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Listen to all the goings-on in Washington!
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90 second news commentary heard on the American Christian Network
Listen to all the goings-on in Washington: raising the debt ceiling, taxing the rich, eliminating deductions for corporate jets. Wow! You’d think something really important was going on in congress!
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and here’s how it seems to me.
Well I guess we should be impressed. The Democrats have agreed to 4 trillion dollars in spending cuts over a ten year period; and they’re promising that nobody’s going to touch Social Security or Medicare. Well that’s a start.
You see, if we divide 4 trillion dollars in cuts over 10 years and annualize it and compare it to the 1.5 trillion dollars we’re spending every year into debt; that’s less than a third of the shortfall every year. We need to get rid of all the deficit spending; but that is no longer possible. Congress is too committed to too many programs to do that.
The U.S. already owes 15 trillion dollars and do you realize if you spent a million dollars a day since the day Jesus was born you still wouldn’t have spent the amount of money that the U.S. government is in hock?
The reality of the situation is that the United States is rushing towards the mother of all economic storms and the politicos won’t tell us the truth, nor will they take the hard steps to minimize the impact of this inevitability. Everything, including Social Security and Medicare and the new healthcare will all be affected.
This economic storm is just months away; it will be far greater than the subprime mortgage crisis of 2007 and pastors need to pray about and begin preparing their congregations for that time right now.
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and that’s how it seems to me.
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It’s Showdown time in the Middle East Again
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90 second news commentary heard on the American Christian Network
It’s Showdown time in the Middle East Again
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and here’s how it seems to me.
The Middle East chessboard has been rapidly changing due to the so-called Arab spring, which seems to be forming, in reality, an Arab winter. The governments of countries surrounding Israel are increasingly being taken over by groups hostile to Israel. In Lebanon, in the north, the terrorist group Hezbollah now has control of Lebanon’s government instead of just control of the southern border of the country.
Along the south in Gaza, the terrorist group Hamas has free movement of materials like war supplies and; Hamas is now a major partner in the peace negotiations if you can call them that. In Egypt itself, the elections in September have a high probability of putting in power representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood, which means that Egypt will become increasingly hostile towards Israel.
You see, at a time when the threat level against Israel is rising rapidly, instead of standing with Israel, the Obama administration is badgering Israel into accepting the old, indefensible pre-1967 borders as a starting point for restarting the long-dead peace process.
But how can you even restart a peace process, when one of the negotiating partners, Hamas, refuses to reject its call for the destruction of Israel? The world itself is heading towards a major energy crisis and conflict in the Middle-East region which will involve most of the first world countries. If there ever were a time to pray for the peace of Jerusalem this is it.
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and that’s how it seems to me.
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Once again, oil prices are up and what does Congress do?
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90 second news commentary heard on the American Christian Network
Once again, oil prices are up and what does Congress do?
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com, here’s how it seems to me.
Every time we hit high oil prices Congress jumps into action, holds hearings and does…uh, nothing.
Right now the United States is plowing into a major global energy storm, totally unprepared to face it with a feeble energy policy. Almost ten major studies have been done showing that the world’s daily demand for oil is exceeding the amount that we are producing; and this situation goes critical by about 2014 or ’15. It’s just months away, meaning that there’s going to be a major worldwide shortage of oil. If you think prices are high now, wait until it hits seven dollars, ten dollars.
Now we didn’t have to be in this condition, for years we’ve been painting ourselves into an energy corner by refusing to exploit our own national resources. The world energy market is huge! U.S. oil companies only represent about 15% of the total world market; and contrary to what you hear about record-breaking profits, oil companies only make about a 5% return on their investment.
The day of cheap oil is over. So what is Congress doing as the storm approaches? Well I guess they’re holding hearings, right? But the next time Congress critters tell us about the evil oil companies, you might want to point out to them that the biggest profiteer at the pump is government. They make more in taxes from every gallon sold than the oil companies do in profit.
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and that’s how it seems to me.
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So what is all this flap about the June 1967 borders for Israel?
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90 second news commentary heard on the American Christian Network
So what is all this flap about the June 1967 borders for Israel?
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and here’s how it seems to me.
We constantly hear that Israel is occupying Palestinian territory in contravention to international law. But UN resolution 242 only requires Israel to withdraw from some of that territory once final borders have been established, which has never happened.
In 1948, the UN partitioned Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state, Trans-Jordan, which was to be the home for the Palestinians. The Arab countries didn’t like it; they attacked Israel and threatened to annihilate the new Jewish state. When the war ended in 1949, an armistice was signed for temporary borders. The final borders were supposed to be determined by negotiation but the Arab countries refused to ever negotiate.
In 1967 Syria, Jordan and Egypt attacked Israel once again and they lost more territory. Once again, the temporary lines moved. But now we had this thing called “Palestinian Territory”; gee, where did that come from? I t used to be owned by Jordan, there’s never been a Palestinian state. The Oslo peace process was supposed to determine the final borders but that didn’t work. And now the push has begun in the United Nations to force ’67 borders on Israel by unilaterally declaring an independent Palestinian state.
If that succeeds, Israel will then be guilty of occupying sovereign territory of another country, as well as having its own security compromised. That can’t be allowed to happen.
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com, that’s how it seems to me.
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April 21, 2011
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90 second news commentary heard on the American Christian Network
In the debate over politics sometimes we’ll hear expressions like “Jesus is neither a Democrat nor a Republican.”
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and here’s how it seems to me.
That’s sort of like saying I’m not a jelly doughnut. Maybe Christians in Germany could have said Jesus wasn’t a Nazi or a Communist either.
It doesn’t really sound as good that way, does it?
You see, your religious worldview does control the political views you have, as well it should. Religion determines how we think we should live, even if we don’t always live up to it.
And that’s the problem facing progressive evangelicals today: that they can’t decide which worldview is driving their train.
Are their biblical values driving their religious ones or are their progressive socialist values being painted to make them look like biblical ones?
Take the social gospel red letter evangelicals love so much. They tell us socialism originates in the gospel because we’re supposed to care about the poor and needy. Well we are supposed to care about the needy but you and I are supposed to do that so that our heavenly Father receives the credit.
But nowhere in the gospel does it tell us to take money forcibly from one person and give it to another person. The Bible prohibits spreading the wealth around that way.
In reality progressive Christians have imported ideas from Karl Marx and other humanist sources while trying to give them a Christian covering. That isn’t going to fly.
So don’t be fooled by the nice Christianese language used to conceal non-Christian ideas and values.
You have to know which worldview is in control, because Jesus said no one can serve two Masters.
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and here’s how it seems to me.
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April 20, 2011
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90 second news commentary heard on the American Christian Network
It’s amazing how often Americans keep voting themselves into poverty.
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and here’s how it seems to me.
Better put, it’s funny how Americans allow themselves to be distracted by red herring debates that keep them from identifying the real source of their economic woes.
To listen to the politicos, our economic problems seem to rotate around whether the rich are paying their fair share of taxes, the key being a definition of “fair share.”
But when then dust settles, the tax code always seems to soak the middle class, which is why there are no jobs, because that over-taxed, over-regulated class creates 90% of our jobs in the country. Besides over 35% of the population pays no taxes. This is not sustainable.
The real problem is that we have a government that has spent itself into hideous amounts of debt, has squandered the social security trust fund, can no longer keep the social promises it has made, is promising a gigantic healthcare program it can’t afford, and will not engage the fiscal discipline to keep us out of the next financial crisis, which is just months away.
That’s the problem and no amount of soaking the rich can deal with the onrushing economic storm, which will make the subprime mortgage crisis look small by comparison.
We must hold our politicians’ feet to the fire on the issue and not allow them to wiggle out of it with diversionary issues. If we don’t we’re the ones who will get burned.
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and here’s how it seems to me.
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April 5, 2011
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90 second news commentary heard on the American Christian Network
There is a growing political push to have the United Nations General Assembly — this September — declare the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem as a sovereign Palestinian state, shaped along 1967 border lines, with or without Israel’s consent.
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and here’s how it seems to me.
We constantly hear that Israel occupies Palestinian territory in contravention to international law. But UN Resolution 242 only requires Israel to withdraw from some territory it occupies once final borders have been established and they never have been.
In 1948, The UN partitioned Palestine into Israel and Trans-Jordan, which was to be the home for Palestinians. Israel did not even control Jerusalem under this arrangement.
But the Arab countries didn’t like partition so they attacked Israel, threatening to annihilate the new Jewish state.
When the war ended in 1949, an armistice was signed whereby temporary borders, called armistice lines, were drawn up. The final borders were to be determined by negotiation.
But the Arab countries refused to ever negotiate, so the armistice lines remained.
That was until 1967, when Syria, Jordan and Egypt attacked Israel, once again losing control of areas to Israel, namely East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Once again, the temporary armistice lines moved.
But suddenly we had this thing called Palestinian territory. Now where did that come from? It used to be occupied by Jordan, not by a Palestinian government. There has never been a Palestinian state other than Jordan.
The Oslo peace process was trying to hammer out final borders and create a new Palestinian state.
But the Oslo talks are now dead and the push has begun to force 1967 borders on Israel. If it succeeds, Israel will then be guilty of occupying sovereign territory of a member country, incurring the wrath of the world. It remains to be seen where the Obama administration will come down on this issue.
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and here’s how it seems to me.
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April 4, 2011
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90 second news commentary heard on the American Christian Network
So you’re wondering why gasoline is so expensive again. Well, it’s called the great energy shell game but it’s a shell game with serious consequences.
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and here’s how it seems to me.
Over six intelligence reports were published over the last 36 months in the US, the UK, Germany, New Zealand and the Middle East, warning that global oil supplies are no longer able to keep up with growing global demand, and that this situation becomes critical around 2014.
For years environmental groups and government agencies have been systemically working to shut down domestic production of oil, natural gas, nuclear, and coal because they were bad for the environment.
But they forgot to provide any viable substitutes. Not to fear President Obama says we’re going to drive electric cars run off renewable wind and solar .. in just 14 years or so.
Really? 42% of energy comes from coal. But greens don’t like it because it pollutes and produces CO2. 34% derives from natural gas but that’s bad they say because it produces CO2 and causes global warming. 15% comes from nuclear energy, but, hey, just look at Japan.
Another 7% is produced from hydro-electric. Surely that’s clean and renewable? Well, no tear out the dams the greens say.
OK, fine. So what are you going to use to charge those millions of electric cars? Less than 2% of our energy currently comes from wind and solar. And this is going to become our main source of energy in just 10-15 years? They’re dreaming.
As the mother of all energy shortages approaches, the U.S.’s foolish energy policy is painting us into a corner. We are shutting down energy sources we do have before bringing online new sources we hope to have.
Does that seem reasonable to you? It didn’t seem to me either. Let’s hope our politicians wake up before that energy storm gets here or $7.00 a gallon gas will be considered cheap.
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and here’s how it seems to me.
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January 16, 2011
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90 second news commentary heard on the American Christian Network
Freedom of religion is one of the most precious freedoms we own, but for Christians in the healthcare profession, that freedom is endangered.
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and here’s how it seems to me.
Our religious beliefs are not just something we’re into like paintball or various types of music. Religious beliefs form a foundation, an ethical way of life that guides all of our moral decisions in an effort to please God.
But now Christian doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are being told their religious beliefs don’t count; that they must participate in morally repugnant procedures like abortions if they are to continue their careers.
They are being told to leave their beliefs at the door when they come to work; that they shouldn’t push their values on others; that public consensus or the law trumps their personal religious convictions.
But wait a minute! Why do others such as Planned Parenthood have the right to push their values on Christians? I thought this was all about freedom of choice? Isn’t that just a bit hypocritical?
After WW2, Nazi war criminals maintained they should not be held accountable for their crimes because the law at the time in Germany said it was OK for them to kill Jews and commit atrocities. They were just doing, they said, what the law and the public consensus said they could do.
Well we didn’t agree with them at the trials in Nuremburg, and God doesn’t agree with it either, and he doesn’t care what the common consensus is.
This trend cannot be tolerated and it’s time for Christian legal organizations to push back. After all, what good is freedom of religion if you can’t practice that religion?
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and that’s how it seems to me.
John Loeffler is 40-year broadcast news veteran and host of the nationally syndicated talk show Steel on Steel (www.steelonsteel.com) on the IRN/USA/Family Radio Networks,and co-host of The Financial Sense Newshour (www.financialsense.com).
Copyright 2000-2011 Steel On Steel, All Rights Reserved.
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January 15, 2011
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90 second news commentary heard on the American Christian Network
After the tragic shootings in Arizona, once again debate broke out as to whether or not angry political rhetoric should be permitted.
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and here’s how it seems to me.
Our form of government has been an interesting experiment in freedom. Instead of exchanging blows, bombs and bullets when we disagree, our founding fathers proposed a better idea: How about we just exchange words instead? That’s why we have freedom of speech.
Now sometimes that speech is angry, but that’s nothing new to American politics because political history in our country has been full of angry rhetoric. Just look at the hateful things colonists said about King George during the time of the American revolution.
When someone says we have to ban hate speech, you then we have to define what hate or angry rhetoric is, and very quickly it becomes your political ideas somebody else doesn’t like.
But, they claim, it incites violence. Well, every society unfortunately has mentally unstable outliers such as John Brown. John Brown was a radical abolitionist in favor of doing away with slavery prior to the civil war. You might agree with his cause, but he murdered people in pursuing it and he was executed for his crimes.
In reality when words – even angry words – are suppressed, that’s when the real violence begins. So be very very careful about listening to people who claim we shouldn’t tolerate speech they don’t like. Because when words stop flowing, freedom and people begin to die.
I’m John Loeffler at steelonsteel.com and that’s how it seems to me.
John Loeffler is 40-year broadcast news veteran and host of the nationally syndicated talk show Steel on Steel (www.steelonsteel.com) on the IRN/USA/Family Radio Networks,and co-host of The Financial Sense Newshour (www.financialsense.com).
Copyright 2000-2011 Steel On Steel, All Rights Reserved.
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