Christians Need to Represent Jesus --Vote for Party That Will Change the Indifference

Christians need to think about issues that matter, not the distractions that certain politicians and their party serve up so easily, when , in truth, they have been indifferent to so many human needs over the past eight years. Issues like Peace. Security. Racial equity. Economic well-being. Adequate nutrition and health care. A healthy environment. Human dignity. These are basic needs of every human being and of the earth. How can our electoral decisions ensure that these fundamentals are met?

The Gospel of Jesus Christ contains examples and commands to help the poor and the needy, as well as to treat others with respect and compassion. Luke 10:27 proclaims: “And love your neighbor as yourself.” For Christians, the life and teachings of Jesus are at the core of moral living. In an era of great change and challenge we are called to bring the Gospel message into our relationships with all people and all creation. Voting American Christians need to vote with social justice issues in mind.

The Republicans do not deserve to stay in charge of the White House. Think of the travesties of the last eight years, of which McCain supported and the Republican Party was in charge. The country is in the ditch and they have been driving the bus. It is time to fire the drivers.

The list of reasons for change is a long one. Think of the high cost of the unnecessary war in Iraq, in lives and money; of the torture and Guantanamo injustices; of the Wall Street mess; of Enron; of the botched response to Katrina; of increased unemployment and increased poverty; of runaway health care costs and 47 million uninsured: of poor governance and all the lies and spin and lies again; of the imperial presidency of Cheney-Bush; of the secretiveness of government; -- I could go on and on, but you get the picture. They do not deserve to be re-elected to power.

There are millions of Americans who have great needs that our society can and should help them with, since this is still the world's richest nation, well able to help the “least of these" in our midst. (Matthew 25). We still have 47 million Americans without health insurance – a travesty in a country as rich as ours. Our education system needs more financing and less unfunded mandates (as Bush did).

We have a rising number of unemployed folks, and jobs still are moving across our borders and corporations seek to find cheap, un-benefited workers (where is the ethics in that?) Global warning continues to be a problem after the Republicans denied it was happening for mush of the last eight years. Poverty is still a big problem, especially among minorities.

Plus, our American global footprint continues to squash others. Our arrogant foreign and corporate policies have ruined our reputation. I have missionary friends abroad who witness daily the global impact of U.S. political and economic decisions encourage voters in the 2008 elections to scrutinize candidates’ policy proposals through the lens of those who, both in the United States and overseas, lack basic necessities, endure the scourge of racism, live with gender-based discrimination or feel the immediate impact of climate change.

The growing influence of mega-corporations on political processes encourages economic decision-making that focuses on wealth and prosperity while forgetting more vulnerable people in the U.S. and abroad. Many of these decisions profit larger businesses at the expense of smaller ones and encourage unsustainable levels of consumption. Our government must enforce a separation of large corporations and state, strengthen and enforce anti-trust laws and promote enforceable mechanisms for corporate accountability.

The knee jerk reactions to immigration, led by demagogues like CNN blabbermouth Lou Dobbs, must be overcome with common sense and compassion. The Congress must implement just and compassionate national immigration policies that counter punitive and isola¬tionist tendencies, that recognize the importance of global solidarity in an intensely polarized world and that respect the inherent dignity and human rights of all migrants and asylum seekers, documented and undocumented alike. We must end the use of workplace raids, and stop the practice of deporting parents of under-age U.S.-born children. We must give urgent attention to the root causes of in¬voluntary migration, especially war and economic injustice. Building a giant wall along the border is a total waste of time and money.

A check of the policies and plans of the two major Presidential candidates gives a stark contrast. The compassionate Christian candidates are Senator Barack Obama and Senator Joe Bide, Visit the Matthew25 Network for more documentation of this fact, or view their policies of compassionate change at www.barackobama.com.

Please, please, please, vote in this election and convince your family and friends to vote for Obama-Biden. The Republicans, by hook and crook will make it very close. Every single vote is crucial! The future of our children and grandchildren depends upon it.