The Best Political Ad.

I've seen in a long time.

There is a reason why the Republican party continues to hearken back to Ronald Reagan.  He not only was an outstanding communicator, but understood the value of liberty down to his bones.  He had another gift in that he did not confuse disagreeing with a person's beliefs with dislike for that person.  I think we have lost that distinction to a great extent in our society, whether in politics, church, or in the culture at large.  We could learn a lot from this great man.

Happy Independence Day

We have been given such a gift, to be born or received into such a country as these United States.  Just a cursory view of past civilizations reveals how truly unique is our small place in history .  A republic with the stated purpose of freedom and justice for all is indeed rare.  Like so many gifts, it is often taken for granted or used as a means for obtaining power and control by those whose intentions are not those of pursuing freedom and justice.  While we are right to be vigilant in keeping those forces at bay, I also think it is important, especially now when our economy is failing, our freedoms are being legislated away and justice is too often denied, that we not place our faith in those things which will not last.  There is a great quote by C.S. Lewis:

A man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders himself without reservation to the temporal claims of a nation, or a party, or a class is rendering to Caesar that which, of all things, most emphatically belongs to God: himself.

So, let us be good stewards in praying for and electing good and true politicians, let us lend our voice for those who are in need of justice, use our freedoms to do good, all the while placing our trust in the Author of life and liberty.  Let us live to God.

The Quest for Freedom

Today is the birthday of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.. It is a good time to think about what strides we as a country have made in the struggle for freedom and liberty for all people. I think in some areas we have done quite well, such as voting rights and the openness of the political process. In other areas, not so well, such as in education, economic freedom, health care and the right to life.

Reverend King's niece, Dr. Alveda King has taken up her uncle's mantle, especially in the area of the basic human right to life. Read her open letter here.

I don't believe any society can have true freedom without Judeo-Christian values, and I don't believe the Civil Rights movement, Sufferage movement, or the Abolitionist movement could have occurred without the knowledge that all humans are created in the image of God. It was the foundation of these movements, as it is the foundation of the Right to Life movement today.

Here is Rev. King's sermon on the National Mall.

The problem with Compassionate Conservatism

John O'Sullivan has a great article in National Review. In the article he posits that President Bush is not a true conservative, nor a populist. That while there is a thread of conservatism on the issue of life, much of his governing stemmed from his own personal morality and not a core philosophical understanding of conservatism or freedom, or even of compassion.

Here's a portion.

To begin with, the idea that libertarian conservatism ignores or despises the poor is a libel. Some eccentric libertarians may do so, but the single most distinguished and influential libertarian conservative in our lifetime was the late Milton Friedman. His focus was on limiting government power — in everything from budgetary policy to narcotics regulation — but Friedman was also the inventor of the negative income tax, education vouchers, and a thousand other schemes to lift people out of poverty.

Second, there is nothing in compassionate conservatism to compel governments to prioritize. All the pressures in government are to finance new social projects (especially when opposing them is the sign of a hard heart). Without the restraint of a “small government” ideology, the easiest course is to choose them all. Overspending, inflation, spiraling deficits, and finally severe fiscal retrenchment are the results. But maybe that point need not be stressed just at present.

Third, compassionate conservatism is myopic. It responds to the victims in view but ignores the invisible victims of its generosity. Thus, the white-male victims of affirmative action are not considered in its debates about racial preferences. Bush’s proposed immigration reforms ignored the interests of low-paid, often minority, Americans. Prudent savers today are enduring the economic consequences of policies designed to help imprudent non-savers. And, of course, the taxpayer is the ultimate invisible victim of this cumulative warm-heartedness. As William Graham Sumner said, compassion is A getting together with B to decide what C shall do for X.

I'm afraid we're about to experience more compassionate something or other with our new President, minus the protection of the most innocent and vulnerable.

Kyrie, eleison.

Economic Advice

Here's some sound economic advice via Rod Dreher's blog, Crunchy Con. The best part:

ONE OTHER THING: Fear is endemic to bad economic times. Exercise caution, but don't give into fear. I try to counter greed with temperance in good times, and fear with prudence in bad times. Take Matthew 6:20 to heart.

Blink

The Canadian Human Rights Commission has been getting pummelled in the Canadian press with their investigation into Mark Steyn and Maclean's. They've decided to cut their losses. Read about it here from Ezra Levant.

How to be Principled

Found this on Rod Dreher's blog, Crunchy Cons. This is Ezra Levant, publisher of The Western Standard, whom I'm glad to see is acting and thinking like a grown-up. What courage!