Changing society

When I was younger I studied television and electronics.  One of the things I learned about the old black and white television sets was that the picture was made with a stream of electron beams shot from a cathode ray tube (CRT) commonly called the picture tube.  On the neck of the picture tube was a "yoke" that was electromagnetic that pulsated an electric current that "pulled" the electron beam produced in straight-line form from the left to the right and down creating a line across the screen.  The actual picture was made by pulling this beam so rapidly that it created 525 lines on the screen that were so close together they appeared as the picture.  Of course sitting back from the television set the human eye was incapable of distinguishing the 525 separate lines, but merged them into a solid picture. 

As the television set aged the lines in the picture became dimmer.  The picture began to fade and became more difficult to see.  The television set usually had a control knob somewhere in the front or the back that allowed the viewer to "brighten" or "darken" the picture.  There was also a "contrast" knob that also allowed the viewer to adjust the sharpness between the dark and light so the picture became sharper.  But as the set was on for many hours each day, and the viewer watched it day after day, soon many years passed and the picture had become so dull that it could hardly be seen.

The funny thing about that early television set was that as we watched it month after month, we did not see the gradual fading that was occurring within the set resulting in making the picture more difficult to see.  Now if we had a new television set sitting right beside the old one, it was easy to see how the old set had faded over the years.  But the truth is, we do not usually compare the picture with a new set; we compare the picture of today with the picture we had seen yesterday.  There was such a small variation between the pictures from one day to the next, we just did not notice it.

Societal Change

I believe our society changes in a similar fashion.  We only compare today with what we experienced yesterday.  The change is just not significant enough for us to perceive a difference.  There has been a difference, however.  Let me give an example.

Recently, the day after Easter I had the opportunity to visit a preschool educational class that contained a group of four and five-year-olds.  The children were happy and playing with the toys and other materials in the classroom.  The Teacher was in good control of the activities and the children responded very well.  Gathered on a carpet, sitting in their respective places, with the Teacher situated in the front, the group of children looked up at the Teacher and listened to the questions.  The primary question for discussion was, "What did you do yesterday on Easter Sunday?"

The answers to that question were relatively compacted in responses that focused entirely on Easter egg hunts, color of the eggs used, opening presents received, receiving a gift of Easter bunnies, eating candy shaped like chickens or rabbits, having new clothes and eating a nice lunch.

It struck me as odd that not one child even remotely mentioned anything connected to Jesus.  Nothing about visiting church, Sunday school, attending Mass, or a symbol of the cross.  Keep in mind this school was federally funded so the Teacher could not prompt anything that even obliquely favored a "religious" response.  But the children, who were only four and five years of age, really did not know anything about the separation of church and state.  One would think that at least one comment would have landed on the real reason for the celebration of Easter.  The conclusion that I reached was that even with the mention of the word Easter and the activities associated with that event, in our modern age it is not even "obliquely" associated with the sacrifice of Christ.

Then I thought, "What if instead of this being 2011, it was 1911, just one hundred years ago."  I wonder if that would have made a difference.  I believe it would have.  I believe if the same age group had been asked the same question on Monday, "What did you do yesterday on Easter Sunday?" the answers would have included words like, "pray, learned about Jesus, baptism, sacrifice, Jesus on the cross, dinner with family and church."

We live in a world of incremental change.  We can compare today with yesterday and it will not seem too different.  But if we compare today with one hundred years ago we will see a vast difference.  In this case, the change is the elimination of God in our society.  Where will we be at the end of the next one hundred years?

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Jesus was not murdered

The other day I heard a preacher talking about the crucifixion of Jesus and the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus and his "murder."  Although it might have been just a slip of the tongue and perhaps not even something the preacher believed, nevertheless it was spoken in the context of Jesus having lost his life at the hands of others in a premeditated or spontaneous way.  Over the years I have heard that before, that Jesus was murdered and died at the will of others.

Perhaps I am just splitting straws, but I believe that Jesus willingly gave His life as a sacrifice because God had demanded it.  His life was not taken from him in the form of intended homicide or unintended, spontaneous manslaughter.  From His earliest life for which we have an account it appears that Jesus was aware of His mission on earth.  Even before His appearance on earth there was a hint of His mission.

Joseph, who was engaged to marry Jesus' mother, Mary, was considering breaking off the engagement since it appeared that she was pregnant.  But an angle of the Lord appeared to him in a dream telling him, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."  (Matthew 1:20-21)

When Jesus was twelve years old he and his family visited the Temple in Jerusalem for the Jewish Feast of the Passover.  When the Passover was completed the family started their journey home.  Jesus stayed behind and was not missed before the completion of a full day's journey.  When Mary and Joseph returned to find him talking to the leaders in the Temple who were amazed at the maturity and knowledge he possessed, his parents seemed to chastise him by saying, "Son, why have you treated us like this?  Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."  (Luke 2:48)  Jesus answered them, "Why were you searching for me?  Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"  (Luke 2:49)

Some believe that this verse in Luke could be rendered, "Don't you know that I should be about my Father's business?"  Even at a young age of twelve years old Jesus had a sense that he was doing his Father's business and needed to learn all he could to carry out the Father's will.  The Apostle Paul picks up on this theme when he recites what some believe to be a poem or song, "And being found in appearance as a man, he [Jesus]humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!"  (Philippians 2:8)

Deep into his ministry Jesus had entered the region of Caesarea Philippi where he asked his Disciples who people thought he was.  When they answered that some thought he was one prophet or another, Jesus asked them who they thought he was.  It was at that time that Peter confessed Jesus to be the Christ, "the son of the living God."  (Matthew 16:16)  Matthew continued, "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teacher of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."  (Matthew 16:21)

Jesus knew he would die, but he also knew that it was a journey that he had to finish; it was his desire to follow the will of God.  He proceeded on toward Jerusalem with his twelve disciples in tow.  On the way again he said, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.  They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.  On the third day he will be raised to life!" (Matthew 20:17-19)

Finally, at the eleventh hour, having known for years what his mission was on earth, Jesus arrived in another garden far from the Garden of Eden, the Garden at Gethsemane.  He said to his disciples, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me."  Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.'"  (Matthew 26:38-39)

Jesus was on a mission and had to complete every prophecy from God in order to be the perfect sacrifice that would be acceptable to God.  His life was always in his hands alone, if people wanted to take his life prematurely he would "walk through their midst."  He did not walk unknown into a trap cleverly set by the powers that be, he knew from the very beginning what he had to do.  So as he hung between heaven and earth on the instrument of death used in crucifixion, the seventh, and last statement uttered by Jesus was, "It is finished."  "With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."  (John 19:30)

The Jews did not murder Jesus; the Romans did not murder Jesus; no ethnic group or individual murdered Jesus.  Jesus laid down his life as a sacrifice willingly because it was the Will of God to be an acceptable sacrifice for the redemption of lost people everywhere.    

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Heaven

Think for a minute about heaven.  We hear people talking about heaven in terms of a city, streets paved with gold, gates made from solid pearl, St. Peter standing at the gate, a book with a list of names written called the "Lamb's Book of Life" and a central throne with God sitting on it with angles tossing their crowns singing Holy, Holy, Holy.

I was driving along the road in my car and wondered aloud about what heaven will be like. 

Will there be neighborhoods with tree-lined roads and green lawns with no weeds, mansions that have been prepared for the faithful and birds singing and butterflies wafting about? 

Will there be bicycles and totally efficient, non-polluting cars and airplanes for travel?

Will there be tulips and tangerines, roses and radishes; or will we have fluffy ice cream and cotton candy?  Will stars be visible or will there be a forever day shining by the Glory of God.

As I continued to think about it I wondered how others in past generations and centuries though about it.  If I had been born in say, 1344 what would I have dreamed about heaven?  When I arrived and by chance saw airplanes, trains, giant ships, cars, electricity, air conditioning, smorgasbords and skyscrapers, I would think it was marvelous and beyond my comprehension.

But since mankind has invented all those things, been to the moon, harnessed the atom, transplanted hearts and kissed away the hurts of little children, it is not likely that heaven will be anything like that.  If we have already invented something on earth I doubt if God will furnish heaven with things that we can produce.

Regardless of the environmental furnishings of heaven, I believe what it will really be is an eternal presence in a face-to-face relationship with our Creator because He, through Jesus Christ, presented Himself as a sacrifice for us by the shedding of His blood, and then rising from death to destroy the hold that death held over us.  Being with Him forever will be heaven.  



Isaiah and Luke



Isaiah 53 (King James Version)

Isaiah 53

¹Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

²For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

³He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

⁴Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

⁵But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

⁶All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

⁷He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

⁸He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

⁹And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

¹¹He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

¹²Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Luke 22-23 (King James Version)

Luke 22

¹Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

²And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

³Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

⁴And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

⁵And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

⁶And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

⁷Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

⁸And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

⁹And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

¹⁰And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

¹¹And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

¹²And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

¹³And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

¹⁴And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

¹⁵And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

¹⁶For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

¹⁷And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

¹⁸For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

¹⁹And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

²⁰Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

²¹But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

²²And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

²³And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

²⁴And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

²⁵And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

²⁶But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

²⁷For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

²⁸Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

²⁹And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

³⁰That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

³¹And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

³²But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

³³And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

³⁴And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

³⁵And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

³⁶Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

³⁷For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

³⁸And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

³⁹And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

⁴⁰And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

⁴¹And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

⁴²Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

⁴³And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

⁴⁴And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

⁴⁵And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

⁴⁶And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

⁴⁷And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

⁴⁸But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

⁴⁹When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

⁵⁰And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

⁵¹And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

⁵²Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

⁵³When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

⁵⁴Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

⁵⁵And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

⁵⁶But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

⁵⁷And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

⁵⁸And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

⁵⁹And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

⁶⁰And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

⁶¹And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

⁶²And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

⁶³And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.

⁶⁴And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

⁶⁵And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

⁶⁶And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

⁶⁷Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

⁶⁸And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

⁶⁹Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

⁷⁰Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

⁷¹And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

Luke 23

¹And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

²And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

³And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

⁴Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

⁵And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

⁶When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

⁷And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

⁸And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

⁹Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

¹⁰And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

¹¹And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

¹²And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

¹³And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

¹⁴Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

¹⁵No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

¹⁶I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

¹⁷(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

¹⁸And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

¹⁹(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

²⁰Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

²¹But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

²²And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

²³And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

²⁴And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

²⁵And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

²⁶And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

²⁷And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

²⁸But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

²⁹For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

³⁰Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

³¹For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

³²And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

³³And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

³⁴Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

³⁵And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

³⁶And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

³⁷And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

³⁸And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

³⁹And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

⁴⁰But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

⁴¹And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

⁴²And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

⁴³And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

⁴⁴And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

⁴⁵And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

⁴⁶And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

⁴⁷Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

⁴⁸And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

⁴⁹And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

⁵⁰And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

⁵¹(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

⁵²This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

⁵³And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

⁵⁴And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

⁵⁵And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

⁵⁶And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Cease fire to class warfare

Class warfare and class envy, what a tried and true tool of some who would pit Americans against each other based on their economic situations.  One opinion article in our little town's paper one Saturday was entitled, "Here's how to tell the middle class from the upper crust" and was an article that castigated the so-called "wealthy" as people who are too snobbish to care what happens to middle class Americans.  By the third column of the article the political motives of the writer became obvious with the question, "Why would any middle-class family support Republicans?"

Whether middle class or wealthy, or any political persuasion offered in America we should look at the trends in America during this current time and answer an important question.   I guess the thing I don't understand is how does it profit any politician, or the people who surround them, the unions and millions of dependent people who keep voting for dependency if the country becomes so shattered by bankruptcy and continued debt?  I understand that more federal agencies will be created and more bureaucracy will be needed to keep things going for awhile. But there is always a day of reckoning when the debt becomes due.

But what is the use of having any power over a country that is broken, with a destroyed military, fractured social system, and very few rich to foot the bill? I understand the theory and the implementation that started with in the Depression of the 1930's, but eventually the rich will be poor. All the money available will be redistributed and will run out. Stronger nations, China, India, Middle East will be able to overtake the country with little or no force. If there are 50 or 60 percent dependent on some facet of government welfare, or a substantial variety of government programs, it is for sure they will not fight to hold onto anything; they will not know how nor will they have the will to do so. The richest of the rich will have moved themselves and their operations out to another country long before the collapse, so what will the extreme left gain by destroying the American way of life, unless it is just the sheer satisfaction of destroying it because they take pleasure in doing so.

My Mother used to say about some people who tended to destroy themselves in the process of trying to hurt others was like "cutting off your nose to spite your face." It is like feeling sorry for the Menendez brothers because they are orphans.

If a liberal person aligns himself with the current values of liberalism he would say he wanted higher taxes, bigger government, more public officials and employees, more agencies with millions more public employees, larger, stronger unions, punishment for people who have money and social changes paid for by the government.  Now if that liberal person was the one who had the money for the government to tax, take and redistribute, and the same liberal "wealthy" person looked at the current debt, along with a long recession and unemployment as it is currently, I would hope that he  would wonder what was going to happen when his money was gone.  As well as wonder about the state of his life when the unions have shut down his business, all the social security is gone, Medicare is gone and the Chinese military is marching over the hill. 

He might say, "What was in it for me?"  What was in it for any of us, except failure.  It matters not if we are rich or middle class, when a democratic form of government begins to feed upon itself and demand from those who have worked and produced the fruits of their production, and through some governmental confiscatory manner robs them of their means to give to others, the days of that democratic nation are numbered. 

Perhaps instead of blaming the rich, or the Republicans for that matter, why don't we look at these problems in a logical, rational way?  Is there any rationally, prudent person who believes that we can continue spending money we don't have and not have dire consequences?  Is there anyone who really believes that we can continue to tax to a point where it makes no sense to produce anything?  Is there anyone who rationally believes we can continue to borrow money from China and others to continue deficit spending all the way to the destruction of the US dollar on the world market?  Is there anyone who rationally believes we can continue to import seventy percent of our energy from other countries as we embargo the development of our own resources that would make us energy independent?  A reasonably prudent person would say this is outlandish.  Blasting the wealthy may feel good to some for now, but someday they will be gone.  To whom, then, will we turn to blast?