Christians and the Democratic Victory

I see they STILL think us liberals are hostile to faith or religion.

If they'd show some respect for others, the outcome might have been different.

That, however, seems to not be part of their package.

I'm so delighted with the outcome of the elections, I am filled with gratitude. I'm going to all the sites I've been visiting in order to keep sane in the past six years just to say thanks. We kept the faith and it has come back to us. Thanks, CAPPERS!

Christians have never had any such "monogamous alliance" with the Republican party. Republicans (in general) have simply demonstrated a slower departure from Christianity, than have the Democrats. The party of the Democrats was once replete with the likes of Zel Miller who fear God and live by His Word--at least in what they publicly stood for. There were no debates over issues of 'gay rights' or 'abortion rights'. They would not have dared to propose the same 'rights' for illegal aliens, and known terrorists that law abiding US citizens enjoy. They could not have been elected on promises to steal more and more of the hard-working Americans tax money to provide food, clothing, shelter, and medical services for those who choose the life of vagrancy (against which, they had previously passed laws). Even with a name like 'Kennedy', we once had a Democrat President who publicly reminded Americans of the common-sense wisdom of cutting taxes across the board in order to come out of recession. Those days are long gone.
With the 'dumbing down' of America, Democrats found a new constituency. And contrary to that which they knew to be true, they began to engage in the lowest form of hypocrisy and lie to the increasing multitude of the ignorant--in order to get the vote and maintain their power.
The lies have come, over the years, in many not-so-subtle forms, but most recently they have taken on a hypocrisy of diabolical proportion. The most recent example, being the bold-faced lie that our presence in Iraq has "provoked" the terrorists to fight us and kill our young soldiers--that to withdraw and endeavor to bring peace and stability through diplomacy, would mean the saving of countless lives and renewed respect in the world... And at the side of those who proclaim such nonsense, stand the leaders of Iran, N. Korea, Venezuela, and any one else who hopes and plans for the total demise of America.
Hitler once made promises to conquer nations, destroy the Jews, etc., and though fewer in number than today, there were Americans asking, "What does he mean by that?". Abidinejab, Chavez, Kim Jung Il, not-to-mention Bin Laden, etc., are voicing the same type of plans, specifically concerning America--and influenced by the liberal, hypocritical mindset of the modern democratic party, Americans are asking, "What do they mean by those threats?"
A dark day is coming for America--one that will make 9/11 look like a picnic. But sadly, that is exactly what it is going to take for the possibility of any significant awakening. There was a partial awakening in 2001, but it turned out to be short-lived--nothing really, but a temporary stirring. Our spiritual and military enemies are now rejoicing in great anticipation. The stage has been set. America has moved into their camp, laid our weapons down, and fallen asleep.
EH

Eddie -- it's not just people on the left who are saying what the US has done in Iraq has been a collosal failure. Right-leaning legislators, generals and former Pentagon officials are saying the same thing. In Afghanistan conditions are so bad that much of the populace thinks US forces support the Taliban.

CNN reported that 900,000 Iraqi civilians have been displaced within the country and another 1 million have left for neighboring countries. And how many Iraqi civilians have been killed as "collateral damage" during this debacle?

Iraq has become another Vietnam and the mess W has made of that country will haunt the Republican Party for a long time.

Cathie, not only will it haunt the Republican party, but it will be a monkey on the backs of all of us for many generations to come. The war debt is phenomenal and the bulk of it is owed to China, of all things! People with Rev. Hughes' mindset refuse to even talk about the danger in something like that. They speak about the danger in Bin Laden still lurking but they refuse to address the fact that Bush outright abandoned the hunt for bin Laden very early. They refuse to recognize that what American's overwhelmingly supported was the invasion of Afghanistan, the dismanteling of the Taliban regime, and the pursuit of bin Laden, NOT the implementing of a pre-2001 plan to invade Iraq, i.e. The Project for a New American Century. And the religious right will never own up to having played a role in this adventurism, nor will they ever understand that what has happened in these elections has nothing to do with "liberalism". It has to do with just plain good sense. The country is tired of these puffed up, arrogant, ideologues and demogogues, and we're trying to cut our losses and restore a little of the dignity we've lost at the hands of these neocon preachers.

Obama and Ford are the exception not the rule. The Democrats have alienated Christians nearly 30 years ago. As noted above, the Republicans are slowly distancing themselves from Christians. Perhaps it is time for Christians to look for a third party that will not look at you like an oddball because you go to Church 2x on Sunday and again on Wednesday and you are able to quote verses from both the Old and New Testament. Why should we bother with either the Republicans or Democrats anyway? Perhaps it is time to move to a third party that shares Christian values, that way we won't have to make excuses for nonChristian behavior.

Just what happened 30 years ago that Democrats began alienating Christians? Exactly 30 years ago the country had just elected Jimmy Carter, a Democrat and born-again Christian to the Whitehouse. Evangelical influence on the Republican Party sure has alienated a lot of mainline Christians from the party over the years, though.

I think it would be a fine idea for Christian Evangelicals to form a third political party. That way you could show your true colors by not having to compromise one jot on your divisive social agenda. Voters would see that neither thrice-weekly church attendance nor Scripture quoting prizes necessarily qualify anyone for national public office. Sneaky attempts to turn America into a theocracy through the back door haven't worked and a direct frontal assault on the Constitution will be dismantled in a red hot minute by the huge majority of people, religious or not, who are moderates.

I can just see campaign ads against this imaginary "Christian Evangelical Party." To win, all your opponents would need do is flash pictures and sound bites from the more outrageous antics of such "Christian" leaders as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, Oral Roberts, Bob Jones and Ted Haggard with an announcer asking, "Do we really want to turn our country over to the followers of men like these?"

Don't bother Eddie Hughes with facts. Facts just get in the way of his pre-packaged talking points.

Eddie visits only to broadcast monologues and troll-bombs and has no interest in dialogue or critical thinking.

OOOFFFF!!!

Good one, Cathie!!!

I agree that the Democratic party has not alienated Christians- it may have alienated those who are of the "religious right" because the party didn't fall into their narrow, bigoted mindview (30 years ago- that was when my people were fighting for freedom of religion and the religious right was denouncing us as wanting to use drugs and being heathens!); the Democratic party did NOT alienate a lot of Christians otherwise.

That was also when the dominionist ideas were really starting to take off- and the Democratic party platform has points that are in opposition to dominionism. I also remember the general attitude of the time- a strong programmed knee-jerk reaction against anything that hinted at socialism (not realizing that this was nonsense designed to keep the rich in power). The ideas of equality, care for the poor, and so on fly in the face of conservativism- the trunk and branches of greed.

I was conservative back then- not realizing just how much I was being led by the nose (and by fears and conservative-installed prejudices). I didn't like Carter- but now I see that he had a great many good points.

Not the least being that he supported the law that finally granted us freedom of religion (and helped repeal the federal and state laws that made practicing our religion unlawful).

I wonder how long it will be until our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters realize that Evangelical Protestants are just using their Church's stance against abortion and stem-cell research for political gain. As a group Southern Baptists and Pentacostals believe the Roman Church and its Pope are instruments of Satan and that Roman Catholics are going to hell. The organization of a "Christian" Evangelical third political party would soon bring those dark sentiments to light.

HI Eddie

YOU WROTE: "The lies have come, over the years, in many not-so-subtle forms, but most recently they have taken on a hypocrisy of diabolical proportion. The most recent example, being the bold-faced lie that our presence in Iraq has "provoked" the terrorists to fight us and kill our young soldiers--that to withdraw and endeavor to bring peace and stability through diplomacy, would mean the saving of countless lives and renewed respect in the world..."

It is unarguable that our activities in Iraq--the war of choice, torture of prisoners most of whom were not captured by US forces and not on the battlefield, many of whom are not terrorists at all--has brought it about that many people who otherwise would not have fought against us now consider us their enemies. The bigoted view that all of them Muslims are alike fools us into bad reasoning when thinking about the threat of terrorism. There are certainly those who oppose the US because they see us as Godless infidels, enemies of the Almighty God. But when we go into somebody else's country, drop bombs that kill their family it would be unbelievable if they didn't see us as the threat.

EDDIE: And at the side of those who proclaim such nonsense, stand the leaders of Iran, N. Korea, Venezuela, and any one else who hopes and plans for the total demise of America.

KEITH: North Korea is a danger to the countries of Asia because they are indeed an evil regime and they have nuclear weapons. Iran's Ahmadinejad is overrated as a threat according to analyst Fareed Zacaria. And Chavez? He is a silly man who has won huge majorities every time he faced the voters in his country because the previous governments did nothing to help the poor. When the right wing capitalists support pro-corporate policies to enrich themselves, it makes it inevitable that left wing populists will gain political support. Chavez poses no threat to the US whatsoever, only Pat Robertson and oil companies think he does.

EDDIE: Hitler once made promises to conquer nations, destroy the Jews, etc., and though fewer in number than today, there were Americans asking, "What does he mean by that?". Abidinejab, Chavez, Kim Jung Il, not-to-mention Bin Laden, etc., are voicing the same type of plans, specifically concerning America--and influenced by the liberal, hypocritical mindset of the modern democratic party, Americans are asking, "What do they mean by those threats?"

KEITH: Hitler? Please. Hitler was in control of a nation that had one of the most advanced scientific communities in the world, a major nation with plenty of resources. Germany was poor because of the Treaty of Versailles, the punitive post war imposition that made Hitler politically possible I might add. Comparing countries like Venezuela to the countries that produced Modern Physics is something of an exageration.

your friend
keith

Hi, Keith.

I think EH is reflecting a lot of the knee-jerk reaction against any more liberal-leaning or socialist looking government. Considering the history of US control/involvement/abuse in central America and South America, I am not in the least surprised at Chavez words, and he DOES have some valid complaints. So did (and DOES) Castro.

Have they made mistakes? Yep.. but I don't think Chavez has invaded another country to increase the profits of a handful of his friends, however.

I respect him a lot more than I do bush.

It is strange that anything that tries to "level the playing field", so to speak, gets this knee-jerk reaction. I know I used to have that reaction- and it is why we don't have any medical care right now. That is also why the divide between the extreme rich and the poor has increased- and why more and more people are becoming poor every day.

The conservatives cry "lower taxes" and since the tax burden was shifted downward from the rich to the middle class and poor, it resonates. What they DON'T say is that their goal will be found to reduce the taxes of the middle class and poor by only a tiny amount, while virtually eliminating anything that keeps the rich paying their fair share (which they don't now).

Like me a few years ago, most people will buy it. And, as long as they can keep foolishness such as creationism, and their pet issues in the fore, people won't see that they're being robbed from behind.

(Especially when it's fundamentalist preachers who rant "GIVE TILL IT HURTS!!!"- I've heard that sermon quite a few times in the A/G church!)

Given the amount of the national debt, rising Medicare/Medicaid costs and the fact that the Social Security system will go bust in a few decades, I don't see how anyone, even the middle class, won't be hit with higher taxes.

I wish the rest of the country could experience first hand what we did in Virginia when Republican Jim Gilmore was governor. We have what's called "Personal Property Tax" on automobiles. Gilmore ran on the promise to eliminate this tax on all vehicles valued under $20,000 and he won almost solely on this very popular issue. The problem was, Gilmore had no plan to offset the decrease in revenue, so the Commonwealth had to dip into its reserves to meet its constitutional requirement of a balanced budget. Virginia lost its status as the nation's best fiscally managed state and its bond rating fell. It wasn't until Mark Warner, a democrat, took office in 2001 that the financial picture started to improve. Warner had to cut services and find ways to increase revenue as well.

I was surprised that so few people blamed Warner; instead they lay the blame where it should go, on Gilmore and his irresponsible fiscal policies. Virginia's governor is constitutionally prohibited from serving consecutive terms, but many wanted to find some way for Warner to serve another four years.

If the rest of the country could see an almost-immediate cause/effect relationship between tax cuts and loss of services, they might not be so eager for those tax cuts.

Good point.

Services have been forced down here in Florida- shoot, the state is CRUEL to the poor.

Yet when there is a tax "windfall", they would rather give it back to families with enough money to buy all of the materials to send their children to school (the so-called tax holiday).

It really griped me that during those "tax holidays", we often had to go to the local homeless shelter for food.

The rules in Florida make us unable to get food stamps, although our income is way below the poverty level. (It is because I am a college student who gets financial aid- even though today it is a fellowship that works out to less than $8000 a year- before school expenses! Student loans are considered the same by the way!)

What it comes down to is stereotypes- and we don't fit them. Indeed, a friend of mine (who runs a homeless shelter) has described us as homeless people with a home, because of our limited income.

It is funny when we've talked with "financial councillors". They are befuddled that we don't spend lots of money on lottery tickets, tobacco, and alcohol. They seem to suspect that we use drugs (NOT!) Their suspicions are because we are poor.

Never mind that I cannot work at a "regular job".

They also don't understand why when we DO have descretionary money, we would rather spend it on books and parts for the computer (to either fix it or make it somewhat less obsolete). We should be going to movies and eating out, in their estimation.

Go figure.

Talking about social security, I've been doing some research on homelessness. The elderly used to be a big part of the homeless population, until SS changed that (and gave them back a little dignity). People don't have a clue what it was like BEFORE liberal social programs got started. For the poor, life in "America" was hell on earth. Forced expulsions (taken to the county line and THROWN off the bus) and things like that were the norm. People even publically advocated giving the homeless POISON.

For the rich... well, one early law required that homeless people become SERVANTS. You know who they served!!!

(Indeed, if people don't mind, I'd like to make a request for info leading to OLD sermons on homelessness and poverty- to show the attitudes towards the unfortunate and how they have evolved over time.)

I don't have any old sermons on how attitudes about poverty or homelessness have changed, but I did read this supposedly true anecdote some years ago. Prior to the invention and acceptance of effective contraception, many people had WAY more children than they could afford to raise. Sometimes families would decide which of their older children (young teenagers) could make it in the world and that child was turned out. Often times the turned-out girls had no choice other than prostitution to earn a living. This being the case, one of the arugments preachers employed to warn men against visiting prostitutes was the fact that a man might have sex with his own daughter. No mention of righting the societal evils that caused the daughter to be turned out of the family in the first place!

I enjoy reading this blog a lot. However, it lacks an "ignore this user" feature that some forums have. Because I don't always have the time or patience to deal with Troll posts that contribute nothing to the discussion, and I have noticed that others have voiced a similar sentiment, I decided to do something about it.
First, let me clearly state that I would not condone, endorse, or promote anything that could even remotely be considered as going against anyone else's Rights. Although site owners often decide to delete SPAM, deleting Troll posts is a "grey area" that could be considered as censorship, and possibly be seen as going against the Troll's Right to "freedom of speech".
What I have done is create a Firefox GreaseMonkey userscript that gives the blog reader the ability to selectively block troll posts. This blocking only happens on the users browser and does not affect anyone else.
It can be found at http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/6334
May your blog reading experience be a better one.
Praise God

Thanks!

Considering the times, that might just make some sense, although it was horrific. I've been reading a lot about homelessness in the past- how some big names advocated poisoning the homeless, and how business owners persecuted them on one hand and used them to force down wages with the other.

It is a problem that has been around for a long time- migrated here from England, to be exact- where the homeless were often people who escaped abusive guild Masters. Thus they were hated because their Masters called them lazy- although they were fleeing all sorts of abuse.

If we could get the conservatives to look in the mirror, and see truths like I'm discovering (homelessness is due to GREED and not to personal shortcomings of the poor, for instance), maybe some really decent changes could happen in this country. Changes like universal health care, decent wages, control of housing costs, and so on.

GOOD things.

Mittineague, your userscript sounds fascinating, and it WOULD be something I'd appreciate. I get SO SICK of the fundie trolls who've infested this blog. Does it work with Windows Internet Explorer 7?

@Bob Bowers,
At present userscripts are only supported in Firefox with the GreaseMonkey extension installed and in Opera (afaik).
My apologies to readers for my ironic contribution of Off-Topic content.
Please feel free to contact me via my site's contact form with any questions.

Hi Bob

Marx describe it as "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs",liberation theologians called it God's "preferential option for the poor", jesus just said "as you you treat the least of these your brothers, so you treat me". But it all comes down to the same thing: the Christian measure of a just society is how well it treats the weak, not the strong. And whatever the faults of Chavez and Castro--and IMO they are many--their governments aren't the ones who have promoted world wide torture and oppression, they didn't launch a war of choice, ignoring Just War theory in favor of a neo-conservative version of Bolshevism. Our government supported the brutality of Sadaam Hussein when they deemed it useful for our own interests, it supported the brutality of Pinochet in Chile, La Mano Blanca in El Salvador, Rios Montt in Guatemala and Somoza in Nicaragua. Our government claimed to want to spread democracy but our record belies that claim. I am not a "blame America first" guy, but we cannot hide from history, we've done what we've done. We think "they"--our enemies--hate us for our freedom. It's foolish we think to suggest that if we were nicer "they'd' quit trying to kill us. But when the most powerful military power on earth is controlled by people who think that force is a legitimate way to remake the rest of the world, well that's a far bigger threat than if some country begins to charge us full price for *their* natural resources.

your friend
Keith

I never have understood why the fundie trolls keep posting on this site when they're not converting anybody, but I still like to read their warped ideas sometimes. They help remind me of why I believe as I do.

God, I wish I could FORGET!!! Fundamentalism is a curse in our life! I will say one thing, however- remembering keeps me from falling back into their cesspool and impells me to go forward!

The research I've been doing has been very revealing- one thing that I've found was a clear link between Calvinist theology and the abuse of the poor and homeless.

It goes like this- wealth is a hint of God's blessing, and a sign of a Godly life. Poverty is a sign of an ungodly life and God's wrath. Therefore the poor are that way because they are wicked. (WHAT A CROCK OF SH**!) I found part at least one sermon that reflected this very view (from the 1500's).

SIGH. I "kind of" knew this, but it is really coming out in my work. A so-called Christian theological tradition is clearly to blame for much of the EVIL attitudes that I've encountered and are the force behind the abuse of the poor in this country.

Calvinist theology is also a major part of why the pilgrims were such a messed-up, WICKED bunch of abusive dictators.

I wish some more of the anabaptist values and beliefs had rubbed off on the early reformers!

Better yet- TRUE Christianity, as taught by our Savior.

Speaking of Calvinists, I read that when vaccines to prevent diseases like small pox, tetanus, etc. were invented, Calvinist ministers preached against them. The reason is that God had already preordained that certain people would die from these illnesses and preventing those deaths defied the will of God. Sometimes it just boggles my brain to think about all the evil and ignorance that has been preached - and continues to be preached - as the Word of God.

Hi Cathie

If those preachers actually preached against vaccination they were more than just ignorant and hateful--they failed to even *understand* the logical implications of the kind of hard predestination they proclaimed. If God preordained that a person would die from a disease then it wouldn't even be *possible* for anyone to prevent it. Therefore, if a vaccination prevented their death then we know that God hadn't preordained their death by the disease. Sigh.

your friend
Keith

You should read the two articles I've been growling at for the last hour.

"Puritans and the Poor" by Christopher Hill, in Past and Present, No. 2 (1952),

and

"Slavery and Protector Somerset; The Vagrancy Law of 1547" by CSL Davies, in The Economic History Review, New Series, Vol. 19 No.3. (1966)

Both of these are valid reads for anyone interested in how dominionism came about, and why this country is so screwed up.

They get me so p*ssed that it's not funny. I'm going over them for one of the papers I'm writing- and it is tough going because they cause me so much rage that I can't focus. One thing I can say- I've found some good information on the religious basis for the hateful attitudes towards the poor. It all goes back to Calvinism.

It's not pretty. What a horrible distortion of Teyose's teachings!

These readings also give me a little bit of an insight why the trolls we've dealt with are the way they are.

GW Bush leading us to destruction.
What most Christian seem to think is that you are rewarded money for doing good and the more money you have the better Christian you are, and for the most part due to false teaching and preaching for money, money has become the real Christian God. This is the whole story of the Bible How God gives us a land of milk and honey and then we go about destroying it for money.
Look at North Africa once the land of milk and honey, the land where God had chosen to have his Temple built and it was destroyed because of the love of money and power.
The United States of America was once the land of milk and honey .
Here is what we are to do to keep the land of milk and honey! Deuteronomy 13: 10 Give freely without begrudging it, and the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do
Deuteronomy 14: 4: There should be no poor among you, for the LORD your God will greatly bless you in the land he is giving you as a special possession. 5 You will receive this blessing if you carefully obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today. 6 The LORD your God will bless you as he has promised. You will lend money to many nations but will never need to borrow! You will rule many nations, but they will not rule over you!
Read Deuteronomy 14; 6 The LORD your God will bless you as he has promised. You will lend money to many nations but will never need to borrow! You will rule many nations, but they will not rule over you. [WHY ARE WE BORROWING FROM CHINA.] {Maybe we are not as godly as the religious right thinks.}

How many of the following has the religious right and their great Republican party obeyed.
Leviticus 19: 11 "Do not steal. [If you take some thing with out permission; so how did the Republicans get permission from the un-born to use their money to give the rich a tax break.]
"Do not cheat one another. {Would we dare talk about the election.]
"Do not lie. [God said this as a joke ask Bush.]
13 "Do not cheat or rob anyone. {God really knows how to joke
"Always pay your hired workers promptly. [The Republicans tried to do this by turning the poor in to slaves.]
14 "Show your fear of God by treating the deaf with respect and by not taking advantage of the blind. I am the LORD. [what is respect; not giving them food and medicine.]
15 "Always judge your neighbors fairly, neither favoring the poor nor showing deference to the rich. [Oh Lord we have not done this, very much.]
16 "Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.[a] [Oh God we have never done this, we just don’t think of poor and the Democrats as people.]
"Do not try to get ahead at the cost of your neighbor's life, for I am the LORD. [If them dam Iraqis would have just given big oil their oil in the first place we wouldn’t of had to kill so many people. So you see God it is not our fault.]
17 "Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. [DUH.]
18 "Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. [How close to them do you have to live to be a neighbor, the Capital grounds is pretty big so is my ranch. I got you on this one God.]
19 "You must obey all my laws. [duh what dose all mean.]
Deuteronomy 18: 19: I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf. 20 But any prophet who claims to give a message from another god or who falsely claims to speak for me must die.' 21 You may wonder, `How will we know whether the prophecy is from the LORD or not?' 22 If the prophet predicts something in the LORD's name and it does not happen, the LORD did not give the message. That prophet has spoken on his own and need not be feared. [Come on God it was the Iraqis fault the war was supposed to last only six days. The one we anointed leader he loved us. The mission accomplished banner, so what God I made a couple bad prophecy I am still the Prez and my dog still love me he will tell you that as soon as he lets go of my leg]

24 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. [Come on God the tax cut was not to put money in our pocket and pass the debt to our grand children it was to boost the economy.]

Dark Horse Candidate, a Horse of Revelation?

I am of the belief that the advanced species on the planet does not have to continue in the manner it has, and so I write the following to those who may care to see some changes come about.

Who speaks for the children to come? I respectfully ask this of you.

If you are sitting there thinking about your life or values and efforts to see positive change come about, please read and consider there may be an opportunity, for you and the children to come, at hand.

Am I or someone like me a likely dark horse candidate in the next election? We know what the Revelation says concerning Horses. What will the history books reflect next?

In the following message forgive me for first stating the obvious flaws of our society, but there is a point to what you are going to read.

What the political systems (the people wielding the power) of the world lack today is a consciousness of vision of the future in order to shape and make their decisions to create a better future for YOU. What do you currently see for the future based on your perceptions of the leaders?

The politics of ancient civilizations ceased to exist because they failed to evolve to overcome their failings and limitations. Have the current processes resolved issues sufficiently to make you feel more comfortable and safe and happy in your pursuits or for the pursuits of your children?

The Human Species is allegedly the advanced species on the planet. There is the word “current” which both defines the present and a sense of movement; as in the species is being swept along where the current processes to see improvements made are defined by, or blocked by, needless struggles, mindless reactions, fear, and greed.

Who is behind the existing power?

A coalition of Reformists, Independents, Green World Activists, and the multitude of other semi-effective yet worthy organizations, behind a new type of figurehead, could turn the tide in American ideology so that the world instead of seeing the US as a militant capitalistic harlot prostituting itself to maintain power, the world comes to see the country personifying change, equality, and opportunity.

What is it that countries of the world see when they see the United States? When the US addresses its own internal problems, massive natural resource consumption, burgeoning and more perverse crimes, rampant misuse of tax money, and the worse, creation of laws and processes that corrupt and serve to divide so as to support those in power with continuous wealth and justification, then we act the example and advise. When the leadership of the US enters into agreements with countries, our corrupt values and conditions become that country’s values and conditions. These countries have their own set of problems that don’t need to be complicated by the shortcomings of our antiquated processes. This is what many countries see and why they respond the way they do. They see our problems in a different light than do we. The people of this country (and others around the world) have put on blinders learning to justify their actions through a misguided and misused spirit of patriotism, regardless if the action is upright or warranted; and as such can no longer see a way out except status quo. And these are the actions of the advanced species on the planet?

This can change. That there is such division in political leanings is proof that opinions can be shaped. The campaign is not to tear down another man’s beliefs, because that is only to tell him he is wrong in the way he is thinking, and ego is fragile. Show him another way exists and let him make the choice.

Effective governing does not come from trying to figure out what to do when something happens, or even knowing what is going to happen and preparing for it. Leadership is developing the right conditions or solutions to eliminate the possibility of negative things happening. If I were the figurehead this is the basis of the decisions I will make in your behalf; or you will have more of what is current, that which you have been experiencing as of late.

What I do know with certainty, is that the susceptibility and vulnerability of the American public (given the popularity of reality TV) is such that should an ordinary, capable man like myself or someone else run for president, the general public would watch with great interest and participate. This is the opportunity for reformation values and ideology as well as other worthy causes like Green World to become the focus. If not now, when?

In a country which promotes freedom of speech, this is some of the message for the campaign: The president, simply the figure(ative) head of the body of people; and as such does not have to come from particular political bent, but be willing to work in behalf of just causes. I have learned the ways of most every business, organization, and institution from my experiences; most importantly what the spirit of the human species needs. It is not important that a leader know every law or political protocol. The candidate doesn’t have to be popular, or from a privileged upbringing.

I am of no particular political persuasion therefore I represent no special interest group except each man, woman, and child individually. I simply know of your efforts to survive and make positive changes, and interests and concerns, because I have been there myself. I have experienced the same failings, divorce, temptations, struggles, legal battles, financial uncertainty; and I believe with all my heart and soul, God did not intend that these be our struggles or the struggles our children have to look forward to, or else Christ would not have mentioned the peace which surpasses all understanding. What is our gift to God? Have we prepared a place where his Kingdom may come to rest?

If you want change, all you have to do is spread your desire, your word, for change to the leaders. They (supposedly) work for you. It is not complicated. Tell them who you want to have represent you. It is as simple as making a visible written or verbal statement. That is democracy. You and those you know and love, who are struggling or are unhappy with the uncertainty of future security and living issues, have the right to be empowered to make changes through those you know who will work in your behalf. Be effective; or let the existing current leadership decide what is best for them and you.

The silent majority does have a voice; look around and see what has been accomplished when it is not used.

There may be (are) more people interested in your same values, but that number dwindles as the population grows. A seven headed media beast has come out of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (the abyss) and floods the earth with the fruits of every compromised principle. What comes forth from this beast must change lest everyone continue to succumb to its enticements.

When you decide that you are as important to our country as I do, let me know how I may serve you for awhile. I will not be everybody’s friend, but I will hold everybody accountable. I would start by declaring the Voice of the People Party; and ask for everyone (including children) interested in doing so to send in a list of things they would like to see done, and read those things through the media that those things would be heard. And that is just at the start of the campaign. Who is it that people are relating to these days? People like themselves; the people who struggle; not the privileged.

If a man were to come from humble beginnings; from working in the same elements most people grew up in, and have their interest in mind, and the opposition were to malign that candidate, would the common man and the body of believers support that man? If it is not the sincere common man who you want, then like a fig tree which does not produce good fruit, as in a blast of heat wither and die that something better take your place because the children and the world at large deserves better than what exists now.

Who speaks for the children? What child when growing up and playing in their parent's home thought they would become a criminal or worse; and what caused them to arrive at that decision? You know the answer to these things. Can the majority let go of their differences for awhile to come together to make a difference to produce for the better? God knows you can.

Believe what you will concerning these times but know this: Christ in the ultimate act of love in dying for my sin and yours empowered me and you with His selfless spirit that we might empty ourselves to let the Spirit of Truth that his power work in the body and believers. And this is all that I desire: to serve the self-respecting godly values which exist in you, that honor and glorify our Father in all that you do.

My kindest regards to each of you,

John Gregory

My credentials: Work Experience and Education in chronological order (some positions were held with others).

Dish Washer while in high school; Jet Mechanic (USAF); Assistant Store Manager; Assistant Restaurant Manager; Physical Therapy Aide; Carpenter; Electronics School; Electronics Parts House Delivery Driver; Parts Counter sales; Outside Sales; Audio Equipment Sales; University Student; Ad Agency Mailroom Supervisor; Newspaper Owner; Recruitment Copywriter; Actor Children’s Theatre; Specialty Food Store Manager; TV Show Extra; Market Analysis Survey Taker; Specialty Food Restaurant Manager; Customer Service Manager (Reprographics); Surgical Intensive Care Unit Clerk; Sheet Metal Worker; Self-Employed Promotional Products Sales; Head Cashier Discount Retail Store; Newspaper Distributor; Equipment Operator for State DOT; Engineering Contract Preparation Specialist; Statewide Systems Planning Engineer; School Bus Driver; Guest Services Hospitality Industry.

The way to get the public involved to your and their benefit is through simplifying the understanding of what you want; simply making things easier. Who would get behind a simple Transit Initiative like the following and other worthy causes in the next campaign? Consider this: A transit tax as a line on every state income tax form. There would be an immediate influx of capital to every community to begin a nationwide mass transit system. Monies collected go back taxpayer’s community to develop first a Planning Department (if necessary), then begin rudimentary mass transit system. Once up, transit users get credit for using system; special considerations for disadvantaged, students, and elderly. The Eisenhower Highway System was developed to provide accessibility. This system (properly powered and developed for all walks of life, including business) ultimately reduces energy consumption; brings unity in the sense of being of conscious collective effort to make right some wrongs in society; puts the employee on the same level with the employer at least for the length of the ride; would be supported by the wealthy who want more space for their status symbols; would provide jobs; should have been started 50 years ago; is inevitable. What do you desire that a dark horse candidate would champion?

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