Paul Ryan Budget
Paul Ryan - Budget (21-30)
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from Paul Ryan
Religion)Paul Ryan is well-known for his plans to overhaul the federal budget. What exactly is the Paul Ryan budget plan and how does Paul Ryan's religion shape his budget?
Since 2008, Congressman Paul Ryan has been tabling proposals to cut the federal budget and budget deficit by phasing out or drastically reducing federal entitlements, including Medicare (medical insurance for the elderly) and Medicaid (medical insurance for the poor).
Paul Ryan's budget plan also cuts taxes on corporations and rich individuals, which, Paul Ryan asserts, will spur economic growth, which in turn will swell the budgets of local communities, churches and charities to shoulder the burden of caring for the elderly, the sick and the poor.
Paul Ryan's budget plan shines the spotlight squarely on America's burgeoning debt and budget deficit. But will the Paul Ryan budget plan actually work?
The tax cuts over the last decade have proven that in a globalized economy, rich American companies and individuals invest less in America and more in developing countries whose people work for far less and provide higher return on investment. This is evidenced by the widening gap between the rich and the poor, the continuing record profits of multinational corporations, and the lack of growth in (high-paying) jobs in America.
And it would be ideal if churches could shoulder the burden of caring for the poor, young and the elderly, for then the credit for that care would go to Christ. But churches today spend more of their budgets on mortgage payments on buildings that Jesus never told us to build than they do on caring for the poor, the elderly and the sick.
We should first take care of the poor, the elderly and the sick, and then tell the government to take away its safety nets for them. It would not be Christ-like of us to cut away that safety net without being prepared to catch those who are falling.
While discussing his budget plan on April of 2012, Paul Ryan told CBN:
"... one of the primary tenants of Catholic social teaching means don’t keep people poor, don’t make people dependent on government so that they stay stuck at their station in life. Help people get out of poverty out onto life of independence." (Paul Ryan, Christian Broadcasting Network, April 10, 2012)
Paul Ryan's assertion may sound logical and be "Catholic," but is it Biblical?
Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." (Matthew 19:21)
Jesus also commanded, "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just." (Luke 14:13-14)
Jesus also commanded us to, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8)
How important is it to Jesus that we take care of the poor and the sick? Heed Jesus' stern warning below, in which He refers to Himself as the "Son of Man" and "the King":
"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:31-46)
Our national debt and budget deficit are already far too large for Paul Ryan or any other politician to resolve. There is only one solution as described here.
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21. Under what circumstances do you believe abortion should be allowed?
Paul Ryan: (awaiting response)
22. Should America constitutionally define marriage as between one man and one woman?
Paul Ryan: (awaiting response)
23. What is your position on the resumption of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy in our military?
Paul Ryan: (awaiting response)
24. What do you think should be done to reduce our national debt?
Paul Ryan: (awaiting response)
25. What do you think should be done to resolve the ongoing housing crisis?
Paul Ryan: (awaiting response)
26. What do you think should be done to stimulate job growth?
Paul Ryan: (awaiting response)
27. What do you think should be done about our health care system?
Paul Ryan: (awaiting response)
28. What is your opinion on Israel's present policies concerning Palestinians?
Paul Ryan: (awaiting response)
29. What is the greatest issue facing America and how do you think it should be addressed?
Paul Ryan: (awaiting response)
30. Why do you think you are the best person to become our next Vice President?
Paul Ryan: (awaiting response)