Oh boy, folks. I think I’m in the throes of writing a political post. My blog might break up with me. But alas I can’t quit thinking about this and as you know, the only way to make it stop is to write about it. So yay, you get another political post to read. I promise not to be mean though, ok? Promise.
Ok, so we’re Republicans. I guess you probably guessed that but I just want to level-set here. Fox News is playing in the background as I type this and it’s normally on every day. It makes me insane. I can’t stand how everyone argues and talks over each other and I’m always like, they’re so mean! And that’s usually as close to politics as I go.
We watched the RNC speeches last week and just because I felt like I needed to be informed and fair, I watched Bill Clinton last night. I have to say, he’s smooth. I was just 17 when he was vying for his last term and honestly didn’t pay attention much but I so appreciated that Clinton actually spoke about issues and I could understand them. And he was funny.
Todd Heisler/The New York Times
So there was one part that he spoke about and other Democrats had alluded to that I really liked it and yet, it’s what is rubbing me the wrong way:
My fellow Americans, all of us in this grand hall and everybody watching at home, when we vote in this election, we’ll be deciding what kind of country we want to live in. If you want a winner-take- all, you’re-on-your-own society, you should support the Republican ticket. But if you want a country of shared opportunities and shared responsibility, a we’re-all-in-this-together society, you should vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
So that gets me pretty excited. All this sharing and all. One of my favorite passages in Acts reflects just this:
Acts 4:32-35
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
So yeah, it sounds like they’re singing the same song, right?
I think the difference though is how it is being shared.
If you know me and have read here long, you might know that I’m more for an individual approach to this. Listen. I paid for medical care for someone yesterday for a procedure that wasn’t covered by Medicaid. I’m putting my money where my mouth is.
I’ve been reading Bonhoeffer the past week and you don’t need to know anything except that he went as far as to die for his faith in Nazi Germany and before that, he was highly effective at helping people individually. It’s quite inspiring.
I’m also for this idea of pooling resources together and then distributing. I mean, that IS what the apostles did. They all laid their money at the apostles’ feet and distributed it. Even Romans suggests we pay taxes for this purpose.
Romans 13:6
New International Version (NIV)
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.
Here’s the problem, though. Many Democrats (not ALL) don’t see the pooling of resources as a task or even responsibility from God. In fact, many Democrats are pushing for God to be completely out of government as hard as they can. Did you read where some actually booed God being kept in a section of platform?
So no, I’m not for pooling my resources with people who have no desire to do it under God’s authority and power. Should it perhaps be the church that is responsible for taking care of the poor? (said with some sarcasm) If we did have more money from less taxes we would have more money to individually and communally, as a church, help people.
So what’s a Christian who sometimes agrees with Republicans and sometimes likes what a Democrat has to say?
Here’s my only answer: I stick with God. And for me, that means helping someone who doesn’t have coverage and selling my possessions and giving them to the poor and sponsoring Compassion kids and adopting little a little boy without a father. In other words, to the best of my ability, I will pay my taxes as it is required and then do what I can to help the church be the church. As for my vote, I will vote for someone who helps me do that better and I truly believe that’s the Republican ticket.
But I guess I just want to say I hear you, Democrats and I like your ideas sometimes. But Republicans aren’t cold, heartless people that only care about building their wealth for themselves. I’m not interested in leaving people high and dry as Clinton suggested. Romney talked a lot about his charity last week. I think we all want to help people but I think we have to realize why we do that and who gives us the authority and power to do so. Without that, I’m truly afraid for the United States.
I’m not being melodramatic. As I’m reading Bonhoeffer, I’m seeing so many parallels to Nazi Germany and ya’ll, it seriously scares me to death.
All I can say is I’m praying. Neither candidate is our Messiah. They’re not. None of us have it right really. It will only be under God’s authority that any good happens no matter who is President. God bless the United States, indeed.
PS. I had to rewrite much of this post. As I was writing, Live Writer completely crashed on me, losing much of it. I guess my blog does want to break up? I hope you don’t.
I don’t for a moment believe that it was/is God’s plan for that pooling to be an enabler for people who simply want to to mooch, either. Far too many of the recipients of the Democrats’ generosity have no intent or desire to help shoulder the load in any way.
Aside from that, I also take great issue with Bill Clinton being trotted out as the paragon of trustworthiness. This is the man who squandered 3/4th of his 2nd term denying allegations of having had sex with his intern, yet in the end – only after piffling away millions (maybe tens of millions) of taxpayers’ dollars in legal fees, did he end up coming clean and admitting that he had indeed had exactly the type of relations that he was accused of. Lots of people wax poetic about how wondrous Clinton was as President, yet all I can think of is, “Well, if that even true, let’s imagine how much more he could’ve accomplished had he just come clean about his extramarital shenanigans at the outset.”
If you’re gonna be a deplorable scumbag and cheat around on your wife with chickies from the office, at least be man enough to own up to those deeds when you’re busted.
Clinton is entirely devoid of honor or credibility as far as I’m concerned. And the fact that the Dems are propping him up as their poster boy shreds their credibility as well.
Rob O. recently posted…Under the Gun
Rob, do not get me started on enabling. But that’s the beauty of helping people individually for those in your sphere of influence…you know when to give and when not to.
I honestly can’t speak to Clinton’s history. I know only what was in mainstream media at the time but just from that impression, he’s probably not a great poster boy. But. He CAN give a great speech and explain things well.
Great post!
Thank you, Christine!
love this post, Amy!
Thanks for the support, Stephanie!
Amy, I love that you can state your opinions without putting anyone else or their opinions down. You’re amazing!! I too agree with both sides on different issues but have fallen the other way for many reasons. I just thought you should know, that as a Christian Democrat…I read this and wasn’t one bit offended and I truly truly appreciate that!!! One of my favorite of Bill Clinton’s lines was “Politics doesn’t have to be a blood bath”. I am thankful there are people on both sides who can talk like adults and express their opinions without judgement or persecution!!
Thanks, Stephanie. I know we don’t agree but I always appreciate others that can explain their views as well. I think we can all learn from each other even if it isn’t too change each other’s minds, but just to understand them.
Well said. I really appreciate you putting this out there, and I believe a lot of us conservatives feel the exact same way. Bottom line, it comes down to size of government. Democrats believe in big government, and republicans don’t. Period. And if you go back to the founding of our country, I truly believe that our founding fathers never intended for the federal government to have the scope and power that they have now. That’s what why they were here! These are the principles upon which we were founded. “Life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness” How quickly we’ve forgotten…
This election is so critically important. I’m fairly young and don’t have any children yet, but I feel the weightiness of this election…in my soul. I realize that may sound dramatic, but as an American with the majority of my working life still ahead of me and with my future children’s lives in mind, it’s important! You’re exactly right that neither candidate is the Messiah. Wholeheartedly agreed. But I believe that Americans need to wake up and take this very, very seriously.
A lot of this election is so focused on economic issues, which I think is warranted and affects the majority of Americans’ lives. What about the social issues, though? I passionately and firmly believe in the sanctity of human life and that marriage between a man and a woman is the foundation of family life. How can God continue to bless a nation who continues to elect leaders, who don’t hold those same beliefs? Who rails against those beliefs? Just spend a little time in the Old Testament reading about nations who stray from God’s commands and go as far as to rebel against Him. Time and time again, He takes his hand off of them, and they fall. Those blessings that were enjoyed under his overwhelming grace and protection are gone. We, the United States of America, are subject to those same consequences.
Anyway, I really just wanted to comment to say, “Well said.” This something that I, obviously, feel really strongly about, and I really appreciate you having the courage to write about this. So many bloggers won’t touch politics with a 10-foot pole, but it doesn’t have to be ugly and mean. It just needs to be truthful, and you make so many great points. So, thank you! I join with you in a shared prayer…God bless the United States.
Nice post, Amy.
Sarah, with respect, that is not the major difference between Rebs and Dems, The major difference is the inherent conflict between freedom and democracy. They are in direct conflict and so is our country. I am speaking of political ideals, here. I am not a scholar but I am in grad school (ack can you believe it???) and we had to learn this. It’s really, really interesting. It’s the contradiction of our nation! Such cool stuff to be learning right now.
I agree that the founding fathers had a very different vision of our country, but that includes not just limited government but also limited religion in public life. They did, however, have the amazing vision to make our Constitution an evolving document. Brilliant, that.
Two other things I wanted to say. One, I realized this year that I don’t vote based on who will best serve me. In fact, I don’t think much about how the election is going to affect my life – because I have a cushy, protected status. We aren’t rich but we will be okay. Instead, I think about how policy and laws will affect other people, people who are far more vulnerable than me. That’s not an endorsement of anyone or any side, just a revelation I had.
Two, outside of Amy and one other friend, I don’t know anyone who votes based on an evangelical interpretation of the Bible. I’ve spent the last year really engaged with evangelical Christians, with this idea that we have more in common than we don’t. But this one is HUGE. We have a major gap here. We just don’t have the same cultural context. My very religious aunt votes based on her religion but she is not evangelical and I bet you if you read each other’s Facebook you would be on opposite sides…or think you were. Add in the ones who aren’t religious and talk about authority only coming from one place…Paul Ryan’s comment about how our rights come from God not government. I know what he is saying…but imagine you don’t. It’s like he is speaking another language. Say Amy is a native born speaker of this language and I am a student but this person over here, they don’t even know this is another language being spoken! They just think it’s babble.
I know, major Biblical reference there, right?
Anyway, I think sometimes it’s helpful to realize that exploring and understanding the communication challenges really helps bridge the gap – and keeps us being loving no matter our opinions.
Also, no candidate is anything close to a Messiah! Policy and lawmakers are the truly important votes, in my opinion. I’m not into handouts – i am into just policy. Social justice informed policy.