The Merits of Doing Well

Hello Friends;

  It's cold and windy out today... I think I'll stay in and write.

Recently I read just a bit about "The Society of St.Vincent DePaul".  Like any organization, I would bet it has a share of less than dedicated volunteers mixed in with those who are real in their mission, and I would bet that some aspects of reality strike at their mission to feed and clothe and house the poor.... but with all that said, I like the premise.  I like the idea of sanctifying oneself through service.  Not sure it is for me, but the concept is simply beautiful.

 I would like to imagine that such are the people that, in deference to some of you who don't believe, if there is a God, that He looks down in pride and love.  I imagine Him saying "My Good and Faithful Servent, Well Done".  I want to believe that He makes the way for resources and what have you to be made available.  It's a good life in a hard job, I bet. Perhaps, as the old saying goes, one can live one's life helping his fellow man and come to the end of life to find that there was no god waiting for him with arms wide open.  But, in such a case, that person lived a life filled with love, caring for his neighbor.  It's a good life, I think.

  I was thinking about some of the things I am seeing recently in politics.  And, of course, this is why politics and religion should not meet.  They just don't play on the same field.  But, over and over again, we hear from the conservative right that we are giving too much in food voucher (snap), too much in unemployment insurance, too much in health care.   At the same time, we seem to step on ourselves trying to give ever more breaks to those who don't need the help - wealthy corporations, tax breaks for wealthy individuals, buying off other countries' politicians, etc.  You see, what bothers me is that these same conservatives will thump their chests proclaiming themselves of such and such religion, decrying the actions others take as blasphemous and horrible by the basis of that religion, and yet routinely acting in direct opposition to the very dictates of the man/God for which their own religion is named.

I think I now understand, acknowledging a belief in God is a necessity of Government because it maintains the understanding and humility that the government is not the ultimate, pinnacle, acme, end-all/be-all of life.  There exists something greater.

  But, to be a good leader, it is necessary to do what is best for the country, making the horrible decisions to put one need above another.  Sometimes that does mean putting limits on money spent to help the poor, the sick, the homeless... It's simple economics:  in my home if I don't allocate enough money to the heating bill it gets really cold in the winter.  If I give all my money to the heating and walk about in here like it's the tropics, I can't eat..... well, so goes government.  They have a job to do with the money allocated and sometimes cuts in food allocations or such are required in order to do a good over-all job.
Scary thought, eh?

Now, then comes this question:  Are our leaders in fact doing what is best for the country?