Posted by Larry Miller on January 30, 2009 under Why | 
With the entire Republican delegation finally standing firm against the most recent ‘bailout’ (read ‘pork barrel’) package one has to wonder if backbone has finally returned to the party of low taxes, smaller government and limited spending. For some this represents no change at all. These have been the voices crying out in the wilderness that it is immoral to try to spend our way to prosperity by expecting our children and grandchildren to foot the bill.
For others, honorable men and women, I’m sure, it was the opportunity to vote their conscience rather than playing the role of a good partisan by supporting the party or the president. Still others, the true political types, sensed that opposing this piece of legislation was the best way for them to survive politically since the massive transfer of wealth was now proposed by the rival party and was thus, fair game.
Parties play an important role in our political system by allowing supposedly like minded people to get together and promote shared values… at least that is the theory. Our system of government is set up to operate with a two party system, which is why it is extremely difficult for any other group to attain a major status. We can’t expect this to change under either party leadership.
What happens when party leadership starts taking the entire structure in a new direction – one neither espoused nor supported by the rank and file party membership? Among other things, it reveals the priorities of their members. Do they value party over principle or principle over party? It gets even more complicated when we factor in tradeoffs people make. That is, conceding a point that is not so critical to accomplish something more important. This is supposed to be the essence of politics. Read more of this article »
Posted by Larry Miller on January 28, 2009 under How |
Standing Strong
One of the principles of Steven Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is the private victory must precede public victory. What this means is that we have to bring ourselves under control before we can hope to effectively deal with outside situations. If self control sounds like a biblical virtue, it is.
This self control, among other things, means a sense of mission and focus on the issues at hand that denies the many distractions the power to divert you from the path to your goals. The goals themselves are a subject for another day, but for the moment we shall assume that they are worthwhile in themselves and worthy of your best efforts.
So what obstacles requiring self control may you run into while pursuing the public good? Once you stick your head above the crowd to be heard, you immediately become a target for flying tomatoes and anything else those who live in the status quo can throw at you. Your motives will be questioned. Everything you do will be scrutinized… which is one more reason to walk the straight and narrow and keep everything on the up and up.
Then the most trying time of all may come to you. You may succeed. People will complement you. They may hang on every word you utter. You will be invited to things you’ve never been to before. It can be very easy to start to believe you are actually that good. Read more of this article »
Posted by Larry Miller on January 27, 2009 under Why |
Suppose for a minute you have a daughter, about 11 years old, and she tells you she would like to take gymnastic lessons. Being a loving parent and wanting to do your best for her, you begin to look for a suitable instructor. Being a driven, type A personality, you also determine that being merely good is not good enough. As fortune would have it, there is such an instructor just a few blocks from your home.
You want to be sure, so you talk with the families of current and former students. Gradually a picture emerges of a man who, while skilled in his work, gets a little too friendly with his students. You want your child to be successful, so the question arises, will you put her in the hands of a pedophile to do so? Thankfully for most reasonable parents this is not an issue. They realize that the character of the people influencing their children is of greater importance than any skill they may have.
Now, suppose you are the president of the United States looking to fill your cabinet with the best possible people. You come across a bright young man who appears to be the ideal candidate for the Secretary of the Treasury position. He has a compatible economic philosophy, he has experience and he appears to be loyal to the hand that feeds him. Read more of this article »
Posted by Larry Miller on January 25, 2009 under Why |
“Don’t listen to Rush”, President Obama instructs Republicans. He tells them that if they are to get along with Democrats they have to stop listening to this kind of negative talk about him and his plans. Then he arrogantly negated suggestions from Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va) with a terse, “Because I won” seeking to shut down input conflicting with his plans.
What the new president and his allies fail to realize is that Mr. Limbaugh is not that powerful. He has the most listened to talk show on the radio, not because he has that many original thoughts, but because he reflects values held by many Americans. He says things people don’t hear in the mainstream media. He expresses frustrations and desires of many who tune in for encouragement in times when our country does not seem to be working well.
In admonishing members of the minority party to ignore Rush Limbaugh, Mr. Obama is really telling them to stop listening to the concerns of their constituents… as expressed by Mr. Limbaugh. He would, apparently, prefer that they stay inside the beltway bubble and use Democrats as their point of reference.
Read more of this article »
Posted by Lisa Miller on January 23, 2009 under How |
We Christians have an uphill battle for Life. We need to cut the legs out from Government Spending that has usurped commerce, charity and the individuals rights and responsabilities.
As such Pro-Life candidates have to go after the subsidies, grants and tax credits that make life uncompetitive.
Government growth fuels donations to encumbents and makes pro-life candidates David to their Goliath. I suggest candidates aggressively go against the Land Bill, Stimulus, 2nd part of TARP, SCHIP expansion, additional educational funding and propose free markets. When government is both providor and overseer the student, patient, consumer and taxpayer are of secondary importance.
We need government to be an honest “broker” that provides and competitive environment for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Hence we must look to way to remove uncompetitive advantage.
We should go after government abortion funding AND other health services. These should be regulated by government but engaged only by the private sectors of business and charity and individuals who manage their own risks in the market. Read more of this article »
Posted by Larry Miller on under Why |
Our country has just inaugurated a president who believes the ability of a woman to kill her offspring is more important than the child’s right to live. This president also believes that a small group of people with a deviant lifestyle should be able to redefine the marriage relationship, if not the ‘official’ definition, created by God. He also thinks he is making us safer by closing a prison designed to keep those who want to destroy us and our families from doing so. I could go on… but you get the point. Things look pretty bad.
The Bible tells us we are to pray for those in authority… and we should. We should pray that they govern with the fear of God in their hearts. This, we know, is the beginning of wisdom. We are also told to submit to ruling authorities and as much as possible live at peace with everyone.
We are particularly blessed to live in a country where, at least for the time being, we can speak up about wrongs and injustices. This opportunity carries with it, the responsibility to do so. Sometimes we have to do more. We would do well to look into the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor, who saw such evil in Nazi Germany that he had to resist… he had to set aside blind obedience to do what was right. He helped Jews escape. He spoke the word of truth about Hitler’s government. Was there a price to following his conscience? He was hanged shortly before the end war.
Will we have to pay a price for standing up for what is right? Maybe, but the alternative is to stand by and let the land our children and grand children will grow up in turn into a godless perversion of Ronald Reagan’s Shining City on a Hill.
Fortunately, the price for most of us, is setting aside time to get involved in issues and politics. Yes, it is that important! If you are convinced that all politicians are crooks, then get involved and change that. If there is an issue
you feel strongly about, speak up, find others who think the same way and work together. DON’T JUST SIT AND DO NOTHING! Your grand children will thank you… so will others who were simply given the chance to live and play in the summer sun.
