I’ve been very disturbed and the political usage of religion. Some how people have brought to the forefront issues that have very little to do with the general well-being of the average american citizen. It is hard for be to accept that a Christian can support President Bush simply because he isn’t a peacemaker, he is a “war president.” I remember there was a time that a Christian read the bible, and perhaps read a little line that went:

Have confidence in God. This confidence in God will result in peace in every situation in life (Isa. 26:3)

And I remember a time when Christians cared about helping their neighbors. In the modern world, this is called communism. In today’s very political environment, people have come to believe that “war makers” are peacemakers. Once again I reflect upon a time when a Christian would read the bible, and perhaps chance upon something like:

Accept the vocation of a peacemaker from God (Matt.5:9)

And today, there seem to be only two stances that a Christian leader should take; pro-life and anti-homosexual marriage. After all, marriage is a union between a man and a women, and in allowing gay to marry, it would ruin that sanctification. I say that these issues are used as mere blinders for the Christian community, whom would normally vote for issues that would help the suffering of their fellow neighbor.

What many Christians (and most republicans) have forgotten is that it is choice that differentiates between the Christian and the non-Christian, and between moral (to use another buzzword) and not. It is because it is not compulsory to be a Christian or necessary to be moral that makes being so significant. Whether or not gay marriage and abortion is legal should not be the issue for Christians. It is perfectly legal to get intoxicated and make a fool of yourself, but it isn't very Christian-like.. Just because something is allowed does not make it moral, and at times vice versa. 

So why are so many people disillusioned? Why do so many people, despite repeated failures in the past, continue to believe that legislating moral issues is a good idea? Was the vastly expensive and entirely fruitless WAR ON DRUGS a good idea? The data on the subject points to a lot of money for a lot of nothing. How about the prohibition? A good idea? The data on that subject shows that it actually created more drinking problems AND spawned a generation of gangsters. What will happen if gay marriage and abortion is outlawed?

Well, we know a bit about what happens when abortion is outlawed. It still happens. The problem is that it happens in filthy, nasty places, often leading to (two) deaths. If you don't believe in abortion, then don't have one, don't advise people to have them, and do what you can outside legislation to stop it. I personally believe abortion is wrong, not something to choose to do to a life not yet lived. That doesn't mean I'm going to vote because I would never advise someone to have an abortion. I'm going to vote for the person that is going to do the most for America. I’m going to vote for the person who takes the action of issues that are truly important to the welfare of our neighbors.

So what are the issues that christian people should be worried about? Well, I don’t know. I would have to say they should be worried about social problems, like inequality, and healthcare for people who can’t afford it. Here are my thoughts on an article found on wikipedia.com.

Disproportionate Educational System

"The US educational system is compulsory; however, it is funded and controlled primarily by state and local governments."

What boggles my mind is that we have not come up with an adequate system to balance the unequal state funding of public education, taking into consideration that it is necessary for everyone to attend.

"Control of education remains firmly protected by state sovereignity, which causes the makeup of the local electorate to determines the funding and condition of the school system. In communities with large numbers of affluent childbearing families, the educational system tends to be well-funded and more effective. Communities with less affluent or non-childbearing families have less well funded educational systems."

What I'd propose is a slight intervention by federal goverment to help resolve inequalities in state funding that are out of the hands of the state, such as communities with less affluent families or non-childbearing families. It is hardly fair that the poor should be kept poor because of inadequate school funding. I'm looking for a candidate who is going to focus on school reform, a top priority in the battle against inequality and the income gap.

Poverty and the Inadequate Distribution of Wealth

"Throughout much of the 20th Century, US politics revolved around fighting communism. Many progressive efforts to provide greater economic parity and social justice for the poor and working classes were often defeated via equations with communism and socialism."

The demonization of communism and socialism is still very much alive today. In talks of politics that involve helping people who are poor or disfortunite, it is many times equated with communism. It is a sad day when helping out your neighbor is considered to be evil. Nearly (if not all) other democratic countries have better school systems and better heath care. Many even pay less taxes and have shorter work weeks.

Crime and incarceration

"The United States prison population is the highest of any world country, both in absolute and relative numbers. A substantial percentage of people behind bars are drug offenders, which is due to the so-called "war on drugs", a very rigid and controversial policy against selling and using drugs (some states have so-called "three strikes" laws, which lead to incarceration for life after three felonies have been committed, including drug crimes)."

Personally, I had never questioned the WAR ON DRUGS until last year, when I really started getting the figures of the policy. You see, I'm against drugs of most kinds. I don't even like medications unless I need them. I certainly don't believe in letting people deal drugs on the streets. However, I also know that the money spent to enforce the policy, the man-power whose attention is diverted from violent crimes (and alcohol related crimes, which by all extent cause more problems than drugs ever have), and the money it takes to keep these people in prison does not get balanced out by the results. By and large, the War On Drugs was a complete failure.

Access to health care

"Numerous issues with the private health care system have left 41.2 million people without health insurance coverage in 2001, including 8.5 million children. Political issues as well as business interests have lead to a stalemate on the issue. There is no consensus in the United States that having health care paid for should be considered a right, nor that this service should be paid for by the state."

I must say that after all these other topics, it is not surprising that there is no consensus for health care being a right, but I think it should be. Access to equal education and equal health care is the only way for people to be truely equal. If people don't have the same access to success (which, because of many factors like the Affirmative Action Movement, we don't have) then we aren't being made unequal. Better healthcare and better education makes a better, stronger workforce, which due to the failing Industrial and Farming sections, would be advantageous to the future of the United States

These are issues that are important to myself. I know that these things are the real issues that need voted on, not the age old abortion issue, or homosexuality. It is about peace and happiness. Morality, to me, will be when I choose the candidate who is most sensitive to these issues, the ones that affect people every single day.