Los Angeles Lesbian Episcopalian Bishop Elected
Ms. Mary Glasspool, in a nontraditional Christian relationship with another woman, has just been elected. As a Catholic Christian, I don't like to get into the middle of political differences in a different denomination. (Catholics prelates are appointed, male, and take a vow of celibacy.) According to the media, Ms. Glasspool's sexual orientation was a secondary consideration, the "real" selling point was her stand in favor of "social justice".
"Social justice" has often been linked with progressive policies, e.g., a "living wage", redistribution of wealth, and subsidiarity, i.e., social fulfillment of certain basic resources (housing, education, heath care, etc.) The Catholic concept of social justice does not embrace class conflict or envy but focuses on assisting the poor and protecting others whom are least able to fend for themselves, e.g., unborn children, abused or sexually exploited women and children, individuals suffering from dementia, the physically handicapped, etc. I do not believe that fundamental human dignity is achieved by a secular progressive agenda; for example, the right to work is undermined by policies which impede business development and related job opportunities.
There are, of course, progressive theologians whom argue that Biblical prohibitions against gay sexual behavior are no more relevant than obsolete dietary guidelines or prescribed disproportionate responses to minor transgressions. I don't accept that rationalization; the fact is that homosexual behavior was socially accepted elsewhere (e.g., ancient Greece), and the concepts of marriage and procreation/family are central to the Judaic-Christian tradition.
The issue for me is not whether Ms. Glasspool is gay or female. It has to do more with a Christian church being corrupted by secular identity politics, where leaders openly model prohibited behavior (if not defend it as virtuous). What is left distinctly Christian about a watered-down belief system which capitulates to popular culture and political correctness, devoid of traditional faith and morals? And they have the audacity to claim that traditionalists are "divisive"? The schism the Anglican church is experiencing today is caused by those whom worship a false god of secular humanism and rebuke no sins, except those imagined of the traditional faithful.
Reid Compares His GOP Critics to Defenders of Slavery
Your problem, Mr. Reid, is you are pushing on a string instead of reforming the government, addressing more critical issues like social security and Medicare reserves, or establishing a more business-friendly environment for job creation. After shepherding through the largest aggregate spending and federal deficit in American history, you have been spending time fighting climate change (even if fast-growing countries refuse to go along with similar restrictions) and turning the health care industry upside down, on the pretext of serving a small percentage of Americans whom choose not to purchase health insurance, even if they can afford it.
You are a liar, Mr. Reid. You claim that the Republicans haven't offered ideas. You insist only the federal government can provide competition to large health care insurers, but you refuse to allow private-sector competition across state lines. You are saying the GOP doesn't have a mechanism for guaranteed issue, when in fact Republicans have called for strengthening state/regional assigned risk pools. You refuse to give equal protection of tax benefits to families whom purchase health insurance with after-tax dollars, and you won't let organized small business cooperatives to self-insure like large companies. You refuse to address key medical malpractice reform, doing nothing about conditions resulting in doctors leaving the profession or passing along their increased costs to patients and their insurers.
There are ways to reform the system without the federal government taking a majority market share at the expense of the private sector (which, by the way, receives high marks from its customers as a whole). The fact that you refuse to engage in legitimately bipartisan compromise is not the responsibility of Republican senators. You are trying to ram a partisan bill down the nation's throat, and arguing that the GOP is not being constructive is little more than a state of denial.
Citizens of Nevada, you have an opportunity next fall to retire Senator Harry Reid and vote for legitimate change.
Ms. Mary Glasspool, in a nontraditional Christian relationship with another woman, has just been elected. As a Catholic Christian, I don't like to get into the middle of political differences in a different denomination. (Catholics prelates are appointed, male, and take a vow of celibacy.) According to the media, Ms. Glasspool's sexual orientation was a secondary consideration, the "real" selling point was her stand in favor of "social justice".
"Social justice" has often been linked with progressive policies, e.g., a "living wage", redistribution of wealth, and subsidiarity, i.e., social fulfillment of certain basic resources (housing, education, heath care, etc.) The Catholic concept of social justice does not embrace class conflict or envy but focuses on assisting the poor and protecting others whom are least able to fend for themselves, e.g., unborn children, abused or sexually exploited women and children, individuals suffering from dementia, the physically handicapped, etc. I do not believe that fundamental human dignity is achieved by a secular progressive agenda; for example, the right to work is undermined by policies which impede business development and related job opportunities.
There are, of course, progressive theologians whom argue that Biblical prohibitions against gay sexual behavior are no more relevant than obsolete dietary guidelines or prescribed disproportionate responses to minor transgressions. I don't accept that rationalization; the fact is that homosexual behavior was socially accepted elsewhere (e.g., ancient Greece), and the concepts of marriage and procreation/family are central to the Judaic-Christian tradition.
The issue for me is not whether Ms. Glasspool is gay or female. It has to do more with a Christian church being corrupted by secular identity politics, where leaders openly model prohibited behavior (if not defend it as virtuous). What is left distinctly Christian about a watered-down belief system which capitulates to popular culture and political correctness, devoid of traditional faith and morals? And they have the audacity to claim that traditionalists are "divisive"? The schism the Anglican church is experiencing today is caused by those whom worship a false god of secular humanism and rebuke no sins, except those imagined of the traditional faithful.
Reid Compares His GOP Critics to Defenders of Slavery
Instead of joining us on the right side of history, all the Republicans can come up with is, 'slow down, stop everything, let's start over.' If you think you've heard these same excuses before, you're right. "When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said 'slow down, it's too early, things aren't bad enough.Earth to Reid: One of the historical facts of the founding of the Grand Old Party was its unconditional rejection of slavery, it also drew up the initial civil rights acts and constituted key support for landmark civil rights legislation in the 1960's. What about the Democratic Party, Mr. Reid? The Dixiecrats of 1948? Presidential candidate George "Segregation Forever" Wallace in 1968 and 1972? Longest serving Democratic Senator Robert Byrd (alumnus of the KKK)?
Your problem, Mr. Reid, is you are pushing on a string instead of reforming the government, addressing more critical issues like social security and Medicare reserves, or establishing a more business-friendly environment for job creation. After shepherding through the largest aggregate spending and federal deficit in American history, you have been spending time fighting climate change (even if fast-growing countries refuse to go along with similar restrictions) and turning the health care industry upside down, on the pretext of serving a small percentage of Americans whom choose not to purchase health insurance, even if they can afford it.
You are a liar, Mr. Reid. You claim that the Republicans haven't offered ideas. You insist only the federal government can provide competition to large health care insurers, but you refuse to allow private-sector competition across state lines. You are saying the GOP doesn't have a mechanism for guaranteed issue, when in fact Republicans have called for strengthening state/regional assigned risk pools. You refuse to give equal protection of tax benefits to families whom purchase health insurance with after-tax dollars, and you won't let organized small business cooperatives to self-insure like large companies. You refuse to address key medical malpractice reform, doing nothing about conditions resulting in doctors leaving the profession or passing along their increased costs to patients and their insurers.
There are ways to reform the system without the federal government taking a majority market share at the expense of the private sector (which, by the way, receives high marks from its customers as a whole). The fact that you refuse to engage in legitimately bipartisan compromise is not the responsibility of Republican senators. You are trying to ram a partisan bill down the nation's throat, and arguing that the GOP is not being constructive is little more than a state of denial.
Citizens of Nevada, you have an opportunity next fall to retire Senator Harry Reid and vote for legitimate change.
Political Cartoon
Gary Varvel does a good job of showing just how cluelessliberal progressive Democrats are in terms of not getting how talking about and passing unnecessary taxes and regulations in a recession is a huge turn-off for job creators.
Gary Varvel does a good job of showing just how clueless
Christmas Musical Interlude: "The Boss"--"Santa Claus is Coming to Town"
Bruce Springsteen's politics, unfortunately, aren't as creative and inspired as his talented songwriting and legendary rock performances. Once you have heard Bruce's take on this traditional Christmas song, you'll never be satisfied with alternative recordings. The embedded video is vintage Springsteen...
Bruce Springsteen's politics, unfortunately, aren't as creative and inspired as his talented songwriting and legendary rock performances. Once you have heard Bruce's take on this traditional Christmas song, you'll never be satisfied with alternative recordings. The embedded video is vintage Springsteen...
