Since its inauguration the Republican party has been a voice of compassion that helped bring needed change to America. From the very first candidate, the Republican ticket sought to fight immorality and inequality in our beloved country. The first Republican nominee for president John C. Fremont campaigned endlessly to abolish slavery but lost in the end. Four years later Lincoln, who also favored emancipation was elected and eventually would give his life to do just that.
Grant would later reach across party lines to pass the Reconstruction, showing compassion to the very people who fought against him. Hayes fought for civil rights for minorities and rights for women, passing legislation that evened the bar quite literally allowing women to argue cases at the Supreme Court level for the first time in America.
And yet a century later the party that was begun by Evangelical social conservatives has lost its voice in American politics because we have forgotten how to communicate.
I remember as a child, when my mother would tell me NO or tell that something was bad and how that affected me. Telling Americans no and condemning their very morality will never win an election or bring about change in this country.
As Christians, conservatives and Republican's alike we have forgotten that the true injustice in America is not that abortion is legal, but rather that a woman would face a decision where in her heart of hearts abortion was the only choice she felt could be made to ensure herself a future. As conservatives we have pushed so hard to overturn the decision of the court, and have spent very little time giving women who've become unexpectedly pregnant options to bring about that life into this world. If the Republican party and Evangelicals spent as much time promoting alternative options and empowering parents to be more involved in the lives of their children as they do campaigning to overturn Roe Vs Wade or protesting abortion clinics change would have happened. True we may never end the travesty of a loss of life, and perhaps an even greater burden of an America without hope, but we can bring change if we focus on the real problem instead of just on legislation.
The same can be said for the protection of the sanctity of marriage. As a party we have become so focused on the redefining marriage that we have forgotten that true marriage does not come from the church or the state but through the eyes of God. Why should we campaign to change something that God has already defined in his own eyes. Instead lets focus on lowering the divorce rate in America by changing the culture of America. We need to focus on bringing the family friendly brand back to television and giving parents and other family members more control over the schools in their own backyards.
Let's also work to reform welfare and Human Services, as well as other social organizations across America to protect children and promote a healthy and loving family. Let's make adoption easier, more affordable, and open to all those with the desire and ability to raise a child in a loving and caring environment. We need to focus on our families and communities instead of pushing and campaigning for changes in legislation
.
Christ proclaims that humanity will work out it's own salvation with fear and trembling. He also commands us that we shall not pass judgment. We as Christians must not seek to play God and as Republicans and compassionate citizens of this country we must refrain from passing judgment on issues we were not meant to decide. Instead lets work to bring about change by changing the culture in America by doing as Christ commands us to do. We must take up the Great Commission. We must go out into the world and spread the Gospel, being careful to remember that his true Gospel is the Gospel of his love and forgiveness. This is something that must done with a soft footprint as Christ's love is one of gentleness. We must share his Gospel in the same sense that we shared our toys as children. We must teach love, hope and faith through our actions. We must never force our will upon the free will of others. That's something early Republicans understood and that Christ himself would agree with.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Reforming The Republican Party
What me must embrace and understand in or order to restore the party and rebuild hope for a better tomorrow
1) We need to focus on implementing Lean Economics into our government spending. By eliminating waste, cutting duplicate programs, investing in infrastructure improvement and streamlining the process we can get our economy moving and growing again. We must reform welfare programs to provide help instead of being a hand out. We need to plan social security so that every American is protected for ten years beyond their expected life span, not only protecting seniors, but preparing America so that there is a contingency plan the next time America faces an economic crisis. We need to eliminate the trade deficit by encouraging fair trade and re-investing in the American made label.
2)We need to overhaul our legislative process requiring every bill that passes through congress to encompass a single issue, with clear precise language that can be understood by every American. We need to make every vote and every issue open to the public. We need to encourage every American to take an active interest in the political system. We need a system that assures us of a straight up and down vote. We must require our lawmakers to vote yes or no or not at all. Most Americans get paid by the hour and our legislature needs to get paid by the issue. By reducing the size of legislation and ensuring a vote on it our government can get more done. We need to restore integrity, honesty and accountability to government and by keeping things simple clear and concise we can regain the respect of the American people.
3)We need to reduce our gross domestic product and eliminate earmarks. We need to streamline government agencies reducing the size of the central government. The federal government needs to become the over site committee it was intended to be and not the huge multi conglomerate it has become. We need to eliminate several departments in our government and delegate spending to projects that benefit all Americans instead of individuals or parties.
4) We need to strengthen our military and national security so that we don't have to spend billions of dollars nation building and fighting terrorists abroad. We need to stop privatizing and outsourcing our nations security. We need to end no bid government contracts. We need accountability in defense spending. We need to bolster our port and airport security by requiring every airport in American to hire federal law enforcement officers to head security operations and protect our ports so that routine security measures mirror those of the State Department. We need to fight the war on drugs within and at America's borders and not in someone else's backyard. We need to ensure our military, law enforcement, drug enforcement and security personnel are all paid substantially better and have their backgrounds screened much more thoroughly. At the same time me must invest in better technology that will improve security and efficiency. If we ensure our country defenses are the best domestically and that every government official has a vested interest in our nation's security while using our military responsibility, we can reduce the strain on our servicemen and intelligence agencies. By investing in our security at home we can greatly reduce our burden overseas and make a move forward to repair diplomacy with nations that have become tense with our current international policy. But we must be clear that we can never fail to defend our freedom and sovereignty.
5) Last but surely not least we need to stop being so divisive. We need to reach across party lines not inside capitol hill, but throughout America where it really counts. We need to show America that being Christian and being Republican is not about passing judgment or condemning those that don't share our beliefs. There is a need to show every American that the Republican party is truly the party of compassion. We need to be truly Pro Life and not just anti-abortion. We must fight harder to reduce global poverty and famine at home and abroad. We need to use our powers to continue to battle infectious diseases and chronic illness at home and abroad. We need to help every American find affordable health care and housing and an overall of primary education so that every dollar is well spent. We need to push for more creativity, arts and music to stimulate our children with a desire to learn and grow. We need more long term, low interest loans to subsidize higher education so every American has an opportunity at a degree. We need to help every American reduce consumer driven debt so that we can be the fathers of prosperity again. Lets be the party of the people by giving the power back to the people, restoring America's pride and helping every American reach their potential.
1) We need to focus on implementing Lean Economics into our government spending. By eliminating waste, cutting duplicate programs, investing in infrastructure improvement and streamlining the process we can get our economy moving and growing again. We must reform welfare programs to provide help instead of being a hand out. We need to plan social security so that every American is protected for ten years beyond their expected life span, not only protecting seniors, but preparing America so that there is a contingency plan the next time America faces an economic crisis. We need to eliminate the trade deficit by encouraging fair trade and re-investing in the American made label.
2)We need to overhaul our legislative process requiring every bill that passes through congress to encompass a single issue, with clear precise language that can be understood by every American. We need to make every vote and every issue open to the public. We need to encourage every American to take an active interest in the political system. We need a system that assures us of a straight up and down vote. We must require our lawmakers to vote yes or no or not at all. Most Americans get paid by the hour and our legislature needs to get paid by the issue. By reducing the size of legislation and ensuring a vote on it our government can get more done. We need to restore integrity, honesty and accountability to government and by keeping things simple clear and concise we can regain the respect of the American people.
3)We need to reduce our gross domestic product and eliminate earmarks. We need to streamline government agencies reducing the size of the central government. The federal government needs to become the over site committee it was intended to be and not the huge multi conglomerate it has become. We need to eliminate several departments in our government and delegate spending to projects that benefit all Americans instead of individuals or parties.
4) We need to strengthen our military and national security so that we don't have to spend billions of dollars nation building and fighting terrorists abroad. We need to stop privatizing and outsourcing our nations security. We need to end no bid government contracts. We need accountability in defense spending. We need to bolster our port and airport security by requiring every airport in American to hire federal law enforcement officers to head security operations and protect our ports so that routine security measures mirror those of the State Department. We need to fight the war on drugs within and at America's borders and not in someone else's backyard. We need to ensure our military, law enforcement, drug enforcement and security personnel are all paid substantially better and have their backgrounds screened much more thoroughly. At the same time me must invest in better technology that will improve security and efficiency. If we ensure our country defenses are the best domestically and that every government official has a vested interest in our nation's security while using our military responsibility, we can reduce the strain on our servicemen and intelligence agencies. By investing in our security at home we can greatly reduce our burden overseas and make a move forward to repair diplomacy with nations that have become tense with our current international policy. But we must be clear that we can never fail to defend our freedom and sovereignty.
5) Last but surely not least we need to stop being so divisive. We need to reach across party lines not inside capitol hill, but throughout America where it really counts. We need to show America that being Christian and being Republican is not about passing judgment or condemning those that don't share our beliefs. There is a need to show every American that the Republican party is truly the party of compassion. We need to be truly Pro Life and not just anti-abortion. We must fight harder to reduce global poverty and famine at home and abroad. We need to use our powers to continue to battle infectious diseases and chronic illness at home and abroad. We need to help every American find affordable health care and housing and an overall of primary education so that every dollar is well spent. We need to push for more creativity, arts and music to stimulate our children with a desire to learn and grow. We need more long term, low interest loans to subsidize higher education so every American has an opportunity at a degree. We need to help every American reduce consumer driven debt so that we can be the fathers of prosperity again. Lets be the party of the people by giving the power back to the people, restoring America's pride and helping every American reach their potential.
Friday, October 3, 2008
My Reasons To Support McCain
I know that some of you will disagree with John McCain being the right choice for president. But McCain is the only candidate with a detailed plan for success to rebuild the infrastructure and economy of America.
McCain plans to build 45 new nuclear plants, helping to reduce America's dependency on foreign oil while creating 700, 000 good, high paying jobs when America needs its most. These jobs will come immediately through development and construction, and will withstand for a lasting future not only within the plants themselves, but also through future transportation and infrastructure for storage and disposal of nuclear waste. And you can guarantee this certainly will have a lasting effect at the pumps and on your utilities bills.
McCain will help to revolutionize America's auto's industry by pushing for alternative fuels. He want's to eliminate subsidies on less efficient corn ethanol while getting rid of the tax on much more efficient and cost effective sugar ethanol. Cars fueled with sugar ethanol will be efficient and enviromentally friendly without having an impact on food prices. I believe the trade of sugar ethanol may be what the United States needs to repair relations with Cuba and Venezuela. We can restore these relations the right way, setting pre-conditions and promoting peace through economic diplomacy. McCain will continue to push for bio-mass and bio-diesel. The farms of the midwest can prosper at the same time middle america finds relief at the pump.
McCain will slash the second highest corporate tax, paving the way for retail savings. These taxes force jobs overseas, and the companies that stay pass these taxes onto the consumer hurting struggling lower and middle class families. John McCain will double the dependent deduction helping the poorest of Americans with true tax relief for generations to come, unlike Obama who wants a one time payout. McCain's tax reforms will help families with at least one child three and half times more than Obama's middle class tax cuts. If you have three children, you would save an additional $10, 500 every year, ensuring children in American won't be left behind. This will relieve the burden on working class families, freeing up time to spend with your children in a time where our children are in morale crisis in America. Children more than anything need thier parents. Having time to talk to your children now will save them for hardship and emotional troubles later in life by ensuring they are well rounded and prepared for life after their education is complete. And because McCain will reduce spending in Washington and cut wasteful programs instead of pushing for new programs, you know the money will be there.
John McCain has more than just talking points. He has a plan and will keep his promise to America. He will reduce the size of the government and give the power back to the people. If you want a hand up, that will empower you to live the American dream, instead of handout that will keep Washington on your back, I encourage to get out and vote for John McCain.
McCain plans to build 45 new nuclear plants, helping to reduce America's dependency on foreign oil while creating 700, 000 good, high paying jobs when America needs its most. These jobs will come immediately through development and construction, and will withstand for a lasting future not only within the plants themselves, but also through future transportation and infrastructure for storage and disposal of nuclear waste. And you can guarantee this certainly will have a lasting effect at the pumps and on your utilities bills.
McCain will help to revolutionize America's auto's industry by pushing for alternative fuels. He want's to eliminate subsidies on less efficient corn ethanol while getting rid of the tax on much more efficient and cost effective sugar ethanol. Cars fueled with sugar ethanol will be efficient and enviromentally friendly without having an impact on food prices. I believe the trade of sugar ethanol may be what the United States needs to repair relations with Cuba and Venezuela. We can restore these relations the right way, setting pre-conditions and promoting peace through economic diplomacy. McCain will continue to push for bio-mass and bio-diesel. The farms of the midwest can prosper at the same time middle america finds relief at the pump.
McCain will slash the second highest corporate tax, paving the way for retail savings. These taxes force jobs overseas, and the companies that stay pass these taxes onto the consumer hurting struggling lower and middle class families. John McCain will double the dependent deduction helping the poorest of Americans with true tax relief for generations to come, unlike Obama who wants a one time payout. McCain's tax reforms will help families with at least one child three and half times more than Obama's middle class tax cuts. If you have three children, you would save an additional $10, 500 every year, ensuring children in American won't be left behind. This will relieve the burden on working class families, freeing up time to spend with your children in a time where our children are in morale crisis in America. Children more than anything need thier parents. Having time to talk to your children now will save them for hardship and emotional troubles later in life by ensuring they are well rounded and prepared for life after their education is complete. And because McCain will reduce spending in Washington and cut wasteful programs instead of pushing for new programs, you know the money will be there.
John McCain has more than just talking points. He has a plan and will keep his promise to America. He will reduce the size of the government and give the power back to the people. If you want a hand up, that will empower you to live the American dream, instead of handout that will keep Washington on your back, I encourage to get out and vote for John McCain.
Reform VS Change
In this election the word change is passed around more times than a bottle of whiskey at a high school drinking party. True change can be positive, but change isn’t always good. You can change a tire, change your clothes, change your mind and change your position. You can change who you are. You can’t change who you were or where you came from. You can’t change the past you can only learn from it.
Webster’s defines change as to make different, to alter, or transform, to switch or replace. In contrast reform is defined as change to an improved condition, to remove faults or abuses, or to abandon evil ways.
Anyone can change or be an agent of change, but it takes great men like our founding fathers, like Abraham Lincoln, or like Franklin D. Roosevelt to bring about reform. We owe this great country to reformers who changed our history and our futures. I believe that John McCain understands the elements needed to bring about reform which are, ideas, ingenuity, and ideals.
First lets talk about ideas. When I think about ideas I think about Thomas Edison who is the greatest American inventor. I think about our forefathers and our country. They had vision and courage to move forward. They knew that their ideas might not always be popular but that they were right for the country and would make a difference in peoples lives. Where would we be today without the light bulb. We would be in the dark. And without free government and democracy, we would still be under the control of a tyrant across the pond. It was America’s shining light, the great beacon of hope that our country is, that paved the way for democracy throughout the world. The American dream is based on the idea that all men are created equal and are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is the freedom in free trade and the free market and the tradition of self government that makes America strong.
Next there is ingenuity and the men that come to mind are Art Collins and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Marconi and Gonset have always been consider the fathers of amateur radio. But any radio operator will tell you, that Art Collins was the man who perfected it. Art Collins was a man who in his basement with a clear vision, the idea that he could build a better radio. And he did just that, perfecting tube receivers and going on to found Collins Radio, a mainstay in communications that still exists today through its legacy Rockwell Collins. Like Collins, Franklin D. Roosevelt is the father of ingenuity in American politics. He didn’t invent reform, but the New Deal is considered on the greatest reforms in American history. Not only did the New Deal leave a lasting impression on politics, but it changed business and revolutionized the global economy.
Last but certainly not least there are ideals. One needs to look no further than Patrick Henry, whose cry for liberty or death is still heard today. And certainly Abraham Lincoln, who abolished slavery and held a nation together. Neither man would have been overly popular in their day. Henry was willing to give his life for freedom, namely the freedom to practice religion free from government control. Here are a few quotes from Patrick Henry that you won’t here in the mainstreams of America.
“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and
interests”
“It is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts... For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth, to know the worst, and to provide for it.”
To the American people, and especially those that plan to vote on November 4th let me be clear in no uncertain terms that John McCain is not merely an agent of change. John McCain is a reformer who demonstrates these principles. He is a man of ideas. The idea that our government should always be for the people and the president holds the responsibility to protect its people for oppression not only from foreign enemies, but from itself when oppressive legislation and taxes stand in the way of our futures.
John McCain is a man of ingenuity who understand that we must learn from our mistakes, as he has done in championing “The Surge” that has restored peace in Iraq, and also as a senator, restoring diplomacy with Vietnam by healing wounds, and reforming campaign finance, and fighting wasteful spending in Washington. He understand that tomorrow’s economy will not be based on natural resources, but through the harvesting and creation of clean and renewable energies. Energy will be the staple of a strong and prosperous global economy, and we cannot afford to be the country that finishes in second place in the race to fuel the earth.
And John McCain is a man of ideals. He is a man who is prepared to die for his country, while also making sure that each day he will live and fight for his country as he says until his last breath. He will not only ensure that our troops will return home, but ensure they return home with dignity and honor, and that there actions will create stable visions of democracy in the Middle East and Central Asia.
On November 4th, lets not elect change for the sake of change. Let’s do America a great dignity and elect true reform.
Webster’s defines change as to make different, to alter, or transform, to switch or replace. In contrast reform is defined as change to an improved condition, to remove faults or abuses, or to abandon evil ways.
Anyone can change or be an agent of change, but it takes great men like our founding fathers, like Abraham Lincoln, or like Franklin D. Roosevelt to bring about reform. We owe this great country to reformers who changed our history and our futures. I believe that John McCain understands the elements needed to bring about reform which are, ideas, ingenuity, and ideals.
First lets talk about ideas. When I think about ideas I think about Thomas Edison who is the greatest American inventor. I think about our forefathers and our country. They had vision and courage to move forward. They knew that their ideas might not always be popular but that they were right for the country and would make a difference in peoples lives. Where would we be today without the light bulb. We would be in the dark. And without free government and democracy, we would still be under the control of a tyrant across the pond. It was America’s shining light, the great beacon of hope that our country is, that paved the way for democracy throughout the world. The American dream is based on the idea that all men are created equal and are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is the freedom in free trade and the free market and the tradition of self government that makes America strong.
Next there is ingenuity and the men that come to mind are Art Collins and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Marconi and Gonset have always been consider the fathers of amateur radio. But any radio operator will tell you, that Art Collins was the man who perfected it. Art Collins was a man who in his basement with a clear vision, the idea that he could build a better radio. And he did just that, perfecting tube receivers and going on to found Collins Radio, a mainstay in communications that still exists today through its legacy Rockwell Collins. Like Collins, Franklin D. Roosevelt is the father of ingenuity in American politics. He didn’t invent reform, but the New Deal is considered on the greatest reforms in American history. Not only did the New Deal leave a lasting impression on politics, but it changed business and revolutionized the global economy.
Last but certainly not least there are ideals. One needs to look no further than Patrick Henry, whose cry for liberty or death is still heard today. And certainly Abraham Lincoln, who abolished slavery and held a nation together. Neither man would have been overly popular in their day. Henry was willing to give his life for freedom, namely the freedom to practice religion free from government control. Here are a few quotes from Patrick Henry that you won’t here in the mainstreams of America.
“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and
interests”
“It is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts... For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth, to know the worst, and to provide for it.”
To the American people, and especially those that plan to vote on November 4th let me be clear in no uncertain terms that John McCain is not merely an agent of change. John McCain is a reformer who demonstrates these principles. He is a man of ideas. The idea that our government should always be for the people and the president holds the responsibility to protect its people for oppression not only from foreign enemies, but from itself when oppressive legislation and taxes stand in the way of our futures.
John McCain is a man of ingenuity who understand that we must learn from our mistakes, as he has done in championing “The Surge” that has restored peace in Iraq, and also as a senator, restoring diplomacy with Vietnam by healing wounds, and reforming campaign finance, and fighting wasteful spending in Washington. He understand that tomorrow’s economy will not be based on natural resources, but through the harvesting and creation of clean and renewable energies. Energy will be the staple of a strong and prosperous global economy, and we cannot afford to be the country that finishes in second place in the race to fuel the earth.
And John McCain is a man of ideals. He is a man who is prepared to die for his country, while also making sure that each day he will live and fight for his country as he says until his last breath. He will not only ensure that our troops will return home, but ensure they return home with dignity and honor, and that there actions will create stable visions of democracy in the Middle East and Central Asia.
On November 4th, lets not elect change for the sake of change. Let’s do America a great dignity and elect true reform.
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