Wow. The Christian Nationalists have already started going after Christians who aren't the "right sort". One would have thought they would have held off on that until they had fully oppressed all the non Christians.
Even worse: Paxton is ignoring Jesus' admonition to care for the least of his people, a verse which has doubtless spawned more Christian charitable outreach organizations than I could hope to count.
But all Paxton can see is the drug use. I suspect his god-glasses are in need of a new prescription.
Republicans focus on inflicting pain on the powerless generally. It seems to give them great joy. Texas Republicans are worse than most. Ken Paxton is as corrupt as they come and along with Greg Abbott, and Dan Patrick, is one of the unholy trinity sitting atop Texas politics. There is no bottom for Paxton. They pander to the evangelical preachers while viewing all forms of human decency as character flaws.
I suppose my career as a field service engineer is showing. For the longest time, I've always understood that the purpose of government was to serve the people, yet people like Paxton have twisted that into making the government serve his own twisted biases and bigotries. Yeah, I know, the cruelty IS the point, and I suppose by comparison with some of the crap Trump pulled during his first term, this isn't that big a deal.
It makes me wonder just how removed from his own humanity Paxton has become ... and I suspect that the answer to that one is: UTTERLY.
Typical for Paxton, for sure. I don't think there's a week that goes by that I don't hear about some ridiculous lawsuit that piece of sentient excrement has filed to target some marginalized group.
This is one of those we'll-see-it-again articles. The reality is that for too many Christians (and yes, primarily the MAGA crowd) poverty is seen as a cardinal sin; this goes hand-in-hand with the comment I made previously about Christmas being about the worship of money. Here it is again.
You can clearly see it in Paxton's argument: among other things, he's complaining that the ministry is 'enriching' itself on taxpayer funds. Paxton doesn't seem to have a problem with conservative churches and organizations doing the same thing. These shenanigans also point out the usual problem we see with Republican politics these days: rules for others, but not for them.
Color me unimpressed. Austin might be blue, but the rest of the state is still a very bloody red.
The cruelty is the point. They see the homeless as "undesirable". They see the homeless as "evil". Of course they will do everything they can to de facto criminalize the lack of a place to live. They don't want to address the underlying problems. They don't want to help unhoused people to get basic shelter. The cruelty is the fucking point.
They believe that, if humans help the unfortunate, they might not learn whatever the f lesson their cruel Christian Nationalist God is trying to teach them. They think that people who are well off literally are "blessed," and that once people in dire circumstances truly accept Jesus, they'll be blessed too.
That the person they're claiming to worship told them to help "the least of these" gets hand-waved away with a claim that they're being given the best help of all: salvation for their eternal souls!
Neil Young nailed it long ago: 🎶People sleeping in their shoes. There's a warning sign on the road ahead · There's a lot of people saying we'd be better off dead, don't feel like Satan, but I am to them, so I try to forget it anyway I can.🎶
Or bulldozing homeless people's camps, including what few possessions they have. Running off the homeless without any concern or care about what happens to them.
But, of course, he would want to shut it down. Even as a long-time atheist, I recognize and accept that there are churches and people (like Jimmy Carter) that actually practice what they preach, i.e. helping their fellow humans overcome diversity. And while I don't share their rationale or reasons for doing so, I salute them for their actions to back up their belief and faith. But too many of the "professional Chrishun" crowd are actually Christian Nationalist... selfish narrow-minded fascist bigots, and this son-of-a-bitch is foremost among them! Help the hungry and the poor? Why, that's just downright lib'rul!
One of the problems (or at least, one of mine) is that as you age, the word or image you see in your head and the one you mean to say or write somehow gets mangled or rearranged between your brain and your fingers or mouth. What I originally wrote and what I meant to write were completely different things, and I appreciate the fact that others are able to somehow distinguish between the two. Thanks again, SPW.
In Paxton’s defense though, helping the least of these is the idea of that NT Jesus evangelicals don’t use anymore and he follows Mean Jesus with a Spray Tan.
But it’s interesting that conservatives justify reducing social service funding stating it’s the responsibility of churches and nonprofits, then when they try to do the job the government left them with they get run out of town.
Kenny should be reminded of the fiery fate that awaits all those who call themselves Jesus' followers, but did NOT help the poor while they were alive (see Matthew 25:41-46).
I've known that verse for a considerable while. I would imagine that Ken Paxton has known it for roughly as long. The difference is that he clearly DOES NOT CARE ... which I find phenomenal.
Only caring for the most well off and not giving a flying fk about anybody else is the new motto of "round two" of the trump government come January 20.
Just because one self-labelled Christian is being cruel, don't tar us all. Thanks for lighting this up, the church in Austin (Sunrise) just earned a donation from me to keep up their work supporting people at their neediest.
I don't think anyone here is lumping all Christians together. The issue is that the cruel people who are Christians justify their cruelty with their Christianity. It also can lead otherwise decent people to adopt the same cruelty in the name of their beliefs.
Good for you for helping. But, in many ways it is not because of your Christianity, but in spite of it
It is indeed because of it, I stand for all, regardless, that's the real baseline message of the Testament - love thy neighbour, everyone is thy neighbour. Thanks for being here, I do follow this writer and have subscribed as a paid reader today thanks to this one article. Power that is exercised with factions and motives in mind, is made corrupt when used that way.
Whilst I appreciate your question, I will not be drawn into theoreticals - I would manage that situation should it come to pass one day. I have enough to fill my plate with the what is in front of me today such as the axis of this article.
I don't need an answer from you, I was just trying to give you something to think about. Basically, is it Christianity that makes you a good person, or is it being a good person that makes your Christianity good? It can be both.
Hemant, I think the republicans in TX want to do more than just sow chaos. I think their longer range goal is to cause the deaths by disease, malnutrition, self destruction of as many poor people as possible. Fewer poor and homeless people would cease draining the social safety nets the government has set up. Income inequality is deadly for a democracy. The republicans in power want to keep it that way. Their stated goal is to eliminate democracy in favor of autocracy. Which is an easy slide to permanent dictatorship with a powerful horde of American Oligarchs.
"I think their longer range goal is to cause the deaths by disease, malnutrition, self destruction of as many poor people as possible."
I'm afraid you're right. The Bishop of Aquila doesn't have a Marquet to lead an army to destroy them. Yet. So he will have to depend on disease and starvation to do it for him.
Sunrise Community Church is doing a great service to the less fortunate by operating a homeless shelter. The drugs and the other "unseemly" activities could be done away with by the hiring of security guards- not ideal but since it's near a school a necessity. And Ken Paxton? Shut yourself up. Thank you Sunrise Cimmunity Church for stepping up when the government can't or more likely won't provide for these people on hard times.
These fucking inhumane monster should be put out of his misery Mr Christian Nationalist White Supremacy Hater is so full of hate and revenge that he’s suing a church for actually helping the less fortunate?!
Wow. The Christian Nationalists have already started going after Christians who aren't the "right sort". One would have thought they would have held off on that until they had fully oppressed all the non Christians.
Even worse: Paxton is ignoring Jesus' admonition to care for the least of his people, a verse which has doubtless spawned more Christian charitable outreach organizations than I could hope to count.
But all Paxton can see is the drug use. I suspect his god-glasses are in need of a new prescription.
With Paxton it's all about the cruelty. He doesn't care about the drug use or the elementary school.
He cares about that. Because he can be mean to them and that is the only kindnof or***m he is ever gonna have.
Bingo. Just like his cruelty towards women, specifically pregnant women.
Started?
Something about a Diet of Worms......
(Doesn't sound at all tasty.)
Have you tried them fried?
Yep. Do as WE say, not as the BIBLE says! That’s the Republican way.
Republicans focus on inflicting pain on the powerless generally. It seems to give them great joy. Texas Republicans are worse than most. Ken Paxton is as corrupt as they come and along with Greg Abbott, and Dan Patrick, is one of the unholy trinity sitting atop Texas politics. There is no bottom for Paxton. They pander to the evangelical preachers while viewing all forms of human decency as character flaws.
I suppose my career as a field service engineer is showing. For the longest time, I've always understood that the purpose of government was to serve the people, yet people like Paxton have twisted that into making the government serve his own twisted biases and bigotries. Yeah, I know, the cruelty IS the point, and I suppose by comparison with some of the crap Trump pulled during his first term, this isn't that big a deal.
It makes me wonder just how removed from his own humanity Paxton has become ... and I suspect that the answer to that one is: UTTERLY.
As if he ever had any.
"On the day I was born
The nurses all gathered 'round
And they gazed in wide wonder
At the joy they had found
The head nurse spoke up
Said "leave this one alone"
She could tell right away
That I was bad to the bone"
And that was before all the Bourbon, Scotch, and Beer.
One of each 👍
Per round. 😁
The Texas Taliban is Strong
Molly Ivins said: “the problem with Texas Baptists is that we don’t hold them under water long enough”.
Molly was a wise woman. If anyone should be sainted for wisdom, it is her.
Damn, I miss Molly too. I took my daughters to hear Molly when we lived in Santa Cruz .
Molly was a great American. R.I.P.
I so miss her!
The Texas Taliban
So ... Christians take action to help the neediest and most hurt, and Ken Paxton has to piss on it. Man, how typical is that?
These days? Entirely TOO DAMNED TYPICAL.
Typical Christian Nationalist. Paxton thinks that the proper way to wield power is to subjugate all those who are beneath him.
Which is practically no one when you think about it.
I didn't need to think about it. My automatic response grabbed the wheel.
Typical for Paxton, for sure. I don't think there's a week that goes by that I don't hear about some ridiculous lawsuit that piece of sentient excrement has filed to target some marginalized group.
"sentient excrement" Brillant!
"Excrement," certainly. How sentient it is may be subject to debate. 😝
semi-sentient.
Well played ! Sentient excrement. 💩
I prefer 'that sentient piece of Brown-25' ( https://youtu.be/lRPQSxp25z4?si=YlbEcBi3W4scU7DJ ) myself.
That was nicely weird, Lefty, thanks!
This is one of those we'll-see-it-again articles. The reality is that for too many Christians (and yes, primarily the MAGA crowd) poverty is seen as a cardinal sin; this goes hand-in-hand with the comment I made previously about Christmas being about the worship of money. Here it is again.
You can clearly see it in Paxton's argument: among other things, he's complaining that the ministry is 'enriching' itself on taxpayer funds. Paxton doesn't seem to have a problem with conservative churches and organizations doing the same thing. These shenanigans also point out the usual problem we see with Republican politics these days: rules for others, but not for them.
Color me unimpressed. Austin might be blue, but the rest of the state is still a very bloody red.
To them, poverty is always the result of personal failings, bad decisions, individual actions. That way they can avoid all responsibility for it.
It's also a reminder it could happen to them. So they irradicate it lest they have to think.
Decisions do not matter, cuz jesus has a "perfect plan." Of course, this only applies when "free will" goes against their argument.
"They just want them to disappear. If they die from lack of help, the Republicans don’t care."
The repukelican way, and more proof that Texass repukes are not pro-life.
They are pro suffer, the more painful, the better.
Suffer til you straighten up or die. Either result is satisfactory but the suffer part is mandatory.
Then they act confused why you’re sick or dead
𝑅𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑠 ℎ𝑖𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓, 𝑃𝑎𝑥𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑟𝑜𝑙𝑒. 𝐻𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑦’𝑠 𝑛𝑜 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡. 𝑇𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑠 𝑅𝑒𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛’𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑦 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑟 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑢𝑛ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑗𝑜𝑏𝑠. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑟. 𝐼𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑠 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒.
The cruelty is the point. They see the homeless as "undesirable". They see the homeless as "evil". Of course they will do everything they can to de facto criminalize the lack of a place to live. They don't want to address the underlying problems. They don't want to help unhoused people to get basic shelter. The cruelty is the fucking point.
They believe that, if humans help the unfortunate, they might not learn whatever the f lesson their cruel Christian Nationalist God is trying to teach them. They think that people who are well off literally are "blessed," and that once people in dire circumstances truly accept Jesus, they'll be blessed too.
That the person they're claiming to worship told them to help "the least of these" gets hand-waved away with a claim that they're being given the best help of all: salvation for their eternal souls!
Neil Young nailed it long ago: 🎶People sleeping in their shoes. There's a warning sign on the road ahead · There's a lot of people saying we'd be better off dead, don't feel like Satan, but I am to them, so I try to forget it anyway I can.🎶
"Keep on Rocking in the Free World."
time for some one-way bus tickets to more liberal cities??
Although Hement does not empathize it, this ministry is in Austin. Very hard to find a more liberal city within miles!
Or bulldozing homeless people's camps, including what few possessions they have. Running off the homeless without any concern or care about what happens to them.
Oh but (most likely) they DO want to have the homeless in houses in a part of the city, like this: (https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Sanctuary_District)
Again, sounds about......Reich.
Jawohl!
If this suit is successful, the shelter will shut down during the holidays.
And when that happens, this incredibly corrupt NatC should change his first name to Ebenezer. He's Scrooge without the epiphany.
Puritans stopped xmas in colonial times.
https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/468785129_503326716068365_3008037692975274339_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=BcDXVnyygVIQ7kNvgGPpRly&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&_nc_gid=AGdUyuyVGrSyVKZfBzdlD_B&oh=00_AYD3xps2nUQYqceADTXdJS7lvLFclSXvPcZWHYea4xD0vA&oe=674FD22D
As Cromwell did in England.
They won't do that because it would cost their big business buddies too much money.
But, of course, he would want to shut it down. Even as a long-time atheist, I recognize and accept that there are churches and people (like Jimmy Carter) that actually practice what they preach, i.e. helping their fellow humans overcome diversity. And while I don't share their rationale or reasons for doing so, I salute them for their actions to back up their belief and faith. But too many of the "professional Chrishun" crowd are actually Christian Nationalist... selfish narrow-minded fascist bigots, and this son-of-a-bitch is foremost among them! Help the hungry and the poor? Why, that's just downright lib'rul!
I hope you meant “overcome adversity” rather than “overcome diversity”?
I did. Thanks for catching my error. My dang fingers can't spell as gud as they wunce cud.
One of the problems (or at least, one of mine) is that as you age, the word or image you see in your head and the one you mean to say or write somehow gets mangled or rearranged between your brain and your fingers or mouth. What I originally wrote and what I meant to write were completely different things, and I appreciate the fact that others are able to somehow distinguish between the two. Thanks again, SPW.
In Paxton’s defense though, helping the least of these is the idea of that NT Jesus evangelicals don’t use anymore and he follows Mean Jesus with a Spray Tan.
But it’s interesting that conservatives justify reducing social service funding stating it’s the responsibility of churches and nonprofits, then when they try to do the job the government left them with they get run out of town.
There is no logic in their behaviour.
Fanatics will be fanatics, and money-grubbers who worship Mammon.
Kenny should be reminded of the fiery fate that awaits all those who call themselves Jesus' followers, but did NOT help the poor while they were alive (see Matthew 25:41-46).
Got your gypsum skivvies packed yet, Paxton?
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑙𝑦, “𝑇𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑦 𝐼 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑒.”
-- Matthew 25:40
I've known that verse for a considerable while. I would imagine that Ken Paxton has known it for roughly as long. The difference is that he clearly DOES NOT CARE ... which I find phenomenal.
Only caring for the most well off and not giving a flying fk about anybody else is the new motto of "round two" of the trump government come January 20.
Just because one self-labelled Christian is being cruel, don't tar us all. Thanks for lighting this up, the church in Austin (Sunrise) just earned a donation from me to keep up their work supporting people at their neediest.
I don't think anyone here is lumping all Christians together. The issue is that the cruel people who are Christians justify their cruelty with their Christianity. It also can lead otherwise decent people to adopt the same cruelty in the name of their beliefs.
Good for you for helping. But, in many ways it is not because of your Christianity, but in spite of it
It is indeed because of it, I stand for all, regardless, that's the real baseline message of the Testament - love thy neighbour, everyone is thy neighbour. Thanks for being here, I do follow this writer and have subscribed as a paid reader today thanks to this one article. Power that is exercised with factions and motives in mind, is made corrupt when used that way.
If you feel your decency is because of your Christianity, then I must ask: would you be just as decent if you found that you could no longer believe?
Whilst I appreciate your question, I will not be drawn into theoreticals - I would manage that situation should it come to pass one day. I have enough to fill my plate with the what is in front of me today such as the axis of this article.
I don't need an answer from you, I was just trying to give you something to think about. Basically, is it Christianity that makes you a good person, or is it being a good person that makes your Christianity good? It can be both.
People who are both good and religious will most likely still be good without the religious part.
"If all else fails, read the instructions"; sarcastic comment from my motor mechanics tutor. Evidently, some do and some don't.
Hemant, I think the republicans in TX want to do more than just sow chaos. I think their longer range goal is to cause the deaths by disease, malnutrition, self destruction of as many poor people as possible. Fewer poor and homeless people would cease draining the social safety nets the government has set up. Income inequality is deadly for a democracy. The republicans in power want to keep it that way. Their stated goal is to eliminate democracy in favor of autocracy. Which is an easy slide to permanent dictatorship with a powerful horde of American Oligarchs.
"I think their longer range goal is to cause the deaths by disease, malnutrition, self destruction of as many poor people as possible."
I'm afraid you're right. The Bishop of Aquila doesn't have a Marquet to lead an army to destroy them. Yet. So he will have to depend on disease and starvation to do it for him.
Sunrise Community Church is doing a great service to the less fortunate by operating a homeless shelter. The drugs and the other "unseemly" activities could be done away with by the hiring of security guards- not ideal but since it's near a school a necessity. And Ken Paxton? Shut yourself up. Thank you Sunrise Cimmunity Church for stepping up when the government can't or more likely won't provide for these people on hard times.
These fucking inhumane monster should be put out of his misery Mr Christian Nationalist White Supremacy Hater is so full of hate and revenge that he’s suing a church for actually helping the less fortunate?!
Well, that is against HIS belief system.