How to vote Biblically Correct on 15 Political issues
How to Vote Biblically Correct
I wanted to barf when I saw the first presidential debate. It was a slugfest that displayed the worst in our candidates. What saddens me most is that out of 340 million people who call America “home,” this is the best we have to offer for our national leadership. If you are like me at all, you are longing for clarity. You want to be able to decipher between truth and fiction. You want to hear the one clarion voice of truth in the cacophony of political noise that represents what you believe and therefore support.
Frankly, what I observed on the debate stage did not help me. How about you? Most have already settled in on a candidate and will vote accordingly on November 3rd. Others however, are still navigating the land of indecision, trying to make the choice that best aligns with their convictions.
Having pondered this election at length, I have decided to unmute myself. I have never done this before when it comes to politics, but feel it is time to speak up and throw my voice into the mix. I feel as if this election is more consequential than any other in my time on this planet. As you watch the news, social media, and talk with friends, it seems the tug-of-war for our country’s direction has reached a feverish pitch. The outcome will radically change the nature of our nation; socially, theologically, morally, and constitutionally.
In many conversations with friends, I have encountered many who are still fuzzy on the key party platforms and what each candidate is advocating. If your phone, computer, and radio are like mine, you receive a daily barrage of confusing and conflicting messages from the right and left that make a clear-cut choice very difficult.
What helps me decide who to vote for is less about the person and more about the issues. We all have issues. You may even have issues with my issues. That is understandable and is actually our Constitutional right under the first amendment. As you know, there are many issues that both major parties and independents are vying over. To determine who I will vote for, I have to understand the issues well enough to make an intelligent decision and then vote for the candidate that contends for the issues in a way that aligns with my identity as a child of God. I am a Christ-follower. Therefore, I have a duty to uphold values that reflect scriptural teaching. Granted, not every political issue has a direct link to Scripture. Believe me, it’s not easy finding a proof text for renewable energy. That said, some of the issues are not that consequential for me. Others are defining and monumental.
As we approach the 2020 election, perhaps it would be helpful to scrap each party and just consider the issues. This is a litmus test for what you really value. Imagine if you just listed the issues before you and how you would vote on each issue, independent of a particular party. In some cases, this is a cut-and-dried process. In others, you have to evaluate which party has the best plan to solve the issue, such as climate change or the economy.
The following is my own list of issues as I see it (my friends tell me I have many issues but that’s another topic). There are other political issues not addressed here but we needn’t be exhaustive in this discussion. Here, I simply point out the different positions on the issues and explain why I must vote a certain way, based on my identity as a child of God. Not all issues are weighted equally. We all naturally assign a certain degree of importance to an issue, based on what we are passionate about. Some issues, while important, are not urgent. Other issues are non-negotiables and demand we place premium priority on them to ensure our nation heads in the right direction. I understand that not all of them are fully researched. This is just to get that ball rolling so we can make a semi-intelligent decision in November. I have placed priorities on each but they are not listed in order. I offer these as a review that hopefully will blow away the fog of confusion so you can vote with conviction and confidence.
Issue #2: National security. How do you view the need for a strong national defense? The Democratic party believes in a national defense but would choose to reduce spending here. While our current military might is unmatched world-round, it is short-sighted to reduce spending, given the potential global threats. The president invested 2.2 Trillion dollars in the US military. As a result, we own the cutting edge in planes and equipment to outfit our service members in the defense of the nation. He also created a new branch called the Space Force. While this may sound like something out of a sci-fi magazine, it is crucial to expand our defensive capabilities as the weapons of war increase and proliferate our planet.
Another key consideration here is the war on terror. We eliminated Qassem Soleimani (Iranian major general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi leader of Isis. These destabilizing moves kept the insurgents on the defense and disrupted their command and control hubs. The result? No more terrorist attacks on our shores since 9-11. President Trump’s resounding message to terrorists must remain our stance when he said, “If you attack our citizens, you forfeit your life.” We must also remember that he is not a warmonger. He is seeking to end the nation’s longest war. The challenge is garnering support from Afghan leadership and the Taliban and brokering a workable peace agreement.
One final note on this, we must remain diligent and prepared to meet the threats of near-peer militaries from hostile nations and transnational terrorists. A strong military is a strong deterrent to aggressive powers. Refusal to remain prepared to meet those threats is to invite disaster. Ask any great nation in history what precipitated their demise.
Biblical foundation:
· Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows and sling stones for the entire army. In Jerusalem he made devices invented for use on the towers and on the corner defenses so that soldiers could shoot arrows and hurl large stones from the walls. —2 Chronicles 26:14-15
· “He said to them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.’” —Luke 22:36.
· He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. —2 Samuel 22:35
Issue #9: Renewable Energy. How do you know and care about how we fuel obtain fuel? The Republican position is to continue to use “dirty” fuels in coming decades. They fight for the continued usage of fossil fuels over/against the development of clean energy. They make copious usage of fracking to extract oil reserves which is what the rust belt (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and others) relies on for much of its economy. The Democrats in contrast campaign for clean energy that is renewable such as wind, solar and geothermal should count. Quite frankly, I lean Democratic here. The US is currently the largest producer of oil and natural gas leading to Energy independence. This is good. However, the Dems have a good point and shifting to clean energy production seems a better far-sighted plan. This is better for the environment and as the industry grows, it will be great for the economy as more jobs are formed. This issue is not a break-neck, do-or-die, issue for me. It does tip my voting scale in the Democratic direction as I feel this party has a better future focus here.
Biblical Foundation:
· For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. —Deuteronomy 8:7-9
· Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. —Job 28:2
· For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. —1 Tim. 4:4-5
Issue #6: Law and Order. Any nation, at any given time may experience social contests regarding racial, governmental, or religious injustices. This often prompts division and “sides” that express their rites. The salient questions for me are, “How does one express those rights?” and “Is there a time when people over-reach and actually abuse their rights and therefore promote violence and civil unrest?” The news has showcased several months of this as instigated by the BLM movement. The current Democratic position appears to be for defunding the police, bailing out protestors for their rioting, and the elimination of certain federal law enforcement agencies such as ICE. Is this wise or logical? ICE officers, for example, arrested 120,000 offenders. Are we to remove this agency and allow the next batch of 120,000 offenders to run free and perpetrate more crime? The left argument states that there is systemic racism and police brutality that runs rampant and must be curtailed. To be certain, policing reforms are necessary to ensure racism is rooted out and law enforcement is performed in effective but civil ways.
However, I don’t see defunding the police as a viable option since 81% of Blacks acknowledge the need for more policing, not less. According to Newsweek, A Gallup poll conducted from June 23 to July 6 surveying more than 36,000 U.S. adults found that 61 percent of Black Americans said they'd like police to spend the same amount of time in their community, while 20 percent answered they'd like to see more police, totaling 81 percent. Just 19 percent of those polled said they wanted police to spend less time in their area. (https://www.newsweek.com/81-black-americans-dont-want-less-police-presence-despite-protestssome-want-more-cops-poll-1523093).
Furthermore, “According to the FBI’s data, 8% of the reported murders of Black people were committed by white offenders (234 of a total of 2,925) and 88.9% by Black offenders (2,600)” (https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-data-racial-murder/fact-check-false-data-on-u-s-racial-murder-rates-idUSKCN24I2A9). The BLM movement would be wise to calculate this stat into their equation before alleging there is a nebulous force out there called systemic racism without citing a single racist policy to back it up.
You have to vote according to your convictions. For me, if we remove or reduce law enforcement, predictably, crime rates will climb precipitously. Furthermore, looting, arson, and murder are not reparations for past sins against blacks. True repentance is, coupled with a willingness to do personal introspection to root out racism in my and yourself.
Biblical foundation:
· For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. —Isaiah 61:8
· When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. —Proverbs 21:15
· Romans 13
Issue #8: Social justice/reform: Our nation, while vast in size, has credible social problems in must continue to address. When you and I survey the nation’s poor, homeless population, access to quality education, and people’s access to healthcare, a Rubik’s cube complexity emerges. For me, this topic brings up the role of government. Democrats tend to favor a more active role for government in society and believe that such involvement can improve the quality of people’s lives and help achieve something called equality of outcome. Democrats do however implement many programs that ease the suffering of many of nation’s underprivileged. It is my sense that they do more than the Republican party here which makes me lean more Democratic on this issue.
There is a potential downside to their government interventionism. This can have the negative effect of governmental intrusion through increased regulation that can stifle free market capitalism and job growth. On the other hand, Republicans tend to favor a small government with diminished roles and responsibilities of government in society. Small government promotes capitalism in that strong businesses should survive in a free market rather than the government influencing—through regulation—who wins or loses in business.
When it comes to taxes, Democrats favor a progressive rate that will fund a larger government. Much of taxes are taken from the rich. By contrast, Republicans tend to favor a "flat tax" that makes taxation equitable by percentage, no matter the income. In my view, higher taxation reduces the capacity of business leaders and entrepreneurs in their efforts to invest in a free-market society. This is the life-blood of Capitalism and is what keeps our economy so robust.
Government that is too large and tax-hungry can outgrow its intended boundaries and create a welfare state, devaluing individual choices, and promoting societal lethargy. This increases impoverished conditions and blunts innovation. In my estimation, people should be empowered to make good personal choices that promote achievement and national progress. I also think that charities should pool resources to assist those less-fortunate rather than people’s financial woes burdening the federal or state government through increased programming.
One last thought on social justice and reform. On December 21, 2018, President Trump signed into law the First Step Act of 2018 (FSA, or “the Act”), the most significant, bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation in more than a decade. The Act is designed to reduce certain criminal penalties and the risk of recidivism by former inmates (Criminal justice reform: A Budget for America’s Future). If you wonder if this makes a difference, ask minority community impacted by these reforms.
Biblical foundation:
· When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God. —Leviticus 19:9-10
· For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” —2 Thessalonians 3:10
· Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. —Isaiah 1:17
· This is what the LORD Almighty said: “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.” —Zechariah 7:9
· Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. —Leviticus 19:15
· The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
—Proverbs 29:7
Issue #7: The Economy. Is the nation’s economic strength important to you? If so, you will likely want to examine which party is best suited to reduce unemployment, increase wage earnings, reduce poverty, foster more investments and the creation of new businesses. Our economy is based on capitalism which champions the production of goods and services through private enterprise. Our economy, while flawed, is still the cream of the world’s economic crop. We are robust because we foster fair and reciprocal trade with other nations. Recently, the Democratic party adopted a pseudo-Socialist approach to the economy where the government controls the production, distribution, and exchange and vigorously contends for the redistribution of wealth.
In my limited knowledge, this is a departure from what has made our nation economically competitive and successful. Prior to the pandemic, America gained 12,000 factories, had the lowest unemployment rate in decades, including all classes of minorities. African American poverty rates fell to its lowest in decades. Additionally, we received the children tax-credit and a healthy stimulus package to aid our recovery. In light of the post-pandemic economic slump, President Trump developed an ambitious plan to help the economy rebound through the creation of 7 million new jobs. Given his business prowess, he is the best candidate equipped to fire up the engine of this economy again. President Trump also stood up to China and I believe he will continue to negotiate trade relations in ways that are in working American’s best interest. This perspective tips the scale further in the Republican direction, this election.
Biblical foundation:
· But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth. —Deuteronomy 8:18
· Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” —Luke 12:15
· Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. —1 Timothy 6:17-18
Issue #12: Immigration. How do you perceive the arrival of 11 million undocumented immigrants in our country? Again, how you view this should pre-date which party you choose. I believe our nation is the greatest nation on earth and as such, we should expect people from other nationalities banging on the door to come in. Given our melting pot (or toss salad) mentality and the appeal for receiving the world’s tired, poor, and those huddled masses yearning to breathe free, we should welcome them with open arms. I don’t believe we should kick every immigrant out wholesale. I am in favor of a vetting process to determine if these aliens can espouse our country’s values and becoming contributing members of our citizenry. In this regard, I again would vote Democratic.
With regard to those desiring asylum or a permanent change in home nation, our government should reserve the right to screen those coming in to ensure they abide by our nation’s ideals. If they wish to make America their home, they should work and contribute to our nation’s economy and way of life. Their right to become citizens should be predicated on their allegiance to our country and become no less loyal than those who currently reside here.
That said, what do we do with the problem of undocumented or illegal immigrants? This has been a gridlock issue for years. For me, I am against free healthcare for illegal immigrants. This depletes much needed resources to those who have paid into the system for years. I am grateful that the Republican administration ended “catch and release.” They also established agreements with Latin American countries that has reduced illegal immigration as much as 75%. I think immigrants applying for asylum, should go to a predesignated point. If they go to a point of entry parents are not separated from their children. Most illegal immigration has trespassed areas other than designated points of entry, to avoid ICE. I oppose this and therefore support the wall.
Biblical foundation:
· He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. —Deuteronomy 10:18-19
· The same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner residing among you.”
—Exodus 12:49
· You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the LORD your God. —Leviticus 24:22
Issue #3: Constitutional integrity. Do you view the Constitution as a document that is relevant to governance today or do you see it as passe and in need of modification to reflect current culture’s views? For me, the Constitution is the bedrock document upon which our government stands. I am a literalist and believe it to be functionally valid today. It was birthed in the milieu of revolutionary social change. In its DNA is the Christian-Judeo ethic that would gradually flower to inalienable equal rights for all. It fostered a capitalistic approach to economical growth that elevated out country to an elite world power.
Supreme Court justices who will support Constitution as written, not rewritten to reflect a socialistic agenda have my support. Packing the courts, removing the filibuster and adding states for the purposes of political expediency is not warranted by the Constitution.
Democrats favor more gun control laws e.g. oppose the right to carry concealed weapons in public places. Republicans oppose gun control laws and are strong supporters of the Second Amendment (the right to bear arms) as well as the right to carry concealed weapons
A secondary but related to the Constitution is our view of the USA. Do you have patriotic pride for this country or disdain for its checkered history? Each political party during this election have starkly contrasting views on this. I side with the party that elevates the achievements and the journey our country has been on since its inception. America is the most exceptional republic ever devised. As such, my chest inflates with national pride. President Trump said in his State of the Union speech, “Our brightest discoveries have not yet been known. Our greatest stories have not yet been told.” Our founding fathers embarked on rugged geographical frontiers and set in motion a search for unlimited frontiers science, medicine, technology, etc. Our history is not too dissimilar from other nations in the world. It has its bright moments of social revolution and it is also marred by injustice. We are not perfect by any means and it has been an ever-present struggle from its inception to live out the merits ensconced in the Constitution. While the flag grants freedoms, including the freedom to be burned, I believe the flag represents a country that is fine and enduring.
Biblical foundation:
· Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you. —Deuteronomy 31:12-13
Issue #14: Education: Suffice it to say that parents want the very best education possible for their children. In your estimation, was is the best path toward that end? Subsequently, what party supports your opinion? Children grow up in unequal circumstances because of the school districts they are in. Children then don’t have equal opportunity for success. There is inequality. We are not all born in the same place, not all equally intelligent, or gifted, etc. The question is, “Is there an inequity?” Inequity and inequality are not the same and conflating the two is a mistake. The question becomes, “Where is there inequity and how do we make it more equitable for all?” “What is the best way to remedy this?” We are spending a great deal of money on school systems but it is not helping. Academic underperformance has much less to do with the school you go to and much more to do with family dynamics at home.
Some proposed solutions I have heard from Candice Owens and Ben Shapiro include letting people keep their money and do more to privatize the school system and give people more choice. Parents should be free to choose a school by requesting a voucher allowing their children to attend a different school. We can’t construct utopia where everyone has equal opportunity across the board.
I was very pleased to hear that President Trump proposed a budget that includes funding for vocational and technical training in every Highschool in the country. This is not a huge issue for me but I know for those living in less fortunate socio-economic places, this is an enormous concern. I am unclear which party has the best solution here but I think I slightly lean Republican here.
Biblical foundation:
· Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
—Proverbs 1:8
· Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. —Proverbs 4:6-7
Issue #1: Abortion. This is a nonnegotiable issue for me. I vote for the party that is pro-life…period! The Republicans defend the right to life for the unborn while the Democratic position vies for women’s reproductive rights. Women’s rights are certainly important. That’s one reason why we have the 19thamendment. However, as a child of God, I am compelled to fight for the children of God, whether born or unborn. In my personal study of Scripture, I cannot arrive at any other conclusion than the fact that every life is a sacred gift from God. There are far too many Scriptures that emphatically reveal life in the womb. Science corroborates this as virtually every feature of a fully-functioning human being are formed by the end of the second trimester.
Granted, you have to vote your conscience on this. For me, it is unconscionable that mothers consider aborting a child well into the final trimester, just short of the delivery date. Science has confirmed that the child is a fully formed human being. As such, abortion instruments are no longer health-inducing precautions for the mother but rather implements of murder. I am especially grateful for the ban on late-term abortion. The exceptions on this issue that include rape, incest, or medical dilemmas fall within 1% of all abortions and should not unduly sway us toward pro-choice.
Biblical foundation:
· For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. —Psalm 139:13
· Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. —Isaiah 49:1
· Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. —Jeremiah 1:5
Issue #4: Morality. Everyone has a different view of morality; what is right and wrong. Many political issues have moral and ethical implications and therefore requires you to choose based on your convictions. As you know, the Judicial branch of government may be fundamentally and unconstitutionally altered if the court is “packed” with more than nine Chief Justices. I hold that conservative chief justices best align with my view of Scripture. I believe conservatives are the preservatives of righteousness. If Amy Coney Barrett is appointed to the Supreme Court, we will for the first time in decades have a conservative majority. The implications being that court cases will be adjudicated according to the Constitution’s intent and therefore, more allied with Scriptural values. Judge Barrett will preserve the integrity of the Constitution as written and will tri cases based more on a biblical morality, not a current cultural reinterpretation for political expedience. Obviously, this category overlaps other categories such as gay-rights, abortion and other legislative concerns. When it comes time to vote, you have to consider, are the parties enacting into law, legislation that promotes or erodes moral standards.
Also, I do not believe the government nor the school system has the right to teach my children its views on morality. Schools should only reinforce what parents are providing their children in the home. Any party that insists that my kids are taught Critical Race Theory or other state-sponsored reprogramming curriculum will not have my vote.
Biblical foundation:
· Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness. —Isaiah 5:20
· Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them. —Proverbs 24:24-25
· Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully. —Proverbs 28:5
· Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!”—Acts 5:29
Issue #5: Religious freedom. Do you believe we should be free to worship without reprisal for believing differently than the government’s prescribed standard of morality? In 1962, the Supreme Court ruled that prayer in public schools is unconstitutional. That topic as squared with the exact wording and meaning of the First Amendment can be disputed. However, the central idea as a follower of Christ is that we are “one nation under God.” As such, it seems hypocritical to make such a claim but disallow speaking to him in any of our institutions. School is where children learn. I believe they should learn how faith and education intersect.
Additionally, government should not dictate to the church its ceremonial standards when it comes to morality. For example, the state government should not mandate to a church that it must perform same-sex weddings when it runs counter to the convictions of that congregation. It should not be able to threaten its tax exemption status as a way to compel compliance to a societal standard of morality. For me, I must vote for the party that most supports religious freedoms and does not encroach on Christian’s religious rites.
Biblical foundation:
· Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. —Psalm 33:12
· Let us go to his dwelling place, let us worship at his footstool. —Psalm 132:7
· Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. —Psalm 95:1-3
Issue #10: Family. How do you define family? Is it a divine invention or societal construct? This brings up the issue of Black lives matter. First, let me go on record to say that Black lives absolutely matter. There should be no disputing this. What’s more, the reason, protests are occurring is because Blacks have suffered oppression in our country and recent events in the news has placed them in the spotlight and accentuated their need for safety and prosperity. I support the need to root out policing practices that are excessive. But I also make a distinction between the BLM movement and the organization. Perhaps the organizers do not do this. That is up for debate. If you visited their website, not even two weeks ago, you could read their agenda, which some members of the Democratic party have now espoused. They openly advocate the dissolution of the nuclear family. This runs cross-grain with the Biblical directive for family. God laid the foundation for family when He prescribed the blueprint for it in Genesis 2:24.
For me, how you define family is paramount. I hold the Bible to be the revealed Word of God. If God gave us the blueprint for family in His Word, we should strive to abide by it. Just because our version of family looks very different in contemporary culture does not give us the right to redefine it. I refuse to call what is broken, normal. The Democratic has espoused this revisionism while the Republican party, at least in part, holds to the eternal model conveyed to us in the book of Genesis. In light of this, my pendulum slams to the right.
Biblical foundation:
· That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. —Genesis 2:24. (In case we want to say that is an outdated and outmoded law from the OT, we must remember that Jesus Himself endorsed this directive when He quotes it in Mark 10:8. Any political policy that attempts to disrupt God’s plan is something I must vote against.)
· Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. —Malachi 2:15
Issue #11: Healthcare: How do you see the healthcare debate? How well do you understand it? People are living longer these days and are more likely to need sustaining health insurance to meet their growing medical needs. The question for us at the ballot is which party has the best viable solution. I admit, this issue is exceedingly complex and I am confident I have much more to learn here. Here’s a few observations I think I know. The Democratic Party promotes the idea of universal healthcare. While everyone should have access to healthcare, it may be a bridge too far to provide affordable and qualitative healthcare for all. In my humble review of this vast argument, I think youth should have catastrophic insurance and simply budget cash reserves for the occasional illness. For all, there should be protection for pre-existing conditions. I think we should have complete price transparency. Costs associated with prescription drugs is very expensive and I yearn for legislation that lowers theses costs. Under Trump, Republicans have successfully driven much of the cost down.
With regard to Covid-19, you and I have heard conflicting counsel on this since the pandemic began. Everyone I speak to about this seems to fall into one of two camps. Both parties claim that the science is on their side. Who do you believe and why? Both of these camps are locked in rigid tension that makes the issue divisive and destructive. On one hand there is the need for public safety. The polar opposite decries the flagging economy and the consequential loss of livelihood for people. Not to mention the long-term effects and psychological toll this will take on those isolated loved one we all know. Coronavirus is not a myth. We need to take appropriate precautions. Especially when in proximity to those more susceptible to the disease due to age or a comprised immune response. Again, you have to vote your conviction based on your own research. My own research leads me to vote for the party best suited to return our economy back to normal. I vote for the candidate who does not herald doomsday predictions for a virus with little more damaging effect than the common flu. We needn’t cower in fear and shut the economy down, in my humble view.
Biblical foundation:
· Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. —James 1:27
· As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp. —Leviticus 13:46
· Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. —1 Timothy 5:8
· Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. —Isaiah 46:4
Issue: #13: Foreign Policy; Peace and support of Jerusalem. How does Israel and their capital city relate to America? This foreign policy issue is central when we consult Scripture. I am for anything our nation does to support our alliance with Israel. The current administration has been not only proactive, they have been successful in brokering a historic peace-treaty, the likes of which were thought to be unlikely, if not impossible. Israel and Bahrain have committed to begin the exchange of embassies and ambassadors, start direct flights between their countries, and launch cooperation initiatives across a broad range of sectors. It further enhances their security while creating opportunities for them to deepen economic ties. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are the first Arab nations to normalize relations with Israel in more than 25 years.
Also significant, on December 6, 2017, President Donald Trump announced the United States recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and ordered the planning of the relocation of the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. If you recall, the relationship between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama was tolerated at best. The Democratic party has maintained a feeble relationship with Israel while the Republican party has proactively bolstered our alliance into a steely resolve. Because of this, I have no choice than to vote for the party that effectively supports Israel.
Biblical foundation:
· Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. —Psalm 122:6
· I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. —Genesis 12:3
Issue # 15: Environment. How do you see our planet and the current science on climate change? This is a complex issue to be sure. I believe there is sufficient scientific evidence to conclude that there is some global warming. To what extent is very unclear. One report suggested that the oceans have increased 3 degrees over the century. Sea level continues to rise at a rate of about one-eighth of an inch per year (National Ocean Service). Earth's average surface air temperature has increased by about 1 °C (1.8 °F) since 1900 (The Royal Society).
The Republican party is now elevating climate change and other environmental concerns on the priority list. Several law makers are proposing a new set of policies that would expand an existing tax credit to encourage carbon capture and storage, sharply increase research-and-development funding for “clean energy” technology, curb plastic pollution, and lead the planting of one trillion trees around the world. The current administration is busy rebuilding America’s infrastructure with the construction of new highways, bridges, and tunnels. Republicans propose Highspeed internet, especially to rural America. Still, I give credit to Democrats for leading the initiative here and raising the concern for the American people.
I believe science has concluded that the climate is warming (Over 50% is attributable to human activity). What kind of damage will this cause? This is very unclear as there are again, conflicting messages. The water will rise a predicable amount over the next 100 years but not by much. The amount of cost associated with hurricanes has changed, not due to the intensity of the hurricanes but more construction destroyed in the paths of these hurricanes. I personally do not believe the 16,000 wildfires in California this year were a result of climate change. I believe there is sufficient evidence of poor forest management that presented a tinderbox that simply ignited under the conditions set by governmental negligence.
Of note, the Republican party has proactively worked to reduce emissions and the result was US became the number one reducer of emissions over the past year. Both parties recognize and encourage technological progress to help solve climate change. There are two clashing narratives here. You have to decide which one to believe. On one side, we are very close to a catastrophic global event that will kill us all. On the other side, there is acknowledgement of climate change and the need to amend our ways to reverse negative trends. On this issue, I remain unconvinced which party has the better argument.
Biblical foundation:
· The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. —Genesis 2:15
· "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'" —Genesis 1:26
· The righteous care for the needs of their animals. —Proverbs 12:10
So there you have it. These are my issues. For me, I have to vote in a way that best represents what I believe. What I believe should in most cases precede what the political parties are doing. Some of their plans will persuade me one way or the other as I strive to be part of positive change in the country I love. I have to choose the candidate or party that supports most of the issues I hold as biblical convictions.
The issues are primary and the issuer is secondary. This is not a Highschool popularity test. If it were, orange man would definitely lose. If you are turned off by President Trump’s personality and character flaws, you are not alone. He scores high on my cringe-o-meter. President Trump is bullish. He displays arrogance and pride, the likes of which can be repugnant. His Tweets are inflammatory and ill-advised. That being the case, with Trump, we have to remember the old adage that actions speak louder than words. When he opens his mouth, he gets himself into trouble. When he goes to work, he gets things done for the American people. It is because of this personal investigation and where most of the weightier matters rest that I find myself firmly voting down-ballot Republican in the 2020 election. I hope these findings are helpful as you seek to make the best decision you can that aligns with your identity as a child of God. Shalom!
Other random bits and pieces:
Issue: Death Penalty. “The majority opinion in America about the death penalty is that it should be legal. However, many Democrats are opposed to it and the 2016 Democratic Party platform called for abolishing the death penalty.”
For the first time since Gallup began asking the question in 1985, a majority of Americans now say life imprisonment is a better approach for punishing murder than is the death penalty. According to the 2019 Gallup death-penalty poll, 60% percent of Americans asked to choose whether the death penalty or life without possibility of parole “is the better penalty for murder” chose the life-sentencing option. 36% favored the death penalty.
The Biblical position is clear and serves as a strong deterrent to this high-crime.
· “Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death” (Leviticus 24:17).
· Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind” (Genesis 9:6).
· Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death. However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate. But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death” (Exodus 21:12-14).
Issue: Feminism.
Vital statistics:
81% of AA want police in their neighborhoods.
73% of AA children are raised in fatherless homes.
How does children raised in a single-parent home translate into crime?
According to a Pew research study from 2014, only 46% of children under the age of eighteen are living with two married heterosexual parents. In 1960, that number was 73%. (Pew Research)
Drug overdose deaths rose from 38,329 in 2010 to 70,237 in 2017; followed by a significant decrease in 2018 to 67,367 deaths (National Institute on Drug Abuse).
Abraham Lincoln belonged to the Republican Party, so the roots of the party lie in individual freedom and the abolition of slavery. Indeed, 82% of the Republicans in the U.S. Senate voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 while only 69% of Democrats did. The Southern wing of the Democratic party was vehemently opposed to civil rights legislation.
Both Democratic and Republican administrations have used and favored deportations. More undocumented immigrants were deported under President Obama than any president before him. Deportations have continued, if not accelerated, under President Trump.
https://www.diffen.com/difference/Democrat_vs_Republican#Civil_Rights
1% of abortions occur due to rape. Source: https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/journals/3711005.pdf
The article LBJ vs. the Nuclear Family discusses some of the effects of LBJ’s “Great Society”. In 1964 President Lyndon Johnson began the “War on Poverty”, which aimed to lift up and enrich American civilization. Johnson began a series of programs that would have lasting consequences on the American family, consequences that we are beginning to realize today. This was the beginning of what has been referred to as the welfare state. First there was Medicare and Medicaid, which would provide healthcare for the elderly and the poor respectively. This was followed by food stamp programs and a Department of Housing and Urban Development. No matter how altruistic the motives for these government social programs may have been, it is not a coincidence that the steady systematic decline of the nuclear family in America coincides with the rise of such programs. The author is quoted as saying “Johnson and his policy team believed that expanding government funding for broken families would help save them. Instead, it incentivized single mothers to remain unmarried”. (LBJ vs the Nuclear Family)
Tribalism, mar, intractable problems have stymied both parties for decades.