Sunday, June 11, 2006
WHAT ARE THE REAL POLITICAL ISSUES?
What are the real political issue is the fall elections to come? We cannot always see what the real issues are because of all the smoke screens that are blown. Political posturing by candidates often obscures what their real beliefs and motives are. Then there are the red herrings dragged across the poltical paths to distract the voters.
The Militant Moderate has sought to list those issues which he believes to be smoke and distractions, and the issues of political substance which voters should consider.
THE SMOKE SCREEN DISTRATIONS:
Gay marriage. Defense of traditional marriage.
Abortion. "Right to life."
Posting the Ten Commandments.
Prayer in schools.
Taking God out of the pledge.
Family values.
SERIOUS POLITICAL ISSUES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
The Iraq War. Lies and deceit. Mismanagement. Loss of life
and limb. Loss of world respect. Increased security risk.
The national debt. Annual deficits. Debt owed to foreigners.
Growing interest burden. Increased trade deficits.
Political corruption with lobbyists and special interests. Money
corrupts. Political favors for money. Campaign financing.
Illegal immigration and illegal immigrants. What a mess!
Tax cuts for the wealthy. Abolishing inheritance taxes for super-
wealthy. Tax burden shifting to middle & lower classes.
Labor's share of prosperity. Minimum wage. Poverty. Job
quality. Lack of middle class prosperity. Wealth growth.
Health care for all. The working uninsured. System wrongs.
Maintaining the security net. The future form of Social Security.
Outsourcing Amrican jobs. Companies moving out. Cheating
stockholders. Tax dodges. Off-shore offices.
Energy solutions not involving more oil. Alternatives.
Educational opportunities with less federal interference.
No child left behind -- No school left out.
Use of stem cells in scientific research on cures for disease.
Excess concern for business and too little concern for workers.
Mixing religious beliefs into law.
Trade policies protecting American industry and standard of
living.
The right to die.
Let us hope that political practice does not again promote that debasing alliance of God and mammon. It will be most unfortunate if candidates, and the special interests with campaign money to donate, succeed again in obscuring the real issues in government by appealing to emotional issues, most of which are either constitutional court issues or private, personal, religious concerns, when should not involve government at all. Too many voters are responding to false issues, often religious and not an appropriate part of governing. They are overlooking the deep, serious problems facing the nation and its people.
Those candidates touting false issues are pandering to sincerely religious voters. The create and pass along conspiracy theories designed to frighten gullible people. They should be ashamed, and perhaps God will judge them harshly for it.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate.
The Militant Moderate has sought to list those issues which he believes to be smoke and distractions, and the issues of political substance which voters should consider.
THE SMOKE SCREEN DISTRATIONS:
Gay marriage. Defense of traditional marriage.
Abortion. "Right to life."
Posting the Ten Commandments.
Prayer in schools.
Taking God out of the pledge.
Family values.
SERIOUS POLITICAL ISSUES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
The Iraq War. Lies and deceit. Mismanagement. Loss of life
and limb. Loss of world respect. Increased security risk.
The national debt. Annual deficits. Debt owed to foreigners.
Growing interest burden. Increased trade deficits.
Political corruption with lobbyists and special interests. Money
corrupts. Political favors for money. Campaign financing.
Illegal immigration and illegal immigrants. What a mess!
Tax cuts for the wealthy. Abolishing inheritance taxes for super-
wealthy. Tax burden shifting to middle & lower classes.
Labor's share of prosperity. Minimum wage. Poverty. Job
quality. Lack of middle class prosperity. Wealth growth.
Health care for all. The working uninsured. System wrongs.
Maintaining the security net. The future form of Social Security.
Outsourcing Amrican jobs. Companies moving out. Cheating
stockholders. Tax dodges. Off-shore offices.
Energy solutions not involving more oil. Alternatives.
Educational opportunities with less federal interference.
No child left behind -- No school left out.
Use of stem cells in scientific research on cures for disease.
Excess concern for business and too little concern for workers.
Mixing religious beliefs into law.
Trade policies protecting American industry and standard of
living.
The right to die.
Let us hope that political practice does not again promote that debasing alliance of God and mammon. It will be most unfortunate if candidates, and the special interests with campaign money to donate, succeed again in obscuring the real issues in government by appealing to emotional issues, most of which are either constitutional court issues or private, personal, religious concerns, when should not involve government at all. Too many voters are responding to false issues, often religious and not an appropriate part of governing. They are overlooking the deep, serious problems facing the nation and its people.
Those candidates touting false issues are pandering to sincerely religious voters. The create and pass along conspiracy theories designed to frighten gullible people. They should be ashamed, and perhaps God will judge them harshly for it.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate.
