Real Life Real Faith May Issue | Page 10

While I agree with the above-mentioned quote, I don’t see the same consistency in policy within Republican circles. The above-mentioned quote states that all men (humans) are created equal and that is consistent with the Bible they claim to uphold as truth. But here comes the inconsistency, “they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” So if God gave all people their rights, then no human can take those God-given rights away. Now, I don’t want to cast any aspersions upon the entire group, because there are some good people in the Republican Party, but in general, the Republican Party is a staunch supporter of forcing it’s so-called Christian values on society. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am a believer in Christ, too. But I don’t work to get legislation passed to ban people from smoking weed and marrying people of the same sex. For the record, I do not support and never have supported same-sex relationships or weed smoking. But that’s not my decision to make for other people’s lives.

Whether I agree with people’s personal decisions or not, all people have a God-given right to life, liberty, and to pursue what makes them happy, as long as they don’t infringed upon other people’s God-given rights. But to throw people in jail for years because they smoke a funny smelling cigarette is ridiculous. It’s not only ridiculous, it’s hypocritical, because many of the same Republicans who are avid supporters of throwing people in jail for victimless petty crimes like smoking marijuana, are some of the same people who are killing their own bodies with liquor and tobacco cigarettes; and some of those people have even harder vices. But the Republican Party’s hubris and lack of pursuit for things like criminal justice reform is destroying so many individual lives and families. Meanwhile, a young kid drove drunk in Texas, killed four people, and was given probation. Where are the consistency and the God agenda in the GOP?

On the Democratic side of the aisle is a similar type of hypocrisy, because while there are believers in the Democratic Party, there are also a lot of atheist and agnostic member, as well. But the Democratic hypocrisy takes the Biblical concept of “helping the poor,” turns it on its head, and creates a cash cow and a built-in constituency for itself, at the peoples’ expense. While no normal person would argue with helping out our fellow man, there is something to be said about verifying the motives of the individuals and the group. I do believe that there are some Democrats who are well-meaning and good Christian folks. But the party as a whole has an agenda that is selfish, controlling, and destructive to the dignity of sentient beings. While help is provided to some (and that term “help” is subjective), many families feel helpless because they have a desire to pursue their dreams. But many people feel stuck between the assistance of the Federal Government that comes with strings attached, and the desire to follow their dreams without Government assistance; that might put them in a financial hardship. In some states, Government assistance can equate to a job paying $15.00 per hour. Granted that’s not a lot of money to raise a family, but $35,000.00 a year in Government subsidies will definitely keep a roof over your head and food in your mouth. The alternative is being in fear because you are on your own without Government assistance and falling flat on your face if you don’t succeed right away. That is a dignity killer.