While Marcus has accused me of being "sarcastic or insulting" when making my points, I can find no instance where I engaged in this style of argument. On the contrary, I have been quick to point out when ad hominem type arguments are used against me. I think Marcus may have mistakenly believed the post from Joe from Butler--which has my name as the subject and utilizes the appeal to laughter (a logical fallacy) to dispute issues regarding the Great Depression--was authored by me.

Contrary to Laurie from Butler's position that faith and science are intertwined, it is well established that faith and science are incompatible. This is apparent if one explores the ideas of Christian philosophers, the Inquisition, "Intelligent Design", and the modern opposition to embryonic stem cell research. To cite one example, Saint Augustine, a "Doctor of the Church" and an instrumental figure in early Christianity, famously called science the "lust of the eyes" and deemed it unholy.

Christine, I believe, has encompassed a lot more under the concept faith than is warranted. She has created a package deal which combines things like auras with the laws of physics and principles of engineering that keep machinery working reliably. There is a fundamental difference between entities which obey the orderly causal laws of the universe and miracles and auras that can be believed only on faith alone; because to believe in their existence requires that one ignore reason, logic, and scientific principles.Tertullian, one of the early Christian theologians, described faith accurately when he stated "I believe because it is absurd."

Lastly, I disagree with Cass's characterization of the rich getting a "free ride". While there are examples that can be cited of "rich people" getting off easy, I agree with Greg who cited the facts regarding taxation which penalize wealth creation. The point is whatever a person earns through voluntary trade is his/her own property and the government has no right to confiscate it via taxation. Former President John Adams has a great quote illustrated the principle involved: "it must be remembered, that the rich are people as well as the poor; that they have rights as well as others; that they have as clear and as sacred a right to their large property as others have to theirs which is smaller; that oppression to them is as possible and as wicked as to others."