JoeClarke.Net

By MACKENZIE WEINGER | 2/8/12 11:17 AM EST

Dependence on government is at an all-time high, according to a new study by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

The annual Index of Dependence on Government — which the authors score based on how much money was spent on services that were not always traditionally offered by the federal government — found that government dependency jumped 8.1 percent in 2011. Most of the assistance went toward housing, health and welfare, and retirement, according to the survey.

Since the 2008 index, the American people’s dependence on government has grown a whopping 23 percent.

One in five Americans — or slightly more than 67 million — now relies on federal assistance, at a cost of $2.5 billion annually. That’s the highest in the country’s history, the authors wrote. The index also found that Americans who depend on federal assistance receive an average of $32,748 in benefits, about $300 more than the nation’s average disposable personal income.

Overall, about 70 percent of the federal government’s budget is directed to individual assistance programs. And nearly half of the population, or 49.5 percent, don’t pay any federal income taxes, according to the survey.

“Americans should be concerned about this seemingly relentless upward march in Index scores. Dependence on the federal government for life’s many challenges strips civil society of its historical and necessary role in providing aid and renewal through the intimate relationships of family, community, and local institutions and local governments. While the Index does not measure the decay of civil society, it reflects a declining role in this most important aspect of society,” the authors wrote.

William Beach, index co-author and director of The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Data Analysis, added in a statement that “at some point, this unsustainable fiscal model will collapse.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72608.html#ixzz1m1fJaEDs

"Do you Newton Leroy Gingrich take __________________ to be your lawfully wedded wife.. . . until death do you part?" "I do."

I guess he didn't really, but I will not condemn him for dropping two wives (adultery at one time was a secular unlawful action, as well as an offense against God and man). Now, we easily cast away our husbands/wives, as both church and government wink at the prospect. "Just ask for forgiveness, and its OK." Or, is it? Newt's own mother split from Newt's father "days after they married." This is what you call a bad start in life - because of divorce. It is far more tragic for children than psychologists (usually very liberal) will admit. Divorced children are more likely themselves to divorce, to commit crimes, to become drug addicts, etc.

Rush Limbaugh, like many South Carolina evangelicals, does not think Newt's past indescretions have anything to do with how he will characterize himself in the Oval Office. In fact, Rush, a mutli matrimonialist himself, did a good job of spear catching for Newt after he trounced on CNN's debate questioner, John King. However, Rush was challenged by some of his ditto-head callers for "sluffing off" one of Newt's former wive's, Marianne, who still looks hurt and battered after so many years. Who can blame her? Rush called the ABC iterview a "dud," and Laura Ingraham, being the hard-ass she is, had little sympathy for Marianne Gingrich. Laura said, "We all knew this story." I am sorry, but I was not aware that Newt dated this very young "devout Catholic," Callista, six years while he was still married to Marianne. Whether he asked for an open marriage, or not, is not that important compared to everything else.

Maybe God has forgiven Newt, and that he has converted to Catholicism, which is one reason Laura, a recent Catholic convert herself, is jumping mad at the media for digging up the dirt. Newt had been certainly taught as a Lutheran (before Lutheranism became so liberal) in his boyhood that one of the Ten Commandments is anti adultery. Newt, later in college, became a Southern Baptist, and we can be darn sure that he got the "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery," message from the Baptists. Not only that message, but the strict instruction from Christ to not even lust after other women, which begins the process. The woman that was brought before Jesus while committing adultery was forgiven, and then warned, "Go and sin no more." In another similar Gospel circumstance, Jesus adds, "Lest a worse thing comes upon you." Newt is fortunate that he is well over 60 years of age, and that his roving eyes and other body parts will probably not be forcing him to find another, even younger, wife.

I personally know three women, who claim to be Christians from their youth that have been married 15 times, or more, between all of them. One is a preacher's daughter, who has seemed to get pardoned too easily by her parents, who remind her every time, in between husbands, that "God forgives." Teaching heaven sweet, and hell hot is not in vogue much anymore, even among Republican evangelicals who have about the same dismal divorce rates as "the world."

I can easily remember as a Catholic altar boy that divorce was not a consideration for Catholics, so guess what - there were very few divorces in the RC Church fifty years ago. Now, people such as Catholic Nancy Pelosi is able to tell bishops that they must offer communion to pro abortion candidates, like John Kerry, who has also been ignored by church officials, concerning his extra Biblical divorce from his first wife. The Kennedys also seemed to have avoided church discipline for their many extra marital affairs. The same goes for mainline protestants and evangelicals. Easy divorce is now accepted as the norm, as what pastor would dare mention its deadly consequences? Excommunication was a constant threat to apostates at one time, but now Catholics as well as non Catholics tolerate unbilblical divorce, or offer the equally non Biblical annulment. I must admit, though, that Catholicism made it nearly impossible for a wrong spouse to divorce an adulterer mate, and then remarry. The wronged spouse could be denied the Sacraments, if he or she remarried. Read Matthew Chapter 5 and Chapter 19 to understand the Biblical reasons for divorce, although God has said, "I hate divorce."

Its easy for us to call Marianne Gingrich a grinch, or a dud, or whatever, but what Newt and other mates do to their spouses and children always produces a disaster. Look at BHO's childhood and his "daddies."

I believe John McCain was hurt by his indescretions, despite the fact that he may have been forgiven by God. We can be forgiven, yet still chastised.

Here's the way it works: I have been part of various prison ministries for many years, and I have known prisoners, who have become some of the saintliest of people. They have genuinely repented, though they may have committed some of the most gruesome, and aggregious crimes. They now live in the fear and love of God. They have been forgiven because of Christ's ultimate sacrifice, yet most of them will not be leaving jail anytime soon, or ever.

Newt, McCain, Kerry, Edwards, the Kennedys, and so many others, may also have been forgiven, but the court of public opinion usually does not reward those who break the greatest of all contracts - marriage, because of their personal, uncontrolled lust. In general,non-Biblical divorce should be shown to be an experience that will not be rewarded - to the rest of mankind.

"If you're married, and you have a wife, and you really love your wife, is it good enough to only say to your wife 'I love her' the day you get married? Or should you tell her every single day when you wake up and every opportunity?

"And that's how I feel about my relationship with Jesus Christ is that it is the most important thing in my life. So any time I get an opportunity to tell him that I love him or given an opportunity to shout him out on national TV, I'm gonna take that opportunity. And so I look at it as a relationship that I have with him that I want to give him the honor and glory anytime I have the opportunity. And then right after I give him the honor and glory, I always try to give my teammates the honor and glory.

"And that's how it works because Christ comes first in my life, and then my family, and then my teammates. I respect Jake's opinion, and I really appreciate his compliment of calling me a winner. But I feel like anytime I get the opportunity to give the Lord some praise, he is due for it." Tim Tebow. Amen, brother!!