Power tends to corrupt

[nw_hunter]

“Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely” is a quote by English historian Lord Acton (1834–1902). Acton wrote the quote in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887, in which he discussed how historians should judge the abuse of power by past rulers, especially popes. The quote is often used today to warn against the dangers of unchecked power, especially in politics and government. It's interpreted to mean that as someone's power increases, their sense of morality decreases. Acton believed that the same moral standards should apply to everyone, including political and religious leaders.

Ain't it the truth!  This is so evident today. look no further than our politics, and OUR churches.
Today, the messengers of truth are the bad guys, and the ones who committed the deed are being picked on for being exposed.

Take the case of Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigan򠠛/b]

If Pope Francis expects that his banishment of Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigan򠷩ll rid him of a troublesome thorn in his side, he is likely to be disappointed. The former papal nuncio to the United States and former top investigator who exposed financial malfeasance at the Vatican Bank and clergy sexual-abuse cases is giving no sign of letting up with his scathing attacks against Pope Francis and other leading Church officials. Many Catholics who have supported the archbishop’s charges against heresy, heterodoxy, and corruption in the Church may not be willing (yet) to follow his lead in challenging Francis’ papal legitimacy. But Rome’s deployment of the excommunication decree against the orthodox Vigan򠵮doubtedly will cause many faithful Catholics to question why Rome is simultaneously coddling and promoting notorious sex perverts and heretical clerics. It looks like more coverup. It looks like shooting the messenger. It looks like killing the whistleblower. All in all, it’s a bad look for the Francis pontificate, which incessantly proclaims its commitment to “transparency and accountability” and insists it will enforce a “zero tolerance” policy against sexual abuse.

On July 5, the Holy See Press Office issued a press release from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) concerning the case of Vigan򬠷hom the DDF accused of “the crime of schism.” As expected, the press release announced that the DDF had concluded its “extrajudicial penal process” and declared the archbishop to be excommunicated from the Catholic Church.

The DDF, the Church’s supreme doctrinal office, had summoned Archbishop Vigan򠴯 Rome in a decree emailed to the prelate on June 11. He was directed to appear in person for judgment on June 20, or to submit a defense in writing by June 28. As we reported in an online article on June 26, the archbishop announced that he had not honored the summons for the 20th and would not be submitting a written defense on the 28th. “I have not delivered any statement or document in my defense to the Dicastery, whose authority I do not recognize, nor do I recognize the authority of its Prefect, nor do I recognize the authority of the one who appointed him,” Vigan򠳡id, referring to radical Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández (aka “the kissing cardinal”) and Pope Francis.

The Catholic church certainly isn't alone in this. Many large Protestant churches have  become rich and powerful, and forget the real purpose of the church. When you hear the name of a famous preacher on the news today, you have heard the name of a rich and powerful figure. Greed lives in all human beings. It's also one of the hardest failings to control. Staying humble is difficult when your popularity and power increases.

[Mule 11]

Isn’t he the one who said macron’s wife is a trans and obamas wife is a muscular man wearing a wig.

[DDZ]

Yes many churches have become rich and have lost their way. Also many churches have taken on the ways of the world, without becoming rich, and have also lost their way.

[Dixie-Dude]

This is also why we should have term limits for senators and congressmen.  The senate and congress put term limits on the president after FDR, but no on themselves. 

[ironglow]

This is also why we should have term limits for senators and congressmen.  The senate and congress put term limits on the president after FDR, but no on themselves.

  But alas... It would have to be the congress which passes such a bill...and the senate must agree..then the president must sign..

   How are the chances we can get that done?   

[gypsyman]

This is also why we should have term limits for senators and congressmen.  The senate and congress put term limits on the president after FDR, but no on themselves.

  But alas... It would have to be the congress which passes such a bill...and the senate must agree..then the president must sign..

   How are the chances we can get that done?   

  Constitutional convention, which by the way, any wonder why most of the politicians in Washington are fighting this, tooth and nail.

[Dixie-Dude]

With term limits, it is hard to get absolute power.   Say a senator can only have 2 terms like the president, but that is 12 years since they serve 6 years.  Then say a congressman gets 4 terms of 2 years each, that is 8 years like a president.  The supreme court is supposed to be neutral, but since FDR years, they have become political, so say they serve 18 years and a new judge is appointed every 2 years and approved by the senate.  Also, say a judge must pass a constitutional test before they can be appointed, even in a lower court.  It might make it more fair for everyone.

There is a push for a constitutional convention of states.  They have about 25-26 signed on, already, but must have 33.  Most signed on are red states.  The push is for a balanced budget as well as term limits. 

One of the things I would like is to get rid of income tax, replace it with a 1% tariff on all imported goods, except stuff we can't grow or make here.  Second would be a 1% national sales tax, except on food from grocery stores, not restaurants, and medicine or doctor and hospital visits.  People have to eat, and they have to keep healthy.  Shelter and clothing are too variable so they should be taxed 1%, except first time homeowners.  From what I have read either the tariff or national sales tax could replace the tax revenue of income tax.  You pay less tax on sale items, etc.  This would also get rid of the IRS as the Treasury Department would only have to collect the taxes that would be mailed or transferred in from all the businesses or importers.  Then get rid of the Education Department, Energy Department except for the Atomic Energy Commission to keep up with nuclear material.  Welfare should be turned back over to the states, like education, so the Welfare Department should be eliminated.  Social Security should not be given to illegals period, nor borrowed from.  It should be independent and revenue should be invested to earn money.  Lots of efficiency changes. 

[darkgael]

Sounds sensible. Anyone see any flaws in that plan?

[ironglow]

  Whenever I hear the words.."Constitutional convention".. I shudder a bit !

  I may be wrong, but if a constitutional convention is held..are not all our existing rights up for revision?  Do they get a whole new shot at killing our
  Bill of Rights?

  Can they for instance...trash our first and second amendments?  If so, I would not trust about half the people to know enough to protect the
   rights we have..

  At least as it stands, they must get 2/3 of all  states to vote 2/3 to change what we have..

  Unless I am mistaken..a convention held somewhere, by a selected group of reps, could trash the constitution we already have.

  Please remember Aesop's fable of the dog with the some meat;
        The Dog and His Reflection

A Dog found a piece of meat one day and while walking with it in his mouth near a stream, he saw another dog in the water with another piece of meat. He was not aware that it was his own reflection and not another dog. So, wishing to have the other meat, too, not satisfied with his own, he opened his mouth to grab it, but that moment, his meat fell into the water and it was carried away till he couldn’t see it any more. So, he remained hungry that day, because of his greed.

.

[GTS225]

Personally, I have mixed feelings on the idea of term limits.  I look at it this way.......who am I, in the state of Iowa, to tell the state of Georgia that they can't have and keep that congress critter, that may actually be doing them well, and that they like, for as long as they wish?  Conversely, who is the state of Alaska to tell Iowa, that they can't keep a Senator for as long as they wish?

Instead, I propose that we eliminate a federal paycheck for all senators, congress critters, and their staff.  Place that financial burden back onto the state that they represent, at NOT MORE THAN 115% OF THE AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME IN THAT STATE.  In that way, the folks back home have some additional control over their elected representatives.  The state legislature can say "senator, you did a crappy job last year, and for that you'll get a 10% pay cut"  They can also say "congressman, if you want a raise, do something to increase the average annual income in the state.  There also needs to be a method for recall in each state as well.

Now, as to their "retirement package"......ELIMINATE IT!  Replace it with a program exactly matching the military's retirement program(s).  Senator, you want a retirement package, get re-elected for 20 years.  Only then will you qualify for a retirement package that would include retirement pay and Tri-Care, just like our retired uniformed services members.  Using something like that, I think we'd get better representation, as they'd want to do right by their constituents, so as to keep getting re-elected, and earn that retirement package.  They would also HAVE to rely on their social security stipend, which means they'd really get in a hurry to lock social security up tight, protecting their own investment, as well as everyone else's.

I have a number of other ideas that I think would be a really good start at cleaning up the DC area mess, but I'll stick to the subject at hand.

Roger

[ironglow]

Yes many churches have become rich and have lost their way. Also many churches have taken on the ways of the world, without becoming rich, and have also lost their way.

   ..And some have not; one should be intellectually aware, and choose wisely..

[ironglow]

Personally, I have mixed feelings on the idea of term limits.  I look at it this way.......who am I, in the state of Iowa, to tell the state of Georgia that they can't have and keep that congress critter, that may actually be doing them well, and that they like, for as long as they wish?  Conversely, who is the state of Alaska to tell Iowa, that they can't keep a Senator for as long as they wish?

Instead, I propose that we eliminate a federal paycheck for all senators, congress critters, and their staff.  Place that financial burden back onto the state that they represent, at NOT MORE THAN 115% OF THE AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME IN THAT STATE.  In that way, the folks back home have some additional control over their elected representatives.  The state legislature can say "senator, you did a crappy job last year, and for that you'll get a 10% pay cut"  They can also say "congressman, if you want a raise, do something to increase the average annual income in the state.  There also needs to be a method for recall in each state as well.

Now, as to their "retirement package"......ELIMINATE IT!  Replace it with a program exactly matching the military's retirement program(s).  Senator, you want a retirement package, get re-elected for 20 years.  Only then will you qualify for a retirement package that would include retirement pay and Tri-Care, just like our retired uniformed services members.  Using something like that, I think we'd get better representation, as they'd want to do right by their constituents, so as to keep getting re-elected, and earn that retirement package.  They would also HAVE to rely on their social security stipend, which means they'd really get in a hurry to lock social security up tight, protecting their own investment, as well as everyone else's.

I have a number of other ideas that I think would be a really good start at cleaning up the DC area mess, but I'll stick to the subject at hand.

Roger

  All sound like good ideas..  but guess who has to pass these measures...     

[GTS225]

  All sound like good ideas..  but guess who has to pass these measures...     

Yeah....I hear ya.  About the only way for it to happen would be to have a president that would push the proposal, but publicly.  Like appealing to the voter base.  Loudly asking them to send cards, letters, emails, make phone calls, and ORDER their reps to embrace the measure.  After all, those same reps get their money from those voters.

Yep....a real looong shot.

Roger