'We owe'

by Smitty (h/t Carol's Closet)

Cold Fury coldly, furiously steamrollers George Monbiot.

The gist of George's point seems to be "the decencies we owe to other human beings".

Here is the rub with Progressivism. As a Christian, I can read the Bible and approach George's concept from a theological, individual perspective: loving God, loving my neighbor. Rendering unto God that which is God's, and unto Caesar that which is Caesar's.

Things taper off rapidly when a bunch of (occasionally Christian) people set themselves up as Caesar and start bossing other people around. The Sermon on the Mount is not a Political Science text. It is not a foreign policy statement. Telling me what I owe to other people, or what I owe to Caesar, will be met with a dismissive "Uh-huh".

Loving your neighbor, or members of your local house of worship is one thing. You know them. You offer charity, and know that the negative feedback we all need will be offered. The drunk is told to steer clear of the bottle. The deadbeat parent is told to look after the offspring. Those important life lessons about managing credit are passed down, if not offered within the home.

Having Caesar appoint himself the mission to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony is a recipe for what you see: debt, misery, and chaos.

George, let's get to know each other as neighbors, and you'll find me a generous fellow. I certainly stand blessed beyond what I deserve and share with cheer. Right up to the point that someone I don't even know starts enumerating what I owe to other human beings. You have to build a trust relationship to make that assertion stick. Caesar isn't trustworthy. Get stuffed, sir.