New Post, Finally

Hi Everyone,
I guess I should apologize: I haven't been posting much lately. The truth is, I've been discouraged lately. So much of what is going on in politics now is disheartening to say the least, and all are ominous threats. So here are random thoughts on the passing scene

Yes, the government bailed GM out. No, they shouldn't have bailed GM out. No, they shouldn't be able to fire the CEO.

Everyone was furious with AIG for giving bonuses with the bailout money. What most people fail to realize is that those bonuses are contractual, and mandatory. They aren't optional. I hate to burst peoples' bubbles, but a company's first responsibility is to their shareholders and executive board. Not their employees. Not their customers. What's missing in this whole "shock and awe" routine is the fact that the United States government shouldn't be bailing ANYONE out.

I recently covered a juvenile diabetes fundraising banquet for the newspaper I intern at. They were celebrating Obama's overturning of the embryonic stem cell research ban, because that meant they could research a cure. What they don't seem to realize is that those are babies they're killing. Experimenting with unwanted humans in an attempt to cure the diseases of wanted humans is something someone else tried too: Hitler. Of course, when you listen to their logic, it all makes sense why they think it's ok. It was so convincing. "Well, we don't actually create the embryos that we use. They're donated to us." Ooooooooooohhh!! Well, it's all SOO clear now. I can't believe I didn't think of that excuse. "Mom, it wasn't my idea to take the cookies, the idea was donated to me!"

A word from the Good Roosevelt

It is not the critic that counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds

-Teddy Roosevelt

Some Comments on a Comment

This is a comment posted in response to my previous entry (see below)

"Kurt

I have to say that a negative attitude towards the situation we find ourselves in is indeed fair. However, comparing our situation to hell, or a road to hell, when we are still the weathiest nation in the world. Throughout the earth, people are dying of disease, forced into slavery, and starving to death. And here is what is difficult for me to understand as a follower of Jesus: how can we worry so much about ourselves when the rest of the world is much worse off? I am not saying that we shouldn't do what we can to enure our stability here; but we also need to look outward. I am thankful to have a president (although i don't always agree with him) who is attempting to do both."

Kurt: Good comment, but I do take issue with a few of your points.

(1) I didn't say that we are in hell, but that we are on the road to hell. If Obama's plan suceeds, we will be a socialist nation, despite his best intentions otherwise. He may not intend to make us socialist, but too much governmental power always leads to socialism

(2) Without securing ourselves first, we cannot help others. The Bible tells believers to first care for their families and communities before reaching beyond. And without America, who is left to protect these innocents? If we don't make sure America survives first and foremost, how are we to help others? Working to protect one's country isn't selfishness if it's done from the right motive.

(3) Everyone wants what they think is best for this country. The fight is about how to do it. The problem is that Obama's plans will actually do the opposite of his intended goals, if he really does have our prosperity in mind. Good intentions never justify anything. Hitler had good intentions when he began slaughtering the Jews. The French revolutionaries had good intentions when they overthrew the government and started guillotining like mad. And Obama's version of looking outside our country is funding abortion accross the globe. How can anyone support a president who overturns a embryonic stem-cell "research" ban and encourages the growth of Planned Parenthood?

Rush Limbaugh has received a lot of flack from both the left and the right for saying that he hopes the president's plans, and ultimately the president, will fail. But how is it wrong to hope that America has socialized medicine, government-funded abortion, the destruction of the family, distribution of wealth, etc? Name me thing the president has done that is in line with Scripture.

As Christians, we are called to submit to our governing authorities. But too many Christians today don't realize who our governing authorities are. Our government isn't a democracy, as many claim. Our government is a constitutional republic. That means that our government is based on standards that are set forth in a document, not on the whims of politicans. We are to submit to the Constitution first and foremost. In America, anything that the government does that is not enumerated in the Constitution is null and void. The people and the states are given all powers not specifically given to the federal government.

Just a short list of things that are unconstitutional:

Federal income tax

Federal property tax

Gun control

Goverment-funded Planned Parenthood

Abortion being legal

Welfare

Distribution of Wealth

Is there one of these things that Obama hasn't promised to do. As citizens who are to submit to governing authorities, which would be...The Constitution, we should be opposing Obama at every turn. Yes, we should pray for the man, but our prayers should be that he changes his opinions, not that he succeed. That is the most dangerous prayer of all.

As America's greatest president said, "The things that will distroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life." Teddy Roosevelt definitely had it right.

To Obama's Stimulus Plan:

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
-Mark Twain

"If ever a man says to you 'I am from the government and I am here to help,' run for your life and hold on to your wallet."
-C. S. Lewis

"If you ever think a problem is so bad it can't get worse, hire the government to try to fix the problem."
-A Young American

Complacency

"The first mark of a tragically wasted life is complacency."
-Alex and Brett Harris
The Rebelution
www.therebelution.com