4885

That’s true but I seem to recall there is a strain of Protestantism that emphasizes the work ethic and that has, as its corollary, the idea that material success reflects inner worth.

Whether it is theologically sound is above my pay grade to answer. From what I’ve read of Jesus’s direct quotes, he sounds like a bit of a communist.

4887

The confusion results as follows:

In the Puritan/Calvinist worldview, working hard does make you a better person than someone who doesn’t, in the eyes of society.

But … working hard (or praying hard) has nothing to do with whether you get into heaven. That’s up to God, and it’s not your business to second-guess. If He wants to let some slacker in ahead of Goody Busybody, that’s up to Him. and it’s both pointless and impious to think you’re gonna change His mind.

(Mind you, Calvinism as was pretty much extinct by 1800 and American Protestantism has changed a million times since then.)

4888

For what it’s worth, Judaism has long been about promoting success to rise above poverty, more so than Christianity, historically. That being said the same situations apply. When what use the be shepherds and farmers become shop owners and tradesmen, the directions from the clergy adapt the sermon.

I don’t fault religion for accepting that there will be a variance within the congregation. I fault them for NOT accepting the poor and attempting to help them without scorn.

4889

Stephen Miller blasted Jim Acosta for his “cosmopolitan bias.” Then hey guess what, it turns out Real American Stephen Miller has a million dollar condo in downtown DC that was bought with his rich daddy’s money.

The above is the boring WaPo story. I prefer Wonkette’s version. That’s because it has a link the condo’s truly eye-popping not-at-all-cosmopolitan video, which has the tag line: “Whether you are shopping or sipping red wine – everything is more delightful, more delicious and more joyful at CityCenterDC.”

Clearly Miller is living a life of simple heartland values!

4890

An undocumented immigrant from West Haven has been arrested by federal immigration agents in Connecticut and activists say the man’s 9-year-old son was used “as bait” to lure the immigrant in so he could be taken into custody.

A lawyer for Mynor Espinoza, the undocumented immigrant arrested June 5, said Friday that asking parents to sign federal documents for their children in order to arrest the parents appears to be a new and disturbing tactic by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Connecticut.
[…]
According to his lawyer, Espinoza first attempted to enter the U.S. illegally in 2009. He was caught at the border and returned to his native country, but later that year successfully managed to get into the U.S. with his wife, Dulce. Espinoza has been working as a mason and living in West Haven, and he and his wife now have three young children who were born in the country and are U.S. citizens.

His 9-year-old son, a fourth child who was not born in the country, is also undocumented and was picked up about a year ago attempting to enter the U.S. unaccompanied. Federal officials turned the boy over to his father after Espinoza promised to bring the child to any scheduled immigration hearings and to cooperate with requests from ICE officials.

Rodriguez said Espinoza was requested to come to ICE offices in Hartford to sign some papers for his son, and was immediately arrested when he did so and transferred to detention in Massachusetts.

4891

Those monsters. Thank goodness Trump is keeping us safe.

4892

Still not as bad as in Turkey, where they have been taking the chance to arrest new mothers just after they give birth. At least 17 reported so far.
http://myinforms.com/en-us/a/615212746-arrested-after-giving-birth-turkeys-post-coup-crackdown-reportedly-hits-maternity-wards/

4893

We’re not as bad as Turkey, so congrats!

4894

Hang in there, there’s still a chance you can overtake Turkey (the supporter of IS).

4895
4896

econ

4897

The line goes up! That’s good, right!

Yay! We have the best charts!

4898

Old people who yearn for the “good ok’ days” conviently ignore the fact that we were taxing the fuck out of the rich back then.

4899

They’re not dead so they still might be rich one day!

They think as they buy lottery tickets with all their spare cash.

4900

Also BTW, that derogatory use of the word “cosmopolitan”? Supposedly code for Jewish.
Because even after the horrific crimes of recent historical memory, anti-Semitism is still a thing.

4901

Everything is code for Jewish with the alt-Right.

4902

Carl Sagan, in 1996. How dare he knock Beavis and Butthead??

e9yhgtwjgoez
e9yhgtwjgoez.jpg1991×2048 580 KB

4903

We need ol’ Carl more now than ever.

4904

Holy crap that’s prophetic.

4905

If only Carl Sagan had foreseen social media. He wouldn’t have been so gosh-darned optimistic.