Woods wrong on God's desires

This letter is regarding Ron Wood's article, "Riches are arriving" in the Jan. 4 Weekly Vista, which sounds as if it was written by a motivational speaker rather than a minister of the gospel.

I'm not sure where the idea that "God wants more millionaires among his people" comes from. Or the idea that Jesus "loved the poor, but (he) befriended the wealthy," which makes it sound as if he had ulterior motives. God loves ALL people -- rich, poor, of whatever race or gender --whose hearts are attuned to Him. And characterizing poor people as "lazy" is no more accurate than characterizing rich people as "selfish." Some people fit those designations, but many do not.

Mr. Trump -- a man who started life with great riches and increased those riches by selling stock in a failed casino, stock he know to be worthless and by defrauding people who labored for him -- is hardly someone we should admire or emulate, let alone elect president. He and people of that mindset are the ones that James 2:6 refers to when he writes, "it is the rich who oppress you." Shame on us for electing to the highest office in the land a man of such low moral character that he believes that winning is all that matters. "Knowing how to make money" is hardly the best criteria to use in choosing the leader of a country. America deserves better.

As for the capitalist system, it is a deeply flawed economic model. It works but generally (not always) rewards executives and stockholders better than the employees who created the product or service. Capitalism, by its very nature, must go where the money is -- the cheapest, most exploitable labor market, the least regulations, lowest taxes, etc., in order to maximize profits for its owners and shareholders.

One of the most egregious examples of capitalism run amok in our own society is the pharmaceutical industry, which ought to be about making people healthy, not wealthy. Health should be a human right; it shouldn't be for sale to the highest bidder or be allowed to bankrupt people at the end of their lives.

Cooperatives (such as Carroll Electric and the 17 other cooperatives that make up the electric grid for our area and several other states) are a much more equitable business model. At Carroll Electric, the customer becomes a member of the cooperative, and each one owns a tiny slice of the business. And the business makes a profit, not a killing.

Peggy Jo Averso

Bella Vista

Editorial on 01/11/2017