grants and a State with surplus assets denying needed funding to achieve the politically expedient.

Your case is not at all made.

shiloh said...

Rustler45 said...

What a bunch of lying hypocrits!

O is going dowwwwwwwwnnnnnn! Stick a fork in him. He's done.

Ya'll have been PALINIZED!!!

Oh, you don't have to post this. It's way tooo embarrassing for you isn't it? Oh I know, you won't anyway just because you hate me.

You're a typical woman. Somebody makes you mad and you never get over it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Hey rust, good to see you haven't lost your touch or lack thereof ...

So what exactly is a typical woman? Someone like Sarah Palin? hmm, generalizations, projections, world views, prejudices etc. etc. Republicans are quite a shallow misguided group, eh! Damn, did I just generalize because of one shallow nonsensical conservative. ;)

and no brother, we don't hate you. On the contrary, we pray for your soul to be redeemed every day!

take care, blessings :)

p.s. Because your posts are always so angry and filled w/hatred, we are going to make praying for your soul our #1 priority ...

Anonymous said...

Mrs. Palin needs to be reminded that Jesus Christ was a community organizer and Pontius Pilate was a governor.

Anonymous said...

CatholicsforDemocracy,

Just because the State has a surplus doesn't mean it all needs to be spent. Like a foundation they try to to the max good for the max number of people. A foundation has more assets than it is paying out in order to have funds each year. As a result some things go un/under funded. The Govt. likewise has a responsibility to keep money in reserve because it may not always run a surplus.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous,

Jesus was not a community organizer.

Anonymous said...

I am interested to know where you learned your Catholic faith. How can you even call yourself Catholic when you choose to vote for Obama. Have you researched what your church believes you should do?? Go to www.catholic.org for just a few examples of what Obama supports that the church does not. I have explained to my 5 children that God gave us this great country and with that we received freedom, therefore we all have the right to choose who we want to run our country. Praise God for our voice, but I could not sleep at night if Obama was in office, so I pray for God to take over and I pray for ALL of you. Come Holy Spirit, Fill the hearts your faithful, enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit and you shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Katherine said...

I'm going to disagree and say He was. Our Lord was many things and he certainly was a community organizer among the Hebrew people.

Mrs. Palin's belittling of community organizing was an uncalled for crack against the Catholic Church. Barack Obama's community organizing was a Catholic sponsored project. He drew his meager salary from funds we Catholics provided. Mrs. Palin owes the Church an apology.

Rustler45 said...

SHYSTER SAID: So what exactly is a typical woman?

RUSTLER: hahahahahahaaaaaaa So you don't know what a typical woman is. You must not be married, have sisters, worked with women, or had a woman boss. If you did you are really dense if you still don't know. I can't help you.

At least you got rid of that stupid looking baby picture for your avatar.

Soooo, my posts are angry? Why is it that I am laughing so hard everytime I post?

Actually I should ask you, what's wrong with justifiable righteous anger?

BTW Sean, you're too insipid to inspire anger. It's only wishful thinking on your part to think that you might make me angry. You best not worry about my anger. It's of no importance. You best be worrying about the just anger of God.

Rustler45 said...

KATHERINE: Mrs. Palin's belittling of community organizing was an uncalled for crack against the Catholic Church.

Oh baloney Katherine. I never heard of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). What do you want to bet it's some liberation theology program (i.e., Marxist). Is it a front for AK-47s for South America?

What a twist to words to make such "mocking" the Church.

You people mock the Catholic Church everyday with your support of an abortionist, Marxist, pro-homo marriage wacko extremist.

Why aren't you on the usual "separation of church and state" bandwagon? Not politically expedient?

shiloh said...

Rustler45 said...

SHYSTER SAID:

BTW Sean, you're too insipid to inspire anger.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yea, it's easy to mix up names, especially if one is sooo angry they lose their train of thought. ;)

Kinda funny when baiters and name callers, like yourself, get the names wrong of people they are trying to attack.

Rust, I believe you need a vacation to rejuvenate what few brain cells you have left.

Chill brother!

take care, blessings

CatholicsForDemocracy said...

sean2

You said: "Just because the State has a surplus doesn't mean it all needs to be spent. Like a foundation they try to to the max good for the max number of people."

I agree. Just because a State has a surplus, it does not follow the State needs to spend it.

Where you and I disagree is on the question of how the common good is served. There is a need among the more vulnerable in the State. Catholic Social Doctrine says society, if possible, should meet that need. In the particular case of the Alaska budget, the funds were available, through windfall energy profits, to meet the very needs Catholic social doctrine teaches the more affluent should step in and help.

Gov. Palin, however, chose not to meet those needs. Instead, she converted the windfall profits to Alaskans. Now, I will agree, unless otherwise demonstrated (a demonstration, by the way, I highly anticipate), that some of those tax refunds went back to people who need them. However, most of the tax funding came through energy revenue of people who did not need it. The money, consistent with Catholic principles of serving the common good, would have been better spent on programs that needed the revenue.

Palin proved who she is as a person by not doing that, and by taking the more politically expedient measures she took.

Anonymous said...

CatholicsforDemocracy,

You are right that the affluent and society need to step in and help those less fortunate. But the obligation is on the individual. Society is nothing but a collection of individuals. The story of the Good Samaritan teaches us that the individual met the needs of his injured brother, he did not seek assistance from an institution or agency.

The Catholic Church stresses the obligation of the individual because it is necessary for his spiritual growth, hence the whole idea of charity. That virtue is lost when an institution, particularly a secular institution performs that function. Paying higher taxes for more programs does not serve this function either, even though it makes many people who hate "the rich" smugly feel that somehow "they" are now paying their fair share.

Anonymous said...

Sean2,

You have every rtight to your opinion but you seem to have a very shallow understanding of Catholic SOCIAL teaching (not Catholic INDIVIDUALIST Teaching).

hw whole core of this teaching is that we have SOCIAL obligations and duties beyond our obligation to individual, private charity.

The Catholic Church, maybe more than any other organization, REJECTS the assertion than society is no more than the sum totals of the individuals. Try reading Gaudium et Spes. Here the Church teaches "for by our innermost nature the person is a social being."

Time and time again, the Church has taught that justice cannot be acheived without employing mutuality.

The Catechism speaks BOTH of social chairity and private charity as virtues.

Your statement is totally outside the bounds of Catholic Social Teaching.

Rustler45 said...

SHYSTER: "Kinda funny when baiters and name callers, like yourself, get the names wrong of people they are trying to attack."

Hey Shyster, you and Sean are so much like twins that it's hard to tell you apart. You're both a couple of whiners.

BTW, where's the attack? You mean that my telling you that you are insipid is an attack? hahahaha What a crybaby.

You obviously have never had me attack you. If so you'd know what an attack is.

What's really funny and tells your true character is that you have never said anything negative about Hillary Clinton. Now there's one for you. She is so disgusting that I have not the words to adequately describe her. She is corruption personified yet you immediately start with the hate rhetoric against an upright honest woman like Sarah Palin. Whether or not I have anger is open for debate, but you and the other liberals for Obama are unquestionably full of hatred and few other things unmentionable.

Anonymous said...

Kurt,
Social responsibility is not necessarily the responsibility of the government, particularly a secular government such as exists in this country. Never mind the name calling since you have no clue as to my understanding of social teachings of the Church.

Anonymous said...

Sean,

Social responsibility is a responsibility of the government, particularly a democratic government such as exists in this country. At least according to the social teachings of the Church. Private individuals are free to have their private opinions.

CatholicsForDemocracy said...

Katherine,

"I'm going to disagree and say He was. Our Lord was many things and he certainly was a community organizer among the Hebrew people."

Yes. And, as someone reminded us in the blog over at barackobama.com, Pontius Pilate was a governor.

CatholicsForDemocracy said...

sean2,
"The Catholic Church stresses the obligation of the individual because it is necessary for his spiritual growth, hence the whole idea of charity."

First off, charity and justice are two sides of the same coin in Catholic Social Doctrine; one cannot be emphasized at the expense of the other.

Secondly, the Catholic Church does not stress the "obligation of the individual", it argues a balance between subsidiarity and solidarity, the subjective initiative of individuals and lower levels of the social order vs. the obligation of the higher orders of society to meet the needs of the common good.

It is not the primary point of subsidiarity to offer the opportunity for justice. The primary point of subsidiarity is honoring the dignity of the human person's right to self-determination as a personal subject. Calling on the State to honor the human subject's right to self-determination, however, does not abrogate the responsibility of the State to provide relief where the human subject or lower orders of society are unable to provide self-relief.

As to "raising taxes." Alaska's budget surplus did not result from an increase in the tax rate, it resulted from an increase in the tax base due to windfall energy profits. Much of those windfall energy profits came at the direct economic expense of broader society. It is not "hating the rich" to say one cannot profit at the direct expense of the economic well-being of society. The State, according to Pope Leo XIII, has the direct responsibility to act as an arbiter in that matter.

Anonymous said...

Wow, the next time we have a secodn collection for the Campaign for Human Development I can as Father to tell the Archbishop to shove it. We aren't liberals.

Rustler45 said...

"The Catechism speaks BOTH of social chairity and private charity as virtues."

But somehow both you and the CCHD "liberally" interpret that as the Church's endorsement of socialism.

You keep forgetting that Catholicism and socialism are at odds with each other.

Rustler45 said...

Betty said...
"I think helping unwed mothers is a much better use of money than building a bridge to nowhere..."

Betty, you're a genius.

Rustler45 said...

OURRESIDENTPOLITICALSCIENCEMAJOR SAID: "Our Lord was many things and he certainly was a community organizer among the Hebrew people."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA I suppose he started the Altar Society, huh? The ACLU? The Anti-Defamation League?

Smoking pot again Demo?

CatholicsForDemocracy said...

"You keep forgetting that Catholicism and socialism are at odds with each other"

No. The Church and communism were, and remain, at odds with each other. I would even agree the Church and socialism are at odds if, by that, you mean some forms of socialism acting as philosophical extensions of classical communism. But I would not agree with you further than that.

The Church and communism being at odds has never had anything to with a correct social distribution of wealth. It has always had to do with an understanding of the relationship between the human person and the State. As Popes Leo XIII, John XVIII, Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI all point out, communism subordinated the human person to the State.

Liberals in American politics never promoted the subordination of the human person to the State. And Catholics under most of the above-named Popes understood that. Catholics used to be a reliable liberal vote, until a certain Supreme Court decision drove a wedge into the Catholic vote and allowed the Right to create a wedge to redefine what it means to be liberal or conservative.

Now I understand there are those Catholics who currently self-identify as "conservatives." I disagree with them, but support their right to take a position. What I don't support is their presumption that those who disagree with their closed politics are somehow "not Catholic." Those who argue that position know little about American history and they know even less about the experience and practice of Catholics in American history.

Rustler45 said...

DEMO SAID: "No. The Church and communism were, and remain, at odds with each other. …some forms of socialism acting as philosophical extensions of classical communism."

Why am I not surprised? If you didn't understand what I have told you about the intrinsic evil of democracy you're not going to understand the problems of socialism. It's all because you're a political science major. Remember? I keep telling you and you just don't get it. You have been brainwashed into a robotic thinking communist who believes himself to be educated. You are a Marxist. Now tell me what is "socialism acting as philosophical extensions of classical communism" other than a high sounding, pseudo-intellectual euphemism. Communism is socialism and socialism is communism. If you think there is some difference that makes socialism acceptable to Catholic teaching you are doing mental gymnastics.

Definition of socialism--A system of social and economic organization that would substitute state monopoly for private ownership of the sources of production and means of distribution, and would concentrate under the control of the secular governing authority the chief activities of human life.

Dr. Geraghty from EWTN wrote: "Besides being an sin against the human dignity of the individual and family, it ruins the economy of a community, opening it up to the mismanagement and corruption of government officials."

Socialism is universally found to be antagonistic to Christianity. All three popes who have come into contact with modern Socialism, Pius IX, Leo XIII, and Pius X, have formally condemned it. They have all said, "One cannot call himself a sincere Catholic and at the same time be a socialist."

"As Popes Leo XIII, John XVIII, Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI all point out, communism subordinated the human person to the State."

As does any other form of socialism.

"Liberals in American politics never promoted the subordination of the human person to the State."

Not true. Father John A. Hardon, S.J. was one of the greatest teachers of the Catholic faith during the twentieth century. According to Fr. Hardon, "In the light of what we have just seen, can anyone doubt that the United States has been deeply infected by Marxism. However, I believe we can say even more. Our country is a Marxist nation, Dare I say still more? The United States of America is the most powerful Marxist country in the world."

Here are reasons why socialism is always bad.

1. It is a product of liberalism. It is always promoted by a small group of power hungry, secular, amoral or immoral men who espouse atheism. Their goal is for them to be the rulers over the entire population and cheat the people out of their hard earned wages.

2. All forms of socialism have a philosophy that human nature needs to be remolded. (If that doesn't scare you nothing will.) And that means subordination to the state. There is no other way to accomplish that goal.

3. Less than radical forms are never satisfactory to those who love these ideas.

4. It lacks moral guidance of The Church.

You need to go here http://sacredcowpunchers.sosblog.com/Sacred-Cow-Punchers-b1.htm and read why LIBERALISM IS A SIN.

You also need to understand that nobody has a "right" to a "position." Freedom yes, but not a right. You only have a right to the correct moral position. Your lack of understanding that is causing you problems in your thought process.

Rustler45 said...

From the Catholic Encyclopedia:

"For, in the first place, the main principles common to all schools of Socialism have been explicitly condemned in Encyclicals like the "Rerum novarum" or the "Graves de communi"; and, in addition, as has been shown above, the main current of Socialism is still Marxist, and no adhesion to a movement professedly international can be acquitted of the guilt of lending support to the condemned doctrines."

Notice the word "all."

Anonymous said...

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Rustler, let me respond to your assertions as they are claims commonly put forward by conservatives and rarely well responded to by American liberals.

You can find many foils among American liberals who will engage you in some silly philosophical debate and you endlessly dispute what ‘socialism’ really is. And it is easy to find such liberal foils in the USA because there is really no strong democratic socialist movement here (though I would say the political program of the UAW is the American substitute for democratic socialism).

But in the democracies of western Europe and large parts of the rest of the world, there is a strong, politically significant democratic socialist political movement. It consists of the political parties of the Socialist International (formerly called the Second International). Like all political movements, it is free to reform, adapt and even reserve itself on any question. Catholics should not apply our own understanding of the Church – infallible in essentials and a guardian of Revelation – to a secular political movement.

What Socialists said or held in the 19th century really doesn’t matter any more than the Republican Party’s 19th century anti-Catholicism is a reason to vote against it today. Certainly the Church had ever reason to condemn the anti-clericalism of 19th century socialists, though Pope John Paul II has confessed and apologized for the fact this was brought on in part by a sinful alliance of some church authorities with reactionary and anti-worker elites.

Pope Pius XI, while condemning socialism also told Cardinal Bourne that this condemnation did not apply to the socialist in the UK (see The Tablet, June 20, 1931). Canadian bishops also taught the same about the socialist movement there. In 1959, socialists in Germany adopted a new party programme, the Bad Godesberg Programme. Catholic representatives were deeply involved in negotiations to lobby for a programme that was not incompatible with the faith and pronounced the end product acceptable.

Today, practicing Catholics hold leadership positions in the socialist parties in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, etc and are warmly welcomed by Catholic prelates including the Pope. Of course, Tony Blair, a socialist, was recently received into the Catholic Church and honored at the Vatican.

Rustler45 said...

Kurt said... Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

RUSTLER REPLIES: That is the most intelligent statement in your whole reply. At least you weren't lying.

KURT SAID: Rustler, let me respond to your assertions as they are claims commonly put forward by conservatives and rarely well responded to by American liberals.

RUSTLER REPLIES: And you were no exception.

KURT SAID: You can find many foils among American liberals who will engage you in some silly philosophical debate…

RUSTLER REPLIES: As you attempted.

KURT SAID: But in the democracies of western Europe and large parts of the rest of the world, there is a strong, politically significant democratic socialist political movement.

RUSTLER REPLIES: Oh WOW, what a great example of good government and great Catholicism. Let's have big round of applause for the EuroTrash. Europeans are idiots as witness their past records as well as their present demise. They will all be Muslim in about 25 years. They've only been good at starting World Wars and having to have us save their sorry asses.

KURT SAID: What Socialists said or held in the 19th century really doesn’t matter any more….

RUSTLER REPLIES: Oh really, and so socialism has changed and the Church now teaches differently? The fact that you're not impressed with what Fr. Hardon had to say nor what past Popes have said speaks volumes for you and proves you not just to be a socialist, but a Marxist to the nth degree. Got anything else stupid you want to impress us with?

KURT SAID: …brought on in part by a sinful alliance of some church authorities with reactionary and anti-worker elites.

RUSTLER REPLIES: Great statement Kurt! Your communist verbiage speaks well for you.

KURT SAID: Pope Pius XI, while condemning socialism also told Cardinal Bourne that this condemnation did not apply to the socialist in the UK….

RUSTLER REPLIES: Oh baloney. And where did you read that? Did you pull it out of context somewhere? They are as Marxist as we are. More so. Ref: Fr. Hardon.

KURT SAID: Today, practicing Catholics hold leadership positions in the socialist parties in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, etc and are warmly welcomed by Catholic prelates including the Pope. Of course, Tony Blair, a socialist, was recently received into the Catholic Church and honored at the Vatican.

RUSTLER REPLIES: Wonderful! And Catholic politicians here in the U.S. are no different -- just more pro-abortionists. That's why the bishops are instructing communion to be withheld. Tony Blair! What a great example. He's an idiot Kurt. Anybody can be a Catholic today and believe anything you want.

Please don't bother with posting any more of your nonsense. OK?

BTW are you another Political Science Major?