I will have more fun posts. But this morning, just a little cynical and jaded.
this is how conservative christian approach to public policy looks to me:
on voting for christians: "of course christians should make better politicians. reading the bible and listening to god has to make them better." Presented with evidence that not only has Bush not acted Christ like, but the biggest participants in corrupt policies happen to be the loudest thumpers. "Hmm. That shouldn't be. I will still vote for them." Other Christians, they are asked? "No, the same ones. Tom Delay says that God is directing his path. Who am I to question that?"
Tax policy: "Ronny and George have assured me that cutting taxes will reduce the deficit and be better for everyone." The deficit grows as does poverty and the uninsured. "Hmm. That shouldn't be. We should make the tax cuts permanent." Even though most of that money goes to the rich? "God loves rich people, and it is more important that I be comfortable than we address poverty."
speaking of the poor, policy on poverty: "well, god obviously doesn't want high taxes or welfare. I am not poor because I work hard. Therefore no one has to be poor. There just shouldn't be poor people. We will feed some of those who are hungry, but that is it. For the rest, they are on their own."
death penalty: "It is in the bible--an eye for an eye." confronted with evidence that the system not only is flawed with regards to guilt or innocence, but clearly on the basis of class and race. "Hmm. It is in the bible. And we are certainly executing guilty people too. We should just keep going."
pregnancy: "abstinence is the best policy. It shall be our only policy. " Confronted with evidence that abstinence only programs not only don't help, they actually endanger kids who have sex because they have no clue how to protect themselves. "Hmm. Abstinence is the best policy. We will continue that policy."
evolution: "God created the world in 7 days. Period." Evolutionary evidence grows. Flu virus jumps cross species every year, and the documentation for cross-species evolution just continues to mount. "Nope. It says right here that God created the world in 7 days. No mention of monkeys. This shall be our policy."
gays. "God said it is an abomination, and everyone agrees that it is a choice. our policy on gays is that they shouldn't be gay. Period."
2 comments:
Studies across the board also pretty much confirm that the death penalty is neither cost effective nor a deterrent. So the only reason to use it appears to be because the Bible says to, which isn't necessarily a very good reason.
Likewise, studies also show that abstinence doesn't work: it only delays the inevitable. So the kids just don't have sex for a few more years.
As for gays, the Bible also calls charging interest an abomination. Where is the hardline Christian stance on banking?
Yeah, WJ, I agree. I have likened capital punishment to those electric bug lights. They are dramatic, and give the homeowner the false security of zapping bugs. Unfortunately, they don't zap the right bugs.
And as for the abstinence issue, it is really worse than that. The studies I have read suggest that a small percentage of kids actually follow their pledge. Most kids in abstinence-only programs do not abstain. And those who don't, are not given the tools to understand how to protect themselves. So it actually endangers kids. That makes no sense to me.
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