"I swear Jesus was a liberal"

[mrdreamjeans]

I'm in Arlington, Virginia staying with my long time friends Henry and Geoff. If you're in the area, not only is Henry my friend, he's my dentist and a good one! We're having a low-key morning and I'm reading a new Molly Ivins book, "Who Let the Dogs In?...Incredible Political Animals I Have Known". I've just started it, but the following paragraph hit home with me.....

"Everybody knows God is nonpartisan, but I swear Jesus was a liberal - the best, the biggest, the original bleeding heart - the one who embraced the outcasts, the model for us all. Just read the stuff in the New Testament written in red. Don't try to convince me that Christianity is right-wing. As for the economic conservatives, who are driving this entire insane detour away from liberty and justice for all, well, as Wright Patman (a Texas congressman) once observed, 'The rich and powerful in our country are very greedy. This has many times been demonstrated. It is natural that they should seek ever more power and wealth, but where there is greed, there is no vision. And, as the good book says, where there is no vision, the people perish'."

And one other paragraph from Molly to ponder in this election year:

"Because I have been writing about politics for forty years, I know where the cynicism comes from, and I would not presume to tell you it is misplaced. The system is so screwed up, if you think it's not worth participating in, then give yourself credit for being alert. But not for being smart. How smart is it to throw away power? How smart is it to throw away the most magnificent political legacy any people has ever received? This is our birthright; we are the heirs; we get it just for being born here."..."Don't throw that legacy away out of cynicism or boredom or inanition."

My two cents: No matter whether you agree with Molly Ivins' politics and philosophies or mine, it is really important to vote. We can't bitch if we don't like what is happening, unless we make the effort to create change ourselves. Unlike the folks in 99% of other countries, we have a say in what happens to us. It is our precious right in the United States of America to have a voice through our vote. Don't cede your power to others; I fear we, as a jaded citizenry, are perilously close to doing so.

Comments

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear, Neil.

I totally concure on this one. I'm a votin' in the general election to try and make another vote for Kerry, perfect or not, he's way better than ol' Shrub.

Is there a secondary way to keep in touch with you when you do not have access to LJ or the net. I'd like to be kept abreast of schedule changes and if you do come to Seattle with Evita or not. Otherwise, a road trip to Spokane may be in the works.

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

I enjoy Molly Ivins for humorous content, but dislike her underlying message, which supports one group of greedy politicians (Democrats)against another group of greedy authoritarian politicians (Republicans). She, like most partisan writers, pays no attention to the defects of her "team" and so must be seen as part of the problem.

As for Jesus, I don't recall him taking money from the Roman state to hire a fleet of bureaucrats to distribute the loaves and fishes, meanwhile calling on his flock to vote in Roman politicians who would raise taxes so he could hire more staff, which would make him a true Liberal (in the sense that we use the word in this country.) Starting up a Ministry of Love makes a mockery of both "ministry" and "love."

Voting: our system is rigged in favor of the two power parties. Both of them manipulate the minds of their constituencies in ugly ways, sacrificing the freedom of others to buy votes through appeals to fear and greed. If you vote for them mindlessly, you only encourage them and lend legitimacy to a corrupted system. Not voting is honorable if you are happy with this state of affairs or don't feel you have anyone to vote for whose views you can support. It's harder work to find those mainstream pols who represent improving tendencies in the major parties (Schwarzenegger, for example, can be seen as an "improved" Republican worthy of support), or to explore the minor party candidates, but a vote for them is not wasted. And in the long run the people need to demand change in the system to intriduce proportional representation, instant runoff voting, an end to geryymandering, etc. etc.

[nlotic.livejournal.com]

"The rich and powerful in our country are very greedy...."

Interesting. I just watched The Hunchback of Notre Dame with the kids yesterday. The "Rightous" vs the outcasts. I was holding back the tears during "God Help the Outcasts". Very touching movie...but the gargoyles gotta go.

Move this weekend...this week, register to vote!

[abearius.livejournal.com]

Why is raising taxes always bad?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Good points, Curtis. However, I think that it is important to study all of the candidates, even the minor parties, and if you find a candidate that mostly supports how you feel about a myriad of issues, to vote. I know an awful lot of people who bitch constantly, but are never part of the solution. I might listen to them if they voted and weren't seeing results from the candidate who they supported.

As to the Molly Ivins book I am currently reading, it is a series of essays from the mid-80s through to the present. It includes everyone from Reagan, to Bill and Hillary Clinton, the Bushes and Al Gore...15 targets in all. She does write with humor, and being from Texas as she is, I know the arguments she makes can make a lot of sense. She punctures conceits, no matter the party affiliation. She didn't always have Shrub as a main target:) Thanks for your comments.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I've often asked the same question. Too many folks want their taxes cut and yet are angry if the services they expect are cut because of it. There is also a large group of angry folks who don't want their services cut, but it's ok if the government does it to other people. I don't get that either. I actually don't mind paying taxes if I'm getting the quality in the services I expect and hope for. Thanks for commenting Jeff!

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

I didn't say raising taxes is always bad -- I said raising taxes for the purposes of hiring more people whose primary role is shuffling paper and voting for you is bad. Taxes are a necessary component of a free society -- the question is whether the money is put to use effectively. When the balance between public and private sectors tips so that the public sector employees (and those corporate welfare bums, to be even-handed about it) can sway elections, the positive feedback loop which strangles the private sector takes over, and it's very hard to get back to balance. One component of freedom is the freedom to choose what to do with the fruits of your labor, and if it is to be sacrificed it had better be for real services to real people.