Monday November 06, 2006 Principle-Centered Voting
Voting is a tremendous responsibility - indeed, I believe it is a moral obligation. It is important, then, to inform our votes based on conscience and principle. Archbishop Charles Chaput, current Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archidiocese of Denver, recently published an excellent article on "Seven principles to use in the public square". Among those principles is the following:
Catholic teaching has two basic principles we should use in judging every public issue: First, does this issue advance the dignity of the individual human person; and second, does this issue promote the common good? We can never choose one of these principles to the exclusion of the other. We need to follow both. A public policy can’t truly serve the common good if it violates, or allows to be violated, the sanctity of someone’s fundamental human rights, from conception to natural death.
This is wonderful advice for voters of all religious and political persuasions. ( Nov 06 2006, 10:50:05 AM PST ) Permalink
Sunday November 05, 2006 Words To Live By
"Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual - or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country." - Samuel Adams ( Nov 05 2006, 05:15:34 PM PST ) Permalink
Thursday November 02, 2006 Republicans Retain Control?
It appears widely accepted now that the Democrats will take back control of the House and possibly the Senate. Listening to pollsters and the media "talking heads", you would think that this is a fait accompli.It is difficult to argue against the notion that the Republicans are heavy underdogs at present. Do not be surprised, however, if November 8 sees the Republicans still in charge, whether they deserve to be or not, of both the House and the Senate. The GOP machine has an impressive ground game, relentlessly campaigning and turning out voters. Moreover, I suspect that the "Republican Base" will become more and more energized as the horrifying thought starts to sink in of Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House.
In either case - the Republicans retain OR lose control of one or both houses - I hope that they take this election to heart. The record of this Congress has been dismal and the stream of ethics violations and scandals is deplorable. While I do not believe that a shift in power from Rep to Dem is warranted, I do believe that substantive change is required and the American voters have the right, and indeed the responsibility, to demand it. ( Nov 02 2006, 11:35:10 AM PST ) Permalink