With the hallabaloo last week of Obama speaking to school children and then the Health Care debates and townhall’s and speeches, it was hard not to get a little caught up in the happenings. The reality is I’ve checked out a bit on the national political ruckus, there just seemed to be too much yelling for me to keep my head on straight. It struck me that next week will mark 8 months in to the Democrat ruled White House, which seems like a relatively short amount of time to form such a strong opinion of folks. It took me a good 3 1/2 years to go from a Bush supporter to a governmental dissenter.
I don’t think political maneuvering and government are the way to get things done, though I do think are collective organizing and resources (i.e. government) for all it’s flaws can definitely be a tool to address community needs. I do find it useful when the fire department shows up to put our a fire, and when I check out books from my local library, and when we bike on the paths all over the city. I don’t like it when our collective funds are used to purchase weapons of war and kill women and children.
That’s really the end of my train of thought here. I think there are plenty of reasons to engage in politics and write your congress (here’s one). The reason I didn’t want this to be a political post is that I’d love to see those who trumpet their religious values (on both sides of the aisle) to start presenting real non-governmental solutions and ideas that uphold and live out the values they (we) claim.
Great post. See my post at jesusandlife/blogspot.com for some of my proposals under the newest blog, "Some Ideas". More shall come, join in the conversation!
Hey Ariah, Elizabeth and I just had a front porch talk that asked, " is big government a result of selfishness?" We know the answer is way more complex than yes or no. While we aren't fans of big governemnt, we felt like, as of late, the government taking things over like Health Care, the auto industry, the banks, is because of the crazy selfishness of those running those industries. If we as the church were able to step up more, would that eliminate the need for some of the "big" government programs?
I'll check it out. And hey, what's with all you folks blogging lately, it's like a old xanga-ers blog revival
Josh, I think that might be a decent simplified explanation of some of it. selfishness is the basic premise of our economic (capitalist) system, as I understand it. It works (and doesn't ) because we all act in our own self interest.
For all the good "the church" could do with our resources in addressing need, it wouldn't fill the same role as a government creating laws and regulations in industries. That's not me making a case for government though, or against the churches ability to affect a heck of a lot of change.
Heck, I don't even know what qualifies as "big" (read: liberal, socialist, etc) anymore
"I do find it useful when the fire department shows up to put our a fire, and when I check out books from my local library, and when we bike on the paths all over the city. I don’t like it when our collective funds are used to purchase weapons of war and kill women and children."
I think this concept, though I doubt it represents your view entirely, is why we (Americans) argue so much about the government. We always like it when the government does things we find useful and do not like when it does things we do not find useful or don't like. The problem is there are about 300 plus million US citizens who disagree on all of those specific details of what they want and don't want from the government.
The things you tend to like (and I myself as well) are locally funded by your city, county, and state. What is great about those things like libraries, schools, police departments, etc… is that you have more say over them and it is easier to change them when things go wrong (recalls, votes on particular measures, etc…). I think the things you don't like (you mentioned bombs in particular) and the things I don't like (billions of dollars being wasted on all kinds of federal programs) are far removed from regular people at the federal level and are hard to decipher or oppose. I think this just shows why change has to happen on a local level.
Gustave,
Hey, it gets back to the giving states and more local governments power to enact and create changes. I definitely think that makes a lot of sense.
Why do you think that doesn't happen as frequently? Like, why aren't red and blue states drastically different in what they fund and how they are run? Just wondering what barriers there are to states implementing all these hardcore democrat or republican values and issues.
One last comment, I completely agree, I don't like money being “wasted” on federal programs either. However, money that's there and actually meeting needs and improving our country, what's your take on that?
Gustave,
Hey, it gets back to the giving states and more local governments power to enact and create changes. I definitely think that makes a lot of sense.
Why do you think that doesn't happen as frequently? Like, why aren't red and blue states drastically different in what they fund and how they are run? Just wondering what barriers there are to states implementing all these hardcore democrat or republican values and issues.
One last comment, I completely agree, I don't like money being “wasted” on federal programs either. However, money that's there and actually meeting needs and improving our country, what's your take on that?
Gustave,
Hey, it gets back to the giving states and more local governments power to enact and create changes. I definitely think that makes a lot of sense.
Why do you think that doesn't happen as frequently? Like, why aren't red and blue states drastically different in what they fund and how they are run? Just wondering what barriers there are to states implementing all these hardcore democrat or republican values and issues.
One last comment, I completely agree, I don't like money being “wasted” on federal programs either. However, money that's there and actually meeting needs and improving our country, what's your take on that?
Gustave,
Hey, it gets back to the giving states and more local governments power to enact and create changes. I definitely think that makes a lot of sense.
Why do you think that doesn't happen as frequently? Like, why aren't red and blue states drastically different in what they fund and how they are run? Just wondering what barriers there are to states implementing all these hardcore democrat or republican values and issues.
One last comment, I completely agree, I don't like money being “wasted” on federal programs either. However, money that's there and actually meeting needs and improving our country, what's your take on that?
Gustave,
Hey, it gets back to the giving states and more local governments power to enact and create changes. I definitely think that makes a lot of sense.
Why do you think that doesn't happen as frequently? Like, why aren't red and blue states drastically different in what they fund and how they are run? Just wondering what barriers there are to states implementing all these hardcore democrat or republican values and issues.
One last comment, I completely agree, I don't like money being “wasted” on federal programs either. However, money that's there and actually meeting needs and improving our country, what's your take on that?
Gustave,
Hey, it gets back to the giving states and more local governments power to enact and create changes. I definitely think that makes a lot of sense.
Why do you think that doesn't happen as frequently? Like, why aren't red and blue states drastically different in what they fund and how they are run? Just wondering what barriers there are to states implementing all these hardcore democrat or republican values and issues.
One last comment, I completely agree, I don't like money being “wasted” on federal programs either. However, money that's there and actually meeting needs and improving our country, what's your take on that?
Gustave,
Hey, it gets back to the giving states and more local governments power to enact and create changes. I definitely think that makes a lot of sense.
Why do you think that doesn't happen as frequently? Like, why aren't red and blue states drastically different in what they fund and how they are run? Just wondering what barriers there are to states implementing all these hardcore democrat or republican values and issues.
One last comment, I completely agree, I don't like money being “wasted” on federal programs either. However, money that's there and actually meeting needs and improving our country, what's your take on that?