Morality... Honesty… Probity… Christian… Jew… Muslim… Mormon…. Pro-Life… Pro-Choice…
These are terms that I have heard batted around during the ever so early race to the White House. All terms that I am aware of and are on my mind. Strangely I find that they have little to do with my concerns in the upcoming presidential election. Why you may ask? Simple I have separated myself from the masses that follow the emotional bent. There is nothing wrong about emotions. They are something I hold close and sometimes follow against my better judgment.
My morality is something that I take seriously and have due respect for. I however do not put my overall morality in men and women who hold or run for political office. I look to the personal for my moral and religious stability. I am fortunate enough to live in a country where I can worship as I choose. Wow, now there is a concept I can worship as I choose or not choose too. Anyone else in this country has the same right. What a concept no state sanctioned religion.
Why do I dwell on this? Simple my family, my church and my faith have given me a foundation that has guided me to a firm foundation. I know the top ten… coveting, murder, honor my mother and father and so on… I will not demand that everyone in the country follow the auspices of my beliefs. I do however ask that my beliefs are respected and I will respect theirs.
If you are not part of the moral majority does that mean that you are not a capable citizen or a capable politician or are not capable of following a faith? Is the only issue Pro-Life or Pro-Choice? Are there other issues out there? Maybe two or three or four or several thousand?
Also did you know that someone running for office is human? Human… did you know that they may have made mistakes? Now take a deep breath and look at your life. Did you find drug use? How about substance abuse? Foolish decisions made while very young? Sexual exploits that would best be forgotten? Breaking one or two or more of the Ten Commandments? For those of you who can say no you obviously are not and never will be human. Flawed and blemished is to be human.
When I think of someone representing me in politics they must have many criteria. The first is to make the tough decisions. Yes, taxes, services and infrastructure. Fiscal responsibility too... add to this the need to embrace the constitution and think of the good of the country instead of the special interest.
We as Americans are quick to reach for any type of entitlement but are slow to pay for privilege. Taxes are the cost. There is not a free lunch. Schools must be paid for. The elderly in need of care must be paid for. The armed service must be paid for. Parks, roads, bridges, health standards, agencies and so on… there is a price.
Ah, maybe we need to look beyond the morality issues? I am not putting forth that morality is not important or imperative. It is. Lying cheating and stealing are not acceptable! I however do not have the right to look into anyone’s life to the degree we now feel compelled too.
A simple statement
“those who live in brick houses should not throw atomic bombs”
For those of you reading this who need a little bible “those who are without sin cast the first stone.” Needless to say I have dropped all stones and all atomic weapons. I can’t even raise an eye-brow. Sigh… if only I had remained pure.
So what am I looking for in 2008?
Figure out how to get use the hell out of Iraq. Then pay for it? I mean how much money will the Chinese lend use before they call in the loans? Folks we are talking about billions and billions. I really do not want the Jefferson Memorial taken on a forfeit on a loan default. If as Americans we manage to pay this off it will take generations upon generations…
Next make peace on each side of the aisle and stop polarizing the masses. We have lost the fact that we are Americans. We have moved into “those people” again who are “those people” and why are they so distasteful? Those People!
The environment we are pretty much screwed here. Do not eat the fish. Green House Gas. Gas guzzling monster vehicles. No more to add to that!
Stabilizing the USA in the world economy. I am not Greenspan. I know that the way things were done isn’t going to work anymore. So someone better come up with a few ideas that keep the masses employed and fed. If you look at history when the masses are hungry and without hope you can get a revolution or the barbarians will knock down the gates. Look to history. Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Spanish, Moors, French, Russians. It has happened it could happen again. Is anyone listening?
Last point HEALTH CARE! People are dying. People are sick! People are dying of issues that are and should not be an issue. Wait I know lets be proactive instead of reactive? Screening maybe? Ooooo prevention instead of reaction. That would mean planning ahead.
Ah, we as citizens do not do that. I mean we would need to take responsibility for our actions. Hold ourselves accountable for the state of our country. So very hard. How will I ever deal with that…
I know lets focus on something that can fit into a 10 second sound bite. How about Morality... Honesty… Probity… Christian… Jew… Muslim… Mormon…. Pro-Life… Pro-Choice…
I think that covers it. Please vote. Please examine our representatives in government. Research, ask questions, do not let one issue carry you away from so many others. As Americans we have been giving a great gift and responsibility. Do not let the founding fathers down use it!
I know rant, rant, rant…..
3 comments:
I gotta tell you, the candidates to the Right are trying harder and harder to score the fundamentalist votes, and they do so to their own detriment. We're finding that Americans are getting really tired of the diviseness. Specifically, Americans are finally realizing that we are all pretty milquetoast when it comes to the big-headline moral issues and just don't abide by the epithet from previous eleciotns where you either fit a moral mold or your are deviant, period. That was enough to cow Americans into saying they fit that mold so their neighbors didn't criticize them for being amoral.
But then people woke up and found out that their neighbors were in exactly the same moral predicament they are in: I have beliefs, but they're mine and I really don't care much what yours are.
Since that awakening, I say let the candidates court away at an increasingly-smaller target group of voters. Leaves more voters for the better candidates.
add to this the need to embrace the constitution and think of the good of the country instead of the special interest
"Special interest" is everyone. Think of things you care about. Well, things you care about probably have an organization, and that organization in some way, shape, or form has a lobbyist. It is the right of the people to comment-on and influence their government beyond their simple vote to put them in office. Poeple do that by organizing into groups, associaitons and societies. They hire professionals who understand political processes to help levvy that "free speech" right onto their legislators.
"Special interest" is you.
Sorry. I get annoyed when people criticize "special interests" as some Downfall of Democracy. It is Democracy.
You do work for one of those "special interests," after all...
Ouch! Yes, I work for special interest and I recognize that special interest is an important aspect of our political system! However in all things there is a need for moderation. I ask that we the voters are aware that with all aspects of government corruption and exploitation can run rampant. Special interest is just one aspect that grabs my attention regularly. There are many more…. Many, many more…
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