Throughout our lives, we are establishing, maintaining, and enforcing boundaries. Some boundaries are permanent walls and some boundaries are lines in the sand. Walls for some people are lines in the sand for others and vice versa. My marriage is a wall that limits my intimate affection to one person only, my wife. My property line is a wall that limits the benefits and responsibility for my property to me, my family, and our guests. My lunch menu decision is a line in the sand with very little long term consequences.
Throughout our lives, we also reevaluate our boundaries. Some walls become fences with gates, some fences become lines in the sand, some lines in the sand become fences and some fences become walls. Some alliances and friendships grow while other alliances and friendships weaken. My marriage is a permanent wall that will never change, but my property line will almost surely change when it no longer meets the needs of my family.
When President Bush, and the American people through our elected officials, made a decision to invade Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein from power as the ruler of Iraq, we established a boundary. Mission accomplished; the primary objective was accomplished when Saddam Hussein took his last breath.
In the process of getting Hussein, Americans established other boundaries. Americans took responsibility for rebuilding the Iraqi infrastructure and Americans took responsibility for establishing and maintaining security for the Iraq people until the Iraqi people are able to maintain their own security.
Some Iraqis have their own boundaries, as do the Syrians and the Iranians. Many Iraqis have built walls to prevent forgiveness of the harms caused by other Iraqis, and many of the Iraqis, Syrians and Iranians have built walls to prevent freedom.
If the American boundary in Iraq is a line in the sand, the American boundary in Iraq will be decimated by all of the historic walls in the Middle East that have been built and maintained for centuries. However, if the American boundary in Iraq is a wall that is stronger than the existing walls in Iraq, then freedom and peace do have a chance.
20,000 more troops and a short term commitment in Iraq isn’t even a decent line in the sand. It’s better than withdrawing troops, and it’s better than no commitment, but it doesn’t give much hope to all of the soldiers and Iraqis who have already made tremendous sacrifices to bring freedom to Iraq. Shouldn’t the American commitment to Iraq be a permanent wall and not an insignificant line in the sand?
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Friday, January 05, 2007
Two Blogs
Buz and I have been participating in on-line discussion for a long time. I am glad to see he has FINALLY started his own blog at One Man's Point of View. I think he is off to a fantastic start.
Michael Kruse at Kruse Kronicle is one of the hardest working bloggers I’ve wandered into. He makes a lot of sense too.
Michael Kruse at Kruse Kronicle is one of the hardest working bloggers I’ve wandered into. He makes a lot of sense too.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Tribes
Tribal behavior puzzles me.
As I watch the college football bowl games, I see fans who spend hundreds of dollars on team merchandize, fans who cover themselves in paint, fans who travel across country to see a football game, and fans who behave in ways that would never be tolerated anywhere except at a sporting event.
As I read about the conflict in Iraq, I read about Iraqi’s who all belong to one of three historic ethnic groups, Iraqi’s who kill for honor, and Iraqi’s who consider ethnic conflict an inheritance from a previous generation that should be passed on to the next generation.
As I watch my daughters grow, I see girls who want to be part of a group and I see girls who want to limit membership in a group. Most of their mothers behave the same way.
As I read blogs, I notice a clustering of like minds. Agreement with a blogger usually results in a warm reception while disagreement usually results in an insult and condemnation as the regulars pile on; not always, but most of the time.
Church behavior also puzzles me.
Almost every Church leans over backwards to make visitors feel welcome. As a Church member, I’ve been a part of this effort. But I’ve noticed through the years that visitors, who don’t identify with the Church culture, don’t often return. I’ve also noticed an informal enforcement of Church culture in most Churches. Church regulars want new members to think and act the same as the other regulars.
In many ways, Churches are tribal, just like football fans, ethnic Iraqi’s, young girls, mothers of young girls, and bloggers, are all tribal.
I’m a little different.
I don’t remember a time in my life when I wanted to be known as a member of a group. I never considered my identity to be linked with the schools I attended, the teams I was on, or the activities I enjoyed, so I didn’t want others to consider my groups part of my identity either
In High School, I loved sports, but I didn’t want to be a jock; I made good grades, but I didn’t want to be known as a scholar; I would occasionally spend a major portion of the night partying, but I surely didn’t want to be known as a partier. Most of my friends, though, did consider themselves to be a member of one of these three main groups in High School. In some ways, not being a member of a group, limited my friendships.
I’m very proud now that I served four years of active duty in the Marine Corps, but when I was on active duty, I counted the days until I would no longer be known as a Marine. The term “Marine” didn’t come close to fitting who I am or describing who I was.
If I am ever going to be able to be an active member of a Church again, which I truly believe is the will of God, somehow I have to get comfortable with the idea of being a member of a group, and somehow I have to be able to convince other Christians of the need for Churches to be less tribal.
As I watch the college football bowl games, I see fans who spend hundreds of dollars on team merchandize, fans who cover themselves in paint, fans who travel across country to see a football game, and fans who behave in ways that would never be tolerated anywhere except at a sporting event.
As I read about the conflict in Iraq, I read about Iraqi’s who all belong to one of three historic ethnic groups, Iraqi’s who kill for honor, and Iraqi’s who consider ethnic conflict an inheritance from a previous generation that should be passed on to the next generation.
As I watch my daughters grow, I see girls who want to be part of a group and I see girls who want to limit membership in a group. Most of their mothers behave the same way.
As I read blogs, I notice a clustering of like minds. Agreement with a blogger usually results in a warm reception while disagreement usually results in an insult and condemnation as the regulars pile on; not always, but most of the time.
Church behavior also puzzles me.
Almost every Church leans over backwards to make visitors feel welcome. As a Church member, I’ve been a part of this effort. But I’ve noticed through the years that visitors, who don’t identify with the Church culture, don’t often return. I’ve also noticed an informal enforcement of Church culture in most Churches. Church regulars want new members to think and act the same as the other regulars.
In many ways, Churches are tribal, just like football fans, ethnic Iraqi’s, young girls, mothers of young girls, and bloggers, are all tribal.
I’m a little different.
I don’t remember a time in my life when I wanted to be known as a member of a group. I never considered my identity to be linked with the schools I attended, the teams I was on, or the activities I enjoyed, so I didn’t want others to consider my groups part of my identity either
In High School, I loved sports, but I didn’t want to be a jock; I made good grades, but I didn’t want to be known as a scholar; I would occasionally spend a major portion of the night partying, but I surely didn’t want to be known as a partier. Most of my friends, though, did consider themselves to be a member of one of these three main groups in High School. In some ways, not being a member of a group, limited my friendships.
I’m very proud now that I served four years of active duty in the Marine Corps, but when I was on active duty, I counted the days until I would no longer be known as a Marine. The term “Marine” didn’t come close to fitting who I am or describing who I was.
If I am ever going to be able to be an active member of a Church again, which I truly believe is the will of God, somehow I have to get comfortable with the idea of being a member of a group, and somehow I have to be able to convince other Christians of the need for Churches to be less tribal.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Go Forth and Reduce Greenhouse Gases
God said to go forth and multiply. We have a responsibility as believers to fill heaven with souls who will worship God for eternity. Jesus said whatever we do to and for the poor, we do to and for him. This is one of his seminal teachings.
DDT is not environmentally neutral. It leaves a footprint and has a ripple effect. However, thousands and thousands of people have suffered and died from malaria because of the international ban on DDT. Christians who sided with the environmentalists after the benefits and risks of DDT were known, should carry a burden of shame. They should also pause before jumping back on the environmental bandwagon.
The poor throughout the world have benefited from inexpensive sources of fuel and food. We will derive a greater spiritual bang for our buck by continuing to reduce the cost of food and fuel throughout the world than by restricting the use of fossil fuel or restricting the ways food can be produced in order to curb greenhouse gases.
Environmentalism has a pattern of opposing the clear word of God. For decades we have heard from environmentalists about how the earth can not support an ever increasing population. They attempted to frighten us with the horrors of a population explosion. Environmentalists have now lost interest in the population explosion because they have a new boogie man called global warming. In thirty years it will be something else.
Some science is complex. So are many spiritual matters. The science of global warming is less complex than deciding whether or not to give money to a beggar. Global warming can be understood; understanding why we are supposed to give to anyone who asks when some of those who ask will use what we give them to purchase alcohol and illegal drugs is much less understandable.
I’m glad some Christians are concerned about the earth’s environment including the climate. I accept that some believers will be more passionate about environmentalism than others just as some believers are more passionate about worship music than others. However, I think care for the environment has to be sensible and has to be kept in its proper perspective regarding our obligations as believers.
As believers, we need to major in what God considers important and minor in what we consider important. Using God's creation to go forth and multiply and help the poor should be our major concern. Limiting greenhouse gasses should be pretty low on the list.
DDT is not environmentally neutral. It leaves a footprint and has a ripple effect. However, thousands and thousands of people have suffered and died from malaria because of the international ban on DDT. Christians who sided with the environmentalists after the benefits and risks of DDT were known, should carry a burden of shame. They should also pause before jumping back on the environmental bandwagon.
The poor throughout the world have benefited from inexpensive sources of fuel and food. We will derive a greater spiritual bang for our buck by continuing to reduce the cost of food and fuel throughout the world than by restricting the use of fossil fuel or restricting the ways food can be produced in order to curb greenhouse gases.
Environmentalism has a pattern of opposing the clear word of God. For decades we have heard from environmentalists about how the earth can not support an ever increasing population. They attempted to frighten us with the horrors of a population explosion. Environmentalists have now lost interest in the population explosion because they have a new boogie man called global warming. In thirty years it will be something else.
Some science is complex. So are many spiritual matters. The science of global warming is less complex than deciding whether or not to give money to a beggar. Global warming can be understood; understanding why we are supposed to give to anyone who asks when some of those who ask will use what we give them to purchase alcohol and illegal drugs is much less understandable.
I’m glad some Christians are concerned about the earth’s environment including the climate. I accept that some believers will be more passionate about environmentalism than others just as some believers are more passionate about worship music than others. However, I think care for the environment has to be sensible and has to be kept in its proper perspective regarding our obligations as believers.
As believers, we need to major in what God considers important and minor in what we consider important. Using God's creation to go forth and multiply and help the poor should be our major concern. Limiting greenhouse gasses should be pretty low on the list.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
The Meaning of Important Words
The meaning of a word can change over time from the original meaning. Some words can even end up meaning the opposite of the original meaning of the word. “Bad” means “Good”, “Hot” means “Cool”, or does “Cool” mean “Hot”, I’m not sure, but I do know communication is confusing when people use words differently than the dictionary meaning of the word.
The words “Leader” and “Leadership” are no longer used correctly in communication. Leaders in corporate America are the executives and managers who are able to run an organization according to standards, accepted methodologies, and best practices. Leaders in government are the politicians who are able to appeal to the most voters. When my wife says she wants me to be more of a spiritual leader in our household, what she is really saying is she wants me to be more like other men who are like other men. She would really like for me to be more of a follower.
The scarcity of true leaders is not new to modern America or the rest of the world. True leadership is rare because true leadership comes at a cost and rarely results in a reward. Following the crowd and fitting in with a group is more socially and financially rewarding than stepping out from the crowd and risking rejection and criticism. Most of the people, most of the time, will not follow a leader because most of the people, most of the time, are following the crowd.
Throughout history, Christianity has had some remarkable leaders; men and women who stepped away from the crowd taking unpopular positions and performing socially unacceptable actions. Believers in Christ honor these leaders with our words, but most of us would no sooner step out from the crowd than swim the English Channel.
Many Churches in modern America have become a place for crowds, not leaders, and certainly not spiritual leaders. These Churches have Pastors who perform for the crowd, who delight in the crowd, and who want to increase their crowd. They use Church growth methods that have proven to increase the crowd in other Churches. They are changing the meaning of the word “Christian”.
The words “Leader” and “Leadership” are no longer used correctly in communication. Leaders in corporate America are the executives and managers who are able to run an organization according to standards, accepted methodologies, and best practices. Leaders in government are the politicians who are able to appeal to the most voters. When my wife says she wants me to be more of a spiritual leader in our household, what she is really saying is she wants me to be more like other men who are like other men. She would really like for me to be more of a follower.
The scarcity of true leaders is not new to modern America or the rest of the world. True leadership is rare because true leadership comes at a cost and rarely results in a reward. Following the crowd and fitting in with a group is more socially and financially rewarding than stepping out from the crowd and risking rejection and criticism. Most of the people, most of the time, will not follow a leader because most of the people, most of the time, are following the crowd.
Throughout history, Christianity has had some remarkable leaders; men and women who stepped away from the crowd taking unpopular positions and performing socially unacceptable actions. Believers in Christ honor these leaders with our words, but most of us would no sooner step out from the crowd than swim the English Channel.
Many Churches in modern America have become a place for crowds, not leaders, and certainly not spiritual leaders. These Churches have Pastors who perform for the crowd, who delight in the crowd, and who want to increase their crowd. They use Church growth methods that have proven to increase the crowd in other Churches. They are changing the meaning of the word “Christian”.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Childish
I wonder how many good sermons on the mission in Iraq have been preached from the pulpit of American churches since 2003. I wonder how many sermons, good, bad or in between, have been preached on Iraq, terrorism, the Middle East, or the Iraq study group proposal. I wonder how many Pastors have searched the Scriptures in order to present an appropriate Christian response to terrorism in our time to their members. I wonder how many prayers have been offered during Sunday services for our President, our other government leaders, our soldiers, and the people in the Middle East suffering from the clash between Islam and the West.
I sat in Church Sunday morning while a Senior Pastor passed around bubble gum like communion while preaching a sermon about how we need to rediscover the awe of childhood during the Christmas season. Perhaps there has been periods during the last 2000 years when this sermon would have been appropriate, but this sermon was wholly inappropriate during a period in history when so many Americans refuse to grow up while the threat from Islamic terrorism continues to increase.
I wonder how many Pastors will please God when he asks them about their Pastoral emphasis during this period of Islamic terrorism.
I sat in Church Sunday morning while a Senior Pastor passed around bubble gum like communion while preaching a sermon about how we need to rediscover the awe of childhood during the Christmas season. Perhaps there has been periods during the last 2000 years when this sermon would have been appropriate, but this sermon was wholly inappropriate during a period in history when so many Americans refuse to grow up while the threat from Islamic terrorism continues to increase.
I wonder how many Pastors will please God when he asks them about their Pastoral emphasis during this period of Islamic terrorism.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Sam and Dennis
Dennis Prager takes Sam Harris to the woodshed.
Sam: “An “atheist” is simply someone who thinks that the God of Abraham should be buried with the rest of these imaginary friends. I am quite sure that we need only use words like “reason,” “common sense,” “evidence,” and “intellectual honesty” to do the job.”
Dennis: “On the other side, we believers look at the evidence and believe that there is a God. In that sense, the atheist has considerably less intellectual honesty than the sophisticated believer. The atheist says he knows, despite the fact that what he “knows” is unprovable. The believer believes because he knows that what he believes is ultimately unprovable. “
… and much more.
Sam: “An “atheist” is simply someone who thinks that the God of Abraham should be buried with the rest of these imaginary friends. I am quite sure that we need only use words like “reason,” “common sense,” “evidence,” and “intellectual honesty” to do the job.”
Dennis: “On the other side, we believers look at the evidence and believe that there is a God. In that sense, the atheist has considerably less intellectual honesty than the sophisticated believer. The atheist says he knows, despite the fact that what he “knows” is unprovable. The believer believes because he knows that what he believes is ultimately unprovable. “
… and much more.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
From a Roman Prison
I’m sitting at my desk this morning trying to imagine Paul as he sits in prison getting ready to pen a letter to Timothy. Paul probably hadn’t bathed, eaten decent food, or seen sunlight for quite some time. He also probably had wounds that hadn’t healed, as well as psychological discouragement and loneliness regarding his situation.
As a citizen of Rome, Paul could have easily rectified his situation by just promising the Roman authorities he would quit preaching the coming kingdom of heaven. Instead of worrying about himself and trying to make his situation better, Paul decided it was more important for him to write Timothy a letter of encouragement and instructions.
Paul didn’t need an environment of honesty or comfort in order to live with Christian integrity. Paul freely acknowledged his own wretchedness, even as he set the standard for honesty and integrity, even as he suffered for Christ.
If Paul were alive today and still sitting in a Roman prison, it is inconceivable to me that he would pen a letter to New Life Church or the National Association of Evangelicals with anything other than severe reprimands and condemnation. There is no excuse for a Christian Church of 14,000 or a Christian Association of Churches to allow a man like Haggard to be their leader; none! Yet, throughout the Christian opinion sphere, not all, but most of the commentary is making excuses and calling for grace and understanding.
Integrity was not an option in the life of Paul and it can’t be an option in the life of any Christian leader. Former President Reagan once stated that he didn’t leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left him. I feel the same way about the Christian Church; I didn’t leave the Christian Church, the Christian Church has left me.
As a citizen of Rome, Paul could have easily rectified his situation by just promising the Roman authorities he would quit preaching the coming kingdom of heaven. Instead of worrying about himself and trying to make his situation better, Paul decided it was more important for him to write Timothy a letter of encouragement and instructions.
Paul didn’t need an environment of honesty or comfort in order to live with Christian integrity. Paul freely acknowledged his own wretchedness, even as he set the standard for honesty and integrity, even as he suffered for Christ.
If Paul were alive today and still sitting in a Roman prison, it is inconceivable to me that he would pen a letter to New Life Church or the National Association of Evangelicals with anything other than severe reprimands and condemnation. There is no excuse for a Christian Church of 14,000 or a Christian Association of Churches to allow a man like Haggard to be their leader; none! Yet, throughout the Christian opinion sphere, not all, but most of the commentary is making excuses and calling for grace and understanding.
Integrity was not an option in the life of Paul and it can’t be an option in the life of any Christian leader. Former President Reagan once stated that he didn’t leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left him. I feel the same way about the Christian Church; I didn’t leave the Christian Church, the Christian Church has left me.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
The Whole Tragedy
In Regards to the Ted Haggard revelations, David Frum at NRO makes some very good arguments for why a person who fails to live up to his or her own high standards is still more moral and less hypocritical than a person without standards. Like Mr. Frum, I have more respect for those who battle and then lose to personal demons than those who refuses to acknowledge or battle their demons.
However, I’m not sure this argument applies to Ted Haggard or to any of the institutions he is associated with. Rev. Haggard, the Haggard family, New Life Church in Colorado Springs, and the National Association of Evangelicals all seem more attached to the demons of fame, power, and fortune, than the battle to overcome demons; or at least they were until this story broke.
In the movies, certain super heroes can step into a phone booth or private room and transform into someone who is not recognized by family and friends, but in real life, hiding even the smallest of character traits from those around us is almost impossible. Hiding major character flaws IS impossible. The Haggard family, New Life Church, and the National Association of Evangelicals may have allowed themselves to be deceived, but in all likelihood, they probably knew most of the truth about Rev. Haggard and chose to do nothing, even if they didn’t know all of the details.
I keep reading commentary about how this is a story of a man who tragically could not control his sexual nature. Excuse me while I gag! This story is only about sex in the fine print. This is a story of failure top to bottom; a failed man, a failed family, a failed Church, and a failed association of Churches. Rev. Haggard is not the only one who needs to be on his knees begging for forgiveness and asking for reformation and reconciliation.
However, I’m not sure this argument applies to Ted Haggard or to any of the institutions he is associated with. Rev. Haggard, the Haggard family, New Life Church in Colorado Springs, and the National Association of Evangelicals all seem more attached to the demons of fame, power, and fortune, than the battle to overcome demons; or at least they were until this story broke.
In the movies, certain super heroes can step into a phone booth or private room and transform into someone who is not recognized by family and friends, but in real life, hiding even the smallest of character traits from those around us is almost impossible. Hiding major character flaws IS impossible. The Haggard family, New Life Church, and the National Association of Evangelicals may have allowed themselves to be deceived, but in all likelihood, they probably knew most of the truth about Rev. Haggard and chose to do nothing, even if they didn’t know all of the details.
I keep reading commentary about how this is a story of a man who tragically could not control his sexual nature. Excuse me while I gag! This story is only about sex in the fine print. This is a story of failure top to bottom; a failed man, a failed family, a failed Church, and a failed association of Churches. Rev. Haggard is not the only one who needs to be on his knees begging for forgiveness and asking for reformation and reconciliation.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Perrier Swishing Senator Kerry
Senator Kerry or anyone else on the campaign trail could easily garble a few lines of prepared text. Misspeaking is quite easy for most people, even when not on the campaign trail. Apologizing once a misspoken error becomes public is just as easy.
However, when Senator Kerry makes a statement regarding the military during a political campaign, his statement is immediately newsworthy because he was the most recent Presidential nominee of his party and because he has a track record of accusing the military of atrocities. This doesn’t mean everything he says is wrong, but for veterans and active duty military, the statements of Senator Kerry are often insulting.
What Senator Kerry actually said is possibly more indicative of his true beliefs than what he meant to say. The reaction of other candidates is also newsworthy because some candidates in both parties have contempt for anyone common enough to join the military.
Many are now claiming that insulting our Commander-In-Chief passes as a valid excuse for Senator Kerry’s insults. Senator Kerry’s unwillingness to apologize without continuing to insult the United States military and the Commander-In-Chief is worse than his original gaff. Perhaps military veterans have a better understanding of what it takes to establish and maintain this country than all of the Perrier swishers in media and government.
However, when Senator Kerry makes a statement regarding the military during a political campaign, his statement is immediately newsworthy because he was the most recent Presidential nominee of his party and because he has a track record of accusing the military of atrocities. This doesn’t mean everything he says is wrong, but for veterans and active duty military, the statements of Senator Kerry are often insulting.
What Senator Kerry actually said is possibly more indicative of his true beliefs than what he meant to say. The reaction of other candidates is also newsworthy because some candidates in both parties have contempt for anyone common enough to join the military.
Many are now claiming that insulting our Commander-In-Chief passes as a valid excuse for Senator Kerry’s insults. Senator Kerry’s unwillingness to apologize without continuing to insult the United States military and the Commander-In-Chief is worse than his original gaff. Perhaps military veterans have a better understanding of what it takes to establish and maintain this country than all of the Perrier swishers in media and government.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Darfur Proposal
Twenty-five years ago I was coming to the end of my Marine Corps enlistment. I could run a mile in six minutes, a 5K in less than twenty minutes, a 10K in forty-two minutes, a half marathon in an hour and forty minutes, and I was an expert rifleman. I could hit a body-size target from five hundred meters with an M16 rifle 9 out of 10 times. I was also trained and capable of setting up a mobile weather station, tracking rawinsonde balloons, and determining fallout from NBC (Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical) warfare. In short, I was a very average Marine.
The government of the United States of America spent four years paying for my training. I spent four years earning my pay by preparing for a time when my service as a Marine or as a weather specialist would be needed in warfare. Training for warfare was as close as I ever got to being needed.
I can still jog several miles at a time, but my days of running against a stopwatch have long since passed. I haven’t shot a rifle since leaving the Corps, and I wonder if rawinsonde balloons are still used or needed to determine upper air weather measurements.
However, since I believe there is nothing more important than opposing tyranny, I sometimes regret my time in the military came and went without involvement in any meaningful military operations. I still want to do something important in my lifetime to advance freedom. I think I could still contribute to a limited military operation and I believe there are others like me who would like the opportunity to do what we were trained to do, but never got the opportunity to do.
Darfur could be our opportunity. A military action to stop the bloodshed of innocent lives in Darfur wouldn’t require the best Marines or even the latest and greatest military equipment. All Darfur needs is an opposing military to stop the murdering. I don’t have the resources to move to Sudan and stop the genocide on my own. However, I am willing to go to Sudan and carry a rifle for a short period of time and do what is necessary to stop the genocide if the United States government would organize and finance a military operation and allow a few almost over-the-hill Marines to participate. Does anyone care to join me? How do we get started?
The government of the United States of America spent four years paying for my training. I spent four years earning my pay by preparing for a time when my service as a Marine or as a weather specialist would be needed in warfare. Training for warfare was as close as I ever got to being needed.
I can still jog several miles at a time, but my days of running against a stopwatch have long since passed. I haven’t shot a rifle since leaving the Corps, and I wonder if rawinsonde balloons are still used or needed to determine upper air weather measurements.
However, since I believe there is nothing more important than opposing tyranny, I sometimes regret my time in the military came and went without involvement in any meaningful military operations. I still want to do something important in my lifetime to advance freedom. I think I could still contribute to a limited military operation and I believe there are others like me who would like the opportunity to do what we were trained to do, but never got the opportunity to do.
Darfur could be our opportunity. A military action to stop the bloodshed of innocent lives in Darfur wouldn’t require the best Marines or even the latest and greatest military equipment. All Darfur needs is an opposing military to stop the murdering. I don’t have the resources to move to Sudan and stop the genocide on my own. However, I am willing to go to Sudan and carry a rifle for a short period of time and do what is necessary to stop the genocide if the United States government would organize and finance a military operation and allow a few almost over-the-hill Marines to participate. Does anyone care to join me? How do we get started?
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Moral Discretion
In a perfect world, Dairy Queen would be open for breakfast, Chivas Regal would be sold by the gallon at Wal-Mart, and the only dilemmas anyone would ever face would be the consequences resulting from their own decisions and actions. Unfortunately, the world is not perfect, nor will it ever be. People are constantly having to deal with the consequences of the decisions of others.
There are many individuals, groups, businesses, and governments who will abuse freedom to a point where other people are exploited, injured, or even murdered. When the decision and action of some removes the ability of others to freely decide for themselves, then good people need to step in and take action to restore the equilibrium where both side are equally free to decide. The action taken to restore equilibrium needs to be appropriate for the situation and can include both preventive and punitive measures.
The United States made a moral leap forward after Viet Nam when it discontinued the draft and instituted an all volunteer military. Allowing young men and women to choose membership in the armed forces has resulted in higher moral amongst the troops and a much more professional and successful military.
The United States could make additional moral leaps forward if the concept of free choice was extended to include the way military operations are financed and implemented. When available tax dollars are thrown into a big pot, just like tithe dollars in a Church, too much effort is spent fighting over how the dollars in the pot will be spent and too little effort is spent accomplishing worthwhile humanitarian goals.
An alternative to this big pot financing approach would be to allow tax payers more discretion over how their tax dollars are spent. Tax payers who earnestly believe the military action in Iraq was morally necessary could direct their tax dollars towards financing the military in Iraq while tax payers who believe a peace keeping force in Darfur is a moral obligation could direct their tax dollars to helping Darfur.
Since most people do tend to vote with their dollars and their efforts, government leaders would know with certainty how much support they have for a policy and how large or small a budget they have to work with. This type of financing would not eliminate all of the political hostility between parties and citizens completely, but it would reduce much of the rancor because no one would be forced to support government policies they oppose and everyone would be allowed to freely choose how to best use their resources and efforts for big and important humanitarian measures.
There are many individuals, groups, businesses, and governments who will abuse freedom to a point where other people are exploited, injured, or even murdered. When the decision and action of some removes the ability of others to freely decide for themselves, then good people need to step in and take action to restore the equilibrium where both side are equally free to decide. The action taken to restore equilibrium needs to be appropriate for the situation and can include both preventive and punitive measures.
The United States made a moral leap forward after Viet Nam when it discontinued the draft and instituted an all volunteer military. Allowing young men and women to choose membership in the armed forces has resulted in higher moral amongst the troops and a much more professional and successful military.
The United States could make additional moral leaps forward if the concept of free choice was extended to include the way military operations are financed and implemented. When available tax dollars are thrown into a big pot, just like tithe dollars in a Church, too much effort is spent fighting over how the dollars in the pot will be spent and too little effort is spent accomplishing worthwhile humanitarian goals.
An alternative to this big pot financing approach would be to allow tax payers more discretion over how their tax dollars are spent. Tax payers who earnestly believe the military action in Iraq was morally necessary could direct their tax dollars towards financing the military in Iraq while tax payers who believe a peace keeping force in Darfur is a moral obligation could direct their tax dollars to helping Darfur.
Since most people do tend to vote with their dollars and their efforts, government leaders would know with certainty how much support they have for a policy and how large or small a budget they have to work with. This type of financing would not eliminate all of the political hostility between parties and citizens completely, but it would reduce much of the rancor because no one would be forced to support government policies they oppose and everyone would be allowed to freely choose how to best use their resources and efforts for big and important humanitarian measures.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Forcing Freedom?
Many Americans have decided that it is better for them personally to play the government game than it is for them to oppose the government game. These individuals and companies figure that it is more advantageous for them to compete for a piece of the government pie than it is for them to oppose the way the pie if financed. By following their basic nature and acting in their own self interest, they inadvertently contribute to a society where freedom is increasingly restricted.
Forcing tax payers to finance and participate in forcing public policy on others isn’t a very good application of the principle of human freedom regardless of how well meaning the intentions of the policies are. Freedom is not advanced when a government taxes its citizens in order to aid the poor anymore than freedom is advanced when citizens are taxed to fund a military action they don’t support.
Most of what is done by government would still be done freely by some citizens even if it was not financed by tax revenue. Companies seeking to profit like Federal Express and UPS have replaced the United States Postal Service by delivering packages faster and at a lower cost. Charitable organizations like The Red Cross, The United Way, and The Salvation Army, have excelled in providing services to the less fortunate. If there is truly a need, the private sector in a free society will fill the need either for profit or for charity.
The most important step in advancing Red Christianity is for all of us to quit trying to control each other for our own benefit, and in many cases, quit trying to help some people by controlling other people. Government does have a responsibility to provide basic security, but freedom can’t be bought with tax revenue and freedom can’t be advanced through more regulations.
Forcing tax payers to finance and participate in forcing public policy on others isn’t a very good application of the principle of human freedom regardless of how well meaning the intentions of the policies are. Freedom is not advanced when a government taxes its citizens in order to aid the poor anymore than freedom is advanced when citizens are taxed to fund a military action they don’t support.
Most of what is done by government would still be done freely by some citizens even if it was not financed by tax revenue. Companies seeking to profit like Federal Express and UPS have replaced the United States Postal Service by delivering packages faster and at a lower cost. Charitable organizations like The Red Cross, The United Way, and The Salvation Army, have excelled in providing services to the less fortunate. If there is truly a need, the private sector in a free society will fill the need either for profit or for charity.
The most important step in advancing Red Christianity is for all of us to quit trying to control each other for our own benefit, and in many cases, quit trying to help some people by controlling other people. Government does have a responsibility to provide basic security, but freedom can’t be bought with tax revenue and freedom can’t be advanced through more regulations.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Hot Air
Right is better than wrong.
Humility is much better and always preferable to arrogance.
However, there is no virtue in being humbly wrong or wrong humbly.
The science and the facts of Global Warming are available to anyone who cares to spend a little time on research and a little time in thought. The factors that play a part in the periodic warming and cooling of our planet are plentiful. Some of the factors that play a part are understood by science and some are not. However, our planet seems to have a self correcting mechanism that always keeps temperatures within certain ranges.
Currently, we are at the warm end of the range, but well within historic ranges based on available temperature recordings and best guesses. However, our knowledge of historical ranges cannot be calculated with the precision necessary for complete accuracy. Also, this warm end of the range has been very beneficial to agriculture and farming in many parts of the world.
In the future, science may better understand the affects of increasing or decreasing green house gases on our planet, like it is understood in a laboratory. However, at this point in time, anyone who advocates the use of the coercive power of government to reduce green house gases, including scientists, politicians, or religious leaders, is just plain wrong. Advocating government intervention with humility doesn’t make the advocate any less wrong or more virtuous.
Humility is much better and always preferable to arrogance.
However, there is no virtue in being humbly wrong or wrong humbly.
The science and the facts of Global Warming are available to anyone who cares to spend a little time on research and a little time in thought. The factors that play a part in the periodic warming and cooling of our planet are plentiful. Some of the factors that play a part are understood by science and some are not. However, our planet seems to have a self correcting mechanism that always keeps temperatures within certain ranges.
Currently, we are at the warm end of the range, but well within historic ranges based on available temperature recordings and best guesses. However, our knowledge of historical ranges cannot be calculated with the precision necessary for complete accuracy. Also, this warm end of the range has been very beneficial to agriculture and farming in many parts of the world.
In the future, science may better understand the affects of increasing or decreasing green house gases on our planet, like it is understood in a laboratory. However, at this point in time, anyone who advocates the use of the coercive power of government to reduce green house gases, including scientists, politicians, or religious leaders, is just plain wrong. Advocating government intervention with humility doesn’t make the advocate any less wrong or more virtuous.
The Price of Freedom
The unexpected difficulties the Iraqis are experiencing in establishing a stable democracy in their country has led many to believe that American style freedom and democracy is not compatible with some other cultures. There certainly are differences between Americans and other cultures that will determine how freedom is expressed, but it is ridiculous to claim some cultures don’t want or deserve freedom.
There are two other desires in the hearts of humans that compete with the human hearts desire for freedom. One is the desire for safety and security. The other is the desire to control and restrict the freedom of others. This desire to control and restrict the freedom of others is quite normal, but it can be quite evil when it restricts the God-given freedom of others.
The desire to control others can be as simple and innocent as a Pastor using guilt to manipulate members of his Church, a husband using threats to manipulate his wife, a salesperson using deception to manipulate his prospect, or a child using a popular toy to gain and restrict friendships. It can also be as complex and calculating as a politician using tax and redistribution policy to gain power or a terrorist using bombs and beheadings to spread fear and submission.
Freedom is the desire of every human. However, the paradox of freedom is that it can only exist when those who want to be free also allow others to be free. For freedom to exist, humans need to battle their own controlling nature, battle the controlling nature of others, and sacrifice some of their desire for safety and security. Churches, marriages, business relationships, and friendships would all improve if people were more willing to let others live freely without manipulative tactics.
Iraq is not having problems because Iraqis don’t want freedom. Iraq is having problems because so many of the participants in Iraq, including the American military, want to restrict the freedom of the Iraqi people. This is not a problem that will ever be solved, but it is a problem that can be reduced if those in positions of leadership will relinquish some of their authority to control and manipulate others.
There are two other desires in the hearts of humans that compete with the human hearts desire for freedom. One is the desire for safety and security. The other is the desire to control and restrict the freedom of others. This desire to control and restrict the freedom of others is quite normal, but it can be quite evil when it restricts the God-given freedom of others.
The desire to control others can be as simple and innocent as a Pastor using guilt to manipulate members of his Church, a husband using threats to manipulate his wife, a salesperson using deception to manipulate his prospect, or a child using a popular toy to gain and restrict friendships. It can also be as complex and calculating as a politician using tax and redistribution policy to gain power or a terrorist using bombs and beheadings to spread fear and submission.
Freedom is the desire of every human. However, the paradox of freedom is that it can only exist when those who want to be free also allow others to be free. For freedom to exist, humans need to battle their own controlling nature, battle the controlling nature of others, and sacrifice some of their desire for safety and security. Churches, marriages, business relationships, and friendships would all improve if people were more willing to let others live freely without manipulative tactics.
Iraq is not having problems because Iraqis don’t want freedom. Iraq is having problems because so many of the participants in Iraq, including the American military, want to restrict the freedom of the Iraqi people. This is not a problem that will ever be solved, but it is a problem that can be reduced if those in positions of leadership will relinquish some of their authority to control and manipulate others.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Reflections on My Last Post
These are the things I hate about blogs:
These are the things I hate about my last piece:
I was going to edit my last piece, but I decided to leave it the way it is as a reminder to take breath after writing and before posting. My goal in writing is to think and write a little different than the crowd by presenting a reasonable alternative to the crowd. I’m not always contrarian, but I do have a tendency to consider zagging when everyone else is zigging.
Politics means different things to different people. Pastors have many reasons besides tax law to participate or not participate in the political process. Most Pastors probably just consider politics to be so divisive they would rather just avoid it all together.
I think freedom is essential to God’s plan for humanity. I am going to keep making the case for spreading freedom and participating in politics to promote and ensure freedom. However, I don’t want to leave the impression that I think I am smarter or that I understand Scripture better than those who disagree with me. I know my place. I’m just trying to use the brain God gave me and the circumstances I’ve experienced to understand God and Scripture and then write about what I believe.
- Writers who emote more than reason.
- Writers who think they know more than most everyone else.
- Arrogant writers who demand humility in everyone else.
These are the things I hate about my last piece:
- See previous list.
I was going to edit my last piece, but I decided to leave it the way it is as a reminder to take breath after writing and before posting. My goal in writing is to think and write a little different than the crowd by presenting a reasonable alternative to the crowd. I’m not always contrarian, but I do have a tendency to consider zagging when everyone else is zigging.
Politics means different things to different people. Pastors have many reasons besides tax law to participate or not participate in the political process. Most Pastors probably just consider politics to be so divisive they would rather just avoid it all together.
I think freedom is essential to God’s plan for humanity. I am going to keep making the case for spreading freedom and participating in politics to promote and ensure freedom. However, I don’t want to leave the impression that I think I am smarter or that I understand Scripture better than those who disagree with me. I know my place. I’m just trying to use the brain God gave me and the circumstances I’ve experienced to understand God and Scripture and then write about what I believe.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Political Involvement
In a comment last week to my piece on exporting red Christianity, Derek referenced the IRS action against All Saints in Pasadena in his question and then Buz reminded me that Jesus rebuffed his disciples for expecting HIM to lead a political revolution.
The number of Christians and their leaders who don’t seem to understand the role of citizens in government or the role of Christians as citizens is appalling to me. I don’t include Derek or Buz in this group, so I am thankful for their comments and the opportunity to address this issue.
Throughout my daily reading, there seems to be an overreaction to the overemphasis of politics by some Christian leaders during the last few decades. The current wind and the current consensus seems to be that Christian involvement in politics has been a failure and it is time to get back to preaching the Bible without any political overtones. I’ve been to plenty of Churches the last few years which could use a dose of good Bible teaching, but I don’t think the Bible can be taught effectively without contemporary and relevant applications. Without appropriate applications of Biblical principles, a sermon would just be a history lesson.
Removing politics from the list of appropriate applications of Biblical principles is a misunderstanding of the Bible and American politics. Citizens of American, especially those of us who area also citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, do not have the liberty to stick our head in the sand like an ostrich and hope for the best. A turtle can withdraw to its shell, a Buddhist can sit in the corner and meditate, but a Christian is obligated to salt the earth. Salting the earth means involvement with society and involvement in making, changing, and enforcing the rules and regulations of our society. Citizens of the Kingdom of heaven must provide the salt because those who aren’t citizens of the Kingdom of heaven will be adding all kinds of other ingredients, most of which will have the opposite affect of salt.
The amount of involvement of the Church and the amount of involvement of the individual Christian in politics should be proportionate to the amount of involvement of government in the lives of believers. Smaller government would mean less involvement while larger government means greater involvement. Once again, the relationship between faith in God and freedom is obvious to those with eyes to see. Blue States with a lower percentage of believers like California, New York, and Massachusetts have high tax burdens and regulations compared to Red states like Texas and Utah with a higher percentage of believers and lower tax burdens and regulations.
I don’t agree at all with the message that was preached at All Saints in Pasadena which led to the trouble with the IRS. In fact, I may have more in common with Martians than I do with the members of that Church, but I do think it is the obligation of Pastors to include politics in a sermon when appropriate. I have nothing but contempt for any Pastor who would place their tax exemption above salting the earth.
The number of Christians and their leaders who don’t seem to understand the role of citizens in government or the role of Christians as citizens is appalling to me. I don’t include Derek or Buz in this group, so I am thankful for their comments and the opportunity to address this issue.
Throughout my daily reading, there seems to be an overreaction to the overemphasis of politics by some Christian leaders during the last few decades. The current wind and the current consensus seems to be that Christian involvement in politics has been a failure and it is time to get back to preaching the Bible without any political overtones. I’ve been to plenty of Churches the last few years which could use a dose of good Bible teaching, but I don’t think the Bible can be taught effectively without contemporary and relevant applications. Without appropriate applications of Biblical principles, a sermon would just be a history lesson.
Removing politics from the list of appropriate applications of Biblical principles is a misunderstanding of the Bible and American politics. Citizens of American, especially those of us who area also citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, do not have the liberty to stick our head in the sand like an ostrich and hope for the best. A turtle can withdraw to its shell, a Buddhist can sit in the corner and meditate, but a Christian is obligated to salt the earth. Salting the earth means involvement with society and involvement in making, changing, and enforcing the rules and regulations of our society. Citizens of the Kingdom of heaven must provide the salt because those who aren’t citizens of the Kingdom of heaven will be adding all kinds of other ingredients, most of which will have the opposite affect of salt.
The amount of involvement of the Church and the amount of involvement of the individual Christian in politics should be proportionate to the amount of involvement of government in the lives of believers. Smaller government would mean less involvement while larger government means greater involvement. Once again, the relationship between faith in God and freedom is obvious to those with eyes to see. Blue States with a lower percentage of believers like California, New York, and Massachusetts have high tax burdens and regulations compared to Red states like Texas and Utah with a higher percentage of believers and lower tax burdens and regulations.
I don’t agree at all with the message that was preached at All Saints in Pasadena which led to the trouble with the IRS. In fact, I may have more in common with Martians than I do with the members of that Church, but I do think it is the obligation of Pastors to include politics in a sermon when appropriate. I have nothing but contempt for any Pastor who would place their tax exemption above salting the earth.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
One Without the Other
A person can become a Christian, be a Christian, and practice Christianity in any environment. However, some environments are better than others for becoming a Christian, being a Christian, and practicing Christianity. Christian leaders like to point out how times of trouble and persecution throughout history have been times when the Gospel message has been accepted by many. People do tend to look to God for answers and deliverance when they don’t have any answers of their own. However, people also tend to reject God when they don’t witness or experience the love of God.
If trouble and persecution are all that is necessary for the Gospel to advance, then Russia, Cuba, Cambodia, China, Iraq, Iran, many other countries, and almost all of Africa would be overrun with Christians. Communism may have been a complete failure at creating a prosperous and just society, but it has been very successful at destroying faith in God. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Freedom and faith are very related.
America has gone through some very tough times starting with the first settlers. But, unlike communist countries, Americans have had the freedom to choose and practice Christianity. Most American believers would claim America is great because of the early and on-going Christian influence. It works both ways. Christianity in America is also great [comparatively, not absolutely] because of American style freedom and American style private property rights.
Nowadays, Islam is equal to communism as a threat to freedom throughout the world. Islam wants to use government authority to impose Shariah law. It is important for non-believers to understand this difference between Islam and Christianity. Christianity thrives in an environment of freedom. Islam is a threat to freedom and will only appear to thrive in an environment of control.
The primary goal of the Christian Church is to explain how Christ died so that those who CHOOSE to believe in HIM will have eternal life. A significant part of achieving our goal as Christians is to defend and promote freedom along with private property rights throughout the world. One without the other is only doing part of the job of the Gospel.
If trouble and persecution are all that is necessary for the Gospel to advance, then Russia, Cuba, Cambodia, China, Iraq, Iran, many other countries, and almost all of Africa would be overrun with Christians. Communism may have been a complete failure at creating a prosperous and just society, but it has been very successful at destroying faith in God. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Freedom and faith are very related.
America has gone through some very tough times starting with the first settlers. But, unlike communist countries, Americans have had the freedom to choose and practice Christianity. Most American believers would claim America is great because of the early and on-going Christian influence. It works both ways. Christianity in America is also great [comparatively, not absolutely] because of American style freedom and American style private property rights.
Nowadays, Islam is equal to communism as a threat to freedom throughout the world. Islam wants to use government authority to impose Shariah law. It is important for non-believers to understand this difference between Islam and Christianity. Christianity thrives in an environment of freedom. Islam is a threat to freedom and will only appear to thrive in an environment of control.
The primary goal of the Christian Church is to explain how Christ died so that those who CHOOSE to believe in HIM will have eternal life. A significant part of achieving our goal as Christians is to defend and promote freedom along with private property rights throughout the world. One without the other is only doing part of the job of the Gospel.
Monday, October 02, 2006
God’s Economics
The notion that God is unconcerned about economic systems or economic transactions is absurd when the God being referenced is the God of the Christian Bible. Some economic systems conform to Scriptural order more than other systems and some economic systems and policies are completely anti-Biblical. For many years, Christian socialists have claimed that socialism is the economic system most consistent with Scripture. At the core of the Christian socialist argument is the belief that since sharing and charity are personal virtues prescribed in Scripture then these virtues should be mandated and enforced by government. Christian socialists believe that a government that honors God is a government that helps the poor by providing for the basic needs of the poor.
The Bible never mentions a time or records an event when God established private property rights. However, it is impossible to read through the Laws of the Bible without the understanding of the concept of private property. From very early in Leviticus, the Lord tells Mosses that it is wrong to steal or even to lie about finding lost property. The stolen or lost property must be returned along with a penalty. Later in Leviticus, God is even more clear: “Do not steal”; “Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him”; “Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight”. Additionally, “You shall not steal” is one of the ten commandments. The ten commandments have to be considered the highest priority of behavior for believers and the most important laws to God because Jesus made it clear that he did not come to abolish the law.
Christian socialists are flat out wrong about socialism and God. Government mandated sharing and charity is not a virtue, it is legalized theft enforced by the coercive power of government and therefore against God's commandment regarding stealing. The only economic transaction consistent with Scripture is an economic transaction where a seller freely exchanges something of value with a buyer. The seller is certainly free to give value without compensation in the form of a gift. However, any transaction where the seller is forced to sell at a price below what the seller would freely ask, or any transaction where a buyer is forced to buy at a price above what the buyer would freely pay violates the law of God because something a value is stolen; either by the buyer or the seller.
Government does not have the ability to determine the proper price of a good or service or the proper wage to pay for labor because the proper price is dynamic and constantly changing. The correct price for labor is the price someone is willing to pay for the compensation someone is willing to accept for the work being done. Similarly, the correct price of a good or service is the price a buyer is willing to pay and a seller is willing to accept.
The Bible never mentions a time or records an event when God established private property rights. However, it is impossible to read through the Laws of the Bible without the understanding of the concept of private property. From very early in Leviticus, the Lord tells Mosses that it is wrong to steal or even to lie about finding lost property. The stolen or lost property must be returned along with a penalty. Later in Leviticus, God is even more clear: “Do not steal”; “Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him”; “Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight”. Additionally, “You shall not steal” is one of the ten commandments. The ten commandments have to be considered the highest priority of behavior for believers and the most important laws to God because Jesus made it clear that he did not come to abolish the law.
Christian socialists are flat out wrong about socialism and God. Government mandated sharing and charity is not a virtue, it is legalized theft enforced by the coercive power of government and therefore against God's commandment regarding stealing. The only economic transaction consistent with Scripture is an economic transaction where a seller freely exchanges something of value with a buyer. The seller is certainly free to give value without compensation in the form of a gift. However, any transaction where the seller is forced to sell at a price below what the seller would freely ask, or any transaction where a buyer is forced to buy at a price above what the buyer would freely pay violates the law of God because something a value is stolen; either by the buyer or the seller.
Government does not have the ability to determine the proper price of a good or service or the proper wage to pay for labor because the proper price is dynamic and constantly changing. The correct price for labor is the price someone is willing to pay for the compensation someone is willing to accept for the work being done. Similarly, the correct price of a good or service is the price a buyer is willing to pay and a seller is willing to accept.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Reducing Government Corruption in America
Derek raised a whole bunch of issues in his comment to my last piece. I will try to eventually get to all of his points, but I want to start by addressing government corruption in the United States.
First of all, just as it is impossible to be human and not sin, it is also impossible to have any government without some corruption. I have to constantly fight and battle my own nature in an effort to minimize my sinfulness and I believe voters and participants in government also need to constantly fight and do battle with government institutions and legislators in order to minimize government corruption.
Americans are blessed with a Constitution that provides a built-in structure for minimizing corruption. The three branches of government and the distinction between federal and state responsibility automatically helps to minimize and control corruption. American government institutions, even with all our wealth and power, compares very well to all other forms of government throughout the world.
However, America has evolved away from a country founded on the principle of a relatively weak central government to a country with a strong central government. By returning to the original intent of the founders, more decisions and regulations would reside at the state, county, and city level and fewer at the national level. This would effectively bring the providers of government services closer to the consumers of government services and to the taxpayers who fund government services. Close proximity of the government to the governed would go a long way in minimizing corruption.
Another factor in government corruption is the size of government. Shrinking the cost and size of government, would reduce the incentive for unscrupulous power brokers to buy influence from unscrupulous politicians and less opportunity for unscrupulous politicians to be bought.
The size of government in a democracy is a function of the character of the governed. When the governed make demands on government, the size of government will increase. When the governed choose self reliance, the government will shrink. At this point in American history, the lack of character of the governed in choosing bigger government over self reliance is adding to the likelihood of corruption. In other words, we get what we deserve.
Finally, I think there is a difference between the two major parties in America. There are plenty of unscrupulous elected Republicans, but it is hard for me to name a single elected Democrat who exhibits personal and public integrity. Of course, most of us would have different definitions of integrity, but I would still like to have at least two major political parties in America where most elected members exhibited real integrity. The only way to get there from here is to always vote for integrity and refuse to vote for anyone without integrity regardless of party, regardless of promises, and regardless of how the important issues affect each of us individually.
First of all, just as it is impossible to be human and not sin, it is also impossible to have any government without some corruption. I have to constantly fight and battle my own nature in an effort to minimize my sinfulness and I believe voters and participants in government also need to constantly fight and do battle with government institutions and legislators in order to minimize government corruption.
Americans are blessed with a Constitution that provides a built-in structure for minimizing corruption. The three branches of government and the distinction between federal and state responsibility automatically helps to minimize and control corruption. American government institutions, even with all our wealth and power, compares very well to all other forms of government throughout the world.
However, America has evolved away from a country founded on the principle of a relatively weak central government to a country with a strong central government. By returning to the original intent of the founders, more decisions and regulations would reside at the state, county, and city level and fewer at the national level. This would effectively bring the providers of government services closer to the consumers of government services and to the taxpayers who fund government services. Close proximity of the government to the governed would go a long way in minimizing corruption.
Another factor in government corruption is the size of government. Shrinking the cost and size of government, would reduce the incentive for unscrupulous power brokers to buy influence from unscrupulous politicians and less opportunity for unscrupulous politicians to be bought.
The size of government in a democracy is a function of the character of the governed. When the governed make demands on government, the size of government will increase. When the governed choose self reliance, the government will shrink. At this point in American history, the lack of character of the governed in choosing bigger government over self reliance is adding to the likelihood of corruption. In other words, we get what we deserve.
Finally, I think there is a difference between the two major parties in America. There are plenty of unscrupulous elected Republicans, but it is hard for me to name a single elected Democrat who exhibits personal and public integrity. Of course, most of us would have different definitions of integrity, but I would still like to have at least two major political parties in America where most elected members exhibited real integrity. The only way to get there from here is to always vote for integrity and refuse to vote for anyone without integrity regardless of party, regardless of promises, and regardless of how the important issues affect each of us individually.
Let's Export Red Christianity
I believe Red Christians in America and throughout the free world are essential to spreading the Gospel and solving the problems associated with poverty in the under developed world. It’s not enough to tell unbelievers that Christ died for them if we aren’t also willing to demonstrate and prove Christ is alive in us and can live in them.
Red Christians don’t need to export American culture to every under developed country in the world in order to spread the Gospel, but we do need to confront corrupt governments throughout the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and South America. While we’re at it, we should also confront the corruption in our own government in the United States in both the Democratic and the Republican parties.
The Blue method is often the sowing of seed on hard soil. For most of my life, American Christians have been very charitable to the poor in India. However, our charity never did solve the problem of poverty in India and it never produced reproducing believers because it mostly produced dependence on more charity.
Poverty is the natural state of the world where freedom is restricted and private property rights are not enforced. The Blue method has never and will never solve the problems associated with poverty. It is not possible to solve the problem of poverty by taking from some and giving to others. However, our commerce associated with private property rights in the United States and in India is solving the problem of poverty there. We now have some fertile soil to do some work and create disciples.
Red Christians don’t need to export American culture to every under developed country in the world in order to spread the Gospel, but we do need to confront corrupt governments throughout the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and South America. While we’re at it, we should also confront the corruption in our own government in the United States in both the Democratic and the Republican parties.
The Blue method is often the sowing of seed on hard soil. For most of my life, American Christians have been very charitable to the poor in India. However, our charity never did solve the problem of poverty in India and it never produced reproducing believers because it mostly produced dependence on more charity.
Poverty is the natural state of the world where freedom is restricted and private property rights are not enforced. The Blue method has never and will never solve the problems associated with poverty. It is not possible to solve the problem of poverty by taking from some and giving to others. However, our commerce associated with private property rights in the United States and in India is solving the problem of poverty there. We now have some fertile soil to do some work and create disciples.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Girly Golfers?
In most PGA (Professional Golfers Association) tournaments, one or two players will withdraw before the third round due to injury or food poisoning [euphemism for staying up a little late the previous night]. However, in tournaments that include Michelle Wie, the number of withdrawals is significantly higher.
There are ten men [might be too strong of a word for these guys] who have withdrawn so far in the 84 Lumber Classic with half of the golfers not even starting their second round yet.
One of these guys is an outspoken Christian, another is an outspoken anti-Christian; pride got the best of both of them.
There are ten men [might be too strong of a word for these guys] who have withdrawn so far in the 84 Lumber Classic with half of the golfers not even starting their second round yet.
One of these guys is an outspoken Christian, another is an outspoken anti-Christian; pride got the best of both of them.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
60 Million Murdered is not Nitpicking
In a piece posted at RedBlueChristian, Rob Asghar writes that Fareed Zakaria is demonstrating clear thinking with the statement, “Washington has a long habit of painting its enemies 10 feet tall-and crazy. During the cold war, many hawks argued that the Soviet Union could not be deterred because the Kremlin was evil and irrational.”
Most people, especially passionate people, are prone to exaggeration. However, real clear thinking, along with a knowledge of a few facts, would indicate the Soviet Union was a real threat, not just a perceived threat. Most historians agree that at least 20 million people were murdered by the Soviets after World War II. Some, including R.J. Rummel, even believe the number is closer to 60 million. It is not unreasonable to assume a country with leaders that murdered 20 to 60 million people would also be a threat to America.
The military capability of the Soviets is also a documented fact. There is no way to know what would have happened if America didn’t fight the cold war, but there is absolutely no doubt, the Soviets could have wiped America off the face of the earth if Americans didn’t take the threat seriously and increase Defense spending and planning.
Rob is an impressive and professional writer, but he seems to be paving his path to glory with the same in-astute observations as the current crop of Washington pundits. I don’t know if this is a tactic or just a careless mistake on his part. I don’t think it will work. The Washington pundits of the future will not just be the writers who graduated from the right schools with a talent for writing and very little time for nitpicking. The Washington pundits of the future will be mostly bloggers who honed their skills by being challenged and nitpicked with facts and counter arguments.
Most people, especially passionate people, are prone to exaggeration. However, real clear thinking, along with a knowledge of a few facts, would indicate the Soviet Union was a real threat, not just a perceived threat. Most historians agree that at least 20 million people were murdered by the Soviets after World War II. Some, including R.J. Rummel, even believe the number is closer to 60 million. It is not unreasonable to assume a country with leaders that murdered 20 to 60 million people would also be a threat to America.
The military capability of the Soviets is also a documented fact. There is no way to know what would have happened if America didn’t fight the cold war, but there is absolutely no doubt, the Soviets could have wiped America off the face of the earth if Americans didn’t take the threat seriously and increase Defense spending and planning.
Rob is an impressive and professional writer, but he seems to be paving his path to glory with the same in-astute observations as the current crop of Washington pundits. I don’t know if this is a tactic or just a careless mistake on his part. I don’t think it will work. The Washington pundits of the future will not just be the writers who graduated from the right schools with a talent for writing and very little time for nitpicking. The Washington pundits of the future will be mostly bloggers who honed their skills by being challenged and nitpicked with facts and counter arguments.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Primitive Justice
Practically the only news we hear or read out of Iraq is the number of people killed and the way they were killed. These two facts alone do not convey any information of real importance. In order to learn anything meaningful, we need to know why someone or group was killed.
For example, wouldn’t most people feel differently hearing that O.J. Simpson had just died in car bomb than hearing that Billy Graham had just died in a car bomb? I’m sure there are some innocent people being murdered in Iraq. However, I’m just as sure, that many of the people being killed in Iraq are receiving the justice they deserve from previous acts of injustice. Sure it’s primitive justice, but until Iraq has the time necessary to establish a government with consistent credibility, primitive justice is better than no justice.
For example, wouldn’t most people feel differently hearing that O.J. Simpson had just died in car bomb than hearing that Billy Graham had just died in a car bomb? I’m sure there are some innocent people being murdered in Iraq. However, I’m just as sure, that many of the people being killed in Iraq are receiving the justice they deserve from previous acts of injustice. Sure it’s primitive justice, but until Iraq has the time necessary to establish a government with consistent credibility, primitive justice is better than no justice.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Two [mostly] Unrelated Thoughts
A couple of mostly unrelated thoughts:
There is a fine line between nuanced thinking and sloppy thinking. Nuanced thinkers often take moderate positions after considering all of the facts, but so do sloppy thinkers who want to appear nuanced. So far, RedBlueChristian seems more sloppy than nuanced to me.
Why are Senior Pastors the highest paid employees of any Christian Church? If Christian leadership is servant leadership, shouldn’t the Senior Pastor be the greatest servant in the Church? If not, why isn’t the greatest servant the Senior Pastor? If the Senior Pastor is the greatest servant, why does he require a larger salary than the associate pastors and other Church employees?
There is a fine line between nuanced thinking and sloppy thinking. Nuanced thinkers often take moderate positions after considering all of the facts, but so do sloppy thinkers who want to appear nuanced. So far, RedBlueChristian seems more sloppy than nuanced to me.
Why are Senior Pastors the highest paid employees of any Christian Church? If Christian leadership is servant leadership, shouldn’t the Senior Pastor be the greatest servant in the Church? If not, why isn’t the greatest servant the Senior Pastor? If the Senior Pastor is the greatest servant, why does he require a larger salary than the associate pastors and other Church employees?
Friday, September 01, 2006
Becoming Pro-Life
Fred Barnes has written a good piece on why 5 pro-lifers became pro-lifers.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
One common thread is obvious. All of us, because of the circumstances we found ourselves in, were forced to think about the taking of a life and what that means in both practical and moral terms. Most people avoid thinking about troubling moral issues like abortion or euthanasia. We couldn't.
And the other common thread is that something happened to make us choose life and choose it firmly and reject death. I think it was our conscience that intervened or, if you prefer, the basic human instinct that favors life over death. Or it you are a Christian, as I am, it was God.
Now I'm sure there are many exceptions to our experience. Not everyone who contemplates abortion or euthanasia is bound to take the intellectual path that five of us--six, including my wife--did on the way to becoming pro-lifers. But I suspect there are many more than like us than not. And many more to come.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Motherly Policies
There are way too many politicians, economists, and religious leaders who believe the lives of ordinary people can only be improved through government mandates and forced structural changes to society. These scholars and leaders believe the best course of action for society is a course of action where everyone is forced to support laws, regulations, and rules that level the playing field for everyone. In the past, these busy bodies have mostly concentrated their efforts on their own country, but as the world flattens, they increasingly want to dictate their beliefs onto the citizens of countries which are not their own.
At the core, this desire to level the playing field is a motherly instinct to protect that has corrupted good economic policy and hurt the lives of many people in almost all parts of the world. This desire to mother is a sinful assumption that other people are not capable of making their own decisions about what is best for themselves.
Most people are not better off when they are protected by excessive regulation and laws because the price of protection comes at a high cost in freedom. It is quite simple nowadays to judge the results of a government policy by comparing outcomes to other countries and other societies in similar circumstances. Sadly, many influential leaders, including Christian leaders, refuse to acknowledge the fact that freedom has produced better results and improved many more lives than government regulation.
Brian Wesbury has made some very good points in regards to freedom and economics in his piece Policy and Economic Denial.
Selected Excerpts:
At the core, this desire to level the playing field is a motherly instinct to protect that has corrupted good economic policy and hurt the lives of many people in almost all parts of the world. This desire to mother is a sinful assumption that other people are not capable of making their own decisions about what is best for themselves.
Most people are not better off when they are protected by excessive regulation and laws because the price of protection comes at a high cost in freedom. It is quite simple nowadays to judge the results of a government policy by comparing outcomes to other countries and other societies in similar circumstances. Sadly, many influential leaders, including Christian leaders, refuse to acknowledge the fact that freedom has produced better results and improved many more lives than government regulation.
Brian Wesbury has made some very good points in regards to freedom and economics in his piece Policy and Economic Denial.
Selected Excerpts:
Nonetheless, there were continued signs that the world's intellectuals remain in serious denial about which policies create wealth and higher standards of living.
Mr. Collier's speech, according to Ip, "made a persuasive case that nowhere more than in Africa has geography undermined economic progress." Collier theorizes that small, landlocked and resource-poor countries can't keep up and lag behind. This is not a new theory, but it is still wrong-headed. Freedom, not geography, drives growth and wealth creation. Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic are all landlocked and relatively small, but are clearly not poor. On the other hand, many African nations have vast resources.
Now, South Korea's is twice that of Brazil's. By way of explanation, he noted that the average Korean has 13 years of school, while in Brazil the figure is six years."This idea that Asian economies owe their success to education is also wrong-headed. While education is important for individual success, if you happen to live in a country with high taxes, burdensome regulations, and unstable monetary policy, education and the entrepreneurial spirit are stifled.
But is it really true that, because of geography, African nations have no hope? And is it true that if government educates more people, wealth automatically follows? No. The Wealth of Nation's are not determined by geography or education, but freedom. While there are many who want to reject the teachings of Adam Smith, Ludwig von Mises, Frederich Hayek, Milton Friedman, and others, denial does not negate the truth.
Brian Wesbury is the Chief Economist for First Trust Advisors in Chicago, IL.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Halftime
Throughout the opinion-sphere, Israel is being declared a loser in their military action against Hezbollah. Political pundits must be watching a different game than me. From my couch, Israel is clearly dominating a game that has now reached halftime. During the first half of play, Israel rarely even needed to make a third down conversion. Second half adjustments by both sides may change the nature and eventual outcome of the game, but there is no reason to believe a comeback by Hezbollah is possible based on first half statistics.
So far in the game, Hezbollah has been completely unable to defend against the Israeli air strikes. Some of the Israeli bombs may have missed the intended target. However, since Hezbollah has been hiding amongst women and children, the only way to hit the target is to also hit the family of the target. Big media may take away points for collateral damage, but my scorecard counts the number of future terrorists that won’t be reproducing and playing in the second half of the game.
Israeli ground forces played a conservative first half by only taking and then holding small pieces of territory. Since the Israelis appear to be able to advance wherever and whenever they want using tanks and mortars to drive out Hezbollah forces, pundits claim they should have pounded the ball down the throats of Hezbollah during the first half and tried to put the game out of reach. However, Coach Ohlmert seems more concerned with keeping his team healthy for the second half than piling up points before halftime.
Hezbollah has been unable to mount any type of offense since the start of the game when they captured two Israeli soldiers. Thousands of the missiles they have lobbed into Israel landed incomplete. They haven’t once taken a piece of Israeli land or even been able to retake any of their own land until it was abandoned by Israel.
Syria and Iran, the feckless owners of Hezbollah, don’t seem willing to make the investment necessary to field a team that can compete with Israel. Iran could easily pour many more resources into team Hezbollah. They just aren’t willing to dump anymore funds into a losing team.
From my couch, things are looking pretty good for the home team!
So far in the game, Hezbollah has been completely unable to defend against the Israeli air strikes. Some of the Israeli bombs may have missed the intended target. However, since Hezbollah has been hiding amongst women and children, the only way to hit the target is to also hit the family of the target. Big media may take away points for collateral damage, but my scorecard counts the number of future terrorists that won’t be reproducing and playing in the second half of the game.
Israeli ground forces played a conservative first half by only taking and then holding small pieces of territory. Since the Israelis appear to be able to advance wherever and whenever they want using tanks and mortars to drive out Hezbollah forces, pundits claim they should have pounded the ball down the throats of Hezbollah during the first half and tried to put the game out of reach. However, Coach Ohlmert seems more concerned with keeping his team healthy for the second half than piling up points before halftime.
Hezbollah has been unable to mount any type of offense since the start of the game when they captured two Israeli soldiers. Thousands of the missiles they have lobbed into Israel landed incomplete. They haven’t once taken a piece of Israeli land or even been able to retake any of their own land until it was abandoned by Israel.
Syria and Iran, the feckless owners of Hezbollah, don’t seem willing to make the investment necessary to field a team that can compete with Israel. Iran could easily pour many more resources into team Hezbollah. They just aren’t willing to dump anymore funds into a losing team.
From my couch, things are looking pretty good for the home team!
Monday, August 14, 2006
Robbing From Our Children
Most members of the Democratic Party, and some Republicans, during the presidency of George W. Bush have opposed the reduction of Income tax rates, the deficit spending by our federal government, and Social Security reform. Their argument is that we [Americans] are robbing from our children whenever the federal government has to borrow money. Democrats are right to make this claim. Borrowing which doesn’t produce a string of income to pay for the cost of borrowing is always paying later for what is consumed now.
However, increasing the tax obligation of citizens is also robbing from our children whenever government funds are used for purposes not mandated in the Constitution. For the most part, our federal government just needs to reduce spending in order to stop robbing. Americans are unnecessarily over-regulated. We don’t need a rule for every situation. We do need the freedom to be able to make our own choices as long as we are willing to pay the price of our choices while not infringing on the freedom of others. Additionally, government programs are so inefficient, most people would be better off without the interference of the government, anyway.
But if our only choice is between government borrowing and higher tax rates, the best choice for the future of our children is for the government to borrow the money it needs. Perhaps some Democrats could explain to me how our children are better off if their inheritance is confiscated by the federal government before they ever get to touch a dime of the estate, or in the case of my children, the penny jar, that is rightfully theirs.
While they’re at it, maybe these same Democrats could also explain to me how Social Security is anything but robbing from our children since all of the benefits of Social Security that we will receive will be paid by our children. I have to agree with the Democrats. It really is time to stop using government to rob from our children!
However, increasing the tax obligation of citizens is also robbing from our children whenever government funds are used for purposes not mandated in the Constitution. For the most part, our federal government just needs to reduce spending in order to stop robbing. Americans are unnecessarily over-regulated. We don’t need a rule for every situation. We do need the freedom to be able to make our own choices as long as we are willing to pay the price of our choices while not infringing on the freedom of others. Additionally, government programs are so inefficient, most people would be better off without the interference of the government, anyway.
But if our only choice is between government borrowing and higher tax rates, the best choice for the future of our children is for the government to borrow the money it needs. Perhaps some Democrats could explain to me how our children are better off if their inheritance is confiscated by the federal government before they ever get to touch a dime of the estate, or in the case of my children, the penny jar, that is rightfully theirs.
While they’re at it, maybe these same Democrats could also explain to me how Social Security is anything but robbing from our children since all of the benefits of Social Security that we will receive will be paid by our children. I have to agree with the Democrats. It really is time to stop using government to rob from our children!
Friday, August 11, 2006
Americans will die for liberty
Americans will die for liberty
By Andrew Gimson
Selected Exerpts:
By Andrew Gimson
Selected Exerpts:
We are inclined, in our snobbish way, to dismiss the Americans as a new and vulgar people, whose civilisation has hardly risen above the level of cowboys and Indians. Yet the United States of America is actually the oldest republic in the world, with a constitution that is one of the noblest works of man. When one strips away the distracting symbols of modernity - motor cars, skyscrapers, space rockets, microchips, junk food - one finds an essentially 18th-century country. While Europe has engaged in the headlong and frankly rather immature pursuit of novelty - how many constitutions have the nations of Europe been through in this time? - the Americans have held to the ideals enunciated more than 200 years ago by their founding fathers.
But lest these impressions of the United States seem unduly favourable, it should be added that the Americans have not remained in happy possession of their free constitution without cost. Thomas Jefferson warned that the tree of liberty must be watered from time to time with the blood of tyrants and patriots. To the Americans, the idea that freedom and democracy exact a cost in blood is second nature.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Look at 1930
A Bit of History for Global Warmers
Excerpts:
Excerpts:
People sweltering from a heat wave in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. might find cold comfort in the fact that the temperatures of the past few days are not the hottest on record. That "honor" belongs to a summer 76 years ago -- decades before the controversy over "man-made global warming" began. "That summer has never been approached, and it's not going to be approached this year."
But Michaels noted that high temperatures are common in the middle of the summer. "Climatologically, the last week in July is the warmest week of the year on average, and when the atmospheric flow patterns get into anomalously warm configurations during this time of the year, temperatures will skyrocket," he said.
"Big cities are getting warmer -- with or without global warming -- because the bricks and the buildings and the pavement retain heat," Michaels added. For that reason, he prefers to compare temperatures in nearby rural areas. "There's been very little change" in those areas, "so we trust the record to be a reliable indicator of base climate."
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Regarding Gibson
A few thoughts:
I never realized how many people hate Mel Gibson. I can understand not liking him. I can even concur with those who are denouncing what he said. However, the hatred towards Mel Gibson seems irrational to me. If Mel Gibson is hated so much just for making a movie about Christ, just imagine how much Christ was hated for how he lived and what he said.
Some people keep claiming that alcohol is a truth serum when discussing the Gibson matter. According to these self-appointed social experts, the true heart of a person is revealed through the consumption of alcohol. Really? Bars and night clubs are not exactly dens of honesty. Actually, truth and liquor go together about like hot sauce and ice cream. Someone who is drunk has the potential to make a slip of the tongue and reveal an offensive personal belief, but most drunks, most of the time, blabber the first thought that pops into their head, whether they believe it or not. Alcohol reduces inhibitions, but it does not reveal truths.
Roman Polanski fled the United States after being indicted for raping a 13-year-old girl, yet he still makes movies and receives awards from the filmmaking industry. Woddy Allen had an affair and then married the daughter of the lady who fathered his biological son and was also accused of molesting other children, yet he is still a revered filmmaker. Mel Gibson seems way too normal for most of Hollywood. All he did was say something stupid which has led to many, many, others saying things that are just as stupid.
I never realized how many people hate Mel Gibson. I can understand not liking him. I can even concur with those who are denouncing what he said. However, the hatred towards Mel Gibson seems irrational to me. If Mel Gibson is hated so much just for making a movie about Christ, just imagine how much Christ was hated for how he lived and what he said.
Some people keep claiming that alcohol is a truth serum when discussing the Gibson matter. According to these self-appointed social experts, the true heart of a person is revealed through the consumption of alcohol. Really? Bars and night clubs are not exactly dens of honesty. Actually, truth and liquor go together about like hot sauce and ice cream. Someone who is drunk has the potential to make a slip of the tongue and reveal an offensive personal belief, but most drunks, most of the time, blabber the first thought that pops into their head, whether they believe it or not. Alcohol reduces inhibitions, but it does not reveal truths.
Roman Polanski fled the United States after being indicted for raping a 13-year-old girl, yet he still makes movies and receives awards from the filmmaking industry. Woddy Allen had an affair and then married the daughter of the lady who fathered his biological son and was also accused of molesting other children, yet he is still a revered filmmaker. Mel Gibson seems way too normal for most of Hollywood. All he did was say something stupid which has led to many, many, others saying things that are just as stupid.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Love Your Neighbor Politically
When Jesus was asked what is needed to inherit eternal life, he replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself."
There are many ways for believers to love their neighbors as themselves. There are also many ways to withhold love from neighbors. Some of the ways to love or withhold love from neighbors is over-the-fence, around-the-corner, down-the-street, across-town, and other one-on-one type care and activities. However, just as important, and usually more consequential, is the affect of public policy on our neighbors.
When the new country of the United States of America was formed, it was formed as a country that would be governed “by” and “for” the citizens of the United States. America is not a country where the citizens have only a vote and a say in the affairs of government; America is a country where the citizens ARE the government.
As citizens, and therefore members of government in the United States, it is the duty of believers to participate in the creation and changes of public policy through political activity because every penny that is taken through taxes and every penny that is spent by government has an affect on our neighbors; sometimes good, but often times bad, as government increasingly comes under the control of special interests that are not interested or concerned with the welfare of our neighbors.
There are many ways for believers to love their neighbors as themselves. There are also many ways to withhold love from neighbors. Some of the ways to love or withhold love from neighbors is over-the-fence, around-the-corner, down-the-street, across-town, and other one-on-one type care and activities. However, just as important, and usually more consequential, is the affect of public policy on our neighbors.
When the new country of the United States of America was formed, it was formed as a country that would be governed “by” and “for” the citizens of the United States. America is not a country where the citizens have only a vote and a say in the affairs of government; America is a country where the citizens ARE the government.
As citizens, and therefore members of government in the United States, it is the duty of believers to participate in the creation and changes of public policy through political activity because every penny that is taken through taxes and every penny that is spent by government has an affect on our neighbors; sometimes good, but often times bad, as government increasingly comes under the control of special interests that are not interested or concerned with the welfare of our neighbors.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Purpose Driven Believer
I try to live a purpose driven life. For me, “purpose driven” is the only logical way to approach decisions and set priorities. Purpose driven methodology is a series of questions and answers that lead to a goal and an appropriate level of commitment made to reach that goal. “What”, “why”, “how”, and usually “when” questions all need to be answered before the right decision can be made, the proper priority determined, and the appropriate level of commitment made.
There is no doubt in my mind that spreading the Gospel message should be the top priority of Christians and Christianity in America. When we get to heaven, we will all be at the mercy of God for salvation. Non-believers need to know what Christians believe and why Christians believe what they believe in order for them to also have the opportunity of eternal life through the grace and forgiveness of God.
Christianity is not just about the afterlife, though. While on earth, everyone has some control over the society they share with others. By spreading the Gospel message and defending the faith, Christians can maintain a just society while helping others understand the traditional Christian view of salvation and everlasting life. Before departing earth, Jesus told his disciples to teach others what he had taught them. Believers are expected to follow His example and do what He said.
The “how” question regarding the spread of the Gospel message is not as easily answered as the “what” and “why” questions. While this is not the only issue that divides believers, it is a Christian purpose that can have many different approaches. From my perspective, many of the different approaches to spreading the Gospel do as much harm as good in reaching the unsaved, but my perspective has many limitations. Therefore, I am careful not to criticize anyone who is going about spreading the Gospel message the way they think is best and most effective.
However, when forming their own view and opinions, most people are just as observant of the actions of others as they are considerate of the views of others. Therefore, it is mandatory for Christians to be accurate in facts, clear in explanations, and consistent in actions because living the Gospel in a transparent way is an essential component of spreading the Gospel.
Living the Gospel means behaving and acting in ways that are consistent with the Gospel message being proclaimed. Some behaviors are mandatory. Some behaviors and actions will vary depending on the abilities, circumstances, and tolerance for risk of the believer. Some behaviors are not absolutely mandatory, but should be a part of the life of the mature Christian. Praying, fasting, and giving are all obviously part of this list of behaviors Christians should be doing. In my next post, I will make the case for why political participation also belongs on the list of behaviors of mature Christians in America.
There is no doubt in my mind that spreading the Gospel message should be the top priority of Christians and Christianity in America. When we get to heaven, we will all be at the mercy of God for salvation. Non-believers need to know what Christians believe and why Christians believe what they believe in order for them to also have the opportunity of eternal life through the grace and forgiveness of God.
Christianity is not just about the afterlife, though. While on earth, everyone has some control over the society they share with others. By spreading the Gospel message and defending the faith, Christians can maintain a just society while helping others understand the traditional Christian view of salvation and everlasting life. Before departing earth, Jesus told his disciples to teach others what he had taught them. Believers are expected to follow His example and do what He said.
The “how” question regarding the spread of the Gospel message is not as easily answered as the “what” and “why” questions. While this is not the only issue that divides believers, it is a Christian purpose that can have many different approaches. From my perspective, many of the different approaches to spreading the Gospel do as much harm as good in reaching the unsaved, but my perspective has many limitations. Therefore, I am careful not to criticize anyone who is going about spreading the Gospel message the way they think is best and most effective.
However, when forming their own view and opinions, most people are just as observant of the actions of others as they are considerate of the views of others. Therefore, it is mandatory for Christians to be accurate in facts, clear in explanations, and consistent in actions because living the Gospel in a transparent way is an essential component of spreading the Gospel.
Living the Gospel means behaving and acting in ways that are consistent with the Gospel message being proclaimed. Some behaviors are mandatory. Some behaviors and actions will vary depending on the abilities, circumstances, and tolerance for risk of the believer. Some behaviors are not absolutely mandatory, but should be a part of the life of the mature Christian. Praying, fasting, and giving are all obviously part of this list of behaviors Christians should be doing. In my next post, I will make the case for why political participation also belongs on the list of behaviors of mature Christians in America.
Monday, July 17, 2006
The Reagan Myth
It’s good to see one columnist who is fair to President Bush when comparing the size of government now to the size of government in the President Reagan years.
Hats off to Fred Barnes.
Selected excerpt:
Hats off to Fred Barnes.
Selected excerpt:
With Reagan in the White House, spending reached 23.5% of GDP in 1984, the peak year of the military buildup. Under Mr. Bush, the top spending year is 2005 at 20.1% of GDP, though it is expected to rise as high as 20.7% this year, driven upward by Iraq and hurricane relief.
Mr. Reagan was a small government conservative, but he found it impossible to govern that way. He made tradeoffs. He gave up the fight to curb domestic spending in exchange for congressional approval of increased defense spending. He cut taxes deeply but signed three smaller tax hikes. Rather than try to reform Social Security, he agreed to increase payroll taxes.
The myth would have it that Reagan was tireless in shrinking the size of government, a weak partisan always ready to deal with Democrats, and not the hardliner we thought he was. The opposite is true. Reagan compromised, as even the most conservative politicians often do, to save his political strength for what mattered most--defeating the Soviet empire and keeping taxes low. Today, the latter still remains imperative, and the former has been superseded by a faceless death cult. We can't understand George Bush if we distort the real Ronald Reagan.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Narrow Gate
- Deny Self
- Take up Cross
- Follow Christ
Doesn’t sound like prosperity to me.
Doesn’t sound like Church either.
Sounds like a narrow gate.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
An Air Force Colonel's View of Marines
Thanks Michael. I loved reading this.
An Air Force Colonel's View of Marines
An Air Force Colonel's View of Marines
Dear Dad, If I ever hear airmen griping and complaining, I jump into them pretty quickly, now. Most people over here have nothing to gripe about compared to Marines. Marines are different. They have a different outlook on life. One Marine Private was here for several days because he was a lower priority evacuation patient. He insisted on coming to attention and displaying proper military courtesy every morning when I came through on rounds. He was in a great deal of pain, and it was a stressful to watch him work his way off the bed and onto his crutches. I told him he was excused and did not have to come to attention while he was a patient,and he informed me that he was a good Marine and would address "Air Force Colonels standing on my feet, Sir." I had to turn away so he would not see the tear in my eye. He did not have "feet" because we amputated his right leg below the knee on the first night he came in. I asked a Marine Lance Corporal if there was anything I could get him as I was making rounds one morning. He was an above the knee amputation after an IED blast, and he surprised me when he asked for a trigonometry book. "You enjoy math do you?" He replied, "Not particularly, Sir. I was never good at it, but I need to get good at it, now." "Are you planning on going back to school?" I asked. "No sir, I am planning on shooting artillery. I will slow an infantry platoon down with just one good leg, but I am going to get good at math and learn how to shoot artillery". I hope he does. I had the sad duty of standing over a young Marine Sgt. when he recovered from anesthesia - despite our best efforts there was just no way to save his left arm, and it had to come off just below the elbow. "Can I have my arm back, sir?" he asked. "No, we had to cut it off, we cannot re-attach it", I said. "But can I have my arm?", he asked again. "You see, we had to cut it off." He interrupted, "I know you had to cut it off, but I want it back. It must be in a bag or something, Sir." "Why do you want it?" I asked. "I am going to have it stuffed and use it as a club when I get back to my unit." I must have looked shocked because he tried to comfort me,"Don't you worry now, Colonel. You did a fine job, and I hardly hurt at all; besides I scratch and shoot with my other hand anyway." God Bless the Marines!
Col. Brett Wyrick
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Two Nations
An old friend has started a new blog named Two Nations.
Excerpts from first piece:
Excerpts from first piece:
- As a Christian, a passionate conservative, a soldier, and an American, I grow increasingly alarmed at what I'm seeing happen to my country; I fear we are more deeply divided than we were in 1861 with as little or less possibility for compromise. On the one side, you have folks like me who actually believe that there is such a thing as objective truth, that there is meaning, and that words actually contain plenty of said meaning. It is therefore axiomatic to me that documents such as the Bible contain meaning - original intentions - of authors spanning centuries in time, and that that meaning can be ascertained by readers centuries later if they will respect that fact and seek to ascertain their meaning bearing in mind historical context, grammar and usage, etc.
- If we're going to have a productive debate, we have to at least agree on some common ground. I may believe that the Framers intended one thing in the 1st Ammendment, for example, and you may stand by another conclusion. But at least we're both in agreement that something like "original intent" exists, and we're therefore in the same "ball park". But consider this: If the Steelers and Patriots show up at the stadium they need to both agree on the basic rules of the game their playing, hopefully football. What would happen if an umpire decided that the offsides rule was out of date and sought to throw it out, particularly on a crucial play? Fans would have his head!
- What I'm saying is this, those who do not adhere to the idea that the Constitution and the Declaration contain the values and rules, the covenant, if you will, between those in government and the governed may call themselves many things, but . . . they are no longer Americans!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Give 'em Shelter
Good news for the homeless.
by William Tucker
Selected Excerpts:
by William Tucker
Selected Excerpts:
- At a remarkably underreported conference in Denver in May, advocates for the homeless met to discuss a pattern of falling homeless populations across the country. In the past six months, New York has announced a reduction of 13 percent, Denver 11 percent, Portland 20 percent, Miami 30 percent, Philadelphia 50 percent. The story merited squibs in the Denver Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Rocky Mountain News. The New York Times ran a page 19 story almost a month later. Beyond that, silence.
- One factor now motivating local officials is a realization of how much the homeless are costing them. "In San Diego, researchers tracked a population of 20 homeless people for almost two years, measuring what they absorbed in free medical care, ambulance services, emergency-room hospital visits, and law enforcement," says Mangano. "They were astonished to discover that every individual was costing the city an average of $200,000 per year. For that kind of money, the city could have bought them each a penthouse apartment. The most dismaying thing was that in the end the people were right back where they started."
- "Housing First" has now returned to the original idea--that housing is the problem--with a twist. The problem is not that the federal government is not building public housing. The real problem is that cities have been very efficient in eliminating bottom-rung housing through building code enforcement, zoning restrictions, and (in cites such as New York and San Francisco) rent control. All these "reforms" were supposed to upgrade "substandard" housing and improve opportunities for the poor. In fact they worsened conditions for the very poor.
- "We made progress that is visible, measurable, and quantifiable," says Mangano, anticipating that Ph.D. students will soon be lining up to study this rare public policy success story. Now if only the press will pay a little attention.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Don't Believe the Hype
Al Gore is wrong. There's no "consensus" on global warming.
BTW, Mr. Lindzen is the Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Atmospheric Science at MIT.
So, presumably, those scientists do not belong to the "consensus." Yet their research is forced, whether the evidence supports it or not, into Mr. Gore's preferred global-warming template--namely, shrill alarmism. To believe it requires that one ignore the truly inconvenient facts. To take the issue of rising sea levels, these include: that the Arctic was as warm or warmer in 1940; that icebergs have been known since time immemorial; that the evidence so far suggests that the Greenland ice sheet is actually growing on average. A likely result of all this is increased pressure pushing ice off the coastal perimeter of that country, which is depicted so ominously in Mr. Gore's movie. In the absence of factual context, these images are perhaps dire or alarming.
They are less so otherwise. Alpine glaciers have been retreating since the early 19th century, and were advancing for several centuries before that. Since about 1970, many of the glaciers have stopped retreating and some are now advancing again. And, frankly, we don't know why.
So what, then, is one to make of this alleged debate? I would suggest at least three points.
First, nonscientists generally do not want to bother with understanding the science. Claims of consensus relieve policy types, environmental advocates and politicians of any need to do so. Such claims also serve to intimidate the public and even scientists--especially those outside the area of climate dynamics. Secondly, given that the question of human attribution largely cannot be resolved, its use in promoting visions of disaster constitutes nothing so much as a bait-and-switch scam. That is an inauspicious beginning to what Mr. Gore claims is not a political issue but a "moral" crusade.
Lastly, there is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition. An earlier attempt at this was accompanied by tragedy. Perhaps Marx was right. This time around we may have farce--if we're lucky.
BTW, Mr. Lindzen is the Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Atmospheric Science at MIT.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Surprise Drop in Oil?
Larry Kudlow knows economics and oil.
The economic principles at work here are very simple: Markets work. Supply and demand works. Higher prices are gradually slowing consumption. At the same time, those high prices continue to stimulate outsized profits and investment returns. So capital is pouring into all the energy sectors, providing a strong foundation for new energy production. Chevron, for example, is reinvesting virtually all its profits in new oil-and-gas exploration and drilling. The drilling industry, meanwhile, has recovered from last year’s Hurricane Katrina shock and is once again producing near peak capacity.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
The Beginning of the End of the PCUSA?
Mark D. Roberts has posted his thoughts on today's General Assembly two historic votes.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Church and Sin
Hammer left a comment on my last post with a link to an article by Al Mohler about the need for Christians to truthfully confront the sin of homosexuality. Trinitarian Don also makes some very good points today about sin, objective truth, the Church, and homosexuality.
While I fully agree with the truth of what both Don and Al wrote, I don’t like how homosexuality often gets singled out by Christian leaders when referencing and discussing sin. Al stated, “The church is not a place where sinners are welcomed to remain in their sin.” It sounds like Al hasn’t been to Church lately. Churches nowadays are packed with greedy, lustful, deceitful, proud, selfish, and sexually immoral believers who are quite comfortable in most of their sins. Pastors and other Church leaders are just as comfortable in some or all of these sins. I’m sure I also have blind spots in regard to my own sins.
Some sins are worse than other sins and all sins have gradations of evil. Homosexuality is no different. A homosexual relationship with one partner is different than a homosexual relationship with many partners. Advocating homosexual marriage is different than advocating acceptance of homosexuals. Struggling and failing to overcome a homosexual lifestyle is different than proudly proclaiming a deviant sexual orientation. If Christian leaders and lay believers wish to demonstrate the love of God towards homosexuals, they need to place homosexuality and the gradations of homosexuality on the list of all other sins where it belongs and quit singling homosexuality out as the worst of all sins.
Additionally, if Christian leaders and lay believers wish to be taken seriously when proclaiming the truth of homosexuality, they need to increase the references to the sins of greed, lust, deceit, pride, and selfishness. Perhaps they could start by proclaiming the truth in their own Church and make a few believers a little uncomfortable.
While I fully agree with the truth of what both Don and Al wrote, I don’t like how homosexuality often gets singled out by Christian leaders when referencing and discussing sin. Al stated, “The church is not a place where sinners are welcomed to remain in their sin.” It sounds like Al hasn’t been to Church lately. Churches nowadays are packed with greedy, lustful, deceitful, proud, selfish, and sexually immoral believers who are quite comfortable in most of their sins. Pastors and other Church leaders are just as comfortable in some or all of these sins. I’m sure I also have blind spots in regard to my own sins.
Some sins are worse than other sins and all sins have gradations of evil. Homosexuality is no different. A homosexual relationship with one partner is different than a homosexual relationship with many partners. Advocating homosexual marriage is different than advocating acceptance of homosexuals. Struggling and failing to overcome a homosexual lifestyle is different than proudly proclaiming a deviant sexual orientation. If Christian leaders and lay believers wish to demonstrate the love of God towards homosexuals, they need to place homosexuality and the gradations of homosexuality on the list of all other sins where it belongs and quit singling homosexuality out as the worst of all sins.
Additionally, if Christian leaders and lay believers wish to be taken seriously when proclaiming the truth of homosexuality, they need to increase the references to the sins of greed, lust, deceit, pride, and selfishness. Perhaps they could start by proclaiming the truth in their own Church and make a few believers a little uncomfortable.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Truth and Love
Brad at The Broken Messenger has written today about the inseparability of truth and love.
Great work Brad, I love how you have revealed the truth.
What’s my take? Truth and love appear to be inseparable partners. At least until Paul places love over the great pillars of a rebirth in Christ: hope and faith (1 Cor. 13:13). But Christ proclaimed himself as the “truth” and also said that you “shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:34). Is that truth God's love? Absolutely, it must be according to Paul's defense of the absolute need for love in faith (1 Corinthians 13).
But I don’t have a firm position right now as to which is "higher", other than to say that I don’t think that I need one. In other words, I don’t think that my ability to properly order one over the other is critical to my faith in Christ. As long as I am embracing both and apply all revealed truth in love, within faith and for Christ, I obey Christ and glorify him.
What I can say with confidence is that love and truth are certainly are not mutually exclusive. In fact, I am convinced daily that the love of God is the greatest of all truth. Why? First, we have the great command to love God with all heart, mind and soul. Second, we have the command to love others in proof of our love for God:
Great work Brad, I love how you have revealed the truth.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Global Warming Fever
Debra Saunders analyzes Al Gore and Global Warming. I agree with her entire piece. Here are some excerpts:
There is a conceit among the American left that the American right cleaves to bad science out of deference to religion, while the left is all-science, all-the-time. Former Veep Al Gore's new movie, "An Inconvenient Truth," however, shows how unscientific -- and downright faith-based -- the left has become.
Gore was wrong in 1992 when he wrote that 98 percent of scientists agreed with him on global warming. Witness the survey cited above. Now, he is wrong when he argues in his movie that there is a complete consensus on global warming today. As proof Gore cites a 2004 study that looked at 928 climate abstracts and found none that refuted global-warming dogma. That says more about the researcher than the scientific community.
There are a number of well-known scientists who don't believe that global warming is human-induced, or who believe that if it is, it is not catastrophic. Hurricane expert William Gray of Colorado State University believes the Earth will start to cool within 10 years. Neil Frank, former director of the National Hurricane Center, told The Washington Post that global warming is "a hoax." Climate scientist Robert Lindzen of MIT believes that clouds and water vapor will counteract greenhouse gas emissions.
So you have to ask yourself: Why does Gore pretend that apostates do not exist? Scientists acknowledge contradictory data. But the faith-driven Gore argues that all scientists agree with him -- well, except for those who are bought and paid for by big polluters.
Because this is a crusade -- and not about science -- Gore is drawn not to the most reasoned scenarios, but the most apocalyptic.
I thought Gore's chart comparing carbon-dioxide increases to temperature spikes was dramatic. But because Gore omits what he does not want to see, I have to listen to former NASA scientist Roy Spencer of the University of Alabama, when he tells me: "It is an alarming chart, but there are so many alternative explanations for what he's showing. He's giving it one possible explanation and making it sound like the only explanation." Spencer says it is "more likely" that the higher temperatures increased carbon dioxide levels.
Spencer, who also writes for TCS Daily (which receives some funding from ExxonMobil), believes that some global warming is human-induced, but "I don't believe in climate catastrophe. And, "It comes down to whether you believe the climate system is fragile or resilient." It all comes down to belief -- and that is the problem. Global warming has become so politicized that scientists must believe in it. If they predict dire consequences, they win praise from true believers and grants for their important research. Scientists who question the prophecies of doom can expect to be marginalized.
Now Gore is the know-it-all teacher -- and woe to any scientist who does not agree with him, not just on global warming, but on a 20-foot rise in sea level. It is this alarmism -- this extremism -- that has led many a thinking person to question global warming. It's hard to trust those who believe only the most extreme scenario.
Besides, whenever the establishment says you have to believe something, you want people who question the establishment. Or as global cooling guru Gray once said, "Consensus science isn't science."
Monday, June 12, 2006
Values
Everyone has a certain single value of primary importance or a combination of several values of importance that affects their decisions, actions, and world view.
For some, good relationships trump all other values. For others, the accumulation of wealth is at the top of their list. Some people value achievement over everything else. Others dream of a high social status and will do whatever it takes for popularity. As for me, I value truth above all else.
By valuing truth above all other values, I sometimes have to sacrifice relationships, wealth, achievement, and social status. Likewise, those who value wealth will often have to sacrifice relationships, and truth in order to accumulate a high net worth and those who place the most importance on relationships will often have to sacrifice wealth and honesty.
Our decisions and our actions are mostly derived from our primary values. People who primarily value relationships will seek agreement, compromise, consensus, and peace. These people will be reluctant to take and express a strong position on most matters unless their social network is in agreement. The final agreement or consensus is as likely to come from feelings as it is to come from a rigorous discernment of facts. People who primarily value relationships are not leaders, but are often put in positions of leadership due to their ability to create peace through agreement and compromise.
For the most part, as I observe those who have achieved wealth or success, I don’t observe people I want to emulate. I observe people who are willing to do whatever it takes to attain what they value the most. Often times, family, friends, truth, and integrity are left in the wake. Success, as defined by most, is not for me.
Debate and the earnest pursuit of truth will always be difficult, if not impossible, on blog sites that value relationship above truth. Debate and the earnest pursuit of truth will always be difficult in Churches that value relationship above truth. Marriages where one spouse values relationship above truth and the other spouse values truth above relationship will experience many challenges.
I doubt very many believers would choose the life of Elijah if they had a choice. I certainly wouldn’t. Elijah had too much trouble, too much loneliness, too much difficulty, and too much doubt. However, I am very comforted by the life of Elijah as recorded in Scripture. He trusted God, declared the truth, considered everything else including relationships secondary, and he left the outcome of his ventures to God. I don’t have the truth from God other than my understanding of Scripture, but I am willing to place truth above all else and let God determine the outcome; trouble, loneliness, difficulty, doubt, and all.
For some, good relationships trump all other values. For others, the accumulation of wealth is at the top of their list. Some people value achievement over everything else. Others dream of a high social status and will do whatever it takes for popularity. As for me, I value truth above all else.
By valuing truth above all other values, I sometimes have to sacrifice relationships, wealth, achievement, and social status. Likewise, those who value wealth will often have to sacrifice relationships, and truth in order to accumulate a high net worth and those who place the most importance on relationships will often have to sacrifice wealth and honesty.
Our decisions and our actions are mostly derived from our primary values. People who primarily value relationships will seek agreement, compromise, consensus, and peace. These people will be reluctant to take and express a strong position on most matters unless their social network is in agreement. The final agreement or consensus is as likely to come from feelings as it is to come from a rigorous discernment of facts. People who primarily value relationships are not leaders, but are often put in positions of leadership due to their ability to create peace through agreement and compromise.
For the most part, as I observe those who have achieved wealth or success, I don’t observe people I want to emulate. I observe people who are willing to do whatever it takes to attain what they value the most. Often times, family, friends, truth, and integrity are left in the wake. Success, as defined by most, is not for me.
Debate and the earnest pursuit of truth will always be difficult, if not impossible, on blog sites that value relationship above truth. Debate and the earnest pursuit of truth will always be difficult in Churches that value relationship above truth. Marriages where one spouse values relationship above truth and the other spouse values truth above relationship will experience many challenges.
I doubt very many believers would choose the life of Elijah if they had a choice. I certainly wouldn’t. Elijah had too much trouble, too much loneliness, too much difficulty, and too much doubt. However, I am very comforted by the life of Elijah as recorded in Scripture. He trusted God, declared the truth, considered everything else including relationships secondary, and he left the outcome of his ventures to God. I don’t have the truth from God other than my understanding of Scripture, but I am willing to place truth above all else and let God determine the outcome; trouble, loneliness, difficulty, doubt, and all.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Nitpicking
Facts are the building blocks of ideas; ideas are the building blocks of concepts; concepts are the building blocks of beliefs, views, opinions, and ideologies. It is impossible to have a rock solid opinion, belief, or view without accurate facts, clear ideas based on the facts, and clear concepts based on consistent ideas.
Last week I was told by a writer/blogger that the type of comments I leave at his site made him feel like I was only concerned with nitpicking his pieces. Therefore, he didn’t care to respond to my type of challenges. He assured me he wanted dialogue, but he didn’t want to get dragged into a vortex of challenging each other’s facts. He felt like my challenges were a hindrance to his ability to focus on what he was trying to achieve with his writing at his blog.
I don’t know that dialogue is possible without challenges to facts. If you say you are a Methodist and I say I am a Presbyterian, we don’t have dialogue. We may have learned something knew about each other, and we may have the start of a relationship, and we may even have a starting point for dialogue, but we still don’t have dialogue until we reach a point of disagreement in regards to some facts. There is no “iron sharpening iron” until and without challenges to the building blocks of beliefs.
“I am a Democrat” - “I am a Republican”, is not dialogue. “I am a Democrat because Democrats care about the poor” - “I am a Republican because the Republicans actually help the poor”, still is not dialogue. “I am a Democrat because Democrats care about the poor by creating government programs to assist the poor” - “I am a Republican because the Republicans actually help the poor by reducing taxes and government regulations”, is getting close to being dialogue, but it is still missing the challenge that is needed for dialogue. Up until this point, we have only made statements of belief. Dialogue begins when the Democrat challenges the Republican to demonstrate how reducing taxes has helped the poor and the Republican challenges the Democrat to demonstrate how government programs have helped the poor. Through the challenges, we may both reconsider the possible fallacy to our belief.
I like getting comments on my site and I like most of the people who comment, but I especially like the challenges I get from Hammer and Derek. Both of these men have impeccable integrity to go along with a professional ability to nitpick. I still have a long way to go, but I think I am a clearer thinker as a result of the challenges I have received from Hammer, Derek, and others. Without their challenges, I may have been able to improve my writing skills, but I would not have been able to improve my thinking or my communication skills.
Although I have a high tolerance for being nitpicked, it seems like most writers are offended when they are challenged. I don’t know why I like it and others don‘t, but it probably has something to do with being contrarian. I can see where nitpicking can go too far when criticism becomes the stubborn repeating of the same debatable point. Several months ago I had to tell an old friend to leave me alone. We couldn’t have a conversation without him claiming that “Bush Lied”. Of course I don’t believe President Bush lied to convince Americans of the need for war or even if he did lie regarding a few facts it would change what needed to be done. My friend is certainly entitled to an opinion and he is entitled, even encouraged, to express his opinion to me. However, he should have realized that at some point, I did not agree with his facts and it was time for him to give it a rest.
Occasionally I may cross the line of what is acceptable and I may become obnoxious. I hope my friends will honestly let me know when I have gone too far without telling me to leave them alone. I also hope all of my readers will nitpick with all of their energy and ability because I do still have a long way to go in writing and thinking clearly.
Last week I was told by a writer/blogger that the type of comments I leave at his site made him feel like I was only concerned with nitpicking his pieces. Therefore, he didn’t care to respond to my type of challenges. He assured me he wanted dialogue, but he didn’t want to get dragged into a vortex of challenging each other’s facts. He felt like my challenges were a hindrance to his ability to focus on what he was trying to achieve with his writing at his blog.
I don’t know that dialogue is possible without challenges to facts. If you say you are a Methodist and I say I am a Presbyterian, we don’t have dialogue. We may have learned something knew about each other, and we may have the start of a relationship, and we may even have a starting point for dialogue, but we still don’t have dialogue until we reach a point of disagreement in regards to some facts. There is no “iron sharpening iron” until and without challenges to the building blocks of beliefs.
“I am a Democrat” - “I am a Republican”, is not dialogue. “I am a Democrat because Democrats care about the poor” - “I am a Republican because the Republicans actually help the poor”, still is not dialogue. “I am a Democrat because Democrats care about the poor by creating government programs to assist the poor” - “I am a Republican because the Republicans actually help the poor by reducing taxes and government regulations”, is getting close to being dialogue, but it is still missing the challenge that is needed for dialogue. Up until this point, we have only made statements of belief. Dialogue begins when the Democrat challenges the Republican to demonstrate how reducing taxes has helped the poor and the Republican challenges the Democrat to demonstrate how government programs have helped the poor. Through the challenges, we may both reconsider the possible fallacy to our belief.
I like getting comments on my site and I like most of the people who comment, but I especially like the challenges I get from Hammer and Derek. Both of these men have impeccable integrity to go along with a professional ability to nitpick. I still have a long way to go, but I think I am a clearer thinker as a result of the challenges I have received from Hammer, Derek, and others. Without their challenges, I may have been able to improve my writing skills, but I would not have been able to improve my thinking or my communication skills.
Although I have a high tolerance for being nitpicked, it seems like most writers are offended when they are challenged. I don’t know why I like it and others don‘t, but it probably has something to do with being contrarian. I can see where nitpicking can go too far when criticism becomes the stubborn repeating of the same debatable point. Several months ago I had to tell an old friend to leave me alone. We couldn’t have a conversation without him claiming that “Bush Lied”. Of course I don’t believe President Bush lied to convince Americans of the need for war or even if he did lie regarding a few facts it would change what needed to be done. My friend is certainly entitled to an opinion and he is entitled, even encouraged, to express his opinion to me. However, he should have realized that at some point, I did not agree with his facts and it was time for him to give it a rest.
Occasionally I may cross the line of what is acceptable and I may become obnoxious. I hope my friends will honestly let me know when I have gone too far without telling me to leave them alone. I also hope all of my readers will nitpick with all of their energy and ability because I do still have a long way to go in writing and thinking clearly.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Is Al Gore a Brave Truth Teller?
Robert Tracinski did not have much trouble contradicting some of Al Gore’s claims.
Selected Excerpts:
Selected Excerpts:
Everyone knows that the global warming theory is the dogma of the entrenched establishment. We know this because we are relentlessly barraged with global warming hysteria from political leaders, the mainstream media, and the government-scientific complex. We are constantly told that we are in imminent danger of dying from everything as catastrophic as massive flooding or as trivial as runaway poison ivy.
What the general public may not have heard about is the courageous band of researchers who are the ones actually speaking up for science in the face of this global warming juggernaut. Ironically, some of the reporting prompted by Gore's film has allowed some of these scientists to be heard--and we ought to listen.
But the truth about this claim is very inconvenient for Al Gore and the environmentalists. The Washington Times published an article surveying a number of top hurricane scientists, whom it found to be "divided" on the merits of Gore's claim. Chris Landsea of the National Hurricane Center even doubts that hurricane intensity has increased as much as claimed over the past thirty years, pointing out that scientists couldn't accurately measure hurricane wind speeds until 1984. We don't know how much of the increase in Category 4 and Category 5 hurricanes recorded in recent years is due to an actual increase or whether it is, as he puts it, an "artificial increase," an illusion produced by our improved ability to measure hurricanes.
Meanwhile, Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane forecaster at Colorado State University, points out that increased hurricane activity in the Atlantic has been balanced out by a decrease in the number of tropical storms in the Pacific. "When these two regions are summed together, there has been virtually no increase in Category 4-5 hurricanes."
So if the splashy movie-poster claim of An Inconvenient Truth turns out to be dubious and hotly contested--very far from an established "truth"--where does that leave Al Gore's status as the brave truth-teller? A fawning New York Times profile on Gore admits that he avoids "making direct causal links that most scientists say are impossible to substantiate" but instead "uses imagery and implication" to make his case. That's about the most tasteful description of the methods of a flim-flam artist I have ever read.
I guess some of the truth is starting to get a hearing--no matter how inconvenient that might be for Gore and company.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Electoral College
As a country, America should always strive to be better. Actually, most of the time, America needs to strive just to stay good. However, changing a Presidential Election system that has worked better than every other system on earth would not be an improvement.
The direct election of our President and/or higher voter turnout would probably give us worse government than we currently have. Countries with pure democratic elections of their President or Prime Minister are all more corrupt than America. Countries with higher voter turnout than America, and most countries do have higher voter turnout, all have worse leaders than America. I don’t think this is purely a coincidence. There is a correlation between direct elections, high voter turnout, and bad government.
With the Electoral College, there is no reason to cheat in most states. The outcome in California, New York, Texas, etc., is all predetermined. Cheating is constrained to the few competitive States where the outcome is uncertain. With less reason to cheat, fewer opportunities to cheat, and a greater focus on the States where cheating is suspected, the cheating can be identified, sometimes prevented, and usually fixed. However, without the Electoral College, cheating would happen up and down every state. It would be impossible to identify and correct all of the corruption.
We will never know with certainty who won the 2000 Presidential election. However, we do know it was a photo finish and it was so close that both candidates had a legitimate claim to the Presidency. Without the Electoral College, a legitimate President would not have been possible. President Clinton never won a majority of the popular vote, but he had the support of the majority of the population because of the Electoral College system, and for the most part President Clinton had a successful Presidency.
The Electoral College is a moderating force. Government, in my lifetime at least, has been very centrist. Johnson, Nixon and Carter moved the country a little to the left. Kennedy, Reagan, and Bush II a little to the right. Eisenhower, Ford, Bush I, and Clinton maintained the status quo.
Sure, I would like better government. I would also like a model wife, perfectly obedient children, and a higher paying job. However, I’m not about to get rid of my wife, my children, or my job, because when I compare my wife, my children, and my job to other wives, children, and jobs, I realize I already have it pretty darn good.
Our Presidential election system is not perfect, but it is the best in the world. Changing it would be a mistake. Other countries should copy us.
The direct election of our President and/or higher voter turnout would probably give us worse government than we currently have. Countries with pure democratic elections of their President or Prime Minister are all more corrupt than America. Countries with higher voter turnout than America, and most countries do have higher voter turnout, all have worse leaders than America. I don’t think this is purely a coincidence. There is a correlation between direct elections, high voter turnout, and bad government.
With the Electoral College, there is no reason to cheat in most states. The outcome in California, New York, Texas, etc., is all predetermined. Cheating is constrained to the few competitive States where the outcome is uncertain. With less reason to cheat, fewer opportunities to cheat, and a greater focus on the States where cheating is suspected, the cheating can be identified, sometimes prevented, and usually fixed. However, without the Electoral College, cheating would happen up and down every state. It would be impossible to identify and correct all of the corruption.
We will never know with certainty who won the 2000 Presidential election. However, we do know it was a photo finish and it was so close that both candidates had a legitimate claim to the Presidency. Without the Electoral College, a legitimate President would not have been possible. President Clinton never won a majority of the popular vote, but he had the support of the majority of the population because of the Electoral College system, and for the most part President Clinton had a successful Presidency.
The Electoral College is a moderating force. Government, in my lifetime at least, has been very centrist. Johnson, Nixon and Carter moved the country a little to the left. Kennedy, Reagan, and Bush II a little to the right. Eisenhower, Ford, Bush I, and Clinton maintained the status quo.
Sure, I would like better government. I would also like a model wife, perfectly obedient children, and a higher paying job. However, I’m not about to get rid of my wife, my children, or my job, because when I compare my wife, my children, and my job to other wives, children, and jobs, I realize I already have it pretty darn good.
Our Presidential election system is not perfect, but it is the best in the world. Changing it would be a mistake. Other countries should copy us.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
To vote or not to vote?
The main reason there is so much money and therefore corruption in politics is because of the cost involved in creating and running television commercials and the cost involved in creating and mailing direct mail pieces.
I wish choosing to vote for a candidate was as easy as voting against the candidate who produces the most deceitful ads and literature. However, in most elections this is not an option because all of the serious candidates who have a chance to win are spending lots of money trashing their opponent.
Please do not let money in politics affect your decision to vote today and please do not ever vote if the only information you have is from television or direct mail.
I wish choosing to vote for a candidate was as easy as voting against the candidate who produces the most deceitful ads and literature. However, in most elections this is not an option because all of the serious candidates who have a chance to win are spending lots of money trashing their opponent.
Please do not let money in politics affect your decision to vote today and please do not ever vote if the only information you have is from television or direct mail.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Taxes
One of the best attributes of America is that America doesn’t have a permanent upper class like Europe. Ordinary Americans can still work their way into the upper class by hard work, disciplined saving, and wise investment. Without an inheritance tax, wealthy Americans will be able to use government to protect the “already wealthy” and make it harder for ordinary Americans to work, save, and invest their way into the upper class. Ever wonder why America doesn’t have a wealth tax?
Of all forms of taxation, the inheritance tax hurts the least number of people and has the least affect on the economy. It is much better to tax the dead who no longer need their wealth than it is to tax the living who are still climbing the ladder of success. Ted Kennedy hasn’t had to work a [honest] day in his life, but he is constantly advocating new taxes on those who work.
Of all forms of taxation, income taxes, including Social Security are the least fair. If we have to have taxes, and we do, although not at current levels, then it would be better to eliminate Social Security and increase inheritance taxes.
Children of the wealthy should not have a lifetime pass even if they are only inheriting a small business. If a business is big enough to owe the inheritance tax at the death of its principle owner, then it is large enough to be incorporated.
In addition to keeping the inheritance tax, I would prefer a wealth tax to an income or consumption tax.
Both income and consumption taxes hurt those generating economic activity by penalizing the industrious. If a person spends every dime they earn, they should pay no taxes. They have done their part for America by working and supporting the work of others. Reducing income taxes would also immediately make American workers more competitive in the world economy.
Furthermore, a wealth tax would prevent anyone from just sitting on a pile of money. It would also be the easiest for government to administer and the hardest for cheaters to avoid. Income and spending can be hidden from government; it is much harder, impossible even, to hide property and investments. A wealth tax would still be passed on to those earning income and those consuming goods and services, but earners and consumers would not have to worry about the burden of paperwork.
Of all forms of taxation, the inheritance tax hurts the least number of people and has the least affect on the economy. It is much better to tax the dead who no longer need their wealth than it is to tax the living who are still climbing the ladder of success. Ted Kennedy hasn’t had to work a [honest] day in his life, but he is constantly advocating new taxes on those who work.
Of all forms of taxation, income taxes, including Social Security are the least fair. If we have to have taxes, and we do, although not at current levels, then it would be better to eliminate Social Security and increase inheritance taxes.
Children of the wealthy should not have a lifetime pass even if they are only inheriting a small business. If a business is big enough to owe the inheritance tax at the death of its principle owner, then it is large enough to be incorporated.
In addition to keeping the inheritance tax, I would prefer a wealth tax to an income or consumption tax.
Both income and consumption taxes hurt those generating economic activity by penalizing the industrious. If a person spends every dime they earn, they should pay no taxes. They have done their part for America by working and supporting the work of others. Reducing income taxes would also immediately make American workers more competitive in the world economy.
Furthermore, a wealth tax would prevent anyone from just sitting on a pile of money. It would also be the easiest for government to administer and the hardest for cheaters to avoid. Income and spending can be hidden from government; it is much harder, impossible even, to hide property and investments. A wealth tax would still be passed on to those earning income and those consuming goods and services, but earners and consumers would not have to worry about the burden of paperwork.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Tough and Sweet
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Hammer.
Contrarian Views could probably use a guest piece from Hammertime on certain holidays and special occasions.
Contrarian Views could probably use a guest piece from Hammertime on certain holidays and special occasions.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
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