Just a thought!
Why is their so much media and educratic ridicule applied to single issue voters? They are considered simplistic, narrow, ignorant, etc. But this accusation is only applied to those whose issues morally describe and apply ethical boundaries to the social arena. If the issues are health care or civil rights, terrorism or regulation, then it is considered legitimate. But if the issue is abortion or traditional family values, then prepare for the barrage.
Politics and the secular humanistic application of this word today are morphing even as we speak. A satirical definition of politics is very close to the truth, it is defined as “strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.” I rather appreciate the original use and spirit of the word defined by Webster in the 1928 version of his dictionary.
The science of government; that part of ethics which consists in the regulation and government of a nation or state, for the preservation of its safety, peace and prosperity; comprehending the defense of its existence and rights against foreign control or conquest, the augmentation of its strength and resources, and the protection of its citizens in their rights, with the preservation and improvement of their morals. Politics, as a science or an art, is a subject of vast extent and importance.
The original purpose and responsibility of our politics should be the preservation and improvement of a nations morals. Unfortunately, the relative and contemporary morals being foisted upon the unsuspecting and embraced by the arrogant and self-serving are defined by their deductions of evolutionary ideas rather than on the ancient truths that provided them with such benefits and opportunities. These ideas can be boiled down to the survival of the fittest. Therefore, the one with the biggest weapon, the largest mouth, or the highest poll numbers decides what is right or wrong, what is acceptable or unacceptable, what is moral or immoral.
This produces a startling and unfortunate reality. As Voltaire stated:
“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”
Following on the heels of Darwin’s Origin of Species (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871), Friedrich Nietzsche proclaimed that God was dead. Therefore if you kill God, then you can kill ethics, and this will eventually result in killing man!
So! The single most important issue to determine whether someone should be extended greater authority and influence would be their stance on life. If they are for life, all life, a culture of life, then, I would not be so concerned with giving them authority over mine or my family’s lives. If an individual can justify killing someone for their own personal reasons like an unexpected or untimely pregnancy, an elderly or disabled person’s abilitiy to rise to the acceptable quality of life, or their defined burden on their family or the medical provision of the state, then I definitely do not want them to be making choices about my life. Their thinking is akin to the mindset of Nazi Germany and their views are an illustration that while abortion and euthanasia are promoted as a right to choose, they pretty rapidly become an obligation to die.
Yes! This is a single issue worth establishing a litmus test with.
“I have set before you life and death, choose life!” Deuteronomy 30:19
jc
I completely agree with those moral issues being so important, but in the time that we live a simple statement with no actions to back them up can get you the votes of a whole region. That’s what I feel like I’m seeing from the candidates before us. I tend to look at not only the issues or an issue but the character that this person presents to us in running their campaign. For example what are they saying about the other guy, are there low blows or personal attacks, is this person trying to scare us into voting for them? Looking at a candidates behavior, to me, speaks volumes about what they really stand for. I think abortion is horrible, but I think lying is horrible too. Unfortunately some people say what ever they need to in order to secure a vote.