We are approaching another Election Day. It fascinates and disturbs me to see how many of the “diversion divisions”
on the far right, notably our political theocrats, are once again gearing up to distract us from what is at issue, the future of the country.

We have before us matters that should be of grave concern, both the economy and the sad state in which we find ourselves on the international stage. There is no doubt, despite the protestations and denials from this current administration and its sycophants, that we are in an economic recession, that we are mired in two military conflicts with absolutely no idea of how to extricate ourselves, that we are destroying the effectiveness of our military, and that we have very few if any real allies left in the world.

Given the scope and significance of such matters, of what importance are the issues of homosexuality, gay marriage, and even that of abortion. Except on the level of personal belief, they are not, nor should they be addressed at the ballot box in a vain effort to force others to conform; i.e. impose one’s will upon another. If they are to be dealt with, they need to be dealt with on the personal level; i.e. changing the individual mind. That is the only way any real change can ever be achieved in those areas.

The danger of using religious belief as a basis for decisions in the political arena is amply documented in history, as it has repeatedly proved to be disastrous. To believe that we are not subject to the same error in judgment is based upon two things: ignorance of the past, and the arrogance that we would never make the mistake others have made. That assumes that the inherent nature of man has changed. It has not.

One question some of us are at times asked is the following: “Do people ever make decisions or vote against their own best interests?” The unqualified answer is a resounding “yes,” and the reason is always the same. It is that the bases used for rendering those decisions are the wrong ones, and religion (any religion) has proved itself, time and again, not to be a valid basis for decisions in the fields of either politics or economics. Therefore to vote based upon religious conviction does divert our attention away from those questions upon which we need to be concentrating.

ROBERT I. LAITRES
Delta

This entry was posted on Monday, April 14th, 2008 at 10:42 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.