The Silencing of Dissent

"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." - President Barack Obama

President Obama, let us not silence the voices of dissent.

Let's put away the Fairness Doctrine which would force radio stations to air both sides of any controversial topics but leave liberal-run television and newspapers alone. Christian radio stations voicing moral concerns would be forced to share viewpoints in opposition to the Bible. Talk radio would lose revenue and jobs because people that want a conservative viewpoint don't want to listen to the emotional ranting of liberals. It is an attempt to silence conservative voices.

Let's stop supporting hate crimes legislation which elevates one group of people above others, creating a special class. Our laws protect every citizen equally. Each crime has a consequence. What crime is not based in hate? This legislation seeks to punish extensively anyone who commits a crime "with actual or perceived bias against" a person's sexuality or religion. Perceived bias. Do we now have thought police? The Declaration of Independence says "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Our right to free speech is under attack by an inquest of "hate speech." Hate Crimes legislation is an attempt to silence anyone who believes and says that homosexuality is wrong. It is an attempt to silence Christians who believe what God says in the Bible.

Let us keep the Motion to Recommit. The Motion to Recommit has been used for a century by the minority party to amend a bill before it passes. In the last Congress, Republicans were able to block some tax increases using the Motion to Recommit. Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats passed rules severely limiting the ability of conservatives to debate policies important to a great many Americans. It is an attempt to silence many concerned voices in America.

President Obama, please don't silence our voices of dissent.

Where's MY Bailout??

Everyone seems to be lining up to get money from the government. States, cities, programs, insurance companies, car companies, ... and the list goes on.

Car companies have a legitimate complaint but they shouldn't get a financial bailout. They should get a bailout from all the regulations that government has put on them. The car companies know how to make good cars that people want. Let them do what they do best instead of congress stipulating to the companies what government thinks is best.

Government regulated the banks and mortgage companies into bankruptcy by stipulating that they give bad loans. Any regulating should have been to keep people's savings and investments sound by not allowing bad loans. Even Bill Clinton spoke out and said that the democrats in Congress during his administration caused much of this housing mess. I would love to see those "overseers" held accountable for their actions.

One that makes me laugh is student loan forgiveness. These people knew what they were getting into. Supposedly, on average, a degree will help you to earn a million dollars more in a lifetime than someone without a degree. So what percentage of a million dollars is their school loan? 20%? 10%? Less? It seems like a good deal to me. Why should they get a bailout for services rendered? Perhaps they should give their degrees back. I thought these people went to college to be productive members of society. At least they have student loans and didn't just go to college and put it on Mom and Dad's tab. (Hey, if you study and work hard and don't party away mom and dad's money, "Way to go!" and "Thanks Mom and Dad!") These students must have gone into college with the idea of making their own way in the world. Maybe the colleges persuaded them that society owes them. In that case, they received a disservice.

President-elect Obama is talking about another stimulus package. The last one didn't work. Congress is demanding to know where the money went and how it was spent. Maybe they should have considered that before giving so much power to the Secretary of the Treasury. Maybe they shouldn't have rushed through a bailout bill when the majority of the country was against it. We can't bail our way out of this.

Where do you think this money is coming from? Our government has a deficit. They don't have the money. They are either borrowing money or simply printing it. When we borrow more money, we give foreign nations a bigger say in our government. Proverbs 22:7 tells us "the borrower is servant to the lender." If we simply print more money, then the value of our dollar drops dramatically and prices soar.

I'd like to bail out of all these bailouts.

Free Health Care?

Everyone wants something for free. Why not? It's free, right? Or is it? Somebody is going to pay. What makes you think it won't be you?

Hawaii tried providing health care for children. It failed. Why? Because those that were buying their own health care stopped doing so in order to get the free health care. Hawaii couldn't afford to pay for every child's health insurance and so had to end the program.

I hear people say Canada has free health care. Norway or Switzerland too. It brings to mind how the ancient Israelites asked for a king "that we may be like all the other nations." They didn't know how good they had it. Samuel warned them what a king would do. A king would take the best of all you have: sons, daughters, servants, land, crops, and livestock. In their desire to be like the other nations, Israel gave up their freedoms. They got their king and they got their wealth and freedom taken as foretold. 1 Samuel 8.

What is the cost?

• Higher taxes.
  Are you ready to bring home 30% of your paycheck? You are already only bringing home roughly 70%. 30% will be less than half of what you bring home now. This is what the other nations do.


• Loss of privacy.
  With government running things, you can bet your privacy will be invaded. Just ask WIC recipients. How much do you eat? How much do you weigh? What is your iron count? How many ounces of juice do you drink? Are you drinking from the proper cup?
  Do you like to be micro-managed? I think I'm a grown-up and can make my own decisions but when you expect government to be your sugar daddy, you give up liberties and decisions to your new parent.


• Lack of choices.
  Who decides which doctor you can see? Which medicines will be best? What treatment to pursue? What about alternative medicines? You? Your doctor? Not if you give government a foothold.


• Medical advances will dwindle.
  What happens to the motivations of scientists and doctors to invest in new medical advances? Who in government is qualified to decide which avenues should be pursued? Which medical breakthroughs will be missed or abandoned?


• Long waits
  Every country that has government run health care has notoriously long waits for procedures. Are we willing to wait 6 months to get a lump examined? What if it's cancerous? Then you may have sacrificed your life. That's not free.


• Morally objectable procedures
  When government pays for health care, they pay for it with taxpayer's money. (Our money, yours and mine) When government then pays for procedures such as abortions, sex changes and assisted suicides, they force a huge percentage of people that find such things morally wrong to participate in them by paying for them. That's not free.
  

This story was shared with me recently. A boy broke his leg. It was a spiral fracture. These are very painful and require more care. At the hospital, the doctor decided to put his leg in a cast even though he thought the leg may require surgery. Sure enough, two weeks later they had to return and have surgery. The belated surgery caused more pain and a longer healing time than if it had been done right away. Why would the doctor not just do the surgery in the first place? This boy is covered by ACCESS. ACCESS is government paid health insurance and the doctors and hospitals first try the less expensive route since they must accept whatever the government will pay.

I've never heard anything good about an HMO. Everyone seems to hate them. Yet people want the government to run their health care system? That is one colossal HMO.

Corruption

In the past couple of weeks, the news has been about corruption. The governor of Illinois is caught on tape demanding bribes and arrested. Bernard Madoff's major financial scheme on Wall Street is exposed.

It is extremely disappointing to see how corrupt people can be but it is necessary for the corruption to be exposed in order to allow healing, freedom and stability. When the ugliness and darkness of corruption are exposed, justice can be done. When justice is done, law abiding people don't have to be cheated of their voice and afraid of persecution.

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." Proverbs 14:34

God says in His Word that all things will be exposed, that nothing is hidden that shall not be revealed. The good, the bad, and the ugly can't hide forever. Truth does prevail.

"And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13

We the People need to keep our representatives and elected officials accountable and hold them to a high standard. If we look the other way or make excuses for them, we allow sin and injustice to abound.

When we think of others, everyone benefits. When the focus is on ME, other people become stepping stones, casualties, of selfish ambition.
"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

This is some encouragement from a man who was abandoned by friends and who was hunted unjustly by a corrupt and jealous king. A man who had to seek help from enemies and feign madness and live in caves before he was vindicated, honored and given authority over a nation.
"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!" Psalm 27:13-14

"For with God nothing will be impossible." Luke 1:37

Let Us Pray

God, in His Word, tells us to pray. Pray without ceasing. Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. Pray for your friends. Pray for deliverance. Pray for the sick. Pray for wisdom. Pray for Israel. Pray for forgiveness. Pray for guidance. Pray for strength. Pray to confess. Pray for the nations. Pray for miracles. Pray for the harvest. Pray and do not lose heart. Pray that love will abound. Pray for faith. Pray earnestly. Pray the Word of God.

Pray for those in authority over you.


God tells us to pray because God desires relationship with us. God hears and answers.

"Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!" - Psalm 66:20

"The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous." - Proverbs 15:29

"Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." - Jeremiah 29:12

"And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." - Matthew 21:22

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." - I John 5:14-15


We are called to pray for President-Elect Obama and for all those in authority. Let us pray for health, protection, godly wisdom, courage, strength and righteousness.


I like these prayers which Matt posted on his blog so I re-posted them here.

PRAYERS FOR THE PRESIDENT
I pray that You, O Lord will continually bring goodness and sweetness into the President's life rather than sorrow, causing him to know that taking joy in You makes him strong.--Nehemiah 8:10

I pray that the President will delight himself in You, Lord, knowing that You will give him the desires of his heart.--Psalm 37:4

I pray that the President will trust in You, Lord, with all his heart, and lean not on his own understanding. I pray that in all his ways he will acknowledge You, and You will direct his paths.--Proverbs 3:5-6

I pray that you will always help the President to have a gentle answer that turns away wrath, keeping him from harsh words that stir up anger.--Proverbs 15:1

O Lord, remind the President continually that You alone are His strength, and that it is You who allows him to accomplish any high and lofty goals.--Habakkuk 3:19

I pray that when the President faces obstacles he will remember that victory comes not by might nor by power, but by Your Spirit.--Zechariah 4:6

I pray that the President will always love You O Lord, with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, and with all his strength and that he will love his neighbor as himself. Make him aware that there is no greater command than this.--Mark 12:30-31

O Lord, grant that the President remembers often Your deep and abiding love for him, knowing that he will ultimately be victorious spiritually because You died for him.--Romans 8:37

I pray that the President will put bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil away from him with all malice. I pray also that kindness, tenderheartedness and forgiveness will characterize him, just as they do God and His Son Jesus Christ.--Ephesians 4:31-32

I pray that the President will turn to you for his strength, knowing that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him.--Philippians 4:13

I pray that you will grant the President the passion and the will to do all his work heartily, remembering that he is serving You and not men.--Colossians 3:23

O faithful Lord and God, strengthen and protect the President and guard him from the evil one.--II Thessalonians 3:3

I pray that the President will submit willingly to You, O God, resisting the devil so the enemy will flee from him.--James 4:7

I pray that the President, by doing good, may silence the ignorance of foolish men.--I Peter 2:15

I pray, God, that the President will resist the temptation of pride and will humble himself under Your mighty hand, that in Your time you may lift him up.--I Peter 5:6

Lord, I ask You to help the President to confess his sins before You, remembering that You are faithful and just and will cleanse him from sin and forgive him for all unrighteousness.--I John 1:9

O God, let the President always be confident in approaching You, remembering that You hear his prayers when he asks in accord with Your will. May he always pray this way, with confidence.-- I John 5:14-15

The Economy

Some think that you can't vote based on a single issue. I believe that if that issue is protecting the lives of innocent people, it's a powerful enough issue to stand alone; however, if you read my first post, you'll see that I've addressed several issues.

Most economists, including democrats, agree that if you raise taxes in a struggling economy it could grind that economy to a stop. So it goes to follow, even if the economy is strong a raise in taxes makes it less so. The liberal democrats in Congress are already drooling over the taxes they want to raise.

Senator Obama says he wants to give tax cuts to 95% of people but that math doesn't work. 45% of people don't even pay income tax. Despite of what Obama claims, it's on record that he voted to raise taxes on people making $42,000 by repealing the tax cuts they already have. Now giving money to people that don't pay taxes is wealth redistribution or as Obama shared, "spread the wealth around."

Obama has said that because things are the way they are, he won't be able to do all that he has said he'll do. I have yet to hear what he's cutting back on. Which programs won't happen? They only thing I've heard change is the income amount that he plans to tax.

Barack Obama wants to raise taxes on people making $250,000 (or $200,000 or $150,000 or $120,000) a year. Most of these people are the people with small businesses, working hard and supplying jobs for others. If they are only able to keep 38 cents on the dollar, how many people do you think they will be able to continue to employ?

Energy independence is of utmost importance to our economy and our national security. Barack Obama claims that "We can't drill our way out of this.", "they can build their coal powered plants but they will be bankrupted by the fees I will impose on their greenhouse gas" "under my plan, electricity prices will necessarily skyrocket". This summer, Obama said he wished the gas prices hadn't risen so quickly but there wasn't any indication that he was against the price being $4.00 a gallon. Don't drill, stop using coal, electricity prices will skyrocket -- just what does Obama want to do? Tax us more on energy, that's what. Meanwhile, we're still dependent on oil from foreign countries instead of lessening that dependence by using our own oil, natural gas and coal with which our land is so richly blessed.

So when Obama bankrupts the coal industry, job losses explode because of massive taxes on "the rich", how will our economy be? With more people out of work, more unemployment benefits will have to be paid. How will so many more unemployment benefits be paid for? I guess he'll have to raise taxes again which of course will result in less jobs and more costs passed on to the consumers.

When people in government want to raise any costs and/or taxes on companies, those companies make up the difference by passing the costs on to the consumers. When minimum wage goes, every thing in the store or restaurant goes up by at least a dime. For those making minimum wage, the "raise" they just got is spent on higher prices. When businesses' electricity bills skyrocket as Obama has stated they will under his plan, business will pass the cost on to you. You will already be struggling to pay your own electricity bill.

There are so many aspects as to why Barack Obama's policies are bad for our economy that I can't list them all here.

I think government should be responsible in its spending habits, cut back on excesses. When government leaves Americans with more of their own income, people grow the economy, create business and jobs that in turn allow more Americans to better themselves and grow the economy. Americans are generous! We love to give. Americans have ingenuity! We love to come up with new ways to make things work better. Let's not suppress the American spirit to work hard.

Always Vote Life

"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him." Deuteronomy 30:19

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." Proverbs 14:34

Without Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness aren't possible.

The candidates' stands in their own words: