Severe conservative Mitt Romney says funding disaster relief is “immoral,” and should be turned over to the private sector
On the eve of what may be one of the most destructive storms ever to hit the Eastern seaboard, Think Progress reports:
Last year, after a major tornado and flood struck the United States, Romney was asked in a debate about federal disaster relief funding. Romney not only suggested shuttering FEMA and sending responsibility for disaster relief “back to the private sector,” but also said it would be “immoral” for the federal government to fund disaster relief efforts without cutting the budget elsewhere. “It makes no sense at all,” Romney concluded.
No sense at all…
Here’s how The Urantia Book relates the parable of The Good Samaritan (noting that Samaritans and Jews had a long history of enmity). It was triggered by a question from a wily lawyer wanting to entrap Jesus into saying something that would contravene Jewish law, which defined one’s neighbor as “the children of one’s people.”
“But, Teacher, I should like you to tell me just who is my neighbor?”
But Jesus discerned the lawyer’s motive, and instead of falling into the trap, he proceeded to tell his hearers a story, a story which would be fully appreciated by any Jericho audience. Said Jesus: “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of cruel brigands, who robbed him, stripped him and beat him, and departing, left him half dead. Very soon, by chance, a certain priest was going down that way, and when he came upon the wounded man, seeing his sorry plight, he passed by on the other side of the road. And in like manner a Levite also, when he came along and saw the man, passed by on the other side. Now, about this time, a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed down to Jericho, came across this wounded man; and when he saw how he had been robbed and beaten, he was moved with compassion, and going over to him, he bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, and setting the man upon his own beast, brought him here to the inn and took care of him. And on the morrow he took out some money and, giving it to the host, said: ‘Take good care of my friend, and if the expense is more, when I come back again, I will repay you.’ Now let me ask you: Which of these three turned out to be the neighbor of him who fell among the robbers?” And when the lawyer perceived that he had fallen into his own snare, he answered, “He who showed mercy on him.” And Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.”
If it had been Romney or Ryan, assuming that they would have extended aid to a total stranger without first checking his credit rating, they’d have billed the guy for the wine and oil, and charged him buku interest on what they considered a private equity loan.
Victims of natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy, you’re on notice: Don’t expect a hand out from the One Percenters.
