Power and the Political Process

Several years ago in a Bible Study, I heard these words coming out of my own mouth.  "I don't know what will change between 2012 and 2016, but 2012 will be the last presidential election as we've known them."  Was that prophetic?  The answer to that question remains to be seen.  It is becoming clearer and clearer, however; that America is no longer life as we knew it back when those words were spoken at the turn of this century.  America is not cycling economically and morally, but is on a steady downward spiral.  The economic recovery we keep hearing about, is Wall Street and Big Corporate, not every day mainstream America.  As a matter of fact, many who are considered everyday mainstream America can hardly afford groceries.  There are reportedly between 45 and 46 million Americans dependent upon SNAP, which is approximately 15% of the population.

There are still entirely too many Americans who believe the "right" man or woman chosen to reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue can turn this country around.  That is simply not the case.  Consistently, the newly elected occupant of the White House spends the first two years of their first term making sure the entire country knows what a mess the last guy left.  Then he spends the next two years of his first term telling us he needs four more years to get us on track and makes new promises for the future.  What is really amazing about America's political system are the spin doctors.  The incumbent can actually tell us what a mess he walked into, why he hasn't been able to keep his campaign promises, while also telling us what a great job he's doing.  All the while, we look around mainstreet seeing shuttered businesses and watch the price of groceries increase consistently.

As we watch the GOP tear each other to shreds, and the supposed "fair and balanced" FoxNews shape the mindset of their viewers, we tend to forget the real results of this staged choreography.  The people are being divided.  The empire, and that's what this is, best rules the subjects when we "unite" to be divided.  The process is quite serpentine, which makes it all the more troubling on a spiritual level.  First, a large number of our population actually believes our Creator is all for a federal republic style of governing.  The insistence to have "IN GOD WE TRUST" on money and police cars may sound righteous, but Messiah made the point of explaining the separation of government and G-d, using a coin to do so.  Most of this same section of the population believes G-d's laws to be bondage, while America's thousands and thousands of laws are freedom.  That is a serious misnomer.

There is a serious disconnect that is serving to categorize and divide us, and much of it seems to be based in anger and fear, while both parties reference Biblical "concepts out of context" to persuade the public.  It would seem that most Americans actually place their vote, of course, by the letter behind the name, but it's not usually "for" a candidate as much as it's against the other candidate.  Americans just don't really trust politicians.  We all know that!  We openly accept that most campaign promises will never become policy.  There is a huge disconnect between the words of "Candidate Whomever" and "President Whomever," and it is invariably the fault of Congress and the last guy.  Leadership, true leadership, doesn't look to lay blame, it looks to move forward.

Voting "against" the wrong candidate is a lot like pushing a rope or log chain.  You just don't get much accomplished.  I think Jeb Bush is just too much a part of the power process to be nominated, and it seems sad if the democrats really do believe Hillary is the best they can do.  It just seems the voters are getting played on that one.  Donald Trump is making waves and being noticed, but the election is still over a year away.  To maintain front runner status in a crowd this size until next November is highly unlikely, but maybe that will be what sets 2016 apart.  To elect a man that is not a politician and possesses no diplomacy will certainly make for a new America . . .  Then again, an outbreak of some plague, could result in Dr. Ben Carson being forgiven for his mandatory vaccination statement.  Dr. Carson is also not a career politician.  Even if the anger subsides, Americans are tired of the ineptness of Washington DC and would like a candidate they actually believe in, and therein lies the problem.

I'm going to get preachy, here.  It is time to separate our religious beliefs from our government, because all the non-Biblical beliefs are getting minority preferential treatment.  America is not a Christian nation, it is federal republic with a foundation of freedom of religion and religious expression.  I think Bible believers should stop compromising and insisting that unbelievers live as we do.  We need to separate and be the peacemaking counter-culture Messiah and his disciples were.  If everyone who truly claims to place their faith in YHWH placed all their dependency and purpose in Him, and stopped being dependent upon the government, we'd see change.  In my lifetime, our government has moved into the position of Pharaoh in just about every aspect of our lives and we can all read how that turned out . . . slavery.  The direction hasn't suddenly changed in the last few years, it's just become more apparent.   I always include a Bible verse at the end of the blog, but today, I'm also going to include a quote that brings some perspective the direction this country is going and how long it's been heading this direction.

“If voting made any difference they wouldn't let us do it.”                                       Mark Twain

We've practically elevated our government to godlike status and the "right" politician as a savior.

. . . choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve YHWH.  History in Holy Scripture