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Author: Gerald V. Todd
Date:  February 8, 2014

Topic category:  Capitalism & Liberty vs. Marxism & Slavery

When the Pope sees Redistribution, is he looking at a Multistory Outhouse or the Fountain of Prosperity that made America Great?


When Pope Francis talks about Redistribution I believe he sees a Multistory Outhouse, but would like to see a Fountain of Prosperity where all can be challenged to the best of their ability and the helpless are cared for from conception to natural death. I don’t want to put words in his mouth, but I know he adheres to the age-old but seldom perfected Catholic principles of private property, subsidiarity and solidarity. “Progressives” are quick to grab on to the idea of re-distribution they interpret as manna from their distorted Papal heaven.

There is a big difference between the Catholic concepts of Distributionism versus the Re-Distribution of wealth of the totalitarian “progressives.” I’ll try to set the record straight – at least as seen from a (sort of) retired Catholic businessman’s viewpoint.

Somehow the totalitarians of massive wealth are exempt from any form of re-distribution – in fact the gap between great wealth and poverty has widened as the sins of money created against new debt, currency manipulation and hedging have finally caught up with us. They are the beneficiaries of new money created against a debt burden the tax paying people who are the creators of value must bear. I call it “Tribute.”

Debt-based money must reach its point of no return when debt overcomes the ability of its victims to pay. Those who pay that immoral tribute labor with their minds, visions, hands and hearts to create the initial and ongoing value of a nation. A far better way is spending into existence “circulation money” that reflects and supports the fruit of the labors of a prosperous and generous people. Money must be spent into existence to meet the demands of real growth - free of debt. This can be done by spending into expanding infrastructure, the common defense, beautification and basic research. That debt free money will circulate at least nine times in the economy like a rising tide that lifts all boats. There is plenty of room for bankers and investment institutions to lend and provide investment and savings instruments at the entrepreneurial level,

The target of the totalitarian is always the middle class successful or reasonably successful businessman, professional, craftsman or wage earner. I learned long ago as a tax sheltered real property syndicator that when the IRS changed the rules, it was a sure thing a little investigation would reveal another loophole the “big boys” were leaping through. It simply required an adjustment in the financial structuring of the investment.

Catholic Distributionism in my opinion requires the ownership of property; the right to acquire property; the control of one’s own money regardless of the amount; and a strong sense of the Beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Exercising this trait ranges from “the widow’s farthing” where Jesus noted she put all she had into the synagogue collection basket – to the wildly successful business mogul sharing ownership and profits with his loyal employees and forming foundations that create hospitals, schools and a myriad of re-investment into business and national growth and philanthropic outreaches to the poor. The tax collector also gets his share to support the legitimate functions of government – best if never more than 10%.

Being “poor in spirit” is the key to Distributionism. An individual or the resources he/she controls appreciates the blessings of the application of God-given gifts and talents coupled with a steward’s subduing natural resources to create things of value. The reason the United States of America has been so overwhelmingly successful is its founding documents and the sacrifices and wisdom of its Founders opened the door to infinite diversity in creativity, resources, property and the ability to rise above one’s station.

True diversity is the infinite range of gifts, talents, challenges and opportunities humanity is intended to share in the free society our Founders sacrificed for and passed down to us. No one is smart enough to determine an individual’s value and potential. That is why all life is sacred from conception to natural death. As Americans, we rejoice in the limitless opportunities our Constitutional Republic has allowed us to discover, to fail, to succeed. No nation or system of governance has ever afforded its people the privilege to thrive in infinite diversity as individuals and as a people.

What did I mean by saying the Pope is seeing a Multistory Outhouse when he speaks of Redistribution? In my Political and Equal Justice Theories of Relativity there are three groups of three elements that create a series of causes and effects leading to debt and depravity or a Fountain of Beauty and Prosperity.- a 180 degree flip as you will see.

The Multistory Outhouse with Top Down causes and effects:

1. Money as Master > uses -

2. High Tech to dominate > - denying the joys of -

3. High Touch (things of true beauty) > creating -

4. Chaos in the streets > pushed to riot by -

5. Solidarity of totalitarians > who throw a bone of -

6. Entitlement of the Dependent > whose lives are now subject to the -

7. Logic of eugenics > to eliminate the undesirable while pushing -

8. Ethics of the politically correct > that only ends up in -

9. Beauty in the sewer of depravity and debt.

It is apparent that this system of causes and effects that starts with the love of money demonstrates its inevitable result on the cascade to the pit from loss of the finer things (like Common Core which omits literature and cursive writing) to chaos to dependency through faulty logic and irrational ethics to a sewage pit of debt, depravity and perverse beauty,

In my opinion, this Multistory Outhouse is what the Pope sees when he criticizes capitalism as currently practiced by manipulators and hedge funds that tend to drive up costs of commodities and who are striving to destroy the US economy to transition to a one-world government.

There is a big difference between a one-world government and a global economy. It really comes down to priorities, the lust for power and the combined application of the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity. Money after all, was designed from the earliest times - in whatever form – to be the servant of those who use it as an exchange medium for convenience and safety. I believe Pope Francis would be delighted to see the world doing a 180 by restoring the priorities of Beauty and its Author leading and money again becoming the servant of all instead of our master.

A 180 degree flip of the upside down world of the “progressive” would lead to a truly workable return to the American Ethic. The Founders so clearly emphasized we the people are “Beautifully” endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights. They also gave us in the same Declaration a litany of the abuses a despot forces on the people, not unlike the good and evil defined in the Bible. No new sins, just new spins!

Following from our inalienable rights, the Constitution sets the Ethical framework and the Bill of Rights their Logical protections – From there it is normal for the people to take on personal responsibility in a unified nation where the chaos of bright and unexpected meetings and challenges yield work and prosperity for all who choose to strive. These will yield things of beauty, advanced technology, stewardship and a new way for investors, bankers and philanthropists to prosper their operations while truly serving their clientele.

Fountain of Prosperity: Reverse order causes and effects:

1. Beauty and its Author as in the Declaration of Independence > enjoy the -

2. Ethics of the Constitution > which is protected by the -

3. Logic of the Bill of Rights > allowing people to act in enlightened self interest -

4. Subsidiarity of the personally responsible > with all seeking the best for family, community and nation -

5. Solidarity of a free people to build and maintain a nation > opens all to the -

6. Chaos of unexpected discovery, opportune meeting, and crossover ideas leading to Harmony > where a real sense of beauty and esthetics accompanies -

7. High Touch in the natural flow of a creative environment > that entices the development of practical and useful -

8. High Tech to freely explore and apply diverse human talents and natural resources as good stewards > as a wonderful market for -

9. High Finance as servant of commerce, discovery, entrepreneurism, philanthropy, savings and works of mercy.

Cause and Effect Flowing From Top Down

We’ve become so used to the structures of our political system and the financial manipulations that control it; we can’t even think how the same systems could be reset to do much better for the American people with their myriad jobs, careers, talents and responsibilities. It would make elected officials, bureaucrats, financiers, law enforcement and military more efficient, less costly and even more honorable careers. It means turning that Multistory Outhouse capped by the mastery of finance, taxation and bureaucratic overreach into a beautiful Fountain of Opportunity and Prosperity that can exceed the wildest dreams of the greediest hedge fund manager or power hungry politician. They just have to learn to be good boys and girls. We will work to show them the way to change and enjoy it.

http://www.articlevprojecttorestoreliberty.com/wild-vortex.html

Gerald V. Todd


Biography - Gerald V. Todd

Jerry is a retired engineer with strong experience in environmental innovation which he still applies today with 2 clean water and energy saving technologies. His life avocation in writing and study of philosophical and biblical themes as they apply to the body politic's spiritual warfare. He survived stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2006; now in excellent health. A graduate of the University of Illinois (1958, Industrial Engineering), Jerry had post graduate studies at both the University of San Francisco and the University of Santa Clara in California between 1961 and 1963 (Logic, Marketing). As co Founder and seminar presenter he was awarded a Ph.D. in Philosophy at Valley Christian University operating under California private-post secondary statutes for mid career student, VCU was the pioneer external degree school for mid career students. Its course structures were picked up by several well known Christian colleges. Hosted local broadcast radio and TV shows, "Religion on the Line" and "The News Firm" (jointly with wife, Joanne), respectively. Jerry has published several books that are available at Amazon. Jerry is available to speak as a visiting lecturer at the high school, college or community organization level. Jerry is married 55 years to Joanne Dean Todd – 3 children, 8 grandchildren.


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