What Does This Rushdoony Quote Mean?

[debrand]

I found this quote on Nathaniel Darnell's facebook page and honestly don't understand it.

Dr. R.J. Rushdoony: "Inflation has its roots in bad morality; it is a belief that larceny can be good if controlled by the federal government." Another example of why every issue—including economic issues—are "social" or moral issues.

I know what inflation is but I don't understand how that is connected to morality. How is that connected to larceny by the federal government? I've tried to take some guesses but I honestly don't understand the rational behind this statement.

[browngrl]

As I understand it (based on famous fundie economists such as Kelly"two chicken breasts" and Emily and Dna and every other fundie pundit who opines on the economy):

Sluts (i.e. women - especially feminists) go shopping - only to buy needed foodstuffs and provisions but their wee little estrogen infiltrated minds are dazzled by the advertisements they see so they (willfully and without permission from their headships) go and spend way way to much for frivolities (mostly porn and short skirts and low cut blouses) thus driving up the costs i.e. inflation. The government becomes involved because women can vote and when they do they vote for people who think like they do and sometimes they even elect women (which makes it all somehow worse).

The TL:DR version - Rushadoony's statement only makes sense to fundies.

:)

[docmom]

If we base our economy on a biblical model we come out with something very much akin to communism. Maybe this is what Rushdoony wants. Hey, FJC, you have a new comrade!

[emiliawasframed]

I think it means that inflation is caused by higher taxes, and that higher taxes are like being stolen from by the government.

[salex]

I think it means that inflation is caused by higher taxes, and that higher taxes are like being stolen from by the government.

I think he would also believe that minimum wages cause inflation, and min wages are the government forcing employers to pay to much for labor... in addition to the taxes thing.

[RosyDaisy]

I think it means that inflation is caused by higher taxes, and that higher taxes are like being stolen from by the government.

This! And stealing is a moral issue. Any issue involving money is a social and moral issue.

[debrand]

Thank you all.

If Rushdoony wanted to follow the bible, he would have to set up a system where all debts were forgiven every seven years and no one could charge interest. Plus part of the tithe would have to go to feeding the poor. For all the Old Testament's faults, it talks a lot about helping the poor.

THere are verses in the bible that tell farmers not to harvest the corners of their field so that the poor could take some of that grain for themselves. I would like to see how this could be applied to big business today. Maybe oil companies would have to give away a portion of their product free to lower income people or the electric company would have to provide free service to some customers. My guess is that Rushdoony and those on the right would not like a real biblical economy.

[hoipolloi]

I found this quote on Nathaniel Darnell's facebook page and honestly don't understand it.

I know what inflation is but I don't understand how that is connected to morality. How is that connected to larceny by the federal government? I've tried to take some guesses but I honestly don't understand the rational behind this statement.

Possible meta-meaning: Rushdoony had his head up his ass and so do all his followers.

[gustava]

I take it to mean that anyone who receives a federal benefit is stealing from people like Rushdooney (Larceny is a crime involving the unlawful taking of the personal property of another person) and that the government makes it legal.

And yes, R. has his head up his ass........

[salex]

.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?138865-quot-Inflation-quot-by-R-J-Rushdoony

Apparently, also evil socialism The link takes you to a long sermon/quote by Rushdoony on the economy and socialism...

[debrand]

Thanks for that link Salex.

Managed money is the deliberate, state-controlled debasing or counterfeiting of money as the basic form of social planning.

All money is controlled and backed by the government. Are these people stupid?

whereas gold and silver coinage, which constitutes real wealth, is valid money

Humans and governments decided that gold has value. We can decide that anything has value. We could trade dirt, if that is what we wanted. Real money is whatever society says is valid.

Managed money, or socialism, is a parasitic economy. The state feeds on the people’s wealth, and the people eat up their own future, and their country’s future, with a debt economy and growing areas of socialization. Socialization produces temporary benefits to some, but socialization, as a parasite economy, must rob and confiscate in order to give. Instead of creating new wealth, it destroys existing wealth.

As far as I can tell, he thinks that paper money somehow equals socialism but that makes no sense. The government can still pay employees and tax individuals even if the money is back by gold.

My own opinion is that we would be best with a mixed economy with elements of both socialism and the free market(like Northern European nations)

So, following the bible when it comes to stoning adulterers and rape victims who don't scream out is good but following the parts of the Old Testament that deal with giving to the poor can be ignored.

[Escapefromfundiedom]

Ok so ND is possibly the worst douche ever and Rushdooney was a crazy nutter...but. There are a lot of non crazy people who believe that inflation (which happens with currency debasement which is going on now in the US with QE and the endless printing of money) is a form of theft or taxation. It basically has to do with the fact that inflation makes your dollar less valuable which reduces your purchasing power.

Nathaniel D. might be a horrible excuse for a human being, a child molester apologist and possibly a raging closet case but he and Rushdooney weren't the ones who came up with the idea that govt controlled inflation = theft.