Bankruptcy bill, religion, and greed
Mar. 16th, 2005 10:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elbalesOn the train home, I was reading the Op Ed page of the SF Chron when I came across this little gem--an opinion piece on the bankruptcy bill currently on the fast track to being passed in the Congress. The piece is syndicated, so I had to dig it up elsewhere. The whole thing makes a pretty clear case that the bill is passing so easily because the banking industry (containing many greedy people) gave lots of money to members of Congress (also containing many greedy people). But here's the bit that floored me.
A key sponsor of the bill, Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), actively opposes abortion and same-sex marriage on biblical grounds yet believes the Good Book's clear definition and condemnation of usury is irrelevant. The Old Testament, revered by Jews, Muslims and Christians alike, mandates debt forgiveness after seven years, as was pointed out earlier this month by an organization of Christian lawyers in a letter to Grassley.
"I can't listen to Christian lawyers," said the senator, "because I would be imposing the Bible on a diverse population."
I-- what?
...
Never mind. The author of No More Mister Nice Blog does a nice roundup of key Grassley quotes that do a great job of showing up just how bought Mr. Grassley appears to be, much better than I could do in my current Oh my god you dickhead state.
A key sponsor of the bill, Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), actively opposes abortion and same-sex marriage on biblical grounds yet believes the Good Book's clear definition and condemnation of usury is irrelevant. The Old Testament, revered by Jews, Muslims and Christians alike, mandates debt forgiveness after seven years, as was pointed out earlier this month by an organization of Christian lawyers in a letter to Grassley.
"I can't listen to Christian lawyers," said the senator, "because I would be imposing the Bible on a diverse population."
I-- what?
...
Never mind. The author of No More Mister Nice Blog does a nice roundup of key Grassley quotes that do a great job of showing up just how bought Mr. Grassley appears to be, much better than I could do in my current Oh my god you dickhead state.
