Saturday Sounds

In honor of all the "Private Malones" who didn't make it home...

Is the Pope Catholic?

...that's usually a retort to point out the obviousness of an association.  But I mean it as a real question today:

In a passage that may prompt a theological debate about the nature of salvation, the pontiff also declared that God “has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone!”
“Even the atheists,” he said to those who might question his assertion. “Everyone!”
Wednesday’s remarks displayed the kind of plain-spokenness that has become a hallmark of Francis’ homilies and speeches, and they also developed themes that Francis frequently mentions in a pontificate that is just over two months old.
One is that the Catholic Church must be open to the world and not “self-referential, closed in on herself,” as he said last weekend at Pentecost. Another is that the church must be humble and recognize its own shortcomings, and that it should be tolerant of nonbelievers.

One of the principles of the Reformation is that Scripture is the authority, not any man (i.e. the Pope).  Even the pontiff's words have to be weighed in light of what God's Word teaches:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast."  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

"For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.  For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  (Romans 10:10-13)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’  (Matthew 7: 21-23)


It is one thing for the Pope to note that Catholics (indeed, anyone who claims the Name of Christ) should be open in love toward those who have not yet called upon Jesus as Savior.  That is how the Gospel ("good news") of Christ is shared.  This is the essence of being 'tolerant' of nonbelievers, and even the Apostle Paul instructed believers that, where is depended on them, they were to live in peace with everyone.  (This, of course, implies they do not always get the sole vote in the matter...)

However, it's entirely something else -- and hellishly deceptive -- to suggest everyone is already redeemed, whether they acknowledge Christ or not.  Whatever other prerogatives he may have, the so-called 'Vicar of Christ' cannot contradict Christ.

Saturday Sounds

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Attorney General:


For analysis, we turn to child psychology expert Bill Cosby (skip to 1:28 in to begin):

'Nuff said.

Since a picture's 'worth a thousand words,' here's your heavy reading for the day:

The power of printing

Yes, I'm aware there are multiple skeletons peeking out of closets around the District of Corruption.  But I'm not inclined to talk about that cesspool today.  

Even before the current 'gun control' push and its scaremongering about 3D printing, I've been fascinated with the emerging technology.  This is a revolution in the making, that is only now really capturing the public notice.  And I think the implications are profound for society.

It's an axiom of military history that over time, technology shifts between offensive and defensive advantages, as the profession of arms scrambles to adapt to changes in capabilities.  In a similar fashion, I believe history ebbs and flows between developments that empower the individual, and those that favor the centralization of power.

Take the original printing press.  Before Gutenberg popularized the use of moveable type printing, information favored the wealthy and well-connected.  They alone could compile libraries of the tediously hand-copied manuscripts that were available.  Not only did the increasingly inexpensive printed page make information and ideas accessible outside the elite, it also empowered new voices to spread their own perspectives.  It's no coincidence the Reformation exploded across Europe less than a century after printing presses became a commonplace technology.

New pathways eventually lead to new gatekeepers, however.  The advent of the mass-media age concentrated enormous influence in the hands of people like William Randolph Hearst, who had the means to operate well-established networks to distribute information.

...then along comes this thing called the "Internet," and suddenly if I have a keyboard and mouse I can share my thoughts with the world... if I can interest it in what I have to say.  There's a reason that doesn't set well with 'the powers that be.'   The fight is on already to see if either governments or corporations can become the new 'gatekeepers.'

Nor is this the only example.  Knights and Samurai dominated their societies because specialized training--weapons, horsemanship, upkeep of gear--required time that most people didn't have.  In a world marked by eeking out a bare existence, those few 'men of leisure' who could pursue the martial arts had an unassailable advantage, and were only endangered by each other.

Then came longbows, and later, firearms.  Now any fool peasant could be taught to topple an armored noble from his horse in less time than it took to teach a page boy all the parts of a suit of armor!  A sci-fi/fantasy series I read a few years ago explored a world where suddenly gunpower, explosives and electricity ceased to work.  Some of the more memorable parts mused over just how reliant our traditions of social equality and individual freedom are on these enablers.

Naturally, that means those with a will to power will always try to become gatekeepers to that which empowers the individual.  ...like firearms.  The Bloombergs of the world have no qualms about employing armed bodyguards.  What horrifies them is the idea everyone should be entitled to access the same defensive power.  And yet some of these power-happy egos try to pass themselves off as "men of the people."  Pfah!

Which brings us to yet another cycle.  Industry--production of goods--once revolved around the home... literally, the 'family business.'  Only with mechanization did these processes begin to congregate in factories (centralization).   That very concentration provides opportunities for gatekeepers to block access, by controlling what's produced or how it's distributed.  THAT's why 3D printing terrifies the (gun) control freaks. 

We've recently seen decentralization in some occupations because telecommuting became feasible.  What happens when heavy manufacturing begins to undergo the same disruption?  The impacts go far beyond producing homemade firearms our "betters" would rather we not have. This, next to my Christian faith, gives me hope even as I see the corruption of our civic institutions entering a terminal phase.  Governments and individuals both can misuse any technology--that's simply the sin nature at work.  But given that nature, I favor any development that allows a responsible individual to hold his own in this fallen world, and stay one step ahead of those who would presume to control him.

Information & Revenue Shakedowns

...that's what IRS *should* stand for.  This past week highlights just what a threat to continued freedom this agency is:

At various points over the past two years, Internal Revenue Service officials targeted nonprofit groups that criticized the government and sought to educate Americans about the U.S. Constitution, according to documents in an audit conducted by the agency’s inspector general.

And yet patriotic Americans were being told the past few years they were 'paranoid' if they attributed sudden unwanted attention from Uncle Sam to their political leanings.  Never mind that shortly after coming into office, the current President made a joke about such potential.

What's worse, this same agency is now charged with collecting even more information from you, under the tender ministrations of Obamacare: 

When Obamacare’s individual mandate takes effect in 2014, all Americans who file income tax returns must complete an additional IRS tax form. The new form will require disclosure of a taxpayer’s personal identifying health information in order to determine compliance with the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate.  As confirmed by IRS testimony to the tax-writing House Committee on Ways and Means, “taxpayers will file their tax returns reporting their health insurance coverage, and/or making a payment”. 

It's time for a tax revolt, people.  Consider the road we've traveled: first, the Founders specifically prohibited an income tax in the Constitution--it took an amendment in 1913 to get it underway!  In the brief century since, the IRS sprouted like a multi-headed hydra, sucking up data and dollars any way it can.  Want to starve the beast called Leviathan?  Cut off his access to money and information.  My modest proposal for an amendment to attack this at the source:

Section 1: The 16th Amendment to the Constitution is hereby repealed.  The Federal Government is prohibited from levying taxation of individual citizens based on income, regardless of its source. 

Section 2: The Federal Government may not require citizens to disclose information regarding their sources of income or their personal spending decisions, unless done under warrant as part of a formal civil or criminal investigation in accordance with all applicable Constitutional protections.

Section 3: The Federal Government may not withhold portions of individual income in anticipation of future financial liability, nor may it disburse money or goods to any citizen, except as payment for employment or contracted goods and services. 

Section 4:  Congress shall have the power to levy a National Sales Tax, the rate of which may not exceed ten percent.  Food, clothing, medical supplies, medicine and the purchase of a primary residence are all exempt from Federal taxation under this provision.


Four short sections, but with far-reaching implications.  Thoughts? 

As for the new healthcare reporting, I'm strongly of a mind to write "none of your Constitutional business" boldly across the form and submit it with my next 1040... which, under my proposal above, would be the last one of those anyway.  Who's with me?

Saturday Sounds

Spring has sprung...