"Pope Francis denounces ‘trickle-down’ economic theories in critique of inequality"

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by Wasillaguy

Your assumptions, while dramatic, don't reflect my attitude at all. Your cynical stereotype of the cruel, selfish individualist is I'm sure a convenient outlet to direct your anger.
The facts, however, stand in bold contrast to your view. Capitalist, Christian, free enterprise based societies are by far the most charitable, with the highest levels of volunteerism.
I don't expect you to understand or believe what you can't see for yourself though. I just do what I can and have faith that I'm trying to serve my God as he taught, while recognizing I will fall short of the mark, and am forgiven.

Originally Posted by finnbow

While the bolded statement is true, it is also true that the social democracies such as those in northern Europe are more generous and engaged in improving the lives of the poor than we are. I think that this is the Pope's point.

Right. Less charity and volunteerism, because there is less need for it.

Also, there is no way to know whether one is forgiven until the end of ones life when whence he faces judgment. The whole pre-forgiven for events that have as yet to occur is a fallacy. It's like giving someone a pass at birth for any crimes he may commit later in life. It simply doesn't work that way.................unless you're born rich and connected, of course.

Dave

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Right. Less charity and volunteerism, because there is less need for it.

Also, there is no way to know whether one is forgiven until the end of ones when whence he faces judgment. The whole pre-forgiven for events that have as yet to occur is a fallacy. It's like giving someone a pass at birth for any crimes he may commit later in life. It simply doesn't work that way.................unless you're born rich and connected, of course.

Dave

The USA in 19th in terms of charitable giving as a percentage of Gross National Income. You'll note that nearly all of the countries above us are northern European social democracies who actually need less charity than we do. During my 11 years in Germany, I don't recall ever seeing a poor or destitute person. In contrast, the USA ranks #34 in the world in terms of percentage of children living in poverty.

Luxembourg – 1.00%
Sweden – 0.99%
Norway – 0.93%
Denmark – 0.84%
Netherlands – 0.71%
United Kingdom – 0.56%
Finland – 0.53%
Ireland – 0.48%
Belgium – 0.47%
France- 0.45%
Switzerland – 0.45%
Germany – 0.38%
Australia – 0.36%
Canada – 0.32%
Austria – 0.28%
New Zealand – 0.28%
Portugal – 0.27%
Iceland – 0.22%
United States – 0.19%

When it comes to the Pope's point, from 2009 - 2012 the top 1%'s income went up 31.4%, whereas the income of the bottom 99% went up 0.4%.

http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~saez/saez-...comes-2012.pdf