I was a staunch Republican for many decades (a two-time state delegate for the GOP) before becoming a voting libertarian, but I'm staying home this Tuesday. In fact, I'm opting out on voting--not just this time, but every election year to come.
Someone recently suggested that being around the inner workings of the party jaded me. No, even though Lee Atwater was formidable. Prior to becoming a conservative, I campaigned for George McGovern and was quite the student radical at college. I've been up and down the political spectrum, but never out; that is, until now.
My decision to stop voting in national elections comes from standing back to take an honest, non-partisan view of the broader system that supports and fuels what passes for representative democracy in this country.
Yep. I gulped, stepped back, and looked. With no tinted glasses from any party or even the red, white, and blue American shades, I gazed into the state system that was assaulting and robbing my rights as a sovereign individual.
The WHOLE system is corrupt, and the parties do nothing but enable that corruption year after year. It is beyond repair; yet, we naively try to reboot the system because we're afraid to admit the hard drive is shot.
I grew up in an age when computers were bulky floor-to-ceiling machines used by only banks and giant, global corporations. When the idea of a personal computer was first introduced, many in the industry were skeptical of it catching on with the general public.
Industry "insiders" could not imagine a mom mastering its then complex components for everyday use, or teenagers casually taking laptop versions to school. The idea of a massive internet was far-fetched, indeed!
Right now, government is the floor-to ceiling, imposing entity. Politicians tell us we need them because the average citizen cannot independently manage his commercial and moral affairs, or even begin to understand the complexities of the various levels of governance.
America, take off the thick glasses! Find the courage to swallow hard and look. I don't mean a glance that turns politely turns away at any wrongdoing. I'm talking about a steady, honest gaze into the mess we've advanced and even championed!
Were you scared to turn on your first PC? It was intimidating, but the possibilities of what it could do and where it could take you pushed you past the fear into a thrilling commitment. You listened, experimented on your own, and learned from your mistakes. Aren't the pursuits and utilization of our liberties the same?
We don't need a detailed tutorial from the state that tells us how to live our lives. We don't need diagrams and a government geek on standby.
Yes, being responsible for your own life and to other liberty-lovers around you can be exhilarating and at times, unnerving...but it is an engaged, effective life!
No more denial. Can you name one policy that has been dramatically altered or removed by an incoming party, even though they made glowing campaign promises?
Obamacare will not be removed from our landscape. It is here to stay. There will be minor changes here or there. No doubt, some tweaks will benefit the citizens...that is, until the other party gets in power.
You see, if the Republican Congress really wanted to reform the insurance industry on behalf of Americans, why didn't they do it when they had the political advantage? If they really wanted to limit government, why didn't they attempt to do it under Bush?
Instead, government actually grew alarmingly on their watch! Their man Bush brazenly hi-jacked the Constitution with the Patriot Act and violated the Geneva Convention at Guantanamo. Currently, more evidence is surfacing to further implicate him in war crimes.
Obama promised to get the troops home, close Guantanamo, and bring real change to America. Do you remember the rock song, "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who? That familiar line keeps running through my head this election season: "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."
Some people say that they regret it, but they just have to vote for the lesser of two evils. Well, it's still evil, is it not? And Christian, how DO you justify that position before non-believers?
Someone recently suggested that being around the inner workings of the party jaded me. No, even though Lee Atwater was formidable. Prior to becoming a conservative, I campaigned for George McGovern and was quite the student radical at college. I've been up and down the political spectrum, but never out; that is, until now.
My decision to stop voting in national elections comes from standing back to take an honest, non-partisan view of the broader system that supports and fuels what passes for representative democracy in this country.
Yep. I gulped, stepped back, and looked. With no tinted glasses from any party or even the red, white, and blue American shades, I gazed into the state system that was assaulting and robbing my rights as a sovereign individual.
The WHOLE system is corrupt, and the parties do nothing but enable that corruption year after year. It is beyond repair; yet, we naively try to reboot the system because we're afraid to admit the hard drive is shot.
I grew up in an age when computers were bulky floor-to-ceiling machines used by only banks and giant, global corporations. When the idea of a personal computer was first introduced, many in the industry were skeptical of it catching on with the general public.
Industry "insiders" could not imagine a mom mastering its then complex components for everyday use, or teenagers casually taking laptop versions to school. The idea of a massive internet was far-fetched, indeed!
Right now, government is the floor-to ceiling, imposing entity. Politicians tell us we need them because the average citizen cannot independently manage his commercial and moral affairs, or even begin to understand the complexities of the various levels of governance.
America, take off the thick glasses! Find the courage to swallow hard and look. I don't mean a glance that turns politely turns away at any wrongdoing. I'm talking about a steady, honest gaze into the mess we've advanced and even championed!
Were you scared to turn on your first PC? It was intimidating, but the possibilities of what it could do and where it could take you pushed you past the fear into a thrilling commitment. You listened, experimented on your own, and learned from your mistakes. Aren't the pursuits and utilization of our liberties the same?
We don't need a detailed tutorial from the state that tells us how to live our lives. We don't need diagrams and a government geek on standby.
Yes, being responsible for your own life and to other liberty-lovers around you can be exhilarating and at times, unnerving...but it is an engaged, effective life!
No more denial. Can you name one policy that has been dramatically altered or removed by an incoming party, even though they made glowing campaign promises?
Obamacare will not be removed from our landscape. It is here to stay. There will be minor changes here or there. No doubt, some tweaks will benefit the citizens...that is, until the other party gets in power.
You see, if the Republican Congress really wanted to reform the insurance industry on behalf of Americans, why didn't they do it when they had the political advantage? If they really wanted to limit government, why didn't they attempt to do it under Bush?
Instead, government actually grew alarmingly on their watch! Their man Bush brazenly hi-jacked the Constitution with the Patriot Act and violated the Geneva Convention at Guantanamo. Currently, more evidence is surfacing to further implicate him in war crimes.
Obama promised to get the troops home, close Guantanamo, and bring real change to America. Do you remember the rock song, "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who? That familiar line keeps running through my head this election season: "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."
Some people say that they regret it, but they just have to vote for the lesser of two evils. Well, it's still evil, is it not? And Christian, how DO you justify that position before non-believers?
Just how long will we continue to prop up evil? The government elite will go on deceiving most Americans into thinking they are really making a difference as long as WE let them!
Educating, protesting, and speaking out should continue, but I also applaud those who make a decision to join me and withdraw their vote; and I believe Christians should be leading by example in this matter, not enabling the spoiled brats and making excuses for them.
It is important for Christians to realize that God no longer deals salvifically with earthly nations, but with individuals within nations. Each person's heart is capable of responding to God because of the atoning life and death of Jesus Christ that made reconciliation with God possible.
We see centralized governments of men beginning with disobedient Cain, followed by Nimrod (I wrote an article about the profane beginnings of the modern state.)
But in Christ there are no earthly distinctions such as race, gender or nationality. Those found in Him make up a NEW spiritual nation--the only one He recognizes.
"But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." 1 Peter 2:9
Nevertheless, I do believe that God, who knows the end from the beginning, uniquely equips us to redemptively impact the people and cultures in which we are placed.
"I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." (Isaiah 46:10)
Some believe they can exert that influence by voting. I do not. Voting is not sacred, yet many Americans treat it as a Sacrament.
I put more trust in speaking the message of reconciliation to individual hearts and the words of justice to earthly governments as one who is in the world, but not of it.
Did you know a river has two currents? The top one churns merrily along, foaming and gurgling--carrying all kinds of debris in its swirls.
The slower current on the bottom actually cuts the course of the river. However, people standing on the shore would never notice it, much less fathom its power.
This Tuesday, the world will watch as Americans jump into the electoral process. They'll bobble up and down in the whirl of debris, hoping the current sweeps them to a new place.
Others will drop down (not out ) into a quiet, but powerful current where the path is not just followed, it's forged.
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