Something to think about

Today Mark Salinas posted this about how we should not let things like politics ruin friendships.

I agree wholeheartedly with what he had to say in his very timely post. As I read through the comments though, someone else had something very profound to say.

Audra Krell from Krellfish said, "One other point is for people to look inward. As we get closer to the election, people become desperate and do and say things that they normally wouldn’t. We should all do an emotional check and see if possibly, our fears and other emotions are coloring our words and actions a little too much."

So far, in most of our conversations - those on the opposite side of the political fence have been able to have civil conversations with me, even when we disagree. And then there have been those times where I just wanted to enjoy being with my friend and I've said, "let's not talk politics today, okay?"

This election seems to be more charged than any other that I remember, and I hope that some people are not forgetting that we are all Americans and in the end - we have to all figure out how to work together whether we are liberal, conservative, democrat, republican or some combination of all of these things.

So in these last 2 weeks before the election I urge you to:

• be informed and research everything - if a story seems biased, it probably is - so check the facts yourself
  
• feel free to be passionate without being nasty
• don't steal signs out of people's yards (I'd like mine back please!)
• respect the opinions of others, whether you agree or not
• Pray for our nation, its leaders - and whoever is destined to be our next President - we all have an uphill climb ahead of us.

Okay - political discussion done. For real this time. Maybe.

A lesson for those who didn't pay attention in high school . . .

I am trying to stay away from politics in my blog - but I had to post this because it is informative and may help people to understand some of the things they keep hearing about in the media.

Recently, Senator Obama spoke to Joe the Plumber who had asked him why he would get more taxes for a small business that just happens to make more than $250,000.

This was Senator Obama's response:

“It’s not that I want to punish your success, I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they’ve got a chance at success, too. I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”

Those words "spread the wealth around" have said to confirm some people's feelings that Senator Obama has more socialist policies than democratic.

What I've realized in my conversations with people my own age is this: no one paid attention in high school civics or government class and they don't have any idea what socialism is. And they really don't care! So I ran across this blog this morning which had a great excerpt from Mike Huckabee's book.

I wanted to share this lesson with you here:

“I once heard the various forms of government described this way:

Communism - you have two cows and the government takes both cows and gives you part of the milk.

Socialism - you have two cows and the government takes one of the cows and gives it to your neighbor.

Fascism - you have two cows and the government takes both cows and sells you the milk.

Nazism - you have two cows and the government takes both cows and shoots you.

Bureaucracy - you have two cows, the government takes both cows, shoots one, milks the other, and pours the milk down the drain.

Capitalism - you have two cows, you sell one and you buy a bull!

Our system, based on the capitalist idea, is intended to create incentives so there is a return on one’s endeavors. It has it’s flaws, but ours is still better than any other system on earth.”

I am hoping that this short lesson has helped some people understand these things they keep hearing on the TV but don't take the time to learn about.

I will leave you with a quote from Former President Ronald Reagan (which reminds me of a time when people had a respect for the one holding the office of the President of the United States . . .)

“All systems are capitalist. It's just a matter of who owns and controls the capital -- ancient king, dictator, or private individual. We should properly be looking at the contrast between a free market system where individuals have the right to live like kings if they have the ability to earn that right and government control of the market system such as we find today in socialist nations.”

Main thing: God is still God.

Be informed.

Vote on November 4th (or you do not have a right to complain).

(I am now finished with my political comments . . . until the next election.)