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Are we are witnessing the failure of a President to lead? I wonder if the people understand what is happening. Congress is asked to vote for a 700+ Billion dollar “bailout” of the financial market. Ok, why? The President remains quiet for many days, then talks to the people and instead of explaining and trying to persuade us, basically says I need this done, trust me.

I admit that I do not understand the problem. Without a clear explanation, I am tempted to believe that Multi billion dollar companies run by millionaires are attempting to extort the American taxpayer.

It is clear to me that the mortgage crises was mostly the fault of bad business. The bad business decisions were made worse by mortgage companies that decided to foreclose instead of keeping the mortgage and renegotiating the monthly payment. In effect the rich financial companies hurt themselves. So many foreclosed that the prices of real estate declined and the mortgage companies suddenly had property they could not sell without a huge loss.

Why didn’t the President clearly explain the situation? If he did not understand it himself he could have asked someone who did understand. In effect President Bush decided to “pass the buck” to congress.

Congress is a very large committee. Committees are traditionally very slow to act and usually must compromise in order to gain a majority for action. Solutions by Congress are usually a bit of a mess. Congress, in order to gain votes, add amendments at the request of members. Without such compromise almost any bill will be defeated.

If this is such a crises, don’t we need leadership? What we are getting is political infighting. The Secretary of the Treasury needs to gather some real economists, design a plan that will really work and give to us. He needs to work a crew 24/7 if necessary to provide the needed plan and then sell it. No more political incompetence please.

The United States is in the midst of a financial crises. Congress is discussing the President’s proposal for a 700 billion to 1 trillion dollar “bailout” of the financial sector of the country. During the news coverage I heard several politicians state that although we may be forced to provide the funds for the companies, it would be unwise to give handouts to the everyday citizens who lost their homes.

Why the position in favor of helping the businesses in trouble? It is claimed that if we do not, the US and maybe the world will have another great depression. Accordingly the bailout is in our own selfish interest. Although I do not really understand the bailout assertion, if enough “experts” agree on the nature of the situation, I may reluctantly agree to not fight them.

The other part of the equation, refusing to help individual homeowners out of their foreclosure situation, I do not understand at all. The assertion is that the morally and logically good action is to make everyday citizens help themselves so that they will learn not to make such mistakes. Given that claim, why does it fail to apply to the leaders of the financial corporations?

The corporate CEOs and CFOs are very rich people with a lot of sophisticated training in financial matters. How could they have not seen the problem. Many experts, including John McCain and George Bush, agree that it is their greed that led us into the mess. Don’t they also need to learn lessons? We trusted these people with our financial well being. Do we allow them to remain in place without learning the lesson? Do we allow them to receive a financial settlement instead of a stiff penalty if they resign their position or retire?

Seems to me that if helping the corporations is logically valid then so is helping the citizens. If we bail out the corporations we should bail out the people, and protect the people from such predators. Isn’t protecting citizens the job of government?

John McCain has been a bit of a hero to me since I learned of his sacrifice in a Hanoi POW camp. I followed his successful political career and decided that John is the one that knows about the sacrifices that are so much a part of military service and would naturally support veterans. Recently I learned that my assumptions may be false.

McCain says: “I’ve received every award from every major veteran’s organization in America. The reason why I have a perfect voting record from organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and all the other veterans service organizations is because of my support of them.”

I checked with the veterans groups and: McCain received a grade of D from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and a 20 percent vote rating from the Disabled Veterans of America; Vietnam Veterans of America noted McCain has “voted against us” in 15 “key votes.” As for the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars — with whom McCain claims to have a “perfect voting record” — both groups vigorously supported Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-VA) GI Bill that McCain tirelessly opposed and on which he skipped the vote.

So dear John please tell me that the following record is not true*.

Aug, 01 – McCain voted against $650M for medical care for veterans.

Apr, 03 – McCain voted to “table” an action to provide $1B for National Guard and Reserve equipment, including: helmets, tents, bullet- proof inserts, and tactical vests. The Guard and Reserve provide about half of our combat troops in Iraq.

Oct, 03 – McCain voted to “table” and amendment to provide $320M for safety equipment for our troops in Iraq.

Mar 04 – McCain voted against $1.8 B for the Veterans Administration. The VA has responsibility for caring for our wounded troops.

Mar 06 – McCain voted against $1.5B for the Veterans Administration

Apr 06 – McCain was 1 of only 13 Senators voting against $430M for VA outpatient care and medical treatment for veterans.

May 06 – McCain voted against an amendment to provide $20M for VA health facilities.

Sep 07, McCain voted against the Webb amendment calling for adequate rest between deployments (combat troops).

McCain also missed over a dozen more bills for Iraq support.

John McCain is our most visible military veteran. If veterans can not depend upon him as Senator, what can we expect if he becomes President.

Say it isn’t so!      

* 1st source: Veterans for Common Sense (checked against voting records)

Politicians speak about abortion – but do not solve the problem. The church’s peace and social justice doctrine is ignored by those same politicians.  Some web sites claim there is a “Christian vote” – shouldn’t a “Christian Vote” support most of the doctrines of Jesus Christ and His church?  Currently “Christian” politicians agree mostly to fight abortion.

Let us look at the one issue Christian Vote? The Bible doesn’t mention abortion.  I think we derive that from the Old Testament’s Ten Commandments.  And I believe that we should follow the commandment “thou shall not kill.”  Aborting babies is unacceptable.  Killing civilians in war is unacceptable.   Mercy killing is unacceptable.  My Christian faith, however, also includes the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament.

In Matthew 5:17, Jesus tell us that He fulfils the law, and in MT 22:36-40 that there are only two commandments, love god and love your neighbor as  yourself.  Jesus says that The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.  If we love God and each other we won’t break any of the Ten Commandments.

Jesus provides us with many statements concerning the church’s peace and justice issues. Jesus gives us guidance concerning our treatment of our neighbors in Luke 10:29-37, the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

The Bible tells us in MT 25:31-46 to feed the hungry, provide drink for the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, care for the ill, and visit those in prison.  We are told in Romans 12:9-21 to pray, exercise hospitality, bless those who persecute us, and avoid vengeance. Also we are directed to live at peace, weep with those who weep, feed our enemies and give them drink.  The New Testament talks to us about healing the sick, lame, and deaf.  We are asked to care for the blind and the poor.

We are also asked to avoid judging each other. In MT 7:1-4 we are told to stop judging and focus upon our own sins.  In LK 6:37 we are asked to stop judging to avoid being judged. Roman 2:1-6 indicates that by judging we condemn ourselves.  And Romans 14:10-13 asks us not to despise those who disagree with us.  Accordingly I do not want to allow myself to have negative feelings about any candidate for office regardless of their position on issues.  I am allowed to not vote for them.                  

With all the messages Jesus provides concerning the poor, ill, disadvantaged, and outcasts, where, should I put my priorities?  Do I support an anti abortion plan that has not worked.  Or should I turn my efforts to Christian social actions that may actually have an impact on me, my faith and my neighbor?

The emphasis upon a single Christian issue would be acceptable to me if the action showed much chance of success.  Until such a plan is presented, Christians may want to put their efforts on plans that make a difference to our Christian faith.

Some pro life groups are starting to ask for our vote for “self labeled” pro life candidates. My response is simple:  Please give us a plan that will work! I have voted for pro life candidates for many years. Roe v Wade became a problem in 1973 and little progress has been made to modify it.  What have the people we voted into office done about abortion? Very little. Years ago Congress or a state would pass laws restricting abortions, only to have them struck down by the Supreme Court. Lately most legislators have stopped trying. The church has focused effort upon electing a pro life President. Since the President does not make law, the intention must be to have him appoint pro life friendly justices. George Bush appointed two during the last eight years.

 

When will we learn? The only way to eliminate abortion is with a Constitutional amendment! If the Supreme Court changes Roe v Wade, it can later change it back (the current court has proven that they can change pre-existing decisions!).  We elect “pro life” members of congress and they do nothing about abortion!   I am very disappointed with some because of this in-action.

 

I am tired of false hopes and failure on this matter.  All our political abortion campaign has done is upset people.  Our current strategy is a waste of our efforts.  I no longer want to support candidates that give us “lip service” but no action.  Let us solve this moral evil permanently.

 

Surely this one issue unites most Christian denominations.  If churches unite we can do this. Since Christian churches really are against abortion, they must use their vast resources to get some experts to write a powerful amendment, demand a special convention (Constitution Article V), and push the amendment.  Even I can read Article V of the Constitution – there is a way!  Let us all write our church leaders and ask them to lead this effort. Without that effort, please do not ask for our “one issue” vote.

 

 

 

 

Today, since she had captured massive news coverage, let us look at Sarah Palin’s appearance at the Republican convention.