Roman 1 Debate

U.S. economic policy is ineffective

Richard Rychtarik, Las Vegas

Thursday, July 14, 2011 | 2 a.m.

Let’s face it, without a strong, vibrant economy and a highly educated workforce, America’s destiny is just like that of the Romans, relegated to the dustbin of history. In one election cycle after another, we hear the hollow echo of our continued greatness, the chant of “We’re No. 1.” Today, chanting will only make you hoarse.

We are now at the precipice — it’s do or die, so to speak. Who isn’t speaking to me are Congress and the president. America’s problems are self-evident. We tax too little, spend too much and on the wrong things. Like Rome did, we defend everywhere but don’t adequately defend our citizens’ welfare. Try cutting military spending when the Pentagon has embedded manufacturing contracts like the FA-22 into 44 states! Why after 30 years is the Marine Corps’ Osprey R&D program still alive?

Everyone understands that Medicare and Medicaid costs are running amok, yet their rate of increase is only half that of the private insurers. Why would anyone move these programs to a for-profit insurer? Our tax system favors the rich and throws crumbs to the poor. Republicans say that taxing the rich will hurt jobs. We now have the richest people and lowest taxes since World War II, so where are the jobs? How many American jobs are created when the wealthy invest in Chinese companies and a third vacation home in Tuscany?

We need to redefine our income tax system and our political system. I’d like to modernize Congress. I want my representatives to remain here full time, where I can keep an eye on them. In this new electronic age, why must they always congregate in Washington to deliberate and vote? Where is that stated in the Constitution?

Richard Rychtarik and Democrats are seeming puzzled as to why the Liberal's Keynesian economy is not growing.

Are Democrats really economically inept, incipiently lying, just amusing themselves, pleading ignorance, OR is it genuinely so much more important for Liberals to grow government and redistribute wealth rather than expand and strengthen the American economy?

American People are not spending and American Small Businesses are not hiring because Liberal Democrats lead by Obama, Reid, and Pelosi have created an UNCERTAINTY about

Pretty much says it all Richard. The heart of our problem is twofold - healthcare costs and a tax system that is designed to encourage certain economic behavior instead of raising revenue for government.

Problem Passages: Romans 16:7 « The Happy Surprise

Context

Paul is dictating his letter to the church in Rome from Corinth, at the home of Gaius (Acts 20:1-3, Romans 16:23). He mentions many Roman friends, co-workers and believers by name and sends his love.

Summary of Different Opinions

I include this reference in my series on Problem Passages because its existence has converted many Comps to Egals. Egals say it proves women can be in the top tiers of church leadership, and Comps say it’s a mistake of the pen or bad translation. The three disagreements are whether…

Junia is a man or woman’s name; and if this Junia was an apostle herself, or only was “well known” by the apostles; and if apostle means a governing authority or simply “sent one.” History of the translation

Bible translators are divided on whether the Greek name Iounian is male or female. The earliest English translations, Tyndale in 1534 through KJV in 1611, all translated this name as female: Junia. Then a trend developed to change this name to male by adding an “s”: Junias. There is no evidence to support there is a male Greek name of Junias. Yet Junia/Julia as a female name is common in Greek literature.

Why would translators alter the spelling? My guess is that instead of translating based on what the ancient document said; scholars, who couldn’t fathom a woman holding what was considered one of the highest positions in the early church, adjusted a letter to ease personal conviction. This spelling alteration continued until the 1970′s when Junia began to appear in English versions again.

Egalitarian Interpretation

This verse is used by Egals to prove Paul had no problem with women in church leadership. In fact, the entire chapter of Romans 16 lists many women in his ministry. Phoebe, a deacon, carried the letter to Rome and was a personal patron of Paul. Priscilla exhorted and taught Apollo, (Acts 18:26) and travels with Paul. Tryphena and Tryphosa, Mary and Persis are co-laborers and personal friends. He lists Junia as an outstanding apostle who was imprisoned with him, and who precedes him in the faith.

Was she a she or a he? Egals all agree Junia was a woman. . The word morphed into a title of sorts when applied to the Twelve or core church founders: James, the brother of Jesus, Paul. The generic word refers to someone commissioned with an errand or goal. Jesus was called an apostle in Hebrews.