Election Thoughts Part 1
With elections coming up, I thought I put out my two cents worth of opinion. The issues I discuss are not in any particular order—it’s just the order they came to mind as I put my thoughts to the keyboard. This will probably go out in two or three installments…so, check back regularly!
(Yeah…I am going to show some of my conservative side. So, be prepared.)
First issue: Government Power.
Everyone wants the Federal courts to decide issues that involve personal or local problems. The original intent was for the states to decide for themselves. The more things we demand the Federal government take action on, the more we are giving power to it. While the Feds were not supposed limit the bearing of arms or religious expression or free of speech or whatever, the states have repeatedly refused to make a decision—or enough people didn’t like it—and gave the Feds the right to set the limits. Want to know what I think limits the expansion of the Federal government? WE THE PEOPLE making decisions for ourselves by learning to talk to each other and really listen to what others are saying. My biggest gripe with both the political right and the political left: neither one listens to what true statements the other makes. Worse, neither side acts on those truths. IF we as a nation can solve that issue, we will go a long way towards what the founders originally intended.
Second Issue: Abortion.
Yup. I believe abortion is wrong. Anyone who has read the stuff I’ve posted about myself (see here and here) knows I was not always a Christian, nor are my parents. So, I will tell a secret here. I have never really been in favor of abortion. Want to know why? (No? Too bad…I’m going to tell you anyway) I’ve actually got a list of reasons. The first is basic science, and I quote myself in block:
A fetus (Yes, I prefer the word baby…but I’ll be nice here) is a living organism. An abortion kills that organism. The DNA of something decides what it is (not the shape, developmental stage or anything else). The DNA of a fetus in a woman’s womb is decidedly human. Therefore, abortion kills a human organism. If killing people is wrong, then abortion must be wrong as well.
Second, WE use school classrooms to teach our kids how to have sex. Then, when they do, rather than let parents be involved, we teach those kids to sneak away from their parents and be dishonest with themselves and their families. We teach them to have sex and avoid the consequences of their actions—which makes abortion in these cases nothing more than convenience. (And we wonder why young people today have such a problem with authority?)
Third, there’s a growing number of psych studies that are showing the emotional damage abortion does to women. Many abortion clinics aren’t even subject to health inspection standards—or medical reporting requirements. Support abortion on demand? Not likely. Too many lies backing it up.
(By the way, I don’t have a problem with an abortion that saves the life of the mother. But, let’s be honest, very few abortions are actually done for that reason. So...are you surprised that there's no religious arguments in this?)
Third Issue: Election Reform.
I am scared to death of the idea of election by popular vote. That is, the one who gets the most votes overall, nationally, wins the presidency. The major problem with that idea is that the highly populated states would then have total control over what the lesser populated states got in terms of national government (the Executive Branch). That’s why the founders of our nation created the system we use now. It gives everyone a chance to have their say. This should not be changed. I do like the idea of going back to the “loser” of the Presidential race becoming the Vice-President. No more choosing your running mate! Given the partisanism of American politics, that would add a new level of balance to Executive powers.
CONTINUED READING:
Election Thoughts Part 2
Election Thoughts Part 3
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