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dlw
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6 months ago
in Wednesday Ballot on the Jesus Manifesto
people died so that AAmericans could vote. Now, you're saying you don't think that voting matters.
If you think both main alternatives are equally bad, the logical thing is to flip a coin and hope that others who feel the same also flip a coin. This will make the election closer and add a degree of randomness to the final outcome that will force intere$t group$ to hedge their bets.
dlw
If you think both main alternatives are equally bad, the logical thing is to flip a coin and hope that others who feel the same also flip a coin. This will make the election closer and add a degree of randomness to the final outcome that will force intere$t group$ to hedge their bets.
dlw
1 reply
Dave C
And again I say, real change happens in your neighborhood and community. Soldiers died to perpetuate the myth of a caring, democratic government that has the has the best interest of the people at heart. Government exists only to further itself, to gather power and resources. People are only a resource. Once the government figures out how to get along with out people, voting rights will be gone. It's already happening: When was the last time the people actually had a choice in who the voted for? The haven't for decades. They are given a choice of candidates that has been chosen for them by insiders.
7 months ago
in The Taming of God (Obama’s Religion, pt 2) on the Jesus Manifesto
I'm a believer that as Christians we can express our beliefs differently publicly and privately (among other committed believers). Obama typifies a good example of how we can stand by our faith without (mis)aligning it with what is universal or what we are objectively justified in bringing down to bear on all others. In my mind, this uses State-Churchy speak to subvert State-Churchiness.
dlw
dlw
1 reply
bren0110
well I certainly didn't mean to exposit Obama's speech to show that it is subversive. On the contrary, I was trying to show that it is a perfect example of civil religion. I would say that we should express our beliefs with different purposes and with a different tenor in public, but I think the essential content of our beliefs should not change when expressed in public. But it is the impulse to have a public voice in full that has led us to bend our faith to fit the rules of public discourse in this country. That was my point.
8 months ago
in Electing for Change on the Jesus Manifesto
I'd also say that it's not simply black and white. We also must choose what habits/rules guide us in our vote. That is just as important as whether we vote for two reasons.
1. Shallow Voters have helped to weaken significantly the checks and balances on our gov't in the past.
2. The system wants us to spend way too much time immersed in the streams of (mis)information, particularly on the candidates in elections where our vote matters the least.
So it goes both ways, I'd say I am committed to a two-party dominated political system that necessarily keeps my "ideal" from gaining power, simply because this ties me to the mast as a political outsider to focus more on the politics of conversion.
dlw
1. Shallow Voters have helped to weaken significantly the checks and balances on our gov't in the past.
2. The system wants us to spend way too much time immersed in the streams of (mis)information, particularly on the candidates in elections where our vote matters the least.
So it goes both ways, I'd say I am committed to a two-party dominated political system that necessarily keeps my "ideal" from gaining power, simply because this ties me to the mast as a political outsider to focus more on the politics of conversion.
dlw
1 reply
Casey
You make two very valid points. The Framers understood that our democratic-republic would only work with an educated and informed populace. The mainstream media has become part of the misinformation problem. They define the subject and parameters of public debate. Anything outside of their box is marginalized.
The obscure third party candidates I vote for in national elections have zero impact. My voice does have an impact in my local community, however. Mass transit, green initiatives, road construction, police etc are all local issues which are affected by my vote. Besides, standing in the voter line gives one a chance to meet neighbors.
The obscure third party candidates I vote for in national elections have zero impact. My voice does have an impact in my local community, however. Mass transit, green initiatives, road construction, police etc are all local issues which are affected by my vote. Besides, standing in the voter line gives one a chance to meet neighbors.
8 months ago
in Electing for Change on the Jesus Manifesto
I wdn't use the word "destroy", tho whenever you change people's habits, things do fall apart.
I've been in Ukraine and follow Ukrainian politics, we almost went down that path and I believe it is important that we be salt and light in making our democracy work better. This is part of our witness to others. We need not obsess about nat'l elections to participate in this matter. A relatively small group that votes apart from its self-interest and the spin of the system can change things and attract attention from those who sadly do get preoccupied w. the capture of the state and then inevitably get burned-out and callous to such matters.
dlw
I've been in Ukraine and follow Ukrainian politics, we almost went down that path and I believe it is important that we be salt and light in making our democracy work better. This is part of our witness to others. We need not obsess about nat'l elections to participate in this matter. A relatively small group that votes apart from its self-interest and the spin of the system can change things and attract attention from those who sadly do get preoccupied w. the capture of the state and then inevitably get burned-out and callous to such matters.
dlw
1 reply
hewhocutsdown
Destroy may have been the wrong choice of word, but as I wrote it I was envisioning Gideon (translated, literally, as 'The Destroyer') in Judges 6:
Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.
Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.
Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
