Self-righteous Right Wing Fascists in America Today
From the Guideposts daily thoughts:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14”
Learning takes place when people are humble. Self-righteous people who believe there is only one way to solve a problem are not humble. This passage does not advocate legislating morality, yet that is what fascist right wing people advocate, proclaiming somehow their “rights” are being trampled should they not be allowed to tell everyone how to live their lives.
Ayn Rand was a wicked person. She advocates for individual greed and selfishness. A person cannot be humble when they are greedy and selfish, seeking only what is best for his / her self. Such people lacking humility remain stubbornly ignorant, never listening to the other side and making an attempt to learn something different from the “traditionalist” stuff which often has been proven NOT to work. Diana Butler Bass said, “seek traditions, not traditionalism.”
Yet, Libertarians and a man named Paul Ryan worship Ayn Rand and nixes ideas about seeking solutions which would be good for society. Allen West, lacking humility and remaining stubbornly ignorant, attacks those who don’t agree with him as being “communists.” Yet Ryan and West attempt to call themselves “Christians” and attract a whole bunch of people who wish to legislate morality – in supposed “Christian” churches. Dale Carnegie:
“Carnegie held that societal progress relied on individuals meeting their moral obligations to themselves and to society.[63] Thus, he believed real charity supplied the means for those who wish to help themselves, achieve their goals.[64] Moreover, Carnegie urged other wealthy people to contributed to society in the form of parks, works of art, libraries and other endeavors that improved the community, and contributed to the “lasting good”[65] Carnegie also held a strong opinion against inherited wealth. Carnegie believed that the sons of prosperous businesspersons were rarely as talented as their fathers.[66] By leaving large sums of money to their children, wealthy business leaders were wasting resources that could be used to benefit society. Most notably, Carnegie believed that the future leaders of society would rise from the ranks the poor.[67] Carnegie strongly believed in this because he had risen from the bottom. He believed the poor possessed an advantage over the wealthy due to their receiving more attention from their parents, and were taught better work ethics.”[68]
This is quoted from Wikipedia and links to the particular references are included. Did Romney and Ryan come up from the bottom? Neither one of them knew what it was like to be blue collar and actually labor for a living. They have no idea. They are both elitist snots. Barack Obama and Joe Biden did work their way up from the bottom.
I recall Anne Richards’s speech at the 1992 Democratic Party convention which nominated Bill Clinton for president. The words ring true with one of the most wealthy this nation has ever seen: “Poor George, born with a silver spoon in his mouth.” Shrub, with the silver spoon and fake way, did not know how to lead.
Taxing the wealthiest portion of America when that part of America refuses to invest in its own nation and puts money and jobs overseas is NOT a wrong thing to do, according to Carnegie’s standards.
When there is something these elitist right wing fascists don’t like, they take the minor parts of such ideas and blow these parts up out of proportion to what is good about such issues. Take ObamaCare. I have seen reports which equally discuss the good, bad, and ugly with regard to the plan. But to listen to the mainstream Media, particularly Fox, all discussions focus on the parts which some people might find offensive, but do not truly have the knowledge (and thus the wisdom) to really understand. Crony capitalism makes judgments based solely on their wealth, not on the good of society. Diana Butler Bass: “Seek wisdom, not certainty.”
Right wing fascists expect perfection, especially from those who don’t agree with them. Yet, they are not humble enough to realize that the hand with the finger they point in judgment at another person also has three pointing back at themselves and the thumb is thumbing God. “Judge not lest you be judged.” Diana Butler Bass: “Seek to practice, not purity.”
References
Andrew Carnegie (2012). Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Carnegie [63], [64], [65], [66], [67], [68].
Bass, Diana Butler. (2006). Christianity for the rest of us : how the neighborhood church is revitalizing the faith. San Francisco: Harper.
Daily scripture & reflection newsletter. (2012, Oct. 27). OurPrayer daily newsletter (Guideposts) [Email distribution]. ourprayer@email.ourprayer.org
Tioga Herald 
Humble Pie or Truth be Hiding – by Deceptive People?
Humility is tough when eating crow. But do I eat crow and acknowledge a mistake? Or is there another answer?
Andrew Carnegie. In my brief look at Andrew Carnegie’s life, I am impressed. His Scottish-Presbyterian background places him in a better position than the Koch brothers or other super-wealthy today because, at the very least, he believed in Christian principles. Yes, he was against unions during the time of the robber barons and formation of trade unions in the USA. But did he actually state his opposition to unions or go along with “management ID” and “management groupthink” of his day? Unions were perhaps untested in his day, so did this influence Carnegie’s thinking.
The problem with the web today – and I am just as guilty – is the Vannevar Bush syndrome of “hypertext.” When I read something on the web, I place it in my brain and often forget to document it. This is a problem for which perhaps causes me to eat humble pie. Or does it?
I recall reading a quote attributed to Andrew Carnegie. It went in one of two ways: “Wealth is created by society, not individuals.” The other way: “Wealth is not created by individuals, but by society.” This quote was either in an op-ed in a newspaper like The Palm Beach Post or it was on the Internet. It was most likely in the newspaper. Nevertheless, the Internet has become so pervasive that one can typically find the quote again later.
What has happened is this. I have quoted this from the piece of paper where I wrote the UNDOCUMENTED quote down. In other words, I wrote the quote attributed to Andrew Carnegie, but not the source of the quote. I have quoted this piece of information several times on my blog. Now I attempt to locate this quote as associated with Andrew Carnegie and the only place this is to be found on Google is the three times I have included it in my blog.
What gives here?
In doing research of this question, I have reviewed numerous writings by Andrew Carnegie himself (http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/rbannis1/AIH19th/Carnegie.html, June 1889) and others: (1) well-referenced article by Nicole Notario (http://learningtogive.org/papers/paper80.html) for a graduate research paper; (2) a Fordham U. essay (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1889carnegie.asp); and various others. One might conclude from this material (and others) that Carnegie might have made such a statement. But an actual attribution would take further research.
I am puzzled who wrote this quote and claimed attribution to Andrew Carnegie. I did not dream this up on my own. I did not just write this down out of thin air because, at the time, I barely knew diddley squat about this man, except to recall a library at my alma mater, Syracuse University, named after Carnegie and an entire university in Pittsburgh bearing his name. QUite frankly, having a library named after this man placed him in high regard. So when I read a supposed quote attributed to him, I took it very seriously.
I am not an idealogue, so I would have had no presumptions or biases. I found it fascinating that a wealthy tycoon of the late 1800s would make such a statement.
I have also read (and again, perhaps I need to document this) that Carnegie sold his steel companies to a ruthless man named J.P. Morgan in order to devote his time to philanthropic measures. It was J.P. Morgan (now part of the name of one of the largest banks – one which has screwed consumers with regard to mortgage loans) who gave Franklin D. Roosevelt a hard time, as the Koch Brothers do today to Barack Obama. It was J.P. Morgan who purportedly (unproven, just word of mouth to me) had his servants cut out pictures and stories of FDR from the morning newspaper each day – before Morgan sat down to read it. Sounds like the fans of Fox Noise – “don’t tell me anything else but what Fox Noise says.”
Nevertheless, perhaps it was Morgan who was more anti-union than Carnegie? A hypothetical question.
Ayn Rand has ruined this nation by creating a strong groupthink of selfishness and greed via a fantasy tale. The visual Media, in particular, has grabbed this extreme fascination with greed and selfishness which causes materialism among the people. Madison Avenue is a shameful group of hyenas who lack any human qualities whatsoever, as they endorse the principles of greed and selfishness, clouding the picture of what true capitalism, as defined by men like Adam Smith, Andrew Carnegie, Teddy Roosevelt, and others had to say about it. Jeff Jacoby’s op-ed this past May in the Boston Globe is a tribute to the stupidity of people who view the world only in black and white. These people say, “either President Obama is a socialist or capitalist, but never can anyone be in the gray areas between and call themselves problem-solvers.” Like narrow-focused religions – Roman Catholic and Mormons, for instance, there can be no consideration of “gray” areas.
Nevertheless, if I am wrong in attributing this quote about individuals, society, and wealth, then I stand corrected. However, my admission that I am wrong is more than what egomaniacs in the wealthy class would be willing to do as they hide their money overseas and refuse to divulge their tax information.
BTW. My scathing remarks about specific religious denominations should not be taken personally, except perhaps those who are hypocrites within those churches. Perhaps they feel guilty, so therefore take it personally. But then, imagine the berating my own denomination took in 2008, at the brief glimpse of statements made by ONE of the myriad pastors and clerics within my church. Double standards in America which remove my liberty and freedom – and the separation of church and state. Are we afraid to speak about the Christian beliefs of Adam Smith and Andrew Carnegie because such Presbyterian beliefs go against the grain of the dogma and doctrines of huge hierarchically-based churches with strong dictatorial leadership?
Is it humble pie for me or the truth being hidden – by deceptive people … no… deceptive egomaniacs – who seek power and control first, before reasoning and rationality? I would like to know.
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