Oh boy! Politics, I know, are hazardous discussion fodder. But I swear this post is about Puritan attitude of blaming the poor for Gawd not blessing them.

The Republican's new tax plan, passed under cloak of darkness, is being rightly panned as an horrendous highway robbery of common folks to fund a massive giveaway to the rich.

But get a load of the justification by Sen. Chuck Grassley, -R:

"I think not having the estate tax recognizes the people that are investing,” Grassley (R-Iowa) told the Des Moines Register, “as opposed to those that are just spending every darn penny they have, whether it’s on booze or women or movies.”

Anyone else here bothered by that last line??? Did you catch how those struggling financially to survive have only themselves to blame? That they surely are pissing away their money on wanton (read: sinful) behavior? There's a Conservative assumption that Gawd blesses righteous people, and that poor people are enjoying just consequences of their immoral behavior. Though it's indirect, I absolutely blame American brand Christianity. Your thoughts"