Well, the Pope isn't down with capitalism

[venkman]

Alot of what the pope and other leftists attack as capitalism isn't really true free market capitalism. It's managed capitalism or state capitalism or corporatism or crony capitalism or fascism. Whatever you want to call it, the state is intervening on behalf of the banks and large corporations to stifle competition and subsidize risk. From the tax code with carve outs, to regulation with exemtions for the connected, to 'too big to fail', we're not even close to free market capitalism. That said, it's still better than the alternative heavy-handed collectivist economic models of the left. Case in point, the good old US of A: for all of the extremely serious challenges we face, we're still the land of opportunity.

[frank ryan]

"It's managed capitalism or state capitalism or corporatism or crony capitalism or fascism."- this for sure. You may not believe it but even if I don't agree with it economically, I respect Libertarianism. Hell, I'm a registered Libertarian. Power, be it from the state, corporations, churchs or unions must always be challenged and checked.

[woot]

http://www.examiner.com/article/vati...-going-to-hell

After the last pope was so terrible, the new pope is seeming like too good of a person for that church.

[wuapinmon]

Si, mi sabes!

Sí, me conoces.

Saber = to know information, to have something memorized.
Conocer= experiential knowledge, to be familiar with someone, to have been somewhere before

[venkman]

"It's managed capitalism or state capitalism or corporatism or crony capitalism or fascism."- this for sure. You may not believe it but even if I don't agree with it economically, I respect Libertarianism. Hell, I'm a registered Libertarian. Power, be it from the state, corporations, churchs or unions must always be challenged and checked.

Agreed.

[calicoug]

Our gospel doctrine lesson a few months ago turned somehow from the Law of Consecration to capitalism vs communism. I took perverse pleasure in mediating the discussion.

lol! Yeah, I see similar things in the church frequently. I think many members actually believe capitalism is an inspired economic model. The fact that it is perhaps the most functional model under the conditions in which we presently live doesn't say anything about whether or not it is inspired, and I think God's reaction would be somewhere along the lines of "I don't care what model you use as long as you follow my commandments."

[calicoug]

Can we get back to the OP? The pope didn't advocate communism. He cautioned against materialism and advised governments to control for market excesses and abuses. Is that really so distasteful? I think that's fantastic counsel--the kind that a religious leader should be giving.

More fantastic stuff from this pope:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_3320757.html

I like him.

Fact.