As Republicans reflect on their 2006 “thumping” at the ballot box and plot their strategy for regaining power in Congress, I suggest they consider a major paradigm shift in their thinking: What Americans desire most in government is not necessarily Republican or Democrat, it’s true Conservatism. Americans want their government to do what’s in the best interest of the country as a whole instead of gerrymandering and contorting policy and legislation to appease narrow special interests of society. The majority of Americans want limited government, strong national security and foreign policy, low taxation, minimal regulation, responsible economic policy, maximum individual freedom balanced with maximum individual responsibility, respect for life, respect for property, and respect for individual liberties (to the extent that your liberty does not pick my pocket!) It’s not just about the money. There’s a social component to the government that Americans desire. The problem with being only a fiscal conservative is that it’s just a matter of time before a fiscal conservative will succumb to tax and economic policy that advances damaging social policy. In turn, damaging social policy begets bad fiscal policy, higher taxes, and weakened security. A flat tax, fair tax, or a tax cut really doesn’t matter if you’re simultaneously promoting policies that spread disease, psychoses, and deviant or destructive behavior. An enterprise zone doesn’t really matter if you can’t distinguish enterprises that have positive social impact from those which have negative social impact. Balancing budgets, reducing deficits, and controlling spending doesn’t really mean anything if you’ve merely found a way to pay for immoral or failing programs A and B without raising taxes. A fiscal conservative thinks mostly in terms of financial bottom lines without regard to social implications. A fiscal conservative is codeword for: don’t worry, my morality is as loose and confused as yours—perhaps more so-- and although I may cut taxes, I will not interfere with anyone’s legal ‘ right’ (perceived or otherwise) to do whatever they deem morally acceptable in their own eyes. Such a fiscal “conservative” will be attractive to many people, but for a majority of Americans this will be a turn-off causing them to sit at home on voting day. Many true conservatives (Republican, Democrat, and Independent) are not willing to check their morality at the door of the voting hall just because candidate X has promised a tax cut. The Voting Moral Majority exists, but they are disgusted with the process, the prospects, and the prognosis. On the other hand, candidate Y who promises fiscal discipline and promotes social boundaries (as opposed to “social justice”) will be the stronger candidate and is more likely to engage the Voting Moral Majority.

There is no shortage of people who vote for politicians to go to Washington specifically to fight for the “acceptance” of some socially deviant or destructive lifestyle. The thinking is that if a tax, legislative action, judicial action, elected voice, or funded program can be established for this “lifestyle choice”, then the lifestyle is therefore legitimate and worthy of special protection under constitutional law. It’s not that any single Socially Destructive Constituency (SDC) is so powerful or vocal, rather the magnifying effect –giving these constituencies Oz-like status-- results from having so many different SDCs to be part of! Thus, the overall numbers of people clamoring for government validation of socially destructive lifestyles and behavior seems larger than it really is. Many of society’s most lost belong to and advocate for more than one SDC. These SDCs cannot tell the truth about their true beliefs and goals, and they cannot be honest about the social impact of their causes because to do so would cause immediate rejection by most Americans. Instead, they rely on dishonest politicians, activist judges, and an ignorant electorate to secure them validation. Another tactic of these SDCs is to privatize information that would otherwise show just how destructive their “lifestyles” really are. Consider—as a non-labeled example-- how well SDC X would do at the ballot box if you could quantify in advance the negative societal impacts and “costs” of accepting its worldview. Moral objections notwithstanding, would Americans be so understanding of this lifestyle knowing that in the very near future there would be a mysterious tax (or fee for you Mainers out there) deducted from their paychecks in order to support SDC X? Alternatively, consider how great it would be for advocates of SDC X if information about its negative societal impacts and costs was deemed “protected” or if the gathering, reporting, disseminating, and analyzing of such information was deemed “insensitive” or a “hate crime”. Thus, it could become impossible to quantify and prove the negative societal impact of such a SDC. A fiscal conservative cannot stand under such pressure. Fiscal conservatives have no response to this type of “feel good”, emotional politics because they have no moral foundation. They have only a financial foundation. It’s just a matter of time before the fiscal conservative will vociferously announce that he or she obtained a temporary tax cut yet mumble through the fact that the temporary fiscal “victory” was won in exchange for a moral compromise that has eternal ramifications. And once the moral compromise is instituted, it’s just a matter of time before we’re back to budget talks on how to fund the “exploding costs” of the epidemic of the day that –surprise—came about because of the moral compromise of the last election cycle and the fiscal-only “conservatives” who presided over the process!

The difference between true Conservatives and Liberals is basically this: while we are all sinners and fall short of the Glory of God, Liberals prefer to hold up failure and the most depraved of society as examples worthy of national imitation and government sanction. Conservatives seek to uphold higher –i.e. Judeo-Christian—standards even though they themselves are prone to sin, mistakes, etc. Liberals believe that “since everybody’s doin’ it”, let’s just get “it” (i.e. the sin of choice) out in the open and have a society of anything goes. Conservatives believe that government should appeal to our highest ideals, and should always be calling us to a higher standard regardless of what “everybody’s (supposedly) doing”. It’s no mistake that both philosophies refer to the U.S. Constitution when advancing their agenda. Liberals view the Constitution as a living document that should be modified to fit the times (especially when it comes to morality). Conservatives realize that it is precisely the Judeo-Christian worldview that produced the Constitution – a unique and unquestionably successful government blueprint not heretofore realized in over 6000 years of recorded human history. America is no accident. The Founding Fathers knew that for a more perfect union, there had to be a more perfect set of governing principles higher than those that might be common to sinful man during any subsequent generations. In other words, enduring principles are not a popularity contest. That’s why our Constitution calls us to higher –Biblical-- principles beyond ourselves. Conservatives know that it’s not just coincidence that our national prosperity depends on the firm moral foundation established in the Judeo-Christian traditions. Liberals seek to remove from the public square the very philosophy and ethic that brought forth the Constitution. Instead, Liberals favor chaos and tyranny by the minority (SDCs) so that government –vice the people—can be empowered. Conservatives really could care less about what SDCs do in their spare time and in their own homes, but we draw the line when such a minority demands government (a.k.a my tax dollars) endorse, promote, and fund such nonsense, especially when such “lifestyles” endanger our family, our prosperity, and our security. We vehemently reject the notion that the answer to the challenging issues of the day is to remove all moral restraint so that sinners can feel good and comfortable about their open sin, rebellion and depravity.

The Voting Moral Majority used to look to and depend on the Republican Party to advance true Conservatism and uphold the highest of moral, Biblical, and Constitutional principles, but Republicans have lost their way because they have mistakenly equated fiscal conservatism with true Conservatism. In building their “big tent” at the expense of moral clarity, the Republican Party has polluted their membership, diluted their message, and (predictably) lost their governing power and authority. They say elephants never forget, but I’m not so sure.

In case you haven't heard,  Trent Lott,  Senator from Mississippi,  has been restored to a leadership role.  Recall that he was ousted from his former position as Senate Majority Leader for making an offhand comment at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party.   I happened to catch his latest interview this past weekend on Fox News where he basked in his return to leadership and trumpeted his ability to "make deals" and influence a working majority to "get things done".   What things?  In his own (paraphrased) words:  important things like Clean Water Act legislation,  minimum wage legislation,  and transportation pork...uh I mean legislation.  Similarly,  another "leader",  Kofi Annan,  UN Secretary General was recently in Africa to discuss the extremely important crisis of "Climate Change".  I'm sure the impoverished,  leaderless,  and desolate continent welcomed this urgent message from Kofi and his SUV entourage.  I'm sure Kofi's use of the bully pulpit to preach about climate change was encouraging to a nation devastated by famine,  AIDS, violence,  etc....Don't you get it Africa?  If we could just confiscate other people's cars and establish restrictive economic rules for other people,  all your hopelessness could be solved!  And finally,  about 3 weeks ago, American's got tired of watching true Freedom Fighters fight and decided to make a national statement to wit:  There is now nothing worth fighting or dying for.  National security is merely a state of mind,  and if we just leave "them" alone,  we can have peace (before they blew themselves up they told me so!).  Apparently,  Liberation-in-Action and Extreme-Freedom-Games negatively affected the carefree mood of Americans and totally bummed them out so that they couldn't enjoy Eating Worms with The Stars or Mismatched Socks and The Kids Who Are Forced To Wear Them. 

We are a distracted nation, and we are soon going to pay an enormous price for being so self-absorbed in these consequential times.  We have nuclear fanatics on both sides of us who watch atrocities with popcorn and soda pop.  We have seen recently that a single individual (Google on Litvinenko) can be nuked to death with a 1/4 teaspoon dose of Polonium.  Yet we --and our "leaders" -- want to talk about minimum wage,  heating costs,  transfats, and "why they hate us".  Our wakeup call came on 9/11,  and we have just recently hit the snooze button.  Lord,  I pray that we would shake ourselves from our sleep and rise to confront and defeat the evil that is boiling over around the world before we are fighting it at Starbucks and our kids are asking us why we didn't do something...besides click the remote....

OJ Simpson is once again in need of some ego stroking and attention,  so now that he is immune from further prosecution,  he is arguably starting to confess to his murders one piece at a time by authoring a new book called If I Did It  complete with talk show interviews and promotions.   It is outrageous that this man would be given a platform from which to reopen old wounds for a family still in mourning,  but what is even more outrageous is the fact that the main stream media is marketing such sensationalism as an event worthy of our viewing time and patronage.   It's hard to decide who is the most depraved here:  OJ,  the media,  or us. 

Obviously,  this was OJ's brainchild,  and the media has helped fertilize the twisted idea for profit/ratings.  But what about us?  Do we really want more details on what we already know about this travesty of justice? Are we so bored with all the other depraved "entertainment" available that we would welcome this "fresh"  idea to tickle our eyes and ears?   God forbid it.

Say NO to Simpson's TV specials and his new book,  If I Did It.  Boycott producers,  sponsors,  and promoters of this vile and disgusting spectacle.  Don't be a participant in reminding the Goldman family of their tragic loss.  Pray for OJ's earnest confession,  repentance,  and salvation (without the titillation). Pray that OJ and the media would stop this circus and not remind the Simpson children that it was their mother who was slaughtered that night.  Pray that the Goldman family would be comforted as they continue to heal and get on with their lives after all these years.  Pray that we would be strong enough to stand up and show the main stream media that we are not just primal appetites looking to be fed.  We are people with a conscience,  and we know when something is not right.  Don't watch it.  Don't read it.  Don't reward those promoting such trash.

My first blog was a little bit late.  It was meant for the local Maine papers,  but it did not get in.  I worked extremely hard to get it to the 250 word limit too!  

I've decided to bypass the papers for now,  and not be held to 250 words when I have something to say.  So what will I have to say?  Well,  having recently relocated to Maine,  I am now keenly interested in Maine state government and statewide elections such as the one wrapping up as I write. I knew Maine was a liberal state before I moved here,  and I prayed a lot about it. I had to reconcile my attraction for the profound beauty of the state and the quality of life that is achieveable here versus "the tax situation",  "the economic situation", and the abundance of secularism that pervades (and threatens the future prosperity of) the state.  A year ago,  my thought was that I could deal with almost anything as long as I could have the seasons of Maine.  However, since arriving,  the Lord has placed it on my heart that Maine is really a mission field.  Maine's tax and economic problems are merely symptoms.  Maine's greatest need is for its men,  women,  and children to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ presented unashamedly and unapologetically in bold intellectual counterpoint to the religion of secularism that grips this state.

Regardless of the election outcome,  I know this to be true:

-Maine --like many parts of America -- has lost its soul.  We have a frightening number of people who do not understand the nature of the battle we face abroad nor the nature of the battle we face at home.  We can have the strongest military and economy in the world,  and the most eloquent and "caring politicians" but if --as de Toqueville observed-- America ceases to be good,  it will cease to be great.  I would add:  it will cease to be.  We are there my friends.  Maine is there.  Personal comfort and tolerance for decadence have replaced the duties of citizenship and preserving our moral foundations. No nation has survived this kind of decay.  Maine --and America's-- hope will not be found in politicians or ballot initiatives.  Our only hope is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ invades our hearts and changes our lives from the inside out. 

I am committing my life to engaging this battle in Maine in whatever way I can as the Lord allows.  Please Pray for Maine:  That the Lord would use these election results to further His purposes.  That Maine hearts and minds would be wooed by the Holy Spirit and that lives would be changed.  And finally,  for now,  please pray for Maine that men and women across the state would be moved to stand up and share the salvation message with those dying around them.  It's not too late,  but time is growing short.

 

With Democrats championing such issues as the Terrorist Bill of Rights, No Child Left Behind in Homosexual Indoctrination, Irresponsible and Immoral Citizen’s Right to Your Pocketbook Act, Punish The Job Creators Act, The 110% Tax Cap, The Inconsequential Sex Memorial, The Separation of Babies and Life, The Deviant Behavior Proliferation Act, and The Sanctity of Atheism, it’s easy for non-discriminating Mainers to lose track of the crucial issue in our upcoming elections: National Security.

Memo to Post-1960’s Public School Products: Discrimination means “choosing”. It’s not a crime. We discriminate everyday. Regular or decaf? We must choose leaders who understand the current ideological battle: a secure, strong, and virtuous America that gives the world hope versus an Ostrich-Welfare State that selfishly refuses to confront and solve the challenges of our generation and leaves America a decadent weakling. The record is clear: Democrats promote policies inviting national destruction from within and without. Republicans promote policies that secure our nation and appeal to the highest American ideals of Family, Faith, and Freedom. It’s not about patriotism, it’s just that Democrats know so much that isn’t so, and the evidence of failed Democrat philosophy –though hotly debated—is so easily and frighteningly verifiable. Philosophies, religions, and worldviews are about results –not intentions.

On November 7^th, vote Republican. Preserve our freedom to stress about transfats, bad personal decisions, heating costs, tax policy, prescription drugs, and who’s going to care for our children while we live beyond our means. The mean spirited Taliban could care less.