Our government is really not a democracy. It is, as I first read Francis Schaeffer describe it, an elective autocracy. In congressional or presidential elections, we are not voting on single issues like health care, education, or abortion - we are voting for people. These people will go to Washington as autocrats - beholden to no one. Therefore, it is our responsibility as voters to do our level best to discern what is the character of the candidate - to know the candidate's baseline for truth, his philosophy of governance, and his worldview. These men and women are going to make hundreds of decisions on our behalf, representing us. This being the case, it's absurd then to vote for a candidate who declares that his public opinion is different than his private one - for power is then ceded to pollsters. Candidates should declare for the voter what his convictions are and we may then vote for the one whose worldview best represents our own. But what of these candidates whose only conviction is to suppress their own conscience in the pursuit of faithfully ascertaining what is the majority opinion of their constituency and voting in kind? Enough! I'm particularly weary of these Catholic and Protestant Christian candidates who abhor abortion in their hearts but who claim that duty demands they vote to extend it.
"When statesmen forsake their private conscience for the sake of their public duty, they lead their country by a very short route to chaos." ~ Sir Thomas More
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
How do you measure a candidate?
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3 comments:
Well said.
D'I like it!!!!!
But I do think this post- poetically, for sure- forgets the fact that we vote on issues- and do decide policies- as well as have autocrats. We vote on propositions- etc. And, if you have ever contacted a congressman or representative and have had them listenn to your opinions- I dunno- the fact that they are influenced by us- it's a good thing, too.
You're absolutely right - there is certainly plenty of democracy in our government - just not a whole lot in the executive and legislative branches and very little in the judicial. It's pretty much just a state and local government phenomenon. It's great to hear from you Sharon!
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