I think in his acceptance speech Mitt Romney was sincere when speaking about his family, but eventually went into the party goal to get rid of President Obama, which Sen. Mitch McConnell stated their goal in 2008 was to make President Obama a one-term president. His last two points were very conflicting: We will be an America that takes care of the poor, sick, elderly, etc. and the referrals to war with Iran.
I have grave concerns about Paul Ryan's budget, which has been called immoral by the Catholic bishops. I believe Jesus confronted the social structures of his day. Jesus challenged the status quo of his time: Rulers, religious leaders, bureaucrats, and merchants and the privileged classes who owned most of the land.
The seven Principles of Social Teaching of the Church are based on the Bible, papal letters, documents from councils like Vatican II.
1) Life and Dignity of the Human Person; 2) Call to Family, Community, and Participation; 3) Rights and Responsibilities; 4) Option for the Poor and Vulnerable; 5) The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers; 6) Solidarity; 7) Care for God's Creation.
It has been blatantly obvious since the elections of 2010 that some of the Republicans have been denying No. 5 as evidenced in Wisconsin and Ohio (SB5). Now Ryan wants to cut funds for the poor and vulnerable (No. 4). I think I heard that Romney wants to cut subsidies for wind power but increase subsidies for fossil fuels (No. 7).
I haven't read her book, but I've learned Ayn Rand's ideas are that man is to take care of himself, only love self and not someone who is weak. I think we call this selfishness. The only purpose for government is to provide an army, a police force and courts. The "government" should be run by large corporations. I think we are becoming an oligarchy rather than a democracy. An oligarchy is a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; a government by the few.
That is why this election is so important. We need programs to help the poor and vulnerable. We need regulations on industry, businesses and banks. We need to elect people who work for the middle class and not the 1 percent.
Margaret Meeker
Williamstown
