I grew up in a household filled with people who didn't really for politics. My mother and my grandmother, in line with their religious beliefs, do not partake in the voting system and are just fine by it. As such, I was raised in neither a Republican nor a Democratic household. So lucky for me, when I got older, I was able to explore and educate myself on our political system and was able to make decisions on my own, free of any previous bias or brainwashing on behalf of my family. This will be the second Presidential election I will be voting in and let me tell you, to be a truly educated voter, there is a lot of work involved.
I tend to shy away from watching televised news programs because lets be honest, they are clearly biased. How can I learn anything remotely true about what is going on in our country if I am partaking in some form of "selective learning"? That being said, I also tend to stay away from biased websites (i.e. foxnews.com, msnbc.com etc) because, well, same problem. This leaves me with two things: What each Presidential candidate says and the independent fact checkers. So yes, there is a lot of work to be done if I want to make the best decision with what I am being presented.
In 2008 I voted for Obama. Why? It was a simple choice...I mean...look at the opposition...Sarah Palin was on the ticket. What a shame to all women who would run for such a high position! But that's another story for another day. So now its 2012 and I am faced with another decision. Do I vote for the person I voted for last time? Or this new candidate? Of course it's hard not to be biased because I already voted for Obama once, but I was curious to see if his opponent would have better ideas than what Obama's campaign promises to run on. Do I think Romney was the best candidate to put up against Obama? Yes, because everyone else Romney ran again was even worse. I can admit he was the best out of the bunch. That being said, is he the best candidate against Obama? I am not sure. Here's why...
Fundamentally speaking, Republicans like to think that they are the "Christian party" mostly due to their stance on abortion and gay rights. But I am here to tell you that in my honest opinion they are most certainly not of good Christian morals or values at their core. What do I mean at their core? Let me explain.
If Jesus were walking around and he came across a man who was poor, perhaps starving, willing to work but maybe he just isn't getting enough to get by. This man's neighbor is a rich man, with more than enough to eat, all the video game consuls you can dream of, a big house, one or two cars and a great family. Let's say the local government wants this wealthier man to give just a bit more in various taxes or programs in order to help people like his neighbor live a decent life. The way of the Republican would say "I work hard! I should keep my money! You just need to work harder! I'm not giving anything to help you!". Do I think Jesus would just nod in agreement with this? No I don't. I think He would want those who have more than enough (millionaires, billionaires etc) to pay more to help those of us who don't have as much! Maybe that means they don't buy a new private jet, or spend $500 on their next dinner, but these people have more than enough! Of course the Republicans run on the "trickle down" idea which means if we charge millionaires and CEOs more in taxes, they will cut jobs to us middle class folk! So we need to give them tax breaks! Oh really? Couldn't possibly be that people are greedy by nature, and if they can have more money without having to hire more people they are going to just put that money in their pockets, can it? That method does not work! It didn't work in the 8 years under Bush and it won't work under Romney either.
"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." - Matthew 19:24
In my opinion, what the Republicans believe, and the way they look down upon those who use government assistance is appalling and disgusting. Sure, there may be a handful of people who abuse the system. But does that mean we cut off funding for the hundreds of thousands of other families that this helps? Should it not be in our Christian nature to give? You think you have it rough? Are you able t sit at home and talk o your iPhone? Play on an iPad? Have a big tv? Maybe 3 computers, PS3, Xbox or whatever else? Then no, you don't have it as hard as you think you do. You may just not be as rich as you'd like to be.
It disgusts me that so many think that just because someone is on disability, unemployment or welfare means that they are lazy and are just getting "handouts." Let me tell you something. People in my family are on welfare and they are embarrassed. They want to do more, work more, contribute more. But they have just been given a hard life and though they work, they just can't make enough. Are they proud? No. But at least they can keep a roof over their heads. When my boyfriend was injured recently and he had to take disability they gave him hardly anything. He was dying to go back to work after the first week. When he got his check, he told me it was the saddest check he's even been given. It broke my heart. He wasn't proud. He wasn't happy. But there was a system in place to help him when he needed it. Why would I want to take this away from people who are struggling just as much or harder than the people I know and love? I don't. And I would gladly pay into a system where I knew I was helping others because I may need that help one day too.
Secondly, should it be in our Christian nature to oppress and judge others more harshly than we judge ourselves? Why is it that Republicans want to point the finger at gays and talk about their sinful nature and how we shouldn't dare legalize it? Is our legal divorce system not a sin? Is our pornography that leads millions of men and women to commit adultery in their hearts, legal and sinful? What about drinking and smoking and tattoo parlors? Why focus on this one group!? Because its the ONE sin you may not be committing!? Is YOU sin any less of a sin than theirs? What is pointing the finger going to get you except classified as a hypocritical Christian?
"Judge not, that ye be not judged."- Matthew 7:1
This also applies to women's rights. Why should we allow a group of middle aged white men to decide what they can and can't do with their healthcare decisions!? If Republicans are so much against abortion, why are they fighting the Democrats policy of making birth control free to those who want it? If you don't want them getting abortions how about you start by making contraception more easily accessible!? It doesn't make sense to me. I, for one, find abortion to be wrong, but I would much rather a woman have the choice than to try to give herself one or even worse, having a child she doesn't want who is either mistreated or thrown into an already overpopulated adoption and foster care system.
As a nurse, I also find it ridiculous that Republicans want to overturn what they call "Obamacare" or as I like to call it, (and its real name) The Affordable Care act. This act, among many other things prohibits insurance companies from denying someone coverage due to "pre existing conditions" and no longer allowed insurance companies to charge women up to 50% more for their healthcare. Romney promises to overturn this. So God forbid, when I have a child, that he or she is born with a medical problem....because I will have a hell of a time trying to get them insured. God forbid your child gets sick or gets cancer, and you can no longer afford it and this healthcare system isn't in place. I bet the first thing you would do would be to praise God that other people, who had more than you did, were helping you pay for this situation because 'liking' a photo on Facebook isn't going to save a child's life. But good healthcare will. As a nurse, I don't want to have to stop treatment on a patient when it could be significantly increasing this person's quality of life. How can you work in healthcare and be okay with denying the care you promise to provide, to millions of people?
How is it of good Christian value to not want to pay into a system where we can help each other have what we should ALL be promised to have? A healthy body and good healthcare in case we don't. Should we let the elderly go back to paying tons of money for their prescriptions? Should we let the innocent sick children be denied potentially life saving procedures and care because their insurance companies no longer want to cover them? No! If we were good Christians, we would know that we should pay into something that will help others and may, one day, help us if we ever need it. We already do this with social security but I bet a lot of Republican's won't complain unless they can't recover that money when they retire. Why should this be any less important than that?
This is the word of God. No matter what Romney or Obama says, THIS is the truth. That being said. If you truly want to apply good Christian values to politics, which side do you think this falls on? In my case, the Democratic party seems to fall more in line with my personal Christian beliefs.
1 John 3:17 But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won't help him--how can God's love be within him ? 1 John 3:18Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. 1 John 3:19 Then we will know for sure, by our actions, that we are on God's side, and our consciences will be clear, even when we stand before the Lord.
Prov. 21:13 He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need
James 2:14 Dear brothers, what's the use of saying that you have faith and are Christians if you aren't proving it by helping others? Will that kind of faith save anyone? James 2:15 If you have a friend who is in need of food and clothing, James 2:16 and you say to him, "Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat hearty," and then don't give him clothes or food, what good does that do? James 2:17 So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn't show itself by good works is no faith at all--it is dead and useless. James 2:18 But someone may well argue, "You say the way to God is by faith alone, plus nothing; well, I say that good works are important too, for without good works you can't prove whether you have faith or not; but anyone can see that I have faith by the way I act."James 2:19 Are there still some among you who hold that "only believing" is enough? Believing in one God? Well, remember that the demons believe this too--so strongly that they tremble in terror!James 2:20 Fool! When will you ever learn that "believing" is useless without doing what God wants you to? Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith.
In closing, I heard a lot of people talk the other night about how Obama kept his head down for much of the debate. How he hardly ever looked over at his opponent.A friend of mine made a statement today, saying that she noticed the pen in Obama's hand. He wasn't looking down in shame or embarrassment, but he was taking notes. With the way Romney has been flip flopping (as he made lots of statements during the debate that were contrary to what he's said on the campaign trail) Obama is going to need to be taking lots of notes. Obama may have hardly looked at Romney, but he took a lot of time to look into the camera, as US, the voters. He doesn't need to sell himself to Romney. He isn't important. But WE are. Romney barely looked into the camera the entire time. But I can admit, for a while I was hoping Obama would bite back but after a while I realized something. Maybe Obama is smarter than I give him credit for. Maybe he doesn't want to feed the trolls ;)
Be an Independent thinker. You don't have to believe what your parents raised you to believe because they do not have all the answers. They are not perfect people. They may not have always made the right decisions. Be YOU.
