Louis XVI of FranceWhat caused bloody revolutions in France and Russia? One of the causes was the colossally grotesque wealth, extravagence and greed of the super wealthy while the poor suffered and starved. It’s easy. Eventually the poor people have enough. They rise up and murder the rich and take their wealth.
The super rich in our own culture are the Louis’ and Nicholas’ of our day. The plutocrats who earned millions and then grabbed at bonuses worth billions are criminals, and when their cronies in government bail them out while unemployment and homelessness tumbles down on millions of hard working people, and the same bankers and insurance men continue to take expensive holidays and bonuses out of the government bail outs something will eventually break and heads will roll.
Brace yourselves.
Fr Longenecker, I hardly ever disagree with you, but the very poor almost never revolt. There is always a well-educated group of elite who start and maintain the revolution. That certainly applies to France & Russia. They are able for whatever reason to motivate the poor. This is from Wikipedia, but is pretty accurate:Nevertheless, the Ancien Régime was brought down, partly by its own rigidity in the face of a changing world, partly by the ambitions of a rising bourgeoisie, allied with aggrieved peasants and wage-earners and with individuals of all classes who were influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment. As the revolution proceeded and as power devolved from the monarchy to legislative bodies, the conflicting interests of these initially allied groups would become the source of conflict and bloodshed.Now, in the US we tend to be a bunch of cranky individualists anyway, so we are more inclined to taking on the elites, at least we have in the past. But, the idea that the poor revolutions is just not so. In the US fortunately, we tend to blame our government then throw them out. We'll see if we do that this time. AnneG in NC
One more thing. Who are the “super-rich” to whom you refer? There are folks with lots of money who work for a living. There are hedge fund managers and traders, also with lots of money. There are speculators capable of breaking the Bank of Scotland. Then there are car company executives. Also, how about rap stars and movie stars. So, to whom are you referring? AnneG in NC
Anne, I agree that the poor are urged and organized by the ideologues, but the need to rouse the rabble to accomplish their end. I’m not against the rich per se, but the rich who are rich because of their obscene greed. I’m opposed to greed, not wealth, and this can apply to athletes and movie stars too. Also, I am not advocating revolution, just observing the state of things at this time.
I wouldn’t put Louis XVI in the same category as the plutocrats. Much of what was said about him (and Marie Antoinette–she never said let them eat cake, and there is no real evidence other than hearsay that she had any affairs) were lies spread by the revolutionaries at the time. The evidence from research today seems to point in the direction of Louis wanting to be a reformer. He was very pious and went to Mass daily until the priests were taken from him while in prison.
I am practicing eating a lot of cake…
MAN, can’t you just wear a hairshirt for Lent? Now you KNOW you’re gonna get beat-up by your Francophile fans and friends for using the old “let’em eat cake” canard.I can agree with the general point of your post. And fasten your seat-belts, Folks; it’s gonna be a bumpy decade coming up!
Maybe I should have put the picture of the camel next to this post and not the next one.Jesus didn’t quibble about greed or envy or whatever. He just said the rich would find it difficult to get into heaven. End of story.
I know the feeling. I sat down with an insurance agent from KofC. He said I needed to earn $2.5 million in 35 years just so I can have the equivalent of $35,000 in today’s money to live on. By the way, the most I can contribute to an IRA, Roth IRA or 401k is $4,000/yr. For a 4.5% return, after fees, this would be about $300,000 at age 65. Apart from divine intervention, I’m hoping for a heart attack as part of my retirement. I don’t want to eat dog food at age 65. One thing remains constant though, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Fr. D!I hope someone does… but it won’t be me 😀 I am with your root sect on this one. Me and politics and the junk that goes with it don’t mix… neither does war. I will be there to bandage wounds or something… I don’t shrink from battle, but if I must die for a cause, it will be for the Lord and His people. Other than that, I say, “Go For it Rebells!”.-g-P.S. Just Plain funny as per usual 😀
George, drop me a line. I’ve been trying to find your email to follow up, and I think I’ve deleted it.
One theory is that the French revolution was really the result of France bankrupting itself by assisting a band of anti British traitor rebels on the other side of the Atlantic! Divine retribution?
Done and done!-g-
If you disagreed with Robespierre you were executed.Maybe that’s why the so-called “media” and late-night comics are so loathe to disagree with Obama…Off with their heads.
Please be kinder to Their Majesties Louis XIV and his martyred Queen, Marie Antoinette. They remained faithful Catholics and died in the Faith. Louis, for all of his faults, tried to alleviate the burdens of his subjects- the arisocracy refused to pay taxes of any kind.
Also, Marie Antoinette DID NOT use the phrase attribited to her. Her predecessor, Luois XIV’s wife, another Hapsburg, did when she was informed that the people of Paris had no bread. Her reply, “Let them eat cake”. (She was not the brightest consort, and had no political influence)
A late post, but this bit of 1Timothy has a balanced take on being rich:9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18That they do good, that they be rich in good works…
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I forgot to add that I agree with you – the crooked bankers and elite oligarchy of a democratic republic ought also to be treated as the tyrants they are when they step out of line.How about goldman Sachs? Accept the bail out then try to give it back when Obama limits exec pay to $500K? Let them eat cake indeed. Off with their heads.(You have to at least like that particular Obama move, don’t you? C’mon. Admit it, that was a good move that Bush wouldn’t have done).
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