Veerrry interesting stats on charitable contributions by State....I wouldn't have guessed it.

[RainDog]

236. What's so bizarre

Is to see people come onto this thread and think it's about religion per se.

It's about a right wing talking point, favored especially among libertarians, that argues charity, rather than social policy, should be the way to deal with poverty.

This person uses many of the same words, exactly the same words, as libertarians who argue for the use of charity rather than uniform governmental policy.

What this would mean is a reversion to a Dickensian existence for the poor, with child beggars, child labor (Republicans are also arguing for this in the recent past) and servitude... i.e. slavery.

It's a joke that some of you come onto this thread all huffed and puffed up because people are asking if this person is really so stupid or is trolling this site by promoting right wing positions (tho doing it, in both cases I've seen, in a "who me?" sort of way.)

This is about politics, ultimately, not religion.

The right wing in this nation has poisoned the well of religion by pretending they own it - but that's not the problem of those who are posting here - that's the problem of a large group of religious believers who also happen to be racists by their geographical, religious and voting history.

The southern baptist church, the largest sect in the southern U.S. came into existence to promote slavery in America. This sect was responsible for the south's move to the Republican party with Nixon/Reagan. Republicans knew they were appealing to racists - their chief strategist of their party for this issue admitted it on tape. Atwater said, paraphrasing, you can't say "n-word, n-word, n-word." So you talk about welfare, and you know the people are going to hear "n-word" - it's abstracted.

but they hear their racism confirmed. that's what the OP was appealing to, as well.

That's what this thread is about, for many of us responding here. Those who are offended for religious reasons look clueless, frankly.