House Resolution 847

I'll let you read the bill on your own, the title will say it all.

H. Res. 847: Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith

We just had the United States House of Representatives vote to pass a bill citing the importance of the Christian Faith in the founding of our country and in modern era. They also made sure to put in there, the condemnation of persecution and torture of Christians here and abroad. A statement wholly made to get Christians to vote for them true, but a bill that completely ignores any separation of church and state.

Is it just me, or does this country feel like it is striving towards theocracy? We have official government agencies dedicated to faith based initiatives. We have bills written up to support one religion over all the rest. Our presidential election debates include questions about their personal faith. What on earth is going on here? Is this the direction we want to take this country, towards theocracy?

Atheists, do you really want this country centered around the Christian faith? Do you want your laws centered around the bible? Read the old testament, its not pretty.

Christians, do you really want the government interfering in religion? Once the government sides with you, you have given them power. Once you are in bed with the government, you don't leave. You will find out why our fore fathers didn't want church and state merging like you are all pushing for. You will understand because it was to benefit you all as well.

We are fools doing fools work if we allow our government and Christianity to become mutually beneficial. Its a lose/lose situation. If Christians would wake up, they would see that.

Freedom From Religion

Today I had the opportunity of buzzing through Ron Pauls website. I really like Ron Paul and think he stands for less government and more control for the people. This is a good thing. But going through his writings, I realized something very disturbing. He, like so many others, fails to understand what real freedom is. He believes in freedom to a large extent, but falters when he says that true freedom comes from Jesus.

True freedom comes from Jesus? What kind of "1984" world of madness do we live in when a book can say that "freedom is servitude to christ" and people all cheer? What happened to the freedom to not believe in god? The words "separation of church and state" are not in the constitution. But damn it, its not some mystical doctrine as Ron Paul says, its in a letter that Jefferson wrote to clarify his meaning of those words in the constitution! Jefferson absolutely meant for it to be the separation of church and state. In fact, he goes so far as to say that the constitution erects a complete wall of separation between church and state! The constitution, that he himself wrote!

But people still think that means the right to practice your faith any where, and not be challenged on it. But I have a right to NOT have religion either. My child should not have to go to school and be forced to have a school prayer, or say in god we trust. How does that not come through as a violation of freedom? Prayer in schools? If a teacher were to lead a class in prayer, it would be very intimidating for someone not to join in, especially if they were the only one not doing it. Yet someone people think that this should be allowed under the "freedom to practice religion" clause.

Freedom means freedom. It means I personally can practice my faith, or complete lack of it as the case may be, but the government doesn't have a say in the matter one way or the other! It means that the government also may not do anything that will encourage one view or the other, because thats not its job. A school is state run, thus it qualifies to shut its mouth about religion. However, there are private schools in which your student can be taught any wacky unprovable thing you want. But you know what, my child should not have to believe in god, and he should never be intimidated by a group that does. And that, Dr. Ron Paul, is why your view of religious freedom is not freedom at all, it is a spit in the eye of freedom.

Chris Dodd

Christopher Dodd, was born May 27, 1944, in Connecticut and is a five-term U.S. Senator from that state. Dodd was reported to be a likely contender for the Democratic Vice President slot on John Kerry's ticket in 2004. In May 2006, Dodd said he has "decided to do all the things that are necessary to prepare to seek the presidency in 2008", including hiring staff, raising money and traveling around the country in the next few months to enlist support.[61] On Jan. 11, 2007, Dodd announced his Presidential candidacy on the "Imus in the Morning" radio show with Don Imus.[62]

* U.S. Representative from the Connecticut's 2nd congressional district: 1975–1981
* U.S. Senator from Connecticut: 1981–Present

The Good

When most of the democrats were voting that Iran's Republic Guard was a terrorist organization, he staved off and kept true, not giving Bush his okay to label Iran a terrorist nation, and thus put them under the umbrella of the war on terror. He realized by doing this, Bush would not need congressional approval to go to war with Iran.

Chris Dodd is also committed to ending the war in Iraq. He has a good grasp on why this war is wrong and will work to end it. Dodd has been a staunch opponent in the last few years, standing against this war and any and all funding for it.

The Bad

Chris Dodd supports a wide variety of programs that will assist the public. Health care, education, labor, all things he wants to step in and "fix". The problem with this is that its more government control, more government intervention. I'm not looking for more government, I'm looking for less. The solution to every problem is not to have the government step in and handle it. Unfortunately, its a common problem with democrats, they always think its the governments job to fix everything.

Dodd is a very classical democrat with classic democrat solutions to problems. He isn't very innovative, but is very outspoken. I think he does better in his current position in a balanced system. He is very liberal, which isn't all bad, but he needs to moderate his views if he wants my vote.

The Ugly

The united states is in a huge predicament with the deficit. There are several ways to fix that, the most proven way would be to cut government programs. Starve the beast so to speak. But Dodd will do what most classical democrats do, he will raise taxes. And seeing the amount of programs he has on the list to create or expand, it looks like we would be in for a huge tax hike. Now I'm okay with paying taxes for something worth while. Unfortunately, I have great heath insurance, so I don't want to pay more taxes just to be moved to a universal health care system. More spending equals more taxes, equals less money in my pocket for my family. Its basic math. I have worked hard for what I make, and the last thing I want is the government taking more of it for programs I won't use.

http://chrisdodd.com/issues

Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee, born August 24, 1955, in Hope, Arkansas, served as Governor of Arkansas for over 10 years. Huckabee has announced he will seek the Presidency in the 2008 presidential election.[33] He has made several trips to important primary states, including a four-day trip to New Hampshire in August 2006. His campaign has been focused largely on Iowa for the Ames Straw Poll on August 11, 2007 He announced that he would be running in 2008 on NBC's Meet the Press television show with Tim Russert.[34] and has since made an appearances on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, The Today Show on NBC and many appearances on CNN, Fox News Channel, and MSNBC regarding the 2008 presidential election.

The Good

Wow, so much to love about this candidate. He wants to shut down the federal payroll tax. He is one of the few candidates who supports the Fair Tax bill. He supports a veterans bill of rights, higher standards and funding for education, and a huge push for preventative health care. In other words, he wants less taxes, better education, and a focus on keeping people healthy instead of just reacting to the bad. This is a brilliant and unique approach to government! He is one of the only candidates pushing for SMALLER government.

As well, he claims he will have us completely energy independent by his second term in office. Thats a huge claim for a Republican to make and something I whole heartedly support. Of all the republican candidates, he is close to the top for getting my support if I had to give it. But his strongest point is none of these issues.

Mike Huckabee's strongest point is intangible. He is hands down the most honest candidate in the field right now. He is willing to say things that he has to know are going to be unpopular with the rich and powerful. But that makes him an asset in this race, and a real competitor.

The Bad

Mike Huckabee stands against personal liberties as I see them to be. He is against gay marriage, he is against abortion. He feels it is the governments job to banned both of these things. I stand heartily against any attempt to limit the personal freedom of the individual.

As well, Huckabee stands with President Bush on Iraq. He wants to stay in Iraq until the job is done, despite the fact that we don't even know what that is any more. With Iraq, he has bought into the hoax of a global war on terror. He perceives most muslims as terrorists from what I can see, and says he will pursue the war on terror with single mindedness. That kind of single mindedness is what has prevented our government from seeing why terrorism happens to begin with. He fails to understand that when they tell us to get off muslim lands, then blow something up, the reason they blew it up was because we were on muslim lands. Its a fundamental failure to understand why terrorism happens, even when the terrorists themselves tell us why.

The Ugly

Mike Huckabee is a Baptist Minister. Do we really want that in the white house? He is against most personal liberties based on a biblically interpreted morality. As well, he stands opposed to any science that is against the bible. He isn't directly against evolution, but says god may have used that as a tool. The fact is that we are behind the world in math and science because we simply cannot accept anything that stands against our religious beliefs. He is no different. You can expect that any decisions he makes will be given in the light of his belief in an invisible all knowing being he calls god. Thats not the person I want leading our country at any time. I want someone who will make sound logical decisions based on what is the reasonable, logical, correct answer for our country and its people. I want someone consulting highly intelligent people and common sense in times of crisis, not someone on their knees asking their invisible best friend for advice.

http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.Home