This is a great column by Nicholas Kristof, recounting an imagined conversation between Jesus and Paul Ryan.
Jesus tells Ryan (here called “Pious Paul”) why he has an obligation to help the needy, and Ryan tells Jesus that he doesn’t want people to become dependent on handouts.
A must-read.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Hits the nail right on the head.
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Ryan must have been too busy reading “Fountainhead” to pay attention in church. He totally missed Jesus’ message of caring for weak, wayward and poor. Jesus was a collectivist.
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“Ryan Shrugged”
Atlas shrugged
And so did Ryan
No big deal,
These people dyin’
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This is a good catch.
I have been listening to versions of this narrative much of the afternoon. All of the people who will forfeit health care must learn to lift themselves up and heal themselves—don’t you know. And besides, the health insurance marketplace with solve all problems by offering “innovative” and competing policies with all of the choices anyone could want. The Paul Ryan plan is just wonderful, wonderful.
I finally bailed out and watched Turner Classic Movies featuring the show songs of Jerome Kern. Therapeutic, not covered by insurance.
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“Help Yourself”
God helps those
Who help themselves
So, I suppose
He helps the elves
And helps the folk
Who mug them too
But if you’re broke.
He won’t help you
.
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Trumpsters should read Matthew 25:34-46, because then they can’t complain that they weren’t warned.
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Paul Ryan and his mother received Social Security benefits when his father died, which helped them through rough times and even allowed him to go to college. Now he calls those who benefit from public assistance “takers”
“Help for me, but not for thee”
When Ryan was in need
The public gave him aid
But now he holds the creed
That others shan’t be paid
Security for him
So he could go to school
But not for Tiny Tim
Or any other fool
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I only wish
that Ryan
were dyin’
he knows no pain
does everything for gain
once took
a handout
but now
can only pout
at “Big Uncle Sam”
Coming to take away
your freedom
When it’s really
one big slam
against safety nets
if you need ’em
I ain’t gonna be cryin’
for anything Paul Ryan
just continue protestin’
hoping Ryan
will sooner than later
of natural causes only,
be dyin’
(This ad has been paid for by stupid, evil, vapid American politicians who bring out the Viking in me . . . )
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Betsy’s name could be switched and that meet-up between Jesus and Ryan could just as easily be a meet-up between Jesus and Betsy.
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The meet-up would be called “Heavens to Betsy”, of course.
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LOL
She’d never get through the Pearly Gates.
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Unless the Gates keeper was named Bill
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She would get first Bill-ing . . .
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Oh how funny!! Made me chuckle today.
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Great stuff, but several posts ago when I quoted Scripture some pan-liberals? got very upset, accusing me of spreading “religious fog”. As if just quoting from a text from the most influential book in history, and the founding of the West, somehow inhibits intellectual discussion? I think quoting the NT sheds light on issues, not blurs them, but I guess some would rather have their thoughts remain in the shadows rather than be exposed by the light?
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Al Franken took a different tack with “Supply Side Jesus.” Well worth a watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc-LJ_3VbUA
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Wasn’t Ayn Rand at the end of her life a penniless pauper, making use of those socialist bugaboos Social Security & Medicare. What’s the word that so fits republicans, oh ya HYPOCRITE!
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Great! I could read it through here. Thanks, Judy >
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