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
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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.
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