A few days ago, the Barna Group released the results of its latest poll, asking “Americans whether capitalism or socialism align better with the teachings of Jesus,” explains The Hollywood Reporter. The results are that “socialism won 24 percent compared to 14 percent, with the rest answering ‘neither’ or ‘not sure.’”
And what about the year’s big race?
“When asked which presidential candidate’s policies aligned closest to the teachings of Jesus, Sanders was on top with 21 percent, compared to 9 percent for Hillary Clinton and 6 percent for Donald Trump.” Ted Cruz, no longer in the race, fared better than Hillary, but below Bernie, at 11 percent.
Now, it is worth mentioning that more significant polling on issues relating religion to politics has been done by Barna. Still, the commentary over at Fox on this poll was . . . interesting.
On Bill O’Reilly’s show, Monica Crowley made the crucial distinction between Jesus’ command to give to the poor and modern socialists’ demands to take from some, through taxation and by force, to give to others.
O’Reilly himself, however, went on a bizarre and joking riff about “buying his way to heaven” by leaving his wealth to charity . . . after he dies.
Looking over these poll numbers, I can only conclude that advocates of a free society have much work to do convincing Americans of the justice and benevolence of free markets, of “capitalism.”
And Christians have their work cut out for them, too . . . at the very least to disencumber themselves from the stench of socialist states and the brutal force those states inevitably rest upon.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
3 replies on “Guilt and Association?”
Well said Paul. There is indeed much work to be done.
M
Indeed, good column, Paul. While I didn’t see the O’Reilly segment, and I can hardly presume to judge the man, I do know that Bill does raise a lot of money for charitable organizations, including donating all “his” portions of the stuff he sells from his website. I expect he gives quite a lot beyond that. But whether he was joking about himself or not, the idea of giving much of one’s wealth AFTER death is reminiscent of the Warren Buffet model, the man who generously announced he would give his fortune to the Gates foundation, largely after he dies. He’s a big advocate for the punitive Death tax, though like most wealthy elites he has already taken steps to insulate his own family. Buffet has already made sure his kits are worth $1 billion +, from what I understand. So I can’t speak for Bill O’Reilly, but what I see is no shortage of hypocrisy out there.
Matthew 20