---
Well, another presidential election has come and gone, this time without any dangling chads or rulings by the Supremes. I don’t know what sort of president Barack Obama is going to be. Most of his campaign promises/threats are really legislative not executive, but hey, checks and balances along with the separation of powers went out the constitutional window a long time ago. One thing is certain, it will not be four more years of George Bush. Another thing is fairly certain, President Obama won’t likely be blamed for everything from climate change to the increased incidence of ingrown toenails among beach dwellers. They’ll probably still blame Bush.
President-elect Obama’s victory is largely symbolic when it comes to race relations in America. We hardly emerged a “post-racial” society on Wednesday. For a great op-ed piece on this topic, see Shelby Steele of the Hoover Institute.
From the Church’s perspective, it’s business as usual, offering “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. “ As I said in a sermon a few weeks ago, God can use any Caesar we throw at Him. I’ll be curious to see what He does with this one.
The campaign was a monumental disappointment. Gene Edward Veith’s prediction that this would be the first truly post-modern, media-driven election turned out to be prescient. Truth and substance were in short supply; image and symbol ruled the day. The debates were to political discourse as pro wrestling is to an honest fight. For my vote, if not my money, I would like to see a debate that focused on principle and philosophy, not pandering promises and campaign rhetoric.
I would be interested in hearing candidates debate these four questions:
1. What is your view of the place of government?
2. What is your view of the place of the United States in the world?
3. What economic principles govern your policies?
4. Is there an inalienable right to life and is it the government's job to defend it?
Give me Lincoln and Douglas debating federalism and slavery on the grounds of the Illinois State Fair any day of the week.
In the People’s Republic of Caleeefornia where I live, move, and have my being, we had our usual political potpourri of preposterous propositions. We voted ourselves a $10 billion bullet train from LA to San Francisco even though we’re flat broke and can’t keep our low speed trains safely on the track. We narrowly determined by a 52% majority that a legal marriage requires the participation of a man and a woman, but we still think it’s OK for a minor to get an abortion without notifying her parents. (Fortunately, an adolescent must still have parental permission to use the services of a tanning salon.) We now have the peace of mind knowing that as of 2015, chickens will have enough room to spread their wings while cranking out our omelets and veal will have a chance to stretch its legs before it becomes scallopini. And, my dear neighbors in LA county voted themselves a tidy little sales tax increase on the promise of a subway to the beach, thereby ensuring increased out of state internet purchases on my part in the new year. Thank you very much.
No comments:
Post a Comment