LDS Freedom Forum

On a different thread, someone stated the following quote:

But I will also say that more importantly I believe we as a nation are not focused ENOUGH on what the mind and will of the Lord really is and that we should all be more focused on the poor and needy than we are. Our nation is now in trillions of dollars of debt.

So I am wondering about all the various influences that went into USA's emphasis on riches and (so called) ignoring the poor. It is well-noted that the Democrats have pinned onto the GOP that appearance that they care nothing for the poor, and represent only the rich - and if it was not for the Christian Coalition that elected Reagan and focused on social and culture issues, the Dems would be correct...the GOP would be the party of Wall Street and Country Clubs and ONLY Wall Street and Country Clubs.

So what is the problem? Reagan's 1980's policies benefiting corporate raiders and conspicuous consumption? GOP for slashing funding for mental health programs and other forms of welfare? JBS and Ezra Taft Benson for stressing individual responsibility? Heber J. Grant for raising warnings about FDR's welfare state? George W Bush telling Americans after 9/11 to just keep shopping to defeat the terrorists' ambitions? (they hate America and our prosperity). Is it our national heritage of rugged individualism taken to an extreme? Reverence for Capitalism and an over-dependence on the Free-Market? Off-shoring? Union-busting? Cultural celebration and idolization of tycoons, celebrities, and lIfestyles of the Rich and Famous?

I grew up as Republican, conservative (Cleon Skousen's influence), and LDS - and cannot stand the Democratic Party and stated goals in any way...but if you want to honestly examine the causes of greed, selfishness, neglect of the poor, etc., then maybe we also need to examine the messages and effects of GOP, conservative, and LDS messages and viewpoints as well...

Not trying to P-Off the hard core constitutionalists and libertarians here... I am interested in the possible discussion

Thanks in advance.

It did not necessarily come from Republicans. The ethic pervades all of US society and the manipulation behind it can be traced to Edward Bernays:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmUzwRCyTSo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


If you watch that whole documentary you will know more about modern American culture and its foundational principles than any study of history prior to WW1.

There are a lot of canards in here.

The Democrats have really never been anti-rich and pro-poor, rather most of the richest have always been left wing Democrats, Wall Street is loaded with Harvard Democrats, Democrat states have been no better to the poor than GOP states. And the GOP has been a better friend to the poor than anyone, that has been the case for me personally..

The US is not a homogenous group. People that live in Berkely have little in common with rural Oklahomans.

Debt is not necessarily about caring about the rich instead of the poor, rather dysfunctional politics.

My philosophy has always been that free enterprise has reduced poverty over any other single factor. Which is why I support it. Big government produces poverty.

D&C 49: 20 But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin.

I think the problem is twofold.

First, the belief that the government has the right to involve itself in these things, essentially robbing citizens to give resources to other citizens. The government claims the responsibility for the poor, therefore individuals and private organizations no longer feel they need to do anything. Of course the government doesn't do anything well, so the poor are worse off than ever and private organizations still have to pick up the slack more than ever.

Second, the notion that aiding the poor means giving them money. This is about the WORST thing you can do to a person. It strips them of independence, removes their desire to become self-sufficient, and instills in them a horrible self image. Not only that, but it affects how others see them as well. Instead of being viewed as unfortunates in need of assistance, they're viewed as lazy leeches stealing from others.

Our country has done such a fantastic job of throwing everything on its head, it's no surprise that this is just another way things have been messed up.

Gods politics. A book
By Jim Wallace.

Amazon summary it