The Politics of Fear

"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." President Harry Truman.

 Unless you are living under a rock, things in the United States are becoming more and more hopeless by the day. We are witnessing the decline of one of history’s great and most powerful empires; our strength is fading, our economy crumbling, our status in the world has greatly diminished.

 Talk to the average citizen and most will tell you things aren't right in this country. Most will tell you the government is the problem; it must either do more or do less. Most citizens will have big opinions about what is going on but little to no idea how to fix it. They will act like the issues facing our nation are beyond understanding and only the best and brightest minds could actually come up with an answer to correct the problem. We put our trust in politicians who promise us action and answers yet fail us time and time again. Any hope of meaningful change is destroyed by partisan bickering and stalemate. We are now in a vicious circle of political games, where the only real goals seem to be controlling the people and maintaining power; and the tool used, FEAR.

 I used to think the government used fear to control, which they do, but now I think fear is controlling the government.

 Over the last few months I have repeatedly read news and thought to myself, there is no way that politician can be that stupid. I am not going to name any specific politicians because I have literally thought this about leaders of both parties. I can hardly watch a discussion about the national debt without screaming at the TV. Highly educated people sit and argue with foolish and meaningless facts about fixing the economy and the debt, when the real answer is very simple. You cannot spend more than you take in. This is not rocket science, its simple math.

 Now I know many of my friends that dislike Obama will disagree with this statement, but he is not a dumb man. With a degree from Harvard he would at least have a minimum understanding of basic math which is all that is really required to balance a budget. Some would say I am over simplifying this and there are far more complicated issues to be raised then just the dollars and cents math, I would have to respectfully disagree. It really is just simple math.

 What do you do when you have bills to pay and you want to get out of debt or at least have manageable debt? Well, if you are going to be successful you reduce your spending, usually by cutting out extras. You get your budget as lean as you can by focusing on the necessities only and placing any disposable income on your debt. This works for individuals and it would work for the government. So the logical question is why is the government not doing it?

 I am not a conspiracy theorist but here is what I believe is really going on in our country today.

 According to several respectable news sources, anywhere from 35-45% of the US Population receives some form of direct government assistance. The assistance can come in everything from retirement benefits, unemployment benefits, Medicare, Medicaid and welfare benefits like Food Stamps and HUD.

For the sake of this argument let’s use 35% of the US population, which is 110 million people. That is an astronomical number of people dependent on the government. We can debate the question of who deserves help and those that are playing the system. We could discuss the massive amounts of waste that could be found in all the bureaucracy but that would take away from the point I am trying to make. So again for the sake of this argument lest just say that 90% of the people on assistance actually need the help or have earned the benefits through paying into Social Security. This would mean that there are 11 million people who are abusing and taking advantage of the system. I can tell you there are far more than that abusing the system but my point can still be made with these numbers.

 Now let’s imagine what will happen when the government is no longer able to give these 11 million people the entitlement that they need.  I use the word WHEN because let’s be honest it is really only just a matter of time. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but we will see a catastrophic financial collapse in this nation in the next 10 years. It will probably be in the next 4 four years but the point remains it is coming, and everyone knows it. Even scarier is that your elected officials know it. They are stuck between two decisions; enrage the masses now by cutting the entitlements that are destroying the wealth of this nation or allow this current path to run its course into collapse. In any event this nation will see the greatest unrest since the Civil War. Imagine the social unrest of the Hurricane Katrina, the Race Riots in New Jersey, Detroit and Los Angeles and play that out in probably every city, county and state in the US.

 Is it any wonder why the government is trying so hard to destroy the 2^nd Amendment? Can you imagine the intensity of the civil unrest if there are weapons all over? I know that it may sound like I support gun control but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I will not give up my right to protect myself and my family when this all happens. The military and National Guard will not be able to control this event and there is a real possibility, depending on who is in office, that we could see United Nations soldiers on our soil. Is it any wonder that Congressman Ron Paul stated the, “national debt was the biggest national security issue our country is facing?”

 It is not hard to figure out why the Department of Homeland Security has purchased 1.2 Billion bullets this year? I think not. Could it be that our government knows what is about to happen and they are looking to control it? I find it ironic that when average citizens stock pile ammo and cling to their guns the government calls them paranoid, yet the government is doing the very same thing. Fear has taken over the government and every decision that comes from Washington is based on fear.

 We are inundated with information that makes us fearful about financial collapse, terrorist attacks, a struggling job market, failures in education and a ballooning national debt. Every issue and every topic is fear, fear and more fear.  When was the last time you heard something on the news that made you proud to be an American? We are fearful people being led by fearful leaders.

 You cannot lead with fear. In fact leading with fear generally turns into ruling not leading. The government of the United States was not set up for a ruler. If we are to maintain the freedoms we hold dear in this country we must have leaders that are not afraid. Men and women that are not afraid to make the hard choices, the choices that require sacrifice. This country can no longer afford to elect managers we need effective and steadfast leadership. We need leaders who will not shrink back from the difficult issues in this country and more importantly will not take away our freedoms because they are unwilling to make the hard choices. Benjamin Franklin stated, “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” We are a nation that looks for easy and quick answers but there are no easy answers this time. We need to make the painful choices, the hard choices and even the seemingly impossible choices.

 Fear is a choice it doesn’t have to be a way of life. Too many in this country, myself included, have allowed the present state of this country to cause us fear and doubt but that is not what the United States was built on. We were built with courage by men and women that chose to do the impossible and make the tough choices. I trust it will be so again.

Thanks for Reading

Steve

Here I Make My Stand

"There is a spirit in a man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. Great men are not always wise, nor do the aged always understand justice. Therefore I say 'Listen to me, and I will declare my opinion." Job 32:8-10

 I love that passage from Job. I love the passion of Elihu, the young man that corrected Job and his friends. His attitude is one of explosion! He waited, he listened, to “age” and “wisdom” trying to convince Job. Yet, the right answer had not been found. Finally, he had his chance to speak. You can almost feel his frustration and anger, and then with wisdom and humility, he corrected Job and his friends.

 I feel like Elihu today, the spirit inside this man must speak. It is not because I am one with wisdom, or great eloquence, but like Elihu I have a spirit within that compels me to speak with intelligence and share my heart. Like Elihu, I am frustrated and angry.

 Before I get into what I want to say, let me state clearly and unequivocally that this blog is not in response to anyone person or group. I do not have an individual in mind while writing this. I know there are those I love and respect greatly that may disagree with some or all of this. My desire is not to correct, lecture, or divide people. My only hope is that you would consider what I say and see if you can find truth in it. If you are a person of faith, weigh it in prayer and with the scriptures to see if what I write is true.

 Over the last year, starting with the election season, and culminating with the recent passage of laws dealing with the 2nd Amendment, I have read literally thousands of posts on Facebook and probably hundreds of blogs and articles dealing with the question as to what should be the Christians response to what is a very dysfunctional government? I have read everything from friends Facebook posts, to articles and sermons from nationally known speakers. I have read every extreme opinion from, "pick up your weapons and let’s go to war," to “we are slaves to the government so let’s do what the Bible says and just submit to this nation’s leadership." There are voices on one side calling for violent revolution, and those on the opposite side of the spectrum stating if you really love Jesus and the Bible you will just roll over. It is infuriating to say the least. After reading these posts or blogs I am always confronted with two questions. One, as a professing follower of Jesus, how should I respond to this government? Two, to what length should I as a Christian go to protect the freedoms I hold dear?

 Let’s start by making the case that our government in the United States is seriously broken. I don’t know if anyone reading this will actually argue contrary to that statement. Just in case, let’s cover the basis. Look at some of the more pressing issues right now.

 We have an economy that is teetering on total collapse. We hear constantly about the fiscal cliff, and the only answer that our “highly educated” officials can come with, is raise the debt ceiling so we can borrow more. Anyone that has dealt with bankruptcy can tell you, borrowing more to save a sinking ship never works! In fact, it only delays the inevitable collapse. Taxes are at an all-time high, and Obamacare, which the Supreme Court ruled, would be the biggest tax increase in history, hasn’t even went into effect yet! We have an increasing number of citizens that are dependent on the government to survive. We have government cover ups in Benghazi, attacks on some of our most important freedoms, corruption, and the most partisan Washington, DC I have ever seen. These are just a few of the issues we are facing. We are a mess and spiraling out of control more every day.

 As a young man I made a decision to live as a follower of Christ thus giving me citizenship in another kingdom, the kingdom of Heaven. So my first response to any ethical, moral or spiritual decision is to emulate Jesus’ example. He taught us that we are to be meek and lowly, Matthew 5:5. He taught us to love our enemy and do good to those that persecute us, Matthew 5:44. He taught us to turn the other cheek, Matthew 5:39. With these scriptures alone it would seem that I am saying we just need to roll over and do what we are told. However, as I read Matthew 5, a very interesting thing stood out to me. Matthew 5 talks almost exclusively about how we are to act towards other individuals, not the government. You may think that is a stretch but here me out. Almost every verse states how we are to react to someone that is mistreating us. For example, take one of the most famous verses, Matthew 5:39: “But I tell you not to resist and evil person. But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also.” So if we are true believers of the Bible, then we should not condone anything that thwarts stopping an evil person. In other words, we should not have fought against Hitler and Nazi Germany, al-Qaeda and certainly not against the King of England in the American Revolution. But is that what Jesus is really saying? I don’t think so.

 So what does Matthew 5:39 mean? Let me give you an interpretation that you may not have ever considered. To actually turn the other cheek you have to be in a position of strength. If I was walking out of a gas station and got jumped by five guys and was beaten would that be considered turning the other cheek? Of course not! One on five generally turns out badly for the one, and I would most likely be grateful to be alive when it was done. Now say I came out of the same gas station and was confronted by a single individual, one on one, that I could handle. Allowing that individual to strike me, without retaliating, would be turning the other cheek. Let me give you an even clearer example. Did Jesus turn the other cheek when he died on the cross? The answer is an obvious, yes! How do we know that? We know that because Jesus could have come off that cross whenever he wanted to. If He couldn’t have then He was not God and He wasn’t turning the other cheek he was just another man being subjected to the cruel devices of a stronger power. Matthew 5 is dealing with our response to one another not the government.

 Jesus is conspicuously quiet when it came to government issues. There is a reason for this and that was He was coming to a people and region that was looking for a deliverer from the Romans. We know from scripture that was not why He came. He came to die for the sins of man and for the redemption of our souls. But there were a few instances where Jesus dealt with the government and I think some clues about how we should act can be gleaned from his approach.

 Many use the story of Jesus being asked about paying taxes as an example of why we should obey the government. Jesus stated, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s”…Mark 12:17. But every gospel that tells this story states that the Pharisees were trying to trap him in his words so they could make a complaint to the Romans. In fact, Mark states it was one of the lies they tried to pin on him at Christ’s trial. It is clear from the gospels that Jesus’ answer was based on the fact they were trying to trick him.

 I think a better example of Christ’s feelings for the government could be found at his trial. There is no doubt that Jesus was meek and lowly, but I recently thought there were a few points in the time after he was arrested and before the crucifixion that he displayed the awesome power of God. I believe Jesus showed his disdain for the puppet court and government of that day when he refused to answer both Herod and Pilate. Can you imagine being the ruler of the region and bringing in this carpenter and He refuses to answer you even though you have his life in your hands? What power! What strength and how God like! His silence spoke volumes about who He was and what He stood for. The gospels bring out that Pilate marveled at the fact Jesus wouldn’t talk. It was if Jesus, through his silence, was stating who was really in charge that day. The Almighty was still the King in that court regardless of who was perceived to be in charge.

 What an amazing contrast Jesus is. He is a God of love, mercy and grace, but he is also a God of justice, the Lion of Judah and a protector of the weak! The God of the Old Testament is the same God in the New Testament. The Jesus of the Gospels is the same Jesus of Revelations 19. Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” How can the God of War (Exodus 15:3 & Psalms 24:8 also be the God of Love and Mercy. This could be confusing until you read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…a time to love, a time to hate, a time of war, and a time of peace.”

 So the first and most important question that we as believers should be asking is what season is it? Do you know? Have you prayed about it or have you let your emotions take you in a direction without clarification? It is easy to do but we must seek God to see what season it is. Is it a time of war or a time of peace? Let’s look back and see if we can glean anything further from the life of Jesus.

 If Jesus was about anything he was about freedom. He went about healing the sick, healing those possessed, healing the hearts of man and finally freeing us from the law of sin and death. On the day he died on the cross his blood stamped pardon on our souls and we were set free. “He who the Son sets free is free indeed” John 8:36. In fact His whole plan from the beginning was to free us. So how would Jesus respond to a government that is starting to take away the freedoms of its people? I strongly believe He would support freedom. I believe he would emphatically and charismatically support freedom. The scriptures both old and new are full of stories of freedom from oppression. Just because Christ did not free the Jews from the Romans during his life does not mean he was not interested in their freedom. Christ came to present another kingdom but that doesn’t mean He was condoning the Romans and their treating of the Jews. He simply had come for another purpose. Yet the final book of the Bible, the final chapter in history is written with one ending, freedom.

 How then should I respond as a follower of Christ to a country that is starting to take away freedoms? I think the answer is obvious from the Bible and that is we must fight to maintain freedom. To take a casual and apathetic approach to the state of our nation puts us in the category of the unfaithful servant found in Matthew 25. “To whom much is given much is required” Luke 12:48. We have been entrusted with this great nation and to let it go down the road it is headed would be a travesty. I can no longer silently sit on the sidelines and not act. The future of all I hold dear is at stake.

 What then should our approach be as Christians? Should we write letters and make phone calls? Am I suggesting protests? Am I saying run for office? Would I even go as far as to say that we not only can, but should, join in active rebellion if necessary? The answer is emphatically yes to every question. Do whatever it takes! Sitting on the sideline is no longer an option. A good friend of mine recently challenged me with the thought of outworking those that are looking to make changes and laws that I deem dangerous and unconstitutional. Do whatever it takes.

 Almost as bad as doing nothing is spreading toxic comments or posts on Facebook without doing anything of substance. Organize, get involved, fight for what you believe and do not let the disease of political correctness quiet you. Fight for your freedoms.

 In the passion of the battle you must remember that we lose our voice when we act and open our mouths out of emotion. One of the things that infuriates me is when a person states my view point but says it in such a vulgar or uneducated way as to totally turn off any open minded person that could be won to our cause. Calling the president an “F…ing Idiot” or stating from, “My Cold Dead Hands” only destroys the wisdom behind our cause. Be well written and well spoken. If you are writing to one of your representatives I encourage you to read how our founding fathers wrote to King George III when they expressed their grievances. They used words like “humbly” and “beseech” even though they were months away from armed conflict. “A soft answer turns away wrath” Proverbs 15:1. This would be the time for meekness. Most importantly pray for your leaders. Praise their decisions when you can and let them know you support them when they make the right decisions. Politicians are real people and trust me the tide of public opinion is still very powerful.

  I know some will think that my statement about active rebellion is radical and I would say they are correct but that places me in good company. Our founding fathers were radical. Look at the reasons they went to war with England and you will find many of the same issues we are dealing with today, namely a government that no longer places the needs of the people above its own devices and desires.

 I am not suggesting we are at a place where we pick up arms but if anything I have said resonates with you then you should at least take notice to this fact. The government is actively looking to reduce your ability to take up arms, even though it is explicitly guaranteed by the Constitution in the 2^nd Amendment. Wake up citizens, things are happening fast.

 I recently read a blog in which the writer stated, “for a government to work effectively there must be humility and an attitude of servant hood. These two characteristics, if missing, will destroy any leadership and render it useless or worse tyrannical.” Think about humility and servant hood when you think about the way our fore fathers acted when they brought this country into existence. I challenge you to do a little research about the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence.

 Five signers were captured and tortured until they died. Twelve had their homes burned or ransacked, several lost children in the war. Nine fought and died from wounds or hardship from the war. Many of the men lost their wealth and died bankrupt. They were men that pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to defy a king and a super power. I am afraid that today most Americans would not even sacrifice their cable TV to fight for their freedom. How can we say we love liberty and freedom if we are not willing to put it all on the line like our fore fathers? How can we be worthy of this great gift to be born into this country if we are not willing to sacrifice it all to keep what we hold sacred and dear?

 As citizens we have lost the ideals of humility and servant hood. The American of today thinks about self and how he can prosper self. We do not emulate those characteristics that Jesus taught us and that our founding fathers exemplified; humility and servant hood. Sacrifice is needed to right this ship, and a revolution always has a price. So what are you willing to do? Will you do anything? I have decided that I will follow the example of Jesus and the founding fathers and lay my life down. I will do whatever it takes. I will write, make phone calls, contact my representatives, write blogs, protest and educate the uneducated… Lastly, God forbid that this day comes, I will take up arms and defend the Constitution of the United States of America from enemies foreign, and even domestic.

 So, what would Jesus do? What should our response be as Christians to the state of our nation? Quite simply, He would lay his life down for others, especially the weak. Our response as believers should be the same. I have decided that as for me, I will begin to make my stand here. I have planted my flag and this is a hill I am willing to die on. “Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for a friend” John 15:13.

Thanks for reading

Steve

Does Abortion Matter in Politics Anymore?

In roughly 48 hours I will step into a small booth in a little library and cast my vote for the President of the United States. I was able to vote for the very first time in 1996. Since then my candidate has won twice and lost twice, this year will be the tie breaker.

 Back in 1996 my knowledge of politics was very limited and I basically voted for one issue, abortion. I make no apologies for the fact I am pro life and am not ashamed in the least to let people know about it. Ever since 1996 I have supported pro life candidates from both parties but over the last 8 years as I have gotten more interested in politics I have had to ask myself is abortion really an issue in politics anymore? My answer and it may shock you is that abortion doesn't matter anymore in politics. That may seem like a ridiculous statement when you consider it is one of the issues that has been brought up at every presidential debate on domestic issues for as long as I can remember.

 Usually what you see is the Democrat candidate try and say something to the effect that although he or she may not like abortion they believe in a woman's right to choose what to do with her body. This statement is intended to not make him look heartless but also shore up his liberal base. The Republican will say something like he or she is strongly against abortion except for in cases like rape or incest or for the life of the mother. This statement is intended to not make them look heartless towards a woman that has suffered from rape or incest and yet shore up their conservative base.

 I have been hearing these lines since I voted for Bob Dole in 1996. Yet in my 20 year voting history what have I gotten in return for my support of the Republican Party in regards to a pro life stance? In my last blog I stated that blacks overwhelmingly support Democrats with little to show for it, they have been duped. In the same way conservatives, myself included, have been duped by Republicans that stand for, "the sanctity of life", but do nothing about this.

 A man that I highly respect confronted me on this just last week when he stated that President George Bush gave more funding to Planned Parenthood then any other president before him. What?!?!?....Its true and I encourage you to do a little research on this fact. In fact go back and look at the Republican Presidents and show me a major attempt on anything to do with abortion let alone Roe v. Wade. Do it, I dare you!! There isn't much on a federal level and there was little support for states that have tried to make pro life laws. Listen Republican, Christian, conservative you have been duped by one of the Republican Partys' great hypocrisies. I for one am ashamed of myself for not realizing this earlier. While many of us sit back in expectant hope that our conservative candidate will actually move on what we consider a gross injustice, they have done nothing but make lame pronouncements of their pro life beliefs. That's all it takes for Conservatives to hop on the band wagon and declare our support and charge into the battle with our new found champion.

 I have stated earlier that I will be voting for Mitt Romney for several reasons but his being pro life is not one of them. He has definitely changed his spots on that one. When he was running in the Republican Primary many conservatives said he is no different then Obama yet now that he has the nomination he is the savior. Romney record in Massachusetts was less then stellar as pro life candidate so conservatives don't get your hopes up.

 So allow me to quickly make the case for why abortion should be an issue worth fighting for. One of my best friends was born at 23 weeks and survived. That was over 36 years ago when we didn't have the technology we have now. It's not a fetus or as one abortion supporter stated nothing more then a parasite. That's an interesting choice of words because that is what Hitler called the Jews. It is a life plain and simple.

 Abortion is racially charged. Although blacks make up 13% of the population they have almost 40% of the abortions. Planned Parenthood has a ridiculously high amount of offices in areas heavily populated by minorities. All you have to do is look at the words of Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, to see the foundations of that organization. Here is a staggering fact. More blacks are killed through abortion every week then were killed by the KKK in history.

 Finally I have a hard time with the hypocrisy of abortion. In the state of New York if you destroy the egg of a protected bird you can face a $50,000 fine and 10 years in prison but ending the life of a fertilized child is a right? Women claim that they should be able to make choices with their own bodies and I say I agree but here is a thought. What if the father doesn't want the baby but the mother does? Can he force her to abort? No, of course not but can he at any point decide he doesn't want to support the child? He can, but he won't get away with it. Eventually he will be forced to pay child support and he will until the child is 18 or 21 depending on the circumstances and the state. Where is the mans' choice? The point is men don't get one and they shouldn't. If you created it then you are responsible for it. That standard should be the same for women and men. Finally, how can we as a country honestly look critically at some countries with horrendous civil rights records when we won't even protect the weakest among us.

 There is still a place in politics for the abortion fight. Here is hoping we get a true candidate in either party that would be pro life, not just in name only but in conscience and policy.

 Over the last few days I have covered some pretty touchy subjects and by the hits I have been getting I know many are reading them. I am certain that with the numbers of people reading there are those that don't agree with me and that is great. Please feel free to challenge me with your feelings and opinion. One of the reasons I started this blog was to start up dialogue not just with people that think like me but honestly more for those that do not. This allows me the opportunity to grow and progress as I am faced with differing thoughts and opinions. We may end up having to agree to disagree and that is okay as well but our politicians are doing a terrible job talking so maybe it will be up to the citizens of this country to start meaningful dialogue again.

 Thanks For Reading
Steve

PS. VOTE ON TUESDAY!!!!!!!!

Why Aren't Democrats and Republicans Fighting For the Black Vote?

The woman had tears flowing down her cheek and she wasn't the only one, most of the people around her were also crying. These were not tears of sorrow or pain but joy; joy that the United States had it's first black president. I will never forget what she said to the reporter when she was asked what she was feeling. She said, "For the first time in my life I can honestly tell my son that he can aspire to be the President of the United States." Of course I am talking about the election in 2008 when President Obama was elected. Agree with his policy's or not there was a lot of truth to what that mother said and she clearly was experiencing a feeling that a white person in the US has never felt. Although I did not vote for Obama I was proud of the fact that our country had come a long way in regards to race relations. Blacks now had a champion and I am sure they figured things were going to change. I mean after all Hope and Change was Obamas' entire message.

But what has changed for blacks under Obama and are they now a minority group that is forgotten in politics?

 The answer is yes. Black Americans are probably the least targeted race in the United States during the presidential elections, yet they are one of the largest minority groups in the country. Why is that? I mean each campaign is spending millions of dollars to reach the Hispanic vote but why not blacks?

 The reason is because the black voters will vote overwhelmingly for Obama. President Obama won 96% of the black vote in 2008 and is running at almost 100% in 2012. No other minority group votes that overwhelmingly for a party. What would cause blacks to be so loyal to the Democratic Party?

 I think the answer (this will be unpopular) is because blacks have a unfounded loyalty to the Democratic Party. I understand that there is loyalty to the Democratic Party because many of their leaders were prominent in the Civil Rights Movement but that was a long time ago.What have the Democrats done for them recently and how has the plight of blacks improved under Democratic leadership.

 Here are a few staggering facts. While the rest of the country hovers around 8% unemployment 14.4% of blacks are out of work. A study at Harvard University stated that black males wages have  lagged behind the wages of whites. Poverty and food stamp usage are at an all time high for blacks. So I ask you where is the progress and support from Obama for the blacks? When Obama came to office he had majorities in Congress and the Senate yet there is still no major improvement for blacks.

 Here is something else that will blow you away. If you do a study of the 10 poorest cities in the United States; Detroit, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, St. Louis, El Paso, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Newark (places with large minority populations) you will find that there is one major similarity. There has been virtually no Republican leadership in decades. In fact other then Cleveland and Cincinnati (who had Republican mayors in the 1980s') the rest haven't had a Republican mayor in over 50 years. I am not saying that Republican leadership alone could have completely changed this but you have to admit it couldn't hurt. However, blacks in these cities continue to vote heavily for Democrats. Its time for blacks to wake up. The Democrats have held their votes hostage for to long. The Civil Rights movement was over 50 years ago. It is time for blacks to start asking, "what have you done for me lately."

 Several years ago Rev Al Sharpton (Still don't know why he is a Reverend) said, "The Democratic Party treats blacks like a mistress. They will take us out but they won't take us home to meet momma." This quote from a prominent black leader shows that those who understand politics know exactly what is going on. The Democrats act like the blacks still owe them something for their support in the Civil Rights movement and many blacks still have loyalty to that party.

 As one of the largest minority groups in the country black voters should be courted as heavily as any other group, not taken advantage of. Its time for a paradigm shift. Blacks have been duped by a political party that promises everything and comes through with nothing.

 Being duped by a political party is nothing to be ashamed of because most groups are. Just this week I realized that as a conservative voter I have been played by the Republican Party for sometime. I will explain that in my next blog.

Thanks For Reading
Steve

The Obi Wan Effect

Star Wars I (or IV depending on when you were born) was the first movie I can ever remember seeing. Not a bad start to my introduction to movies. I was 6 or 7 yrs old when I watched it and I loved that movie. I thought Princess Leah was smokin (even with that ridiculous hairdo) and the way she used that blaster was well...amazing!! Han Solo was cool and my favorite character. Luke Skywalker was a nerd but he had to be in the movie because after all he was the Chosen One.

 There are a lot of parts in that movie that I liked but this morning the thought of Obi Wans sacrifice came into my mind. For those of you that haven't seen the movie (shame on you) Obi Wan is the Jedi Master that trains Luke Skywalker to eventually destroy the evil Empire. About half way through the movie he allows Darth Vader to kill him so as Obi Wan put it, "I can become more powerful then you could imagine." For the rest of the trilogy Obi Wan is like a conscience for Luke helping him through hardships in his training and eventually his final battles, his voice is often heard encouraging Luke. Obi Wans new found power comes from his great sacrifice, giving up his life.

 Of course for those of us that are believers we can relate this story to Jesus Christ in the Bible and that is an easy comparison but what about each one of us?

 Who would you give your life for so they could reach their potential?

 An easy answer for me is my children but that is to easy, any good parent would give their life for their child. But what about a friend, a coworker, a complete stranger; that starts to get a little dicey. You may be thinking this is a morbid post (it is Halloween after all) but laying your life down does not have to mean literal death.

 In the Bible husbands are told to lay their lives down for their wives and most of you men are saying that real death would be easier....(I am just playing ladies) We are taught to lay down our lives for our children and the world around us by following Christs example. Again this doesn't mean that we have to literally die but what it does mean is we have to be willing to sacrifice. It will hurt and it will be hard but I am convinced it is the key to true fulfillment and success.

 When we put the needs of others before our own we start to lose sight of our failures, hurts and even our own needs. We don't have time for self pity when we show pity and concern for others. We lose our ambition to succeed at all costs when we help pave the road for others success. Over the years I have heard thousands of sermons and motivational speeches on how to self improve and deal with failures in your life. The truth is laying it down for others is the only answer. When you lay your life down all the trivial things don't matter anymore.

 Imagine what would happen in politics if our politicians lived that way. What if they realized they were here for us? Imagine the change in our countries divorce rate if each spouse would do this. We would see changes in our schools, towns, churches and it would change the world.

 So next time you have the choice follow Obi Wans lead and put away your lightsaber. Lay your life down for a cause, a friend, your family, your country, or a complete stranger and see if you don't become, "more powerful then you could possibly imagine."

Thanks for reading

Steve..aka Han Solo

Racism and Politics Introduction

To be fair I wasn't happy with the election results of 2008. I knew that after 8 tumultuous years with President Bush; John McCain didn't have a prayer. He was a sacrificial lamb by the Republican Party. The newly elected President, the young senator from Illinois had what America needed at that time. He was fresh, young, charismatic, a great orator (as long as he had a teleprompter)  and he had the right plan. It was short on specifics but Hope and Change sounded pretty good for America. Of course being a staunch conservative I was disappointed with the fact the former POW and senator from Arizona didn't win but like I said, I knew there was no standing in the way of this new rock star, President Obama.
 The day after the election I was watching the news and seeing black people crying with joy over the fact that there was finally a black president. Although I knew that President Obama and I would fall on very opposite ends of the political spectrum I have to admit there was some pride in my heart to see our country elect a black man to the highest office in the land. I was genuinely proud of where our country has come from in regards to race relations. From the days of slavery, through the Civil War, and the Civil Rights movement we have changed dramatically in this country on the racial front.
 Over the last four years I have strongly disagreed with the president on most issues (foreign affairs, Obamacare to name a few) and supported him where I could. Killing Osama bin Laden was a victory for his administration and making the call to go into Pakistan took some guts. Kudos to President Obama on that decision, but I can honestly say that there has never been a point over the past four years that I thought of President Obama as a black man. He was just simply the President. Race has never once come into my mind when I was disagreeing with the president or approving of his actions. So with that mindset I was very surprised when the idea started to be floated around that if you disapprove of the president you are some how racist. Suddenly it became very clear to me that race baiting was going to be a very big part of the 2012 election.
 Today I was involved in another debate on Facebook. First let me say there were Democrats and Republicans engaged in this debate and yet it managed to stay respectful and polite even though the topic was a hot button issue. The question raised was basically is conservatism, racist. There were several good answers from both sides and food for thought but the bottom line is race does play a major role in politics but maybe not in a way you would think. Both parties have zeroed in on specific races to try and get an advantage with them. Not surprisingly Obama has a large lead with black voters but a real war has been raging for the Hispanic vote. This election will be decided by the way Hispanics and Blacks vote. If Romney wins the Hispanic vote and can even dent the African American vote he will win. If Obama maintains his strong lead among blacks and Hispanics turn out for him he will more then likely win. Race is very much a part of politics.
 Over the next week I am going to look at racism in politics in a little different way then most would think. I want to explore the issue of false paradigms that cause races to vote a certain way and I want to discuss the very touchy issue of abortion from a racial point of view. I think it will be eye opening. I hope you will read.
 As always thanks for reading
Steve

I Have An Idea...

 November 6th is only 3 weeks away and I suspect that a majority of Americans are ready to be done with all that comes with the campaigns. No more political adds, debates on TV, and political mailings clogging up your mail box with even more junk mail. I suspect a few days after the election Facebook will again be a peaceful place where everyone can be friends again. I know I have at least 5 people I am going to re friend once the election is over. By now they must certainly know I am right and they were wrong.  In any event the time for choosing a candidate is coming to a close. So I ask you one question and that is have you got any detailed answers to your questions and issues that are important to you?

 The truth is I am disappointed because I don't believe that either candidate has laid out specific plans in many areas. My biggest problem with Obama in 2008 was he ran on Hope and Change. That sounds good but how are you going to bring about these noble endeavors? Clearly he didn't think it through and there was really no plan other then live off Bush's failures. This was obviously not a workable plan. So where are the answers? Why can't bipartisan plans be implemented. I personally think it is because Washington has become to partisan to work effectively regardless of who the president is. So here is a novel idea. How about we as Americans start dialogue between each other and see what workable solutions we can come up with. So I have decided to write about one topic that has been mentioned in every debate. Here is my idea on how to resolve the illegal immigration issue. Let me know your thoughts.

 Presently there are somewhere between 12-18 million illegal immigrants in the United States. There is no way to really know for sure how many there are because after all they are here illegally but experts believe the numbers above to be pretty accurate. Not only are there millions already here but on average over half a million try to enter the country every year, and that is a low estimate. Border protection has become a major issue in this country and is costing American taxpayers billions of dollars every year.

 Lets look at the cost of protecting the borders. First you must pay the agents, then once you collect an illegal immigrant then you must prosecute them. This in and of itself is an extremely high cost. Public defenders must be employed the court systems in the Southwest are over capacity with illegal immigration cases alone, let alone all the other normal cases you would find in a US Court system. If the court costs weren't staggering enough for you then there is the housing, feeding and medical expenses that comes with making an arrest of an illegal. In one section of Arizona over 307,000 illegals have been caught and then had to be prosecuted. Can you imagine the strain that puts on the local economies and the local law enforcement. It is no wonder some of the Governors of the Southwest states have openly defied the federal government. They need help and they need it fast. So here is what needs to happen.

 I realize this would be a radical move and terrifying for most Americans but I do think there is a precedent for it. On September 15, 1863 President Lincoln imposed Congressionally authorized martial law. The President suspended habeas corpus (the right to be heard) throughout the entire United States and focused the suspension on the prisoners of war, spies, or aiders and abettors of the enemy. Now I know that some reading this are freaking out about declaring Martial Law but the Supreme Court decided that suspending habeas corpus was against the constitution in places that local courts were still in session. So I am not advocating the Martial Law everywhere but simply on the Southwest borders and only for the issue of illegal immigration. Another time this was used was in San Francisco when in 1934 when California Governor Frank Merriam placed the docks of San Francisco under martial law, citing "riots and tumult" resulting from a dock worker's strike. Again, I am not advocating martial law for any place other then the border itself and suspending habeas corpus for illegal immigrants only.

  Article 1 Section 9 of the United States Constitution states,
"The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it."

I find it interesting that the founding fathers put these two section together. Did they know something about what immigration could cause and the potential for rebellion or invasion?

 Now let me ask you what constitutes an invasion? Does it need to be a hostile force? Some would say that a country being overrun by over 12 million people is an invasion and I would be inclined to believe that but clearly a case can be made for public safety. Not only are the illegals coming over and taking jobs and costing taxpayers billions of dollars, more sinister plans have been exposed in both drugs and weapons trafficking. Lets face it the worst nightmare for this country is if a terrorist was able to enter through the southwest borders.

 So my proposal would be to grant amnesty for all illegals that are presently here. Lets face it the cost to find them, track them down and send them home would be ridiculously high and it's never going to happen. Now I know my conservative friends are sharpening their pitch forks and torches but hear me out. Then I would deploy the US Armed Forces to the borders. We have the best trained and equipped forces in the world. With the drawn down in Iraq and eventually Afghanistan we will have many troops coming home and looking for work. The United States Department of Labor stated that 8.3% of veterans are unemployed. How many troops would have stayed in the military if they could have done their job while serving at home. Much of what the troops are doing overseas could be used in the Southwest so there would not need to be billions spent on training. Also the military could institute it into their regular training schedules. A month a year patrolling the borders in the south would be excellent real world training.

 This would save taxpayers billions. It would allow local law enforcement to do their jobs and focus on a mission they can actually handle. Because habeas corpus is suspended there would be no need for civilian courts to deal with the overload of illegals and the illegals could be shipped home immediately with no cost for housing and care. Word would quickly spread that it doesn't pay to try and get into the United States illegally. Immigrants would be forced to pursue legal means of becoming citizens or coming to work. Another benefit would be the drug and weapons traffickers would be met with a force with superior firepower thus discouraging them from trying to do business in the US.

 Now I know my plan isn't perfect. So tell me why it won't or would work.

Thanks For Reading
Steve