They say that there are two topics not to discuss in polite company: religion and politics. I say it's time to shatter that accepted belief and jump right in. Now is not the time to be silent when speaking with friends and family about our politics, or about the way that our faith shapes our politics.
I know that many of my circle are John McCain supporters. This seems to be for a variety of reasons--he appears honest, he is supposedly a maverick, he is the Republican candidate and the Republican Party is the party of moral values. But the major problem with McCain is that he won't be a candidate that chooses life. John McCain has already made it clear that he is not only willing to continue the long slog in Iraq, but is ready for war with Iran as well. He is a supporter of free trade, a free trade that continues to hold down the most impoverished citizens of the world. He made clear in a recent interview that he is not interested in pursuing renewable energy or strict fuel economy standards.
Many of these points have been noted in a previous blog. What I'm saying here is that it's time for us all to examine what it really means to live our faith. Our faith should dictate each and every piece of our lives. I'm aware that this is difficult, oh so difficult, but for goodness' sake, for God's sake, please, please incorporate it into your voting.
From the earliest Old Testament Jubilee years to the prophets crying for justice to Jesus' teachings on "the least of these", it is clear that a belief in God should propel us to call for a change in the policies of the US. Justice means an end to preemptive war. Justice requires a call for fairer trade and development policies that allow the 2/3s of the world living on $2 a day a chance at a life in which they don't worry each day about how they will eat. Justice is caring for our planet so that we don't degrade the soils, pollute the water and flood our cities.
Yes, these are concepts that we can all work toward through our private lives, through our churches and through community organizations. But our churches aren't the ones that sign off on war (most were against the Iraq invasion), our churches can't pledge billions for international development (although we can buy pigs for Haiti), our churches can't impose carbon caps or fuel economy standards. We have a chance to change our country, and through our country the world, but it has to come from both directions--it must come from the grassroots, populist movement, and it must come from the top, from leaders and an administration with courage to look beyond our borders and beyond today.
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I put it this way to people who tell me they can't possibly conceive of voting for a Democrat: A quick glance at primary turnout and fundraising shows that a Democratic president in 2009 should be expected. So, better decide now if you'd rather another batch of Clinton scandal and cronyism, or Obama the idealogue.
To add to that, McCain is hardly in the GOP fold.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/us/politics/24mccain.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin
This article pretty much sums it up when it says McCain has swung from voting his conscience to being a political opportunist. His only strong point is his alleged knowledge of national security, but he's befuddled on who is behind the violence in Iraq.
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