Even if you don't like Pope Francis, how can you not love the reaction from Wall Street

[cali]

and right wing economist types who are oinking loudly over his positions on unbridled capitalism?

This is really quite fun:

Pope Francis Is No Economist

We all hoped this guy would be different. Jorge Bergoglio’s spontaneous ruminations upon becoming Pope revealed a humble, loving heart. Too bad that in his formal writing the new Holy Father couldn’t resist biting the invisible hand that feeds a lot more poor people than the Vatican ever has.

Most of Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis’s first apostolic exhortation, is an ennobling call to the faithful. Ninety percent of its 223 pages make a learned and passionate case for why Christians should spend more time calling others to Jesus, a subject on which Pope Francis is truly an expert. His writing offers a joyful and inclusive spirituality that even this atheist can appreciate.

But when it comes to economics, the Pontiff’s expertise isn’t much to go by, judging by his ahistorical, populist attack on an economic system that has done more to alleviate poverty than a thousand Mother Theresas ever could.

For example:

Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system.


<snip>

http://www.forbes.com/sites/billfrezza/2013/12/03/pope-francis-is-no-economist/

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2013/12/02/j-p-morgan-economist-note/

[jsr]

1. He's really pissing them off

[Scuba]

2. The Popester better watch out for a "lone gunman".

It's always a "lone gunman".

[cali]

3. somehow I don't think that factors into his thinking-

those charged with protecting him however.....

[merrily]

11. Supposedly, he doesn't like the bullet-proof Popemobile, built

after a Pope was shot. Think that may have been a co-conspirator, though, but I am not sure.

[Rex]

4. The Invisible Hand feeds a lot of poor people?

What fucking gibberish is that from corporate pirates no less? The Pope called them crooks and of course they got mad at the reminder.

[global1]

20. Throw The Moneychangers Out Of The Temple...... nt

[Volaris]

32. ayep.

[arely staircase]

28. no kidding. take ou t invisible hand and put in whatever shitty system you want to defend

Well say what you want about slavery or fudalism but a lot of serfs and slaves sure got fed.

[malthaussen]

37. Problem is, the food is invisible too. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

5. I prefer Reverend Billy who takes real action and does not slime minorities along the way.

It would be perhaps fitting and proper if those who so adore Francis might take the time to learn about Rev Billy, his choir director, their work and maybe, just maybe write to the powers that be to speak out for them, perhaps even making use of Pope Francis's message which on consumerism and money is similar to Billy's. Billy is facing jail for that message. DU has nary a word about him, I assume because he is not anti anyone and his costumes are not so flashy. Stop shopping, y'all, step away from the product.


"For more than a decade, Reverend Billy, along with his Church of Stop Shopping, has preached fiery sermons against recreational consumerism — and more recently, against climate disaster. You can often find them greeting the crush of shoppers at Macy’s in New York City on Black Friday. That may not be the case this year. That is because in September, Rev. Billy was arrested after staging a 15-minute musical protest at a JPMorgan Chase bank in Manhattan to highlight the bank’s environmental record and the extinction of a Central American golden toad. He now faces a year in prison for misdemeanor charges of riot in the second degree, menacing in the third degree, unlawful assembly and two counts of disorderly conduct. Despite this, he and The Stop Shopping Choir are performing in New York City every Sunday through December 22. Rev. Billy is also featured in the film "What Would Jesus Buy?" and in the book of the same name."

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/11/26/reverend_billy_faces_year_in_prison

[cali]

8. yeah, because Reverend Billy has such a real impact. Not.

critical thinking. it's a good thing. So is nuance, context and a grasp of history.

[Bluenorthwest]

17. Yes, cali, the Pope swings a bigger scepter but that's not what I care about.

I prefer people who do not rage against minorities and who don't say choice is symptom of a throwaway culture and that my family is an attack on God's plan. The power and wealth of a man does not persuade me that his sexism and bigotry against me is somehow a virtue.
So sue me.

[OneGrassRoot]

12. I thought you were talking about Rev. Billy Graham...

Last edited Tue Dec 3, 2013, 01:54 PM - Edit history (1)

and I thought I had missed REALLY BIG news if he were promoting progressive ideals.

Never heard of Reverend Billy. Seems he's a performance artist so, while I understand the point you're making, Bluenorthwest, and understand you strongly dislike posts regarding Pope Francis, there's no comparison as far as level of influence, since one isn't even really a religious leader at all.

Though I most definitely support what he's doing. Absolutely.

[LiberalLovinLug]

21. Ha I thought so too

all ready to write a hell-fire response!

Graham's son is way off into crazyland, calling Obama a fake Christian and that he's given Islam a "free pass".

[merrily]

13. Thank you for this. I have been trying to figure out how to get people

to shop for nothing but strict necessities for a year.

A national concerted action like that might get someone's attention, no?

[Bluenorthwest]

18. Check out his website, also look on Youtube for Rev Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir

you will be glad that you did!

http://www.revbilly.com/

[merrily]

19. Thank you. I most definitely will, just not right now.

I might even donate, though I see he is .com, not .org.

[arcane1]

24. I LOVE Reverend Billy!

[truebluegreen]

36. You go to war with the pope you have....

and this one is a big improvement.

[gtar100]

6. Yes, he's quite a mixed bag. Great to see him getting attention on economics but still stuck with

all the other crap the Catholic Church supports - anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-birth control, etc., etc. Even so, I hope he keeps his focus on economics as he has the potential to make a significant impact there.

[cali]

9. Yes, but his emphasis since assuming the papacy hasn't been on those doctrines

unlike his predecessor

[Dopers_Greed]

16. I'm willing to ignore the social issues...

The most important issue for progressives is taking down Wall Street. Remember, their big money fuels the homophobia, bigotry, and hate that is used as a tool to rile up the theocons to keep the status quo in power.

[Kingofalldems]

7. Filthy vulgar pigboy Limbaugh calling him a Marxist.

[Cleita]

27. I consider it a compliment every time I'm called that

or a communist because it always comes out of the mouth of a Limbot who listen to him and Glenn Beck and watch nothing but Fox News.

[struggle4progress]

34. Ain't done nothing if you ain't been called a red

[libodem]

10. Wallstreet and the banks

Have violently obscene tactics. This thread should get at least 300+ replies on that point alone.

[merrily]

14. Um, what did they think the Church's official position on the poor was?

Sure, it's can be easy to forget when Popes (not Francis) wear ermine capes and live like emperors, but the official position is the important thing, not whether Popes live it or not, right?

[SoapBox]

15. K & R

[raouldukelives]

22. The only people defending corporations anymore it seems are those who pay for its defense.

For every person who recognizes the threat of AGW, who has a thin sliver of respect for nature & wildlife, who is sick of the global takeover of natural resources and governments and refuses to be a pawn there are investors pumping as much money into the markets and working for Wall St. Fending off and fueling attacks against those who want a better world for tomorrow.

For those who live in a bubble of Jim Cramer, Morning Joe & Neal Cavuto the Pope has been a most unwelcome guest. Many of them like to think of themselves as charitable, Christian or even liberal. All that money can do a good job of keeping people in the happy land of corporate entertainment where they don't have to think about the damage they are causing and don't have to see the destruction of everything they pay lip service too. As they feed the beast and bend and scrape to the golden calf, moving from air conditioned offices to climate controlled condos in a world of steel and concrete, they are far detached from the realities of the havoc they wreak on the front lines of nature. All the money they make & invest assures them of keeping that bubble operating for as long as they can and it requires a pretty loud voice to reach them anymore. I am glad that the Pope is choosing to try to be that voice. It is going to require some very loud ones to reach those transfixed by corporate realities.

[Cleita]

23. Yep. He's doing something right.n/t

[arcane1]

25. "an economic system that has done more to alleviate poverty"

Is this the Onion?

[bvar22]

26. Pope Francis does seem to be pissing off all the right people...

even here at DU.

[rhett o rick]

31. .

[ForgoTheConsequence]

29. "he's not an economist"

And you're not looking poor people in the eye everyday.

Fuck Wallstreet and fuck trickle down economics. But most of all, fuck the people who pretend to know better than the rest of us, they put this country in the ditch in the first place.

[NaturalHigh]

30. If the Pope walked on water and personally fed every hungry person on the planet...

somebody would still be pissed at him about something. I just ignore them any more.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

33. Mother Teresa didn't alleviate poverty either. Sloppy reporting.

She provided no medical care, just gave people a bed to suffer and die in, while socking away millions of dollars in Swiss bank accounts and getting the finest medical care for herself, far away from Calcutta.

And unregulated capitalism has lifted people out of poverty?

The WSJ is starting to look like the comics.

What if they find out that supply-side economics has it backwards?

What if they find out that demand is what drives the economy?

What if they find out that government investment in the economy, according to Keynes actually works? As in "The New Deal"?

[Buns_of_Fire]

35. Anything that gets their knickers in a twist is, by my definition, A Good Thing.

You go, Your Popeness! I say excommunicate 'em all, whether they're Catholic or not!

[fadedrose]

38. I like him because he drives Rush crazy

I think he will come around on controversial social issues. He has great understanding of people and the more he's exposed to life outside the church and his country, he will grow.

Imagine how he's shaken up the ROYAL way of living of ALL the other cardinals, archbishops, and bishops. Makes them look foolish with their gaudy finery.

This one is different. And I, as an agnostic, feel the same about him as you, an atheist. That's 2 groups he's uniting without even trying

[Swede Atlanta]

39. If Wall Street, Rush, Fox News and the GOP/Teabaggers are mad then

the pope is doing something right!!!