January 21, 2004
Is there anyone to vote for?
I’ve made a decent attempt to keep up with the current presidential race and I must say I am very, very disappointed. Is there anyone who actually deserves our vote? I’m not sure there is.
First we have a legion of democrats who all uphold the sacred right to kill our children as long as they have not escaped the womb. In a party that preaches diversity and freedom, why can’t they allow just one pro-life candidate to run? I think they would be shocked by the number of votes that candidate received. What are the democrats so afraid of?
Then on the Republican side we have George Bush, who has been somewhat of a disappointment. He allowed some use of stem cell research and has waivered on the gay rights issue, but he did help get a partial birth abortion bill passed – although as Amy Welborn pointed out, he didn’t even mention it in the State of the Union address. Why? Is he embarrassed? Afraid of losing some votes?
In other issues Bush is okay, but he certainly isn’t rushing to help the poor much or work against the death penalty. Since he is running unopposed, there’s not likely to be another pro-life person on the ballot. What a disgrace that is!
At some point there has to be a third political party with a true pro-life position that cares for the poor, the elderly, etc. If you were to design the perfect candidate, what positions would he adhere to? I would suggest a few:
- Pro-life. Work to stop abortion and the death penalty.
- For the poor. Improve social systems that protect the poor and help train them for appropriate work.
- Health Insurance. This is a sticky one, but in the next ten years health insurance must be offered to the poor. One point: put limits on medical liability suits.
- Not for a closed border. This was always Pat Buchanan’s big problem. I’m for free trade agreements, not against them.
- School Choice. Allow vouchers for parents to send kids to religious schools.
- Balanced Budget. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but close. Get the budget within some modicum of reason.
- Fix Social Security/Medicare. This is the elephant in the closet. These programs are hopelessly broken and politicians are scared to face them.
What do you think? Any additions/subtractions from this list? Perhaps we can come up with the perfect platform on which a third part could be built. I’m very interested in your opinion.
God bless,
Jay
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I was having this very discussion with my daughter and son-in-law yesterday. If only there was a pro-life democrat running. But there can't be, because that is part of the democratic platform. A pro-life democrat would never be nominated by his party. Regarding insurance, only a few years ago both parties presented their own plans for a "patient's bill of rights". They were similar plans, except that the republican plan wanted to put a cap on liability claims and they were defeated. That was the deal-breaker, so the patient's bill of rights died. As someone who works for a lawfirm (in a non-litigation department), that is one reason I could never vote for John Edwards (in addition to the abortion thing) even though he seems like a positive, likable chap. As a litigation attorney, liability claims are his bread and butter and he has convinced himself that he is "helping" by getting huge settlements on such claims. But I hold him personally responsible for the fact that my brother is paying $1200 out-of-pocket every month to provide health insurance for his family. Well, I've had my say. As long as there is political deadlock in DC (and I don't see an end to it), these problems will never be solved.
There are so many issues and so many different spins on each that it is a full time job just to keep up (which I believe is the devil's way of making us not care enough to bother with it). And in some ways I just don't have enough time nor inclination to keep up.
So, from this point on my voting record will reflect the following hierarchy of needs. If at some point in time the list is met in it's entirety, we will have the perfect candidate. Otherwise, I'll just keep voting this way, because I think the top issues are what impact us most in regards to what our Heavenly mission is, to help us and everyone else get to Heaven through Christ.
1. Abortion: Must be pro-life all the way, no flip-flopping. This is a REAL issue which affects the creation and destruction of human life. What could be more important?
What, you thought there would be more? Well...I predict that from now on, you will have either exactly 1 candidate that fits the bill above or exactly 0 candidates. In either case, I don't need a number 2 as a tie breaker :) When I do, I'll figure out what that is :)
Go Bush!!
Posted by: savrx at January 22, 2004 01:21 PMI agree Go Bush. I have hope maybe his brother will encourage him to do even more with his next term. Don't forget on a lot of issues his hands have been tied. Just imagine what could be done if his appointed judges could hold office. Also don't forget this election has the potential in Congress and the Senate to finally have a majority pro-life vote if the right people get elected and reelected. Georgia has one of the needed wins with Democrat Zell Miller retiring we need to support Mac Collins. We also need to financially support pro-life groups that help fund pro-life candidates across the U.S. They need our prayers as well as money to run their races. For the first time since Roe vs.Wade we could have a pro-life Congress. The National Pro-life Alliance has done wonders in this area. In 02' of the 39 pro-life candidates they supported financially 31 won. Compare this to the millions of dollars the National Abortion Rights Action League dumped into their top 11 pro-abortion Congressional candidates' campaigns - ten of the eleven lost. Pro-lifers have huge success when supported financially. Get involved, pray, and donate. There is always hope.
Posted by: Maria at February 12, 2004 03:41 PMRight on with Mac Collins. I worked for him for a while and saw him always stand fast on the pro-life issue. He never tried to get pro-choice votes by pretending to be pro-choice. Georgians need to work hard at the grassroots level to send Mac to the Senate.
Posted by: Karen at April 2, 2004 07:53 PM
