There are some who believe that a candidate's religious beliefs should not influence his politics. This sounds nice, but - if we were capable of truly separating what we personally believe to be true at the deepest levels of heart, mind, and soul from our actions, speech and public behaviors we would rightly be called hypocrites. The word hypocrite originates from the Greek language and was used to describe actors in a play: what you saw was not authentic but 'put on.' What manner of lunacy impels otherwise rational people to demand hypocrisy from those seeking political office or being appointed to one as a pre-condition to election or appointment, and then later whine and protest when such people demonstrate that they really do have feet of clay? Better by far to know a persons true character from the beginning and accept that every human being essentially lives out his or her core beliefs on a daily basis. These people are said to be morally integrated. You know what they believe and where they stand because they have integrity.
Individuals can behave morally and are rightly expected to meet certain minimal standards by other people. Governments, however, are only corporate identities and are at best capable of only acting justly. To expect morality from government is to be in a state of perpetual disappointment. Justice is as good as it can get - and that seems to be a worthwhile goal.
Religious people should not be excluded from the body politic because of their faith which informs their core beliefs. It is completely fair and desirable to exclude from public life those who would impose their religious preferences on others by fiat. Persuasion is legitimate; imposition by force never is.
TWO IMPORTANT QUOTES.
"I am told that religion and politics are different spheres of life. But I would say without a moment's hesitation and yet in all modesty that those who claim this do not know what religion is." --- M. K. Gandhi
"A religion that does not interfere with the secular order will soon discover that the secular order will not refrain from interfering with it." --- Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Pax et bonum!
Monday, August 13, 2007
Friday, August 3, 2007
LESSONS FROM HISTORY
Caveant consules ne quid res republica detrimenti caperet. - ‘Let the consuls see to it that no harm come to the state.’ (Senatorial ultimate decree in the Roman Republic)
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
POLLS, PEOPLE & SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS
Most people pay some attention to polls and surveys. If you want to make and sell a product or service, it makes a lot of sense to find out if there are any people out there who want to buy what you want to sell. And if you’re already in business, it’s wise to know how people regard your product.
It seems to me, though, that there is something disingenuous about the way politicians and elitists try to manipulate polls to create an impression that there’s a ground swell of public support for a position or candidate. Surveys and polls are tools. But they are not perfect. That’s why they always include a statistical level of error (+/-). And anyone who’s ever actually met and spoken with a pollster knows, “…if you let me phrase the proposition, I can practically guarantee any answer I want.” So a jaundiced eye is always a good ally when evaluating poll and survey results.
Recently I read an account which mentioned some interesting data extracted from the Gallup organization’s annual update about America’s confidence in various institutions.
In this year’s poll (2007), the highest level of confidence went (again) to the U.S. military (for the 10th year in a row). The next closest group in which the people have confidence is small business, 10 points behind, and the police 15 points behind.
The President was much lower (which the opposing party loves to quote), but far lower in public esteem is the Congress with a confidence rating of 14%!!! …which means, if you think about it, that 86% of Americans have little or no confidence in our elected representatives! You would think that this resounding, bi-partisan vote of ‘no confidence’ might actually inspire leaders of both parties to get some of the truly important legislation passed in a fair and balanced way. This, however, seems unlikely.
Also significant is the finding that 34 percent of Americans mention Iraq as the nation’s top problem – significantly greater that any other issue. But again, it also means that for 66 percent of Americans, Iraq is NOT the nation’s most pressing problem – something you would not know by watching the news, reading the major papers and journals, or listening to the politicians of the congressional majority!
If we fail to think about things, we may be given impressions of reality which have been distorted for partisan purposes.
It seems to me, though, that there is something disingenuous about the way politicians and elitists try to manipulate polls to create an impression that there’s a ground swell of public support for a position or candidate. Surveys and polls are tools. But they are not perfect. That’s why they always include a statistical level of error (+/-). And anyone who’s ever actually met and spoken with a pollster knows, “…if you let me phrase the proposition, I can practically guarantee any answer I want.” So a jaundiced eye is always a good ally when evaluating poll and survey results.
Recently I read an account which mentioned some interesting data extracted from the Gallup organization’s annual update about America’s confidence in various institutions.
In this year’s poll (2007), the highest level of confidence went (again) to the U.S. military (for the 10th year in a row). The next closest group in which the people have confidence is small business, 10 points behind, and the police 15 points behind.
The President was much lower (which the opposing party loves to quote), but far lower in public esteem is the Congress with a confidence rating of 14%!!! …which means, if you think about it, that 86% of Americans have little or no confidence in our elected representatives! You would think that this resounding, bi-partisan vote of ‘no confidence’ might actually inspire leaders of both parties to get some of the truly important legislation passed in a fair and balanced way. This, however, seems unlikely.
Also significant is the finding that 34 percent of Americans mention Iraq as the nation’s top problem – significantly greater that any other issue. But again, it also means that for 66 percent of Americans, Iraq is NOT the nation’s most pressing problem – something you would not know by watching the news, reading the major papers and journals, or listening to the politicians of the congressional majority!
If we fail to think about things, we may be given impressions of reality which have been distorted for partisan purposes.
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