Lawrence O’Donnell: Jesus wants us to have a super-progressive income tax
posted at 7:53 pm on April 26, 2011 by Allahpundit
How super-progressive? He won’t commit to a number but does point out that Jesus encouraged his followers to relinquish all possessions, a step O’D himself obviously hasn’t taken despite his evident Biblical mastery. Ninety percent, maybe? Eighty? Presumably Obama, a.k.a. Christ’s vicar on Earth, will know the number and how we might redistribute it most righteously. A semi-serious question per his reimagining of Jesus as some sort of celestial IRS agent: Is religion, or at least Christianity, really just a handmaiden to the state in this telling? That’d be awfully ironic given the faith’s origins, but if O’Donnell’s urging Christians to disgorge their material belongings into the U.S. treasury and not their church or some charity, I don’t know how else to take it.
Just FYI: When I found the atheist Randian utopia, there’ll be a flat tax of 10 percent. A little for the military, a little for the roads. Golden. Click the image to watch.
Update: Look at it this way, Lawrence. We’re getting there.
Blowback
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I’d be willing to go fishing on Tax Day. The government can keep everything I catch.
trigon on April 26, 2011 at 9:11 PM
If you take everything written in the Bible to mean its exact opposite, you have liberalism.
In the liberal Parable of the Loaves and Fishes, everyone had plenty of food and were sharing freely. Then the Roman soldiers confiscated it, threw it all into a huge pile, took the lion’s share for their troubles, and made everyone come and fill out forms begging for their “fair” share of it.
logis on April 26, 2011 at 9:11 PM
Why is the wisdom of Jesus suddenly worth knowing? These atheist a$$holes normally can’t be smarmy enough when pronouncing His name.
FalseProfit on April 26, 2011 at 9:13 PM
WWKMD?
Dr. ZhivBlago on April 26, 2011 at 9:15 PM
You forgot the whip. Those money changers got the whip too.
Lily on April 26, 2011 at 9:15 PM
The New Testament advocates *voluntary* giving, not confiscation by the state. And there are more effective ways to help the needy than through government (which is synonymous with ‘inefficient’).
And by the way, ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal’ presupposes private property.
Nothing like the self-righteous Left selling their agenda in the name of a Man whose moral teachings they despise.
jazz_piano on April 26, 2011 at 9:18 PM
All on the same week that they raise Earth day above Good Friday (and Easter).
CWforFreedom on April 26, 2011 at 9:21 PM
How did that giving up everything work for the church at Jerusalem? It got to the point that all the other churches had to send money to the church at Jerusalem because they didn’t have anything, the first proof that communism doesn’t work! Jesus pushed Capitalism with the parable of the talents where the ruler took the 1 talent away from the man who buried it, telling him that he should have at least given it to the money changers and gotten interest. What would Jesus have done about taxes, he had Peter catch a fish and take the coin in the fish’s mouth and pay their temple tax because Peter had told the temple they would pay them. Jesus was not for a progressive tax, he was for keeping our money and using it ourselves. If we want to voluntarily give offerings that’s great, but nothing else.
flytier on April 26, 2011 at 9:25 PM
How can someone be so short-sided and stupid and simultaneously so a part of the main stream?
watson007 on April 26, 2011 at 9:41 PM
A perfect summation of the Democrat party.
pedestrian on April 26, 2011 at 9:43 PM
Ah, but what brave Sir Larry doesn’t realize is that Jesus didn’t say to give everything to the government. Or even to the poor.
exhelodrvr on April 26, 2011 at 9:45 PM
Lawrence just meant everyone else. Certainly not himself. *sigh*
My God these liberals. I don’t think God looks kindly on those who use Him, and His name when it suits them, then tries to convince the world he’s make believe on every other issue.
Jesus also said to the children, come unto Him. Not abort them….Lawrence!!!
capejasmine on April 26, 2011 at 9:46 PM
SteveMg,
“I’m not sure that providing Viagra for senior citizens was mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount.”
Yes – it was the Sermon on the Mount, not the Sermon of the Mount
exhelodrvr on April 26, 2011 at 9:47 PM
God will not be mocked. God never has anything good to say about the State in His Word. I pray that we Christians can soon come to recognize how entangled we’ve become with the state.
Christians send their children to state school. They take stolen money from the state. They pray that the state will save them. We are going to pay a heavy price for our idolatry.
j_galt on April 26, 2011 at 9:52 PM
That was a stunningly evil twisting of scripture. The false righteousness was breathtaking. These people must be missing a gene that enables them to differentiate human government from the spiritual. Both their horizontal and vertical perspective is really messed up.
paul1149 on April 26, 2011 at 9:56 PM
Case in point — well, if your point is the exact opposite of LO’D — last Friday night, a tornado cut a nasty swath through St. Louis about a mile north of my house. First light on Saturday morning, a local church parking lot became the meeting point for volunteers and donations. From there, they canvassed the neighborhoods, identifying needs and directing other help and donations as needed. Both of the Evil-Corporate-Box-Store Home Improvement centers sent skilled employees and materials to pitch in, and many of the other Evil Corporations gave in-kind.
On Monday, I learned that a business acquaintance of mine had lost part of his roof and a few windows. When I asked if he needed help, he replied, “Between Grace Church, the volunteers from Lowe’s, and my insurance company, I’m all set.”
Could FEMA have responded so quickly and specifically — even with our 100% “giving”? Strongly doubt it.
Darth Hippie on April 26, 2011 at 10:00 PM
Re: the 10%. If you go through the Old Testament (where the tithing is discussed), one can make a strong argument that the actual ‘tithe’ on Israel was more like 30%.
Darth Hippie on April 26, 2011 at 10:01 PM
At least he’s being honest: liberals believe all money belongs to the government, and we’re lucky to get to keep some of it.
Jim Treacher on April 26, 2011 at 10:09 PM
What about Romans 13?
That was Romans 13:1-2, and here’s 5-7:
As per my previous post, I’m not agreeing with LO’D — it’s one thing to pay taxes, it’s another thing to think that giving everything to the state was ever Jesus’ objective. Still, taxes can and should be paid as needed.
Darth Hippie on April 26, 2011 at 10:09 PM
JellyToast on April 26, 2011 at 10:23 PM
….nice to see you left plenty of wiggle room for nuance. Render what to whom…sport?
dmann on April 26, 2011 at 10:24 PM
I love it when libs start trying to talk about Jesus and what Jesus said and what Jesus would do.
Here’s one for you: Jesus also commanded his followers to care for the poor. If everyone is poor (ie: expected to give up all possessions), then who will take care of the poor?
Answer that riddle for me.
ramrants on April 26, 2011 at 10:32 PM
Very close. 10% to maintain the temple, 10% to the priests and 10% every 3rd year for the poor.
chemman on April 26, 2011 at 10:34 PM
Putting aside the fact that I don’t think Paul says what many state worshipers like to think Paul says in Romans 13, it still does not follow that God sees the state as a good thing.
j_galt on April 26, 2011 at 10:50 PM
There is wide spread ignorance about the Bible. Most people get their Bible from movies and TV. The church is no longer preaching the real and full Gospel because they have one eye on the taxman and the other on the collection plate. We don’t want to offend. As the world sinks down into ignorance and sin the church is sliding with it. And we wonder why we are where we are.
There was a reason the British were burning churches during the revolution. It was because pastors were preaching against the British. Can you imagine pastors preaching directly against Obama and the Democrats today? Or preaching for a balanced budget? But who is there to teach the people how the Gospel is suppose to effect our lives if not for the church? Who is there to bring Jesus into our homes, into our kitchens and into our government? Who will do it?
Jesus a socialist? No where does Jesus ever tell anyone to go and take from a rich man and give it to a poor man!
A few of the 10 commandments:
Oh, and lets not forget the taxman who became a follower of Jesus:
JellyToast on April 26, 2011 at 10:55 PM
I am a scholar (Th.M, double majoring in Bible / Theology and Pastoral Leadership), and I gotta say, O’Donnell is off his freakin’ gourd!
psrch on April 26, 2011 at 11:06 PM
FYI Rand also proposed an alternative to income tax in the form of a fee paid to the government to insure a contract, the fee being a flat percentage of the value of the contract.
Sharke on April 26, 2011 at 11:11 PM
I agree.
Can you imagine pastors preaching that the debtor is slave to the lender; that Believers should not go to the secular courts for anything; that marriage is not something sanctioned by the state; that government school is not the place Christian parents should send their children?
j_galt on April 26, 2011 at 11:13 PM
Too funny! These people don’t think before they talk, do they? lolol
“What would Jesus take?” Hey Lawrence, “take” is a verb, bud. You’re making Jesus out to be a thug… TAKING at the point of a gun. Because that’s what it comes down to. You think if you failed to pay your taxes and gave the government enough guff about it, you wouldn’t be shown the business end of one?
Think again.
Murf76 on April 26, 2011 at 11:43 PM
Jesus paid taxes. Christians OWNED property and homes in the New Testament narrative. They were also gainfully employed and generous to a fault. The people who don’t read or study the Bible simply don’t know what they’re talking about.
I would suggest they read Proverbs everyday. There are 31 proverbs and 31 days in the long months. Proverbs has volumes to say about proper finances.
Mojave Mark on April 27, 2011 at 12:42 AM
I don’t understand why this is missing the “Comedy Gold” tag?
It’s hilarious!!
Little ole Larry O’Donnell, tryin’ to look all earnest and scholarly-like. Doesn’t it make you want to just pat him on the head and give him a Pup-peroni or something.
dissent555 on April 27, 2011 at 1:13 AM
Lawrence O’Donnell is a wicked man from what I can tell. I’ve heard other comments from him that show a pattern of deceitfulness and spite.
It sounds quaint, but I don’t know how else to state it.
scotash on April 27, 2011 at 3:11 AM
If Jesus were a commenter at HA he would have been branded a brainless libtard by some of the commentariat years ago…
Example:
Bradky on April 27, 2011 at 6:37 AM
Wonder if he thinks murdering unborn children is ok, though.
Alden Pyle on April 27, 2011 at 6:40 AM
O’Donnell obviously doesn’t know who Christ is.
zoyclem on April 27, 2011 at 7:04 AM
That is the curious thing about this, the guy thinks that the government is equal to God or Jesus or a religion.
albill on April 27, 2011 at 7:14 AM
Am I the only one creeped out by this lunatic? The wide spaced eyes, the grossly misshapen forehead region, his lunatic delivery. There’s something really weird about this Socialist pig. His property should be the first to be confiscated, unless he’s so sure of his communism that he wants to donate ALL to the state right now…MSNBC is a disease………
adamsmith on April 27, 2011 at 7:34 AM
O’Donnell is a typical atheist on any given day but tries to use scripture to make his point while he misrepresents what the scripture says and means. He mocks Christians on a regular basis and couldn’t care less what effect his lies have on daily events.
I feel certain he will get what he deserves in the after life.
Sporty1946 on April 27, 2011 at 8:33 AM
The left better watch out. The Lord God does not liked to be mocked. ‘There shall be no other god before you.’ Did you see the lightning strikes hit the WH. Since Zero is such a good reader, can he read writing on the wall?
Kissmygrits on April 27, 2011 at 9:02 AM
Jesus wants
us to have a super-progressive income taxLawrence O’Donnell to STFU.(Sorry Lord, couldn’t resist)
infidel4life on April 27, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Picking a nit here. Jesus had no issue with the collection of taxes, he was quite clear on that when he said “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s”. His problem was with them corrupting His Father’s house of worship.
That said, O’Donnel is a tool of the first order. Attempting to wield rhetoric he doesn’t understand as a cudgel at people who are most likely far more giving, compassionate, and loving than he could ever hope to fathom, redefines hypocrisy.
Jesus did not advocate the violent overthrow of government. But neither did he ever suggest that it was the way to accomplish important things. He neither rejected nor respected government. He simply operated apart from it. Yes, yes, we should indeed follow His example, Larry.
Freelancer on April 27, 2011 at 12:07 PM
You channeling Jim Wallis now, Bradky? I don’t see that the Inerrant Word of God supports your assertion, but maybe I just don’t have your gift of vision.
Jesus expressed very clearly that the rich have little chance of going to His Father’s House, and that the poor will always be around — not to worry. But he also expressed a very clear differentiation between what is Caesar’s and what is God’s.
Crazy Larry the Atheist must have missed that part.
Jaibones on April 27, 2011 at 1:00 PM
The New Testament does NOT require the divesting of all of a believer’s worldly possessions, in order to be a disciple of Jesus Christ:
Matthew 27:57 – When the even was come, there came a RICH man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: …
John 19:39 – And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of MYRRH and ALOES, about an HUNDRED POUND weight.
Luke 19:2 – And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was RICH. [8] And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, THE HALF OF MY GOODS I GIVE to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. [9] And Jesus said unto him, This day is SALVATION come to this house, forsomuch as HE ALSO IS A SON OF ABRAHAM.
[Note: The capitalization above is mine - for emphasis]
Jesus taught that we should not replace the worship of GOD, with the worship of MONEY. THAT was His concern.
Jesus, also, emphasized GIVING, by the believer, to those in need – NOT GIVING to the STATE, for STATE redistribution.
OhEssYouCowboys on April 27, 2011 at 1:18 PM
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