"When you spread the wealth around it's good for everybody"

Obama was out campaigning when he was approached by a plumber named Joe, now affectionately called "Joe the Plumber." This conversation is invaluable because it points out the glaring difference between a free-market society and the Socialism espoused by Barack Obama. In a nutshell, Joe asked the Democratic candidate if he would raise taxes on his small business making about $250,000 per year. Obama's answer was essentially yes, and spent five minutes or so trying to explain to Joe why this would be a good thing for him and the economy.

Here are my three favorite moments during this exchange...


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Obama: "Now look, nobody likes high taxes..."
Joe: "No, not at all."
Obama: "Of course not."
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Obama: "I just want you to be clear – it’s not that I want to punish your success – I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you – that they’ve got a chance at success too."
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Obama: "I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody."
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Nobody likes high taxes, but that is precisely what Barack Obama wants to give those Americans living out the American Dream. He says he doesn't want to punish successful Americans - the ones creating jobs - but that he only wants to make sure everyone earning a lesser amount of money has a chance at success too. Umm ... don't all Americans have an equal chance at success?

Michael Medved made an excellent point today on his program when he said that the government does not create prosperity or wealth. Individuals and businesses do that, and the less government we have in our lives the more prosperous our nation becomes.

Obama wants to "spread the wealth around." This is classic Socialism folks. This is disgusting, absolutely disgusting. Not only is it unfair, but the long-term effects of this kind of economy are devastating because it removes the incentive to succeed. If under Obama's plan people are taxed more who earn $250,000 then incentive to earn more than $250,000 goes away! Plain ol' common sense.

Socialism is an irresponsible and immature attempt at a quick-fix, failing to recognize the need for incentive to drive economic growth.

Oy vey,
Rusty

How should a Christian vote?

How should a Christian vote? Republican or Democrat? Conservative or Liberal? Right of Left? Moderate? How about Independent?

“Liberal” and “Democrat” are almost synonymous terms, whereas “Republicans” may or may not be “Conservative.” In fact, more and more Republicans are embracing liberal ideas about morality and economics. Independents could be anything and everything under the sun; how to define them is entirely up to you. Moderates claim to share both conservative and liberal ideas, but more often than not they tend to side with a more liberal perspective on things.

*Breathes a sigh of relief*

Now that I’ve spent some time explaining the relationship between these common political terms, I will get to the point straight away. I believe that a Christian should vote for individuals who will uphold Biblical morality. It really is that simple, if you will allow me to explain. Morality is greater than fiscal concerns, even though issues pertaining to our money (ie taxes, redistribution of wealth, social programs) are important.

To make my position even plainer, let’s say for the sake of argument that my two choices for President of the United States were (1) a Republican who supported a woman’s choice to have an abortion and (2) a Socialist who was pro-life, I would vote for the Socialist every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Please do not misunderstand me to mean that abortion is the only issue I consider during an election, but it is by far the most important from among the great host of issues. Therefore, this example should only be taken to mean that moral issues outweigh economic ones.

Next, I want to take a few moments to discuss the arguments of a loud minority within the Christian Church who, for reasons beyond me, despise those of us who vote Republican. I will proudly declare that I am a registered Republican for one reason, and one reason only: that I might vote in the Republican primaries. Being a registered Republican does not mean I agree with them on every point, especially as they have continued to inch more towards the Left. I am far more conservative than the Republican Party – on almost every issue. Regarding the Emerging Church Movement, it does boggle my mind why they, or any Christian group, would want to support a Democrat or any liberal politician.

They might screech in response, “Jesus is not a Republican! So who are you to tell me who I can or cannot vote for?!” It is true that Jesus is not a registered Republican, then again Jesus does not dwell on earth or vote in elections. However, were Jesus living amongst us today, he would certainly vote Republican over against Democrat. How do I know this? Because the Republican Party represents the lesser of two evils.

Did you notice my presupposition inherent in the last argument? I believe that Christians living in democracies are urged by God to participate in government to the best of their ability. In the Bible, a number of Christians are recorded for us as having held political office in the Roman government. Furthermore, the Bible requires of us that we submit to the governing authorities (Romans 13) because it is an authority established by God. And in a democratic society, the people are the government. It is our duty as Christians to honor God by being good citizens, which includes the responsibility to vote in national and local elections.

What about those who profess Christ yet vote for ungodly men who support evils such as abortion, and homosexual super-rights? First of all, if they are truly converted, the Holy Spirit will not allow them to persevere in the sin of voting for ungodly men. The truly converted who have not yet had their mindset corrected by the Holy Spirit and go on to vote for ungodly men are sinning. Another option is that this behavior proves these professors to be false professors (though it is impossible for us to know with perfect certainty because we can only judge men based on their outward behavior (James 2)).

If one wants to honor God, they will vote for the candidate who will do a better job of upholding Biblical morality. On November 4th, might God’s people choose the candidate that will better uphold God’s standards over against that of the world’s. Personally, I’m not a fan of John McCain, but he represents God’s viewpoints much moreso than Obama.

As a nation, we certainly deserve Barack Obama as President. But it is my constant prayer that the Lord of heaven and earth does not give us the candidate we deserve. Might our God be merciful to us for His name’s sake – that His people might continue to live in peace and prosperity. And if it be His will, might He also grant spiritual renewal and revival to America. We desperately need it.

Thanks for reading,
Rusty

Have you ever felt this?

I recently purchased Celtic Thunder's DVD and I am already a huge fan. Their performance is outstanding and I will be getting a copy of all their music. As I was watching the DVD, I saw their version of "A Bird Without Wings," and I knew exactly how the author felt. Let me encourage you to read over the entirety of the song, or even better ... read the words as you watch it on youtube (isn't technology wonderful?). Here are the lyrics:

Like a bird without wings
That longs to be flying,
Like a motherless child
Left lonely and crying.
Like a song without words,
Like a world without music,
I wouldn’t know what to do
I’d be lost without you
Watchin’ over me.

I get so lonely, when you’re away
I count every moment, I wait every day,
Until you’re home again
And hug me so tight
That’s when I know
Everything is alright.

Like a bird without wings
That longs to be flying,
Like a motherless child
Left lonely and crying.
Like a song without words
Like a world without music,
I wouldn’t know what to do
I’d be lost without you
Watchin’ over me.

You’re my guardian angel
My light and my guide
Your hand on my shoulder
And you by my side.
You make everything beautiful,
You make me complete.
Everything in my world
I lay at your feet.

Like a church with no steeple,
Where a bell never rings.
In a town without people,
Where no voice in the choir ever sings.
If a boat on the ocean
Would be lost with no sail,
Then without your devotion
Surely all that I dreamed of would fail.

Like a song without words
Like a world without music,
I wouldn’t know what to do
I’d be lost without you
Watchin’ over me

I wouldn’t know what to do
I’d be lost without you
Watchin’ over me

In answer to the above question, yes, I have definitely felt this. It is the most wonderful feeling in the entire world, second only to those special times when the Holy Spirit allows you to be close to Him. The author brings out the irony of "a bird without wings that longs to be flying" or "a song without words." These things should not be. In the same way, I think the author recognizes how lost he would be without his true love. 

"I get so lonely, when you’re away; I count every moment, I wait every day, Until you’re home again And hug me so tight; That’s when I know Everything is alright." Have you ever counted every moment you were apart from your one love? I know I have =). How sweet it is when she returns and suddenly everything is okay once more. 

And again, "You make everything beautiful, You make me complete. Everything in my world I lay at your feet." God is too good to His creatures to allow such bliss to exist in this fallen world. I know full well that this is not the greatest blessing that we, as Christians, receive from the Father's hand. More than salvific grace, the Lord of heaven and earth allows the blessing of such passionate love to come about in this life. 

I pray that God would continue to allow this blessing to exist in the universe, and I even pray this for myself. 

Thanks,

Rusty

"Hello. I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you"

A lot of talk has been about the possible government bailout that will, theoretically, sustain and stimulate the economy to remain on level ground. From the beginning I’ve had mixed feelings about it. Quite honestly, I am still uncertain about whether I would be for or against such government intervention. This bailout may work; it may not. And yet, folks seem to only focus on the possibility that it may work. Well, the fact that it may not work needs to be given serious attention, if not more attention. Because if the government spends $700 (or more) billion that it does not have and the economy doesn’t resurface, then what do we do? Should the government shell out a trillion dollars?

The thing is this: I don’t have all the answers to these questions. But liberals better start asking themselves these tough questions because the reality is this bailout might do nothing but bring our economy into further debt.

One of my favorite quotes by Ronald Reagan is of him telling a story of a man who one day showed up on his doorstep and said, “Hello, I’m from the government, and I’m here to help you…” Reagan’s good-humored response was that nothing frightened him more than to hear that the government was going to try and help. The obvious moral of the story is that, generally speaking, whatever the government gets involved in it messes up. For example, more regulation = a slower economy. More taxes = lower standard of living. Need proof? Take a look at Europe.

One of the great lies in American history is that social programs during The Great Depression brought about positive results – although our government would want us to believe nothing more. Our time is no different. We don’t need the government to unnaturally interfere. Capitalism and a free-market system have withstood the test of time against all odds. Socialism only lowers the standard of living and weakens a nation.

What should we do? I’m not one to say for sure. I did appreciate Hugh Hewitt on his radio show the other day ask a financial expert: “Do we have smart people in Washington handling this issue?” The response was that we have incredibly intelligent and capable folks working hard at making this decision. That is a good thing.

Ultimately, my trust is in the Lord, and I pray for wisdom for those who have the burden of making this momentous decision.

Thanks,
Rusty