"The Narrow Road": Blogs By Shane Kastler

Living in Trying Times

By Shane Kastler

Let's face it: We live in very trying times. Whether it be the political scene, issues of health, finances, or international tensions; watching the news can be downright depressing. Add to that, whatever trials you might be facing in your personal life and you might start to wonder where God is through all this. The comforting fact is that He is still on His sovereign throne; and nothing happens beyond His control. National, and even global trials all factor in to what God is working out. And while we don't always know every aspect of His final plan; we do know that His final plan will be the only one that gets fulfilled to perfection. We needn't fear the evil that runs rough shod over our country. For God rules over everything (including evil); and in due time He will right every wrong.

If you are a follower of Christ, then you should take heart. Not only in God's sovereignty, but also in the peace He makes available to you in the midst of these trying times. If you focus on the worldwide insanity, then you are sure to lose your peace (and maybe your mind). But if you focus on the Lord and “set your mind on things above.” (Colossians 3:1) Then you'll be able to keep the lunacy in perspective. This world isn't really your home. It was never intended to be. And though it is painful to watch a nation we love get destroyed by evil; it is a sober reminder that our true hope doesn't lie in Washington. But in Heaven. We must never assume that God will always grant us peace by changing our circumstances. In reality, He will often grant us peace in the midst of trying circumstances. Indeed, He grants peace in spite of the circumstances.

Maybe you didn't realize Jesus was all you needed until Jesus was all that you had left. If so rejoice. You may lose it all in this world, but in Christ you possess a salvation and an eternal home that no amount of human chicanery can ever steal. May the Lord grant us all His perfect peace in these woefully imperfect and trying times in which we live.

Plots of the Wicked

By Shane Kastler

While the Bible teaches that all people are sinners by nature; it also teaches that people can be divided into those who are considered righteous, and others who are considered wicked. True righteousness can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Since Jesus is the Son of God, and lived a life of sinless perfection, we must come to Him and have His righteousness credited to our account in order to be saved.

There are also those in this world who might be described as righteous or wicked, based upon their deeds. Even unbelievers sometimes do things, and have beliefs that are in accordance with God's Word and thus righteous. Just as believers can sometimes commit acts of wickedness. Not surprisingly, such individual actions can be expanded to include entire groups of people. There are organizations in our world committed to righteousness; and other organizations that are committed to wickedness. As we see world events unfolding, we should never assume that God is merely a passive observer of human behavior.

The Bible says, “The wicked plots against the righteous, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees his day is coming.” (Psalm 37:12-13) Indeed, many are the schemes of the wicked. Connivers and back-stabbers are easy to find. “Plots” involving corruption and evil abound. And though the wicked might be able to win over human dupes; they can never pull the wool over God's eyes. He sees. He knows. He waits. But eventually, He judges. And no one can stay His hand. God doesn't fret over the actions of the evil. He doesn't get nervous when the wicked begin to plot. Indeed, He laughs.

The point is that God knows that the wicked's “day is coming.” To speak of God in human terms that we can understand: God is relaxed and not antsy about wicked plots. His power over such evil-doers is absolute and complete; as they will one day find out. And just as God is relaxed, so too should we be. God reigns supreme in the end, and no one will ever change that. God will right every wrong; and see to it that justice is served. It might not happen in the timeframe or way you would choose, but God's perfect will is done nonetheless.

Fret not when you see the wicked make their plots. God is still in control. Rest in His power, and pray for your enemies as Jesus commanded us (Matthew 5:44). Then rest in the assurance that God isn't scared of the wicked. He laughs at them. Let us laugh with Him; and rejoice that our God reigns.

Does the Church Belong to Caesar?

By Shane Kastler

I'm not sure which is more sad. That American pastors are being arrested for having public worship services. Or that most Christians seem to be perfectly fine with that travesty. While I always assumed the American “church” would fold at the first sign of persecution, it turns out that many have folded far easier than that. They didn't have to be beaten, shot, or tortured; they merely had to be commanded by the government to stop meeting; and most squeamishly complied. The First Amendment has been discarded as nothing more than a quaint footnote to a bygone era. To a time when “patriots” valued their freedom to assemble and worship as they pleased. To a time when they would rather die than give up this freedom. And to a time when a nation was formed with the idea of enshrining this freedom as the law of the land. Sadly, today we are told it is our “patriotic duty” to cancel church services for the sake of the greater good. Cable news anchors are exempt from such decrees because they're considered to provide an “essential service.” Yet pastors are deemed “non-essential” and most Christians seem fine with that. And while it is not surprising to see a secular government make such dictatorial decrees, it is astounding to see how quickly the churches have submitted. Things used to be different in Christian circles. They were certainly different in New Testament times.

Some have said it is the church's duty to “render unto Caesar” as Jesus said to do. The passage in question involves a time when Jesus was asked about whether or not it was lawful for a Jew to pay taxes to Caesar. According to scripture the question was posed by a group who was trying to entrap Jesus and get him arrested. Luke records, “The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them. So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor.” (Luke 20:19-20)

Several things should be noted. First of all, Jesus was in hot water because he PUBLICLY SPOKE AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES. In this case, it was the Jewish “scribes and chief priests” who were not only religious authorities, but also the local governing body for the Jews. All under the authority of Rome. If the “render unto Caesar” argument is followed to it's logical conclusion, then Jesus was blatantly refusing to “submit” to the local “Caesars” (I.e, scribes and chief priests) by continuing to speak publicly against them. Why didn't he submit to the Sanhedrin, since they were the local authorities who governed with Rome's blessing? In fact, Jesus did the opposite.

Secondly, the opponents of Jesus sought to “hand him over the the rule and authority of the governor.” Of course this eventually happened, when he was arrested and stood before Pontius Pilate. But why did they want him arrested? What was his crime? Why did they oppose him so vigorously? Because he spoke out against them. Jesus didn't go silently into the night, as many Christians seem willing to do today. Much of Jesus's ministry involved speaking out against corrupt authorities.

When asked the question about Roman taxation, Jesus used a denarius, with Caesar's inscription, as his object lesson. “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's.” (Luke 20:25) Technically, Jesus was not answering a question about paying taxes in general, but rather explaining whether or not it was “lawful” for a Jew to do it; since some Jews saw it as an act of idolatry to grant Caesar such payments. Jesus's answer put the question to rest from a Jewish perspective, in telling them to “render unto Caesar” the taxes he demanded. The more telling aspect of Jesus's statement is the second half of the verse, which is often overlooked; and seems to be have been largely forgotten by Christians today. Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, AND TO GOD THE THINGS THAT ARE GOD'S.” (Luke 20:25 emphasis added) This begs an obvious question: Does the church belong to Caesar? Or does it belong to God? And does the church look to Caesar to find out if, when, and how they are allowed to worship God? Does the church in America belong to the government? Do individual Christians belong to the government? Or for that matter, does any person belong to the government? Are we citizens or are we slaves? Christians are indeed “owned.” But they recognize Christ as their rightful Lord and Master. He alone owns the title of possession, because he alone paid the price with his blood.

Churches today are certainly free to cancel their services, or go “online” as many have done. But they are also free to gather together. They should not cancel based on a false notion of “rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's.” Because the church doesn't belong to Caesar. Nor any other governing authority. It belongs to God. America's founders understood that all too well, and were willing to die for this “freedom of religion.” They were willing to enshrine it in the Bill of Rights in the very first amendment which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The government can't force you to worship. They also can't STOP you; at least not LEGALLY.

Is it best for church's to cancel, in the face of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic? Some say yes and some say no. But it's not for Caesar to decide; at least not in a “free” country like America. And certainly not in a church which looks to Christ, not Caesar, as its ultimate authority. Are Christians risking their lives by going to church? Maybe they are and maybe they aren't. But shouldn't it be their choice to decide? Do we not take a risk every time we leave our house? Do we not take a risk every time we drive a car or get on an airplane? Life is full of risks. That isn't in question. The question is whether or not we have the freedom to take risks as we see fit. Being commanded to not leave your house is draconian. But being commanded to not gather for worship is demonic. Yet Christians today seem perfectly fine with such mandates.

In most cases, what fuels the Christian's compliance is fear. I get that. People are afraid of getting sick and dying. And they are afraid of getting arrested for non-compliance. But if the pandemic is real, then the church needs to meet. Or at least have the FREEDOM to. Let the people decide if they want to attend services or not, and let the government stay out of it; as they are Constitutionally bound to do. Don't claim that a “national emergency” renders the Constitution moot; because the document was written in the midst of a “national emergency” (or revolution) with the intent of protecting liberty. And liberty is most under fire during “emergencies.” Moreover, if our liberties can be squelched at such a time as this; whose to say that future administrations cannot do likewise over far lesser “emergencies?” Who gets to decide when an emergency is serious enough to take our freedom? And why should anyone be allowed to decide that for someone else?

Pastors are being arrested in America today, for the crime of “unlawful assembly.” And most Christians seem perfectly fine with that disturbing reality. But once upon a time Christians didn't fold their tents so easily. Once upon a time, Christians were willing to be arrested for their beliefs. They were willing to oppose unbiblical mandates against their faith. Indeed they were willing to die for the cause. Not so today. They're too busy “rendering unto Caesar” the things that AREN'T CAESAR'S TO TAKE. While forgetting to render unto GOD.... the things that belong to God.

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DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this article reflect my own personal views and not necessarily the views of any organization to which I am affiliated.

Corona, Crooks, & Christ

By Shane Kastler

C.S. Lewis is most famous for being the author of The Chronicles of Narnia and Mere Christianity. And though he died in 1963, his wisdom still rings true in many areas. In 1948 he was asked in a letter how people were supposed to function in the age of the atomic bomb. Three years prior, the world witnessed the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, thus ending Japan's involvement in World War II. And everyone knew the atom bomb would soon be in the hands of several nations. We could all be incinerated at any moment. So how are we to live when there is such a daily threat hovering over our fragile lives? Here is a portion of Lewis's response to this question:

"In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. 'How are we to live in an atomic age?' I am tempted to reply: 'Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of auto accidents.' In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented.”

The Bible teaches us, “There is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) Viruses are nothing new. Sickness is nothing new. And most certainly, death is nothing new. Sadly, mass hysteria, fear mongering, media exaggerations, and political opportunists are nothing new either. Will the coronavirus take some lives? Certainly. In fact it already has. Does this mean the entire world as we know it should grind to a screeching halt? Certainly not.

While you may be limited in what you'll be able to do for a while, try to remind yourselves of two indisputable facts: 1. Deadly illnesses have always existed. 2. God is sovereign over all things, including deadly illnesses. Ultimately, God determines the day and manner of your death (Psalm 139:16); and all the fretting in the world will not extend your life. Jesus said, “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:27)

Take common sense precautions, but don't panic yourself into an ulcer. Some people want you to be wise during this time because they genuinely care about your well being. But unfortunately, others who would wish to exploit your fears for their selfish purposes. God is sovereign over all things, including the coronavirus. So wash your hands, say a prayer, and sleep soundly tonight; knowing that the Almighty is still on His throne and no pandemic (whether real or exaggerated) will ever change that.

The Mist of Kobe Bryant

By Shane Kastler

Some people live to be 100. Some people die at 41. So it was for basketball great, Kobe Bryant who died along with eight others in a recent helicopter crash. Some people die at 80. Some die at 13. So it was for Bryant's daughter Gianna, the teenage daughter of the basketball phenom, who was embarking on her own aspiring career.

Some people die of natural causes. They know for months, or even years, that they are dying. Others die in accidents. Kobe and Gianna, along with seven others, died in a crash. They might have known for a few seconds that the end was near, or it might have happened so fast that they never knew what happened.

Sometimes other people die. Sometimes it's you. Today, thousands of “other people” died, tomorrow it might be you. Am I trying to use scare tactics to get your attention? No. Just stating the cold hard facts of life. You know what kind of facts I mean? The kind we all try to avoid and pretend they'll never affect us. We snooze our way through life. And then our time on earth is over. The Bible says our life is like a mist that is here for a while and then gone. (See James 4:14) Compared to eternity, it doesn't really matter if you die at 100, or 80, or 41, or 13. All that matters is whether or not you knew the Lord.

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) The Bible teaches that we are all sinners and have disobeyed God. We do this both by nature and by choice, and the penalty for such disobedience is death. Both physical and spiritual death. One day you will die, but in truth you were born dead. At least in a spiritual sense. Only the Holy Spirit can give you spiritual life, and when that happens you are “born again.” (John 3:3) The result of this new birth is that you turn from your sin in repentance and commit your life to Jesus Christ by faith. It's not a one time “decision” but rather a lifetime commitment. And it's one you should consider while there is still breath in your lungs.

Kobe and Gianna Bryant took off in a helicopter one Sunday morning, planning to go to a basketball tournament. They never made it. Who could have guessed that two young, beautiful people would be taken out in the prime of life? But truly, death will one day come calling for you too. Maybe you'll be elderly and the cause will be natural. Or maybe you'll be young and the cause will be sudden and unexpected. Place your faith in Jesus, so you'll be ready either way.

Kanye the Christian? May It Be So

By Shane Kastler

“For this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” (Luke 15:24)

The worlds of secular music and Christianity collided recently with the reported Christian conversion of infamous rap singer Kanye West, and his subsequent gospel album entitled, “Jesus is King.” Kanye has a long history of living a wild life, and writing trashy songs, but he claims to have been “radically saved” and has become a bold and outspoken proclaimer of the Christian faith. Is this a true conversion, or a publicity stunt? Many signs point to a true conversion, and as Christians we should celebrate and hope this is true, rather than smugly watching and waiting for him to stumble. And he WILL stumble, just like we all do.

Church history is full of surprising conversions, that no one expected to happen. In the 4^th century, Augustine was a womanizing pagan who had a child out of wedlock with his live-in lover. (If you thought this type of behavior was a modern day phenomenon, then you're wrong). But Augustine was converted at the age of 31, and went on to become one of the most influential theologians in history. John Bunyan was a drunken brawler, who by his own admission used so much profanity that he invented new ways to cuss. Yet the Lord saved him and he went on to become a pastor who wrote one the world's most famous books, “Pilgrim's Progress.” John Newton was a blasphemer and hater of God. But the Lord saved him and he wrote a song you may have heard of called, “Amazing Grace.” God specializes in saving sinners, and the depth of their depravity is irrelevant in the light of His grace.

One line from Kanye's song, “God Is” particularity caught my attention. I read the line to my wife, without telling her who it was and asked her if she thought it was written by Charles Spurgeon or Oswald Chambers. Then I sprung it on her that it was Kanye! Here's the line, “Christ is the fountain that filled up my cup.” This lyric is beautiful, no matter who wrote it. And it sounds very much like the worshipful fruit of a “born again” man.

Kanye's music style is not the same as mine. But the world is not forced to adopt my style. If Kanye's conversion is real, then he will no doubt continue to produce God-glorifying songs in his own style. And it will speak to a group of people that I might never be able to reach. For this, we should praise God. Kanye's conversion may prove to be false, and if so we should be saddened by it. But then again, this all may be legitimate; and if so then we should be thankful and supportive of this most unlikely new brother in Christ. The fact is that your sin is no prettier than Kanye's is. All sin is ugly, but thankfully, there is a Redeemer who is powerful enough to save even the Chief of Sinners. To God be the glory, great things He has done.

Judas the Socialist

By Shane Kastler

If Judas Iscariot was walking the earth today, he would make an ideal presidential candidate for the Democrat party.  With the recent, hard left veer toward socialism, he would fit right in.  He was socialistic to the core.  He loved to spend other people's money.  He loved to criticize how THEY spent THEIR OWN money.  He loved to act like he cared for the poor, all while using it as a ruse to line his own pockets.  And scarily, he had the ability to influence others toward his way of thinking.

Socialism is an evil political and economic ideology that tries to disguise itself as benevolence. It involves an ever expanding governmental control over virtually every aspect of a person's life. Perhaps some people embrace it because they think it will be good for society. The idea is to take money away from those who earn it and give it to “the poor.” And while this might sound nice on the surface, there is nothing “Christian” about taking one person's assets by force and giving them to someone else who didn't earn them. It is a veiled form of thievery, and an overt form of bribery for politicians seeking to buy votes in exchange for free government goodies.

Some people espouse Socialism because they are well-meaning, but grossly ignorant of history. Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Adolph Hitler all held to some form of socialism; and the three accounted for the deaths of an estimated 180 million people in the 20^th century. It should be noted that all three also claimed what they were doing would “help the poor” but all it succeeded in doing was benefiting those who had political power, and killing and/or enslaving those who did not. Socialism always leaves a trail of rotting corpses in its wake. And 21^st century Americans would be wise to consider these lessons from history.

The Bible actually has more to say about these things than you might think. Judas is most well-known for being the betrayer of Christ, but he was also a thief. And, he claimed to have a desire to help the poor. On one occasion, when a women took some expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus to honor him, Judas became enraged, saying, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.” (John 12:5-6) Judas was a typical socialist, and as such, he had a “brilliant” idea as to what could be done with someone else's money. That's the dirty secret to Socialism, it involves someone else's money. Judas could have given of his own resources to “help the poor” but socialists don't typically do that. They'd rather use your money instead.  And what's more, Judas's phony communistic kindness apparently had an effect on the other disciples, as Matthew's gospel records that they too joined Judas in his subversive cause (Matthew 26:8).

One might think Jesus would commend Judas for thinking of the poor, but he does not. Jesus answered him saying: “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” John 12:7-8) In other words, the perfume belonged to the woman and not to Judas, and as such she could do what she wanted with it. She chose to honor the Lord, and Judas didn't like that. He acted like he cared for the poor, and he wanted to use someone else's money to help them. In all honesty, he wanted to help himself to more money and power. Today's politicians who espouse socialism are no different.

While people might disagree on economic and political issues, they should be united in the rejection of a system based on stirring up class warfare and stealing from one group to bribe another. Judas was an evil man, and one of the ways this could be seen was in his socialistic tendencies. Don't be like Judas, who's philosophical descendants have names like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They make promises based on thievery and dishonesty, and their policies lead to destruction. They claim to care for the poor, but their actions primarily help them to stay in power. Don't be like Judas. Don't be like Bernie. Don't be like Cortez, people who use their power to bolster a diabolical system.  Jesus once called Judas a "devil."  Many aspects of his life bore this out, perhaps none so blatantly as his views on economics.  Judas was a socialist, who would gladly rob you blind, while telling you it was for the "common good."  Thankfully, Judas is no longer here, but his acolytes remain.  Be wise and beware.

My Twitter Debate With Yale Student Over Civil War Statues & Marxism

By Shane Kastler

I recently had a Twitter debate with a college student from Yale, over why I think Civil War statues should NOT be torn down. I believe history should stand and be preserved for future generations. Even if you don't like the Confederacy, then you can use the statues as teaching tools to share your opinion.  But silencing opinions and destroying history is the dark tool of totalitarianism. Erasing past history, ensures future ignorance.  It is Marxist to its core, and I oppose it. The following is the original headline that sparked my tweet,  followed by the exchange with Jeremy, who is a sophomore at Yale. By the end of the debate, he was clearly getting rattled, as some of his indoctrinations were being challenged.  His constant accusations of me using "straw man" arguments likewise showed his anxiety in the debate. It also showed that he doesn't really know what a "straw man" argument is; but constantly accusing someone of it is a way to ignore the fact that you're losing the debate.  Here's the transcript: 

Original Headline: James Comey Says In Light Of Recent Racism in Virginia, Confederate Statues Should Come Down

Transcript of Debate:

Shane Kastler: It's always easier to find a 150 yr. old scapegoat, rather than hold the ACTUAL PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE who committed the deeds. Couldn't POSSIBLY blame Ralph Northam. He's a Democrat.

Jeremy From Yale: The statue isn’t the scapegoat. It’s about ridding the state and the country of symbols of hate.

Shane Kastler: The problem is actual living people. Not marble images of dead people. Confront hate by confronting the actual people engaging in it. Erasing past history, ensures future ignorance.

Jeremy From Yale: News flash: you can do both. There shouldn’t be monuments of hate everywhere. People don’t have one track minds. You can hold racist people accountable and also take town symbols of hate as well. No ones erasing history, so don’t even try saying that

Shane Kastler: You espouse "taking down symbols" & also say "no one's erasing history." That's a logical contradiction. It IS erasing history. And who gets to decide what constitutes "hate"? Robert E. Lee lived a far more honorable & loving life than any of today's politicians. There was no hate from him.

Jeremy From Yale: It’s not a logical contradiction. If you learn history through a statue, you aren’t learning history correctly. They were put up decades after the war. They’re not history. They belong in a museum, not erected in the middle of towns.

Shane Kastler: You don't learn history from statues exclusively. But historic landmarks do play a part. If you learn history only through a book you aren't learning history correctly either.

Jeremy From Yale: How the hell else are you supposed to learn history? Through white washed statues put up during the 1900’s and during the Civil Rights Era?

Shane Kastler: Only books huh? A few minutes ago you mentioned museums too. Have you changed your mind? Have you ever been to a statue before? They do typically have markers and plaques on them. Lots of ways to learn history. And the more you avail yourself to the better.

Jeremy From Yale: The statues have no place being in public spaces. They belong in museums, like I said. Historical landmarks are different from erecting statues, and you know that.

Shane Kastler: Do you also believe that mosques should be torn down? Or that they don't belong in "the middle of towns"? Like Confederate statues? Honest question.

Jeremy From Yale: Mosques? Are you comparing the CSA to Islam? Are you seriously comparing a place where people worship to statues of racist traitors? You shouldn't be anywhere in the education industry. This is a reprehensibly charged question that seeks to do nothing but act as a straw man.

Shane Kastler: No, I'm not comparing them. But Muhammad was a slave owner. Would you apply the same "hate test" to him that you would the Confederacy?

Jeremy From Yale: The confederacy is hate. Period. And anyone who supported a traitorous treasonous Confederacy, that was completely based in preserving slavery, also represents hate. Depressing that a teacher doesn’t know this. Muhammad having slaves is not the same as the CSA literally fighting to preserve slavery. Also, mosques are not built to glorify Muhammad. This was a horrible attempt at a comparison.

Shane Kastler: You've clearly not studied the Civil War beyond "the books" (which are heavily propagandized). Numerous reasons for the war. Have you no knowledge of Islam either? Muslims certainly DO glorify Muhammad. And they have a legal right to do so. Just as others have the right to honor Lee.

Jeremy From Yale: Your straw man doesn't change anything I've said. Traitorous racists should not be honored. If you honor them, you are consciously praising a foreign entity that attacked the U.S. to keep black people as objects.

Shane Kastler: You say "Attacked the U.S." --- Actually the NORTH INVADED the SOUTH. 90 percent of the battles were fought in the South. Seriously. You should do some more reading on this issue. I'm not trying to be condescending. Did you know Northerners owned slaves too?

Jeremy From Yale: It's almost like you forgot when the CSA attacked Fort Sumter to start the war. It's almost like you don't understand that the CSA seceded was an act of treason in and of itself. Also, your straw man about northern slavery means absolutely nothing. At all.

Shane Kastler:Why does it mean nothing? Was it OK for the North to have slaves? Did you know the Emancipation Proclamation only freed slaves in Southern states? Northerners were allowed to keep their slaves because they were loyal to the Union. Read the document. That's not a straw man.

Jeremy From Yale: It means nothing because you are using yet another straw man to ignore the fact that the South seceded and went to war because of slavery and the institutions surrounding it. You are actively changing the subject and it's on purpose. The numerous reasons for the war were based around slavery. Period. Don't tell me what I do and don't know about the Civil War. If you learn about it from statues, calling things propagandized is hilarious. And if you honor Lee, you literally honor slavery. Period.

Shane Kastler: In all seriousness. I encourage you to not simply accept everything your Marxist professors tell you. Study history & religion on your own. Learn to think for yourself. Don't follow the masses into a world of censorship. Even if you hate Lee, use the monuments to teach others why.

Jeremy From Yale: "Marxist professors"? It's almost like you are completely ignorant and don't know that I can do my own research. But I don't even have to. The declarations of succession of the CSA states clearly said it was about slavery. You're sounding like a CSA apologist.

Shane Kastler: Yes, I KNOW you can do your own research. And I'm encouraging you to do that.... And by "succession" I assume you meant "secession" - They are different things you know.

Jeremy From Yale: If you deny the basic fact that the war was about slavery, you are not worth having a conversation. Your ill-informed views inform your views on CSA statues and therefore it is not worth having a debate in such bad faith. You don't deserve to be a teacher. Spreading lies about the Civil War and wanting to uphold statues does a disservice. Those "Marxist professors" aren't propagandizing anything. You are, by blatantly lying about the war and defending CSA monuments so ardently.

Shane Kastler: Seems like you're upset because things you've always believed to be true are being challenged. That's a good thing. Embrace that anxiety and use it as fuel to study these issues independently.... Enjoyed visiting with you.

Jeremy From Yale: You haven't provided any evidence that the war wasn't about slavery. I have presented evidence that it was about slavery. You haven't challenged the facts I presented. Your projection is glaring.

Shane Kastler: It WAS about slavery. I never said otherwise. What I DID SAY, was that slavery was not the ONLY ISSUE. Wars are almost always multifaceted. Don't just accept the easy textbook answers. You won't learn much by doing that.

Jeremy From Yale: So please explain what else prompted the War. Was it taxes, because the North was continuing the industrialize and the South could not keep up with taxes because they refused to industrialize because they relied on slavery? Or was it state's rights... to slavery?

Shane Kastler: Taxes and state's rights were legitimate issues. They still are. I'm not denying slavery was a major cause. But there's more to it than that. There's lots of historical facts that your professors will never teach you. Here's a book recommendation. It was written by an economist from the North: “The Real Lincoln” By Thomas Dilorenzo. Read it when you get a chance.

My Answer To Quora Question on Political Contention

By Shane Kastler

A question was asked of me on the website Quora.com.  Here is the question, followed by my answer.  How do we return to productive political discource? Is there any road back from the contentious, partisan mockery of democracy we have established?

MY ANSWER: Historically speaking, there seems to be an “ebb and flow” in how contentious politics is. Naturally, we see things from the perspective of how they currently are, since this is right before our eyes. But anytime you have differing groups with differing viewpoints on how things should be done; there will be a likelihood of deep contention.

Some of the partisan smear tactics of America’s founding fathers would shock people today. Let us not forget, the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton died by being shot to death in a dual with one of his political opponents. And this was after newspapers of the day published lurid details of an affair Hamilton was involved in. An affair, he admitted to, by the way. John Adams vs. Thomas Jefferson got very heated and ugly at times, though they reconciled years later. And that says nothing, of how contentious it got in 1860 when the country literally divided into two separate countries because of political differences. My point is, politics has always been nasty to some extent, and it always will be.

With that said, there have also been times of surprising bipartisanship and civility. It seems hard to imagine that in 1984, Reagan won the reelection by winning 49 states! And while his political opponents despised him, there was enough agreement in the nation as a whole, for him to win a landslide. I cannot imagine America ever being that much in agreement again, on either side.

Politics is all about power; and under America’s form of government politicians are elected by voters. One of the inevitable consequences of this is that politicians will stir up their base by demonizing their opponents, so they can win reelection. In the mind of the politician, there must be ample villains out there, to justify their being elected to protect their constituents from such villains. To be sure, some of the villains are real; but often times their faults are exaggerated for political purposes.

So to answer the question: No. I do not think there will ever be any meaningful move to a less contentious political climate. There might be slight movements that direction, but they will always be minimal and temporary. That’s just the nature of the beast.

My Twitter Debate Over Socialism With Ocasio-Cortez Fans

By Shane Kastler

Below is the transcript of a recent debate I had with some followers of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez  (AOC), over socialism. The initial tweet was from AOC. I then responded; and then had a nice exchange with two gentleman (Jon the Ph.D. and Johnny F.) - Happy reading!

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC):  It’s wild that some people are more scared of a marginal tax rate than the fact that 40% of Americans struggle to pay for at least one basic need, like food or rent. Imagine if we focused positively, away from fear of the former toward solving the latter.

Shane Kastler: Translation: "It's wild that some people won't allow politicians like me to mug them so we can give the proceeds to our voters. Um.... like..... that's so wild. If we could only make people think.... um....like..... POSITIVELY about getting mugged. Sheesh!"

Jon the Ph.D: You realise how that tax would work? Only those who earn over $10m in a single year would be affected. You would benefit, not be harmed.

Shane Kastler: Yes, I know how it works. But robbing from the rich to MAKE them poor is no more noble than robbing from the poor to KEEP them poor. It doesn't matter who benefits from thievery. It's still wrong. And how do you know I make less than $10m?

Johnny F:  You cannot make a rich person poor thru marginal taxes. It's just not possible.

Shane Kastler: If you take one dollar from them, then you've made them one dollar poorer than they were. Thievery shouldn't be justified, based on who the government is stealing from.

 

Johnny F: It's not thievery. The money belongs to the workers. It's being exploited by CEOs.

 

Shane Kastler: Workers get paid what they agree to work for. If they are worth more money, then they are free to find the employer who will pay them what they are worth. If no employer will pay that, then they aren't really worth that. They just think they are.

 

Jon the Ph.D: But taxation is essential for the existence of government & public services... Top rate taxes mean that those who have benefited most from the country and those who have the most means to pay pay the most. Why should Jeff Bezos pay less tax on the dollar than his cleaners?

 

Shane Kastler: I would argue that the solution would not be for Bezos to pay more, but for his cleaners to pay less? A 70 percent rate on anyone is exorbitant. The government should not TAKE twice what a person can KEEP.

 

Johnny F: The entire income isn't taxed at 70%. Only the money that is made after 10 million has been reached. Poor people aren't poor because of taxes. They're poor because rich people don't compensate labor fairly.

 

Shane Kastler: Yes, I understand her 70% on the "tippy tops" income (her words). And as I stated before, if the poor aren't compensated fairly they are free to find a new employer who WILL compensate them fairly. If no such employer exists, then their skills aren't as valuable as they think.

 

Johnny F: That's not remotely true. Human value isn't determined by the market. Humans aren't worth as much or little they are able to produce. That kind of thinking is dehumanizing

 

Shane Kastler: Human value isn't determined by the market. But MARKET value is determined by the market.

 

Johnny F: You're definitely arguing that human lives should be governed by their economic output. If it doesn't match market levels for housing and food, then they don't deserve to have those basics. It. Is. Dehumanizing.

 

Shane Kastler: I'm not arguing human lives should be governed by economic output. I'm arguing that human SALARIES should be. Under free market capitalism, both food and housing are FAR CHEAPER, than in socialistic countries. Google, "USSR food rationing"

 

Johnny F:  Entire demographics of people cannot afford the basics of survival when they work just as much as previous generations. What's the capitalist solution to those who fall between the cracks?

 

Shane Kastler: Charity. What is the socialist solution? .... If you think entire demographics of Americans can't afford basic survival, you should visit a 3rd world socialistic country some time. The "poor" in America are the richest poor people on earth.

 

Johnny F: The guy that died because his GoFundMe was short to pay for his monthly insulin was not available for comment.

 

Shane Kastler: For every ONE exaggerated example like that in USA, there are THOUSANDS of REAL examples under socialism. Not to mention the millions who have died under socialistic dictators who share AOC's ideology. Google "killed by Joseph Stalin" .....But you never answered my question. What is socialism's answer?   CONCLUSION:  Socialism has no answers.  Just gullible adherents, who are ignorant of both economics and history. Nice chatting with you.