Steve Blevins (Public Viewpoint, June 30) wasn’t too pleased with Rev. Grisham’s column about the poor (June 23). He states in his letter that Grisham practices liberation theology, which is actually Christianized Marxism, and to follow it puts us at risk of becoming itinerant slaves on a government plantation.
That’s a mouthful. He then goes on to extol the virtues of a capitalist society as one where anyone can go as far as his abilities and drive will take him, whereas in a Marxist society only the connected can do so.
What has bafi ed me for some time is this willful ignorance practiced by many so-called conservatives about the structural problems with our (less-than) free enterprise system.
As evidence of waste and abuse of taxpayers money, Blevins mentions the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, the voted-down farm subsidy program that would have cost up to a trillion dollars over 14 years for food aid to the hungry.
But in the weeks following the collapse of our economy in 2009, private American investors lost $3 trillion of personal wealth. Millions of good-paying jobs lost, including many, many people who were giving it their all. Hundreds of billions in revenue lost that could have been put to good use?
What was the diff erence?
The difference was the level the fiscal system was being cheated. Some already very rich and powerful private citizens were makingobscene amounts of money manipulating derivatives markets, a subject most conservatives won’t touch.
Why? Because it threatens their view of how America works. They think if you do anything to tinker around the edges of the free enterprise system, it will collapse. Really, it’s that fragile? I thought it was supposed to be the robust example that the rest of the world wants to emulate. Oh wait, it is and they are!
Why then do certain conservatives want to spew all of their venom on those people who are struggling to make it out of the low standard of living they are mired in now. I don’t know, but it’s too bad, because while these guardians of the American way are out in the yard waiting to pounce on whoever they think is stealingtheir tomatoes, the house is being jacked up and driven away.
Mr, Blevins wonders when we will all come to our senses and realize that all progressives really want is to get everyone into a nanny state. There is the black-and-white certainty of what millions of people really believe again. Try asking someone who says they are a progressive and listen for the similarities of their beliefs to yours, Mr. Blevins. There are many. This progressive wants a strong America poised to succeed in the future. I think it means a level playing field, educated children and healthier adults. Oh, and a wary eye on anyone looking to make a fast buck at our expense. That we can agree on.
JEFF REDDEKOPP
Fayetteville
Opinion, Pages 5 on 07/06/2013