Letter to the Editor - Is Rick Perry Not a Christian?

    After reading the Denver Post YourHub article by Jack Van Ens, “Nothing Christian about Perry’s plan,” I have a few comments and questions for Jack.

   Who are you to pass judgement and call Rick Perry’s beliefs as not Christian?  Why does the left always resort to character assassination?  Why does the left believe that all those who disagree with their progressive vision must be shown to have malign intentions, if not deep-seated character flaws?   Why must they be demonized?   Why must those with a different vision be depicted as having some personal "obsessions" if they speak out about an issue?  Is it Christian to accuse another of having a “bias against the poor?”  Should economically successful Americans be stigmatized as enemies of the poor who “bludgeon the poor”  and leaves them “bleeding” in your words?

    Is it the role of the federal government to “share the wealth” and provide “economic justice”?   Is that one of the enumerated powers listed in the US Constitution?  Why is that a job of the federal government and not a job of the state government?  Should Colorado become a welfare state like the states in the European Union?

    Was spending nearly $5 trillion in a failed stimulus program a Christian activity by the government?  Was giving $535 million to a solar company that went bankrupt a Christian activity by the government?  Was giving over $100 billion in green subsidies to favored companies a Christian activity by the government? 

    Aren’t you preaching “a false gospel” with your calls for shared sacrifice?  Just what does the left mean by shared sacrifice? As literally half of Americans now pay NO federal income tax, and there isn’t any plan to have them participate, the plan being promoted by the administration is obviously not to “share”, but to increase the burden on the ones paying for all the non-contributors now. If we truly desire a “shared sacrifice”, then it would seem that “all” of society would be asked to participate. As it is being put forth, it can only be what is referred to as ”Class Warfare” which is to promote the gospel of socialism. 

    Who are The Rich? What is a "fair share"? What annual income or net worth defines the rich? If they have to pay their "fair share", why not have all the 50% who pay no Federal Taxes pay their "fair share"? If a "fair share" exists, should not all pay it?     If the top 50% pays over 95% of all taxes, and the bottom 50% only about 5% while consuming most government services, shouldn’t the bottom 50% pay something?

    Do your really believe that "the rich" (a class of people never qualified by whomever is launching the attack) have enough money to pay for all the social spending that makes up a progressive’s dream of “shared sacrifice?”  Even when the top tax rate was 90%, the government only pulled in about 18% GDP (The historical average of tax revenue).  Don’t we have a spending problem in this country, not a revenue problem?

    How about we revamp the tax code and make a fair-flat tax where everyone pays 15%? Wouldn’t that be fair and Christian?

    Isn’t your economic justice philosophy “un-Christian” when it relieves individuals of the duty to act justly in their own lives, by transferring responsibility to the federal government?   And instead of people acting personally to help those in need — showing kindness, mercy, charity and hospitality to others — doesn’t the “shared sacrifice” mentality tell people that it is more virtuous to express morality through politics?

    Where's the charity in having your money taken from you under threat of coercion and having it given to the needy (or the politically favored)?

    It has been proven time and time again that as you hike taxes on the rich, you end up getting less money in taxes and less investment in America. Aren’t calls to raise taxes on the rich another and perhaps the most blatant example of the left's class warfare strategy?

    Why does the left simply refuse to understand that the rich are the ones who create opportunities for the poor and middle class?  Through investment in businesses they create jobs. More jobs mean more money rolling into the state and federal coffers. If we follow the left's desire of overtaxing the rich, the jobs aren't there and less money comes in. The rich also begin to shelter their money meaning even less taxes collected.   Hasn’t recent history in Europe shown that none of this “tax the rich” stuff works?  Isn’t the best way to have a good standard of living and sound finances for an entire country is to keep taxes low, regulations reasonable, and in general get out of the way of the most productive part of the economy?