The Bible Favors Wisdom, not Wealth. . .

Re-framing "Elitist" for Red America, the Bible Favors Wisdom not Wealth

By Dean Powers

After failing to win on issues of national security and with North Korea and Mark Foley threatening their survival, Limbaugh and his conservative allies are trying to paint democrats as elitists again. Our country is rightfully wary of elitists and it always has been, but democrats have as much to do with elitism as Arnold Schwarzenegger has to do with the Oscars. Limbaugh said on Friday, "I'm always amazed at how much money is on the Democratic side." He continued, "The democrats aren't able to relate to you" (common people).

In the fourth quarter of 2005, the peak of republican favoritism toward profiteering oil companies, Exxon Mobile reported $10.7 billion in profits, the highest ever for a U.S. company. What does elitist really mean? Republicans usually include "latte-drinking" and "New York Times-reading" in any sentence that includes "elitist." So doesn't elitist just mean nerdy? Well-read?

Yes. Elitism is wisdom, and the republicans call democrats elitists degradingly because we drink lattes and read books. They don't call it to our faces because they don't have the guts. They'd rather hurl insults at us from the safety of security-guarded TV and radio studios.

Although republicans try to arouse hatred against democrats, the Bible judges in our favor. "Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, but a companion of harlots wastes his wealth." (Proverbs 29:3) Republican supporters are fooling themselves if they think limousine billionaires, close allies of so-called "evangelical" republicans, don't spend their wealth to get 18-year-old daughters to consent to their dark lusts.

Republicans are also screaming that the democrats will raise taxes, proving exactly who is in the pocket of Big Oil. Oil companies made record profits for the very reason that republicans cut Big Oil taxes, gave them public land and made the government their personal red light district. These people are soiling the backseats of limousines, the locked-door rooms of Congress and any and every place in our US Government that was once respected and held sacred. In fact if nobody raises taxes on these licentious, heavy-breathing lechers after this election, we can consider it a failure. They will continue to stain our dignity with their compulsive, un-checked lusts.

God says to Solomon-the richest king in the Old Testament-in the New King James version of the Bible, "Because you have asked [for wisdom], and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked for riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself the understanding to discern justice...I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you." (Kings 3:11) Democrats may ask for wisdom, but this is the more rewarding path.

So let the republicans try to scorn democrats as elitists. The Bible asks, "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge." (Proverbs 1:22)



Authors Bio: Dean Powers is a former intern at The Nation, whose views are not reflected in this piece.

Back