Nov
18
New Audio Now Available
November 18, 2008 | 2 Comments
It’s been a while since I’ve posted new audio on my audio blog, but in case you’ve forgotten, I’ve posted some new pieces of audio that have particularly interested me. As we potentially head into a recession, and President-Elect Obama configures his administration and works to plan the economy around what might get us out, it might be helpful to hear about the politics and economics of FDR, who tried to pull Americans out of the Great Depression. The conventional historical record is questioned and explained in some of the audio. I’ve also included some interesting audio on the Progressive Era, which I recommend looking into because we are very much moving into a new progressive era.
Nov
15
Whither art thou, Socialism?
November 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment
George Will has written an awesome piece critiquing the Republican party for crying “Socialist!” at Obama. When Pot calls the Kettle “Black” (no pun intended), that doesn’t mean the kettle isn’t black. But as Glenn Beck says, why drink the lite beer (McCain), when you can have the taste of the real deal (Obama)?
Will does a good job of describing how “socialist” the Republicans have actually become by introducing their various legislations to build up the government’s role ever more into our lives. Again, why I’m not beholden to any party, be it Democrat or Republican or Libertarian.
You can click here to read the article.
Nov
9
WWPD?
November 9, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Many loved the prospect of a woman like Sarah Palin as Vice President or President. With more experience she could potentially be a great candidate for freedom in a future election, whether the next one or a few beyond that.
But Gary North has written a letter to Palin, suggesting she does something more grassroots and more powerful, and is probably the best thing she could do for politics nationwide. Click here to read it.
Nov
5
Why I wish I were Sarah Palin
November 5, 2008 | 3 Comments
Besides the appeal of being smokin’ hot, I wish I were Sarah Palin. Just think, a normal mom who raises a family, gets a bit into politics and becomes governor, gets to be a Vice Presidential nominee. Here’s my reasons for wishing I were her:
1. She got in on some top-secret stuff — I’ve always been a sucker for those movies that make you feel like you’re getting an “inside peek” at highly classified information. While I’m sure she didn’t get as much as McCain and Obama did, certainly she got in on some pretty top-secret and classified information! That’s gotta be pretty neat info!
2. She was a catalyst for Americans to take a second-look at who we want in the White House — love her or hate her, Americans are enamored with having somebody who is “one of them,” someone who is not a political insider, a candidate who is simply a politician.
3. Here’s my biggest envy: SHE GETS TO GO BACK TO ALASKA! — I was in Alaska’s Anchorage airport for an hour of daylight. I got to see 6,000′ snow-capped mountain peaks (in June!), and behind those (if I could have seen them) were 13,000′ mountain peaks. I’m a sucker for the mountains, and if I had a fortune, I’d spend every penny in an effort to move all of my family to Alaska for the rest of my life.
Nov
5
Mourning Hangover
November 5, 2008 | 2 Comments
There are few people in the history of the world who get to witness milestones, pivot points, and events that change the course of history. While electing Barack Obama as our first black president, we’ve witnessed a milestone and a potential pivot point. Whether this will change the course of history on a grand scale is yet to be seen.
There’s one reason why Barack Obama won: he was the positive candidate with a message that resonated with Americans. Even many who did not vote for him, or even perhaps spoke out vehemently against him, would agree with the platitudes and ambitions of a more peaceful world, a stable economy, and a respect on the world stage. His message was positive. My hunch is that many who voted for John McCain were not actually McCain supporters, but those who, for one reason or another, could simply not vote for Obama for a number of reasons—inexperience, marxism/class warfare, suspect alliances, lies about the economy, or anything else (yes, I’m sure a few people didn’t vote for him because he’s black). But as Glenn Beck says, candidates do not win elections by being against something. Candidates win elections by being for something. It’s why Bob Dole didn’t win in 1996. It’s why John Kerry didn’t win in 2004. And it’s exactly why John McCain didn’t win in 2008.
Politically, I’m a libertarian. I am not beholden to the Republican or Democrat (or Libertarian, for that matter) parties. And those who wish the Republicans would have won, I’m kinda glad they didn’t. I mean that. William Pitt, The Earl of Chatham and British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1778, once said, “Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.” Republicans got too much power and lost their way. I don’t think they were responsible for the financial meltdown. There are far too specific Democratic initiatives on record pushing for what finally became a mortgage crisis. But Republicans lost backbone, leadership, and a willingness to stand up and fight for their beliefs.
For Evangelicals, it is time to understand that the Republican party is not our party. It is not the party we can rely upon, and it is not the party we must defend. While I disagree in many ways with the politics of Jim Wallis, one thing they have pointed out is good for the church: it is not beholden to a single party. Now is the time for all of us to know what we’re for, not what we’re against.
Oct
31
Where’s Dobson’s Hope?
October 31, 2008 | 11 Comments
Fear is an incredible motivator. If there’s a crisis, politicians can use fear to gather people to a common purpose in order to accomplish a common goal. Christians sometimes use hell as a fear motivator to get them to become Christians. Because it plays on our emotions, a sense of fear brings us into a state of “protect me.” It takes an innate and built-in trait—our desire and need to protect ourselves—and accelerates it, at worst causing disastrous results, and at best causing regrettable ones.
Focus on the Family’s leader, James Dobson, has recently written a letter in a theoretical 2012 after Obama’s first term as president. His sole purpose is to describe an America in a complete and utter leftist paradigm. What he has written is no more than a prophetic voice, but no less than a tactic of fear. Jim Wallis, Brian McLaren, and other Christian leaders are crying out against Dobson’s letter, attacking it as “fear-mongering.” Citing racial overtones, divisive tactics, and anger as “unChristian” and therefore not worthy of trusting, these leaders do point out what Dobson shouldn’t be doing: playing on our fears. Dobson’s letter obviously wants its readers to fear what Obama would do, and to be fair any supporter of an opposing candidate would have legitimate fears (it should be pointed out that McLaren is on record pointing out his fear that America would decline as a trustworthy leader in our world under a McCain-Palin administration). The problem with Dobson, in my opinion, is not simply that he invokes fear. Invoking fear is not necessarily bad. The problem with Dobson is that his fears are his fears for an America he wants to create because of his Judeo-Christian ethics and religious beliefs. I find great issue with that, even if I personally agree with Dobson on any given point (they are becoming fewer and fewer as time goes on). Of the many things Dobson cites, only a few touch on things that every American should be proud to protect, and vote to protect. Most of the letter is all about “conservative values” pitted against the values of Obama, and mentions freedom only when freedom protects the values Dobson wishes to see upheld (same-sex marriage being at the top of his list).
One incredibly positive aspect of the Obama campaign that should be commendable is his positive message of hope. It paints a picture of America as a land of people who are positive, voting for hope, rather than voting on fear. It is a complete opposite of the fear-based messages of Dobson and other right-wing pundits. It is a message that Americans want to hear, rather than one they have to hear. Personally, I like the message of Obama. But the message must be pragmatic (redistribution of wealth has never worked), be based in reality and not in propaganda (the economy failure was not a free market failure), and be one of supporting the people and not growing the government (it failed with Bush, and it will be no different with Obama). In other words, it sounds good, but its substance is that of ideologies that haven’t worked.
Dobson’s letter should have pointed out that while something “sounds good,” it doesn’t follow that the medium is good. Dobson’s letter should have pointed out that Obama’s message is exactly what America needs, but his methods are not freedom-protecting but government-growing. Dobson should have pointed out that while he believes permitting same-sex marriage would deteriorate the fabric of our society, that he trusts the people to make decisions on public discourse, rather than trusting in government to uphold his personal beliefs. Dobson should have explained that even during a failed Obama administration, Americans have always worked hard and pushed through the tough times, coming out on the other side a better people and a better nation. He should point out that while many Americans will become highly disappointed in Obama’s policies, Christian hope is rooted in God, and American hope is rooted in a co-dependence on each other’s strengths, talents, ingenuity, and willpower to succeed.
In other words, perhaps Dobson should take a play in the Obama playbook, and paint a message of hope in the presence of despair. After all, we all survived Jimmy Carter.
Oct
20
What is real environmentalism?
October 20, 2008 | 2 Comments
Every time I hear about saving the planet or see another bumper sticker that says “Stop Global Warming Now!” I want to laugh, because not only are the people preaching a null and void message, they are buying into a philosophy of environmentalism that hasn’t worked, won’t work, and only furthers a questionable agenda. It’s all about stopping a crisis, mandating everyone drop what they are doing and conform to an agenda, and go along with all the so-called experts in their movement to halt a catastrophe they’ve presumably discovered is imminent. Some might say this is the negative side of the coin. Others might say it’s misleading. I’d like to point out that it’s environmental fascism, plain and simple.
When I read Christian leaders talk about environmentalism, even when they refrain from the religious lingo attached to what I would say is the most accurate and compelling reason to take care of the planet, I feel more at home with their message. While Al Gore is out preaching doom and gloom unless we do what HE says, McLaren, Campolo, et al are out proclaiming that God gave us a planet to steward, we’ve historically done a pretty poor job at it (or didn’t pay attention to the need in the first place), and we need to get back on track. While I disagree with their occasional invoking of the global warming hysteria, their message is inherently positive, brings people to reconsider their posture toward consumption, waste management, and care for the environment. It is grounded in a belief that God cares for his creation, has stewarded it to us, and we are to be his co-caretakers in remaking, reshaping, and redeeming the earth from the harmful effects that have and may take place.
What’s great about the positive approach is that it’s not about scaring people. It’s not about pushing an agenda based on a crisis that doesn’t exist. It’s not about mandating people externally. Primarily, it’s about being followers of Jesus who love God and neighbor, which includes the environment around us all.
Oct
10
American-style capitalism and the Government’s need for crisis
October 10, 2008 | 1 Comment
We cannot yet see the future dictators, but we can certainly see the weakness that gives them their chance.
I think the politicians calling for even bigger government need to do some examining of what they call “American-style capitalism.” Barack Obama said the policies of a “free market” have not worked. Other left-leaning economists say we need more oversight. European periodicals claim that capitalism is dead.
The truth is, capitalism is not dead, capitalism hasn’t failed, and capitalism is not a “thing of the past.” The word itself has gotten a bad reputation, and I like to think of the free market as the best way to describe the reality of economics. What has failed us is a polluted free market (hardly “free” anymore). We have more nationalization of our schools, expanded entitlements, burdensome Sarbanes-Oxley securities regulations, nation-building around the world, and nearly 70% increase our federal deficit over the past eight years. How exactly is that a free market?!
Remember AIG, the bailed-out insurance company that just spent $400,000 on a spa treatment “retreat” that got the American people up in arms? Guess what: the free market would have prevented that, because they wouldn’t have had our money to spend. They would have been without money. But nobody will tell you that.
Fannie and Freddie would not have needed a bail out if they weren’t nearly forced by the government to make loans that made no free market economic sense. But Barney Frank and Chris Dodd decided that it “feels good” to make sure people without means could get a loan. Bush complied because he’s a “compassionate conservative” (a term I despise). Screws up our economy, housing bubble bursts wide open, and lo and behold Barack Obama declares free markets are not working. Sorry, but he either knows nothing about economics, hasn’t paid attention lately, or he’s outright deceiving us. This reason alone is why I will not vote for him.
Crises are great for government, because it’s one of the only opportunities to get a stronger foothold on the nation, even of those who aren’t affected by the crisis. FDR seized more government control during his presidency because he had the Depression on his hands. He had advisors and members of his cabinet who visited Russia a few years before and said, “We saw the future, and it works!” They criticized him for not taking the American government toward a more socialistic state. The current financial crisis is yet another opportunity for our government to become bigger, not just in spending, but in ownership, of our properties, our finances, and our personal lives.