http://www.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/stories/01/29/bush.faithbased.01/index.html "Faith based" is the latest political term for "religious". Good move, but not smart enough for even the dumbest of guardians of the wall.
From the article:
"...including his proposals to allow religious groups to receive federal funding
for the provision of vital life and social services to the needy."
"The president also signed an executive order directing five Cabinet-level federal agencies to investigate how faith-based groups could effectively participate in a variety of government aid programs."
""My administration will look first to faith-based and community groups," he said. "We will not fund the religious activities of
any one group, but when people of faith provide services, we will not discriminate against them.""
""For the purpose of the state and the church, and the principle of separating the two with a decent distance, this is a very bad idea," said Barry Lynn of the advocacy group Americans United for Separation of Church and State."
"Bush aides said safeguards would be in place to make sure the religious groups do not use the money to proselytize. "This will not be funding religion," Fleischer insisted. "It is not the religious aspect of what they that is getting funding, it is the community service aspect. These are not going to be programs
that preach religion, these are faith-based programs that help people improve their lives."
With all this defense, and all the words, for a realist, it is nonsense - how do they stop someone from saying "God is always with you", "Jesus loves you" or something akin to that? They cannot - they can stmop out preaching *if they are intent to do so*, but nothing Bush has done so far (including cutting funds to family and aids planning in Africa, and cancelling Clinton's order to give Africans access to cheaper aids medicine) indicte that the state is willing to do so.
The fact of the matter is that every major religion in the world has as a goal to save as many as possible. Put in less political terms; to expand and assimilate. Mixing bare life NECESSITIES, such as food, with the spreading of the religion is inviting prozelytizing. I've seen them at work, the drug addicts here are Jesus people and it's an extremely effective way of spreading the Word (or words).
It's another controversial move by the man who claimed to be a "uniter, not a divider". It further removes him from his claim. Had he been a democrat, some of you chaps would call him a "f*cking liar". Then again, he might only be following a family tradition (read my lips)
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Post is a cheapshot, but even cheapshots are worth taking. You rep dudes have taught me that
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if someone wonders why I appear to favour the democrats more, it's because in the past they've been more reluctant to do stuff like this, they largely support my position on abortion and are closer to waht I see in Europe. OTOH, they have some major screwups. It's just that withn a lot of reps here, *someone* has to play the villain. And, dudes, I am the villain
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Flame away; I am untouchable.
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Baron Claus "StSanta" Von Ribbentroppen
9./JG 54 "Grünherz"
"I don't necessarily agree with everything I think." - A. Eldritch
