In-house discussion among Conservatives

[nebula]

I don't mean to be rude to the non-Conservatives who participate in this board. However, I want to have a discussion about this issue without it turning into another anti-Conservative vs. Conservatives argument. I wish to keep this as a discussion among Conservatives about issues that are important to us.

So please, if you are outside of the Republican-Conservative frame of reference, please refrain from responding unless you actually have something constructive to share without being a slam against us and Bush and all. If any such hijacks occur, I will ask the Mods to remove those posts.

Thank-you!

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I happened to have the radio on a Conservative Talk Radio program (how in the world did I find that? ).

The program was discussing a book called

Book: God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It <<--LINK

by Jim Wallis.

The Republican Party has taken an extremist exclusionary view of religion and used the media to make it appear as though these are the religious views of America, but it's all a sham.

(snip)

Wallis urges liberals to recognize that the human spirit has a natural desire for faith -- and that most progressive issues are an expression of religious inclusion.

(snip)

Remember that Wallis is a true believer in Jesus, but that his gospel is realized in the deeds we do and relationships we develop every day. Ritualistic vows of belief are not sufficient to indicate faith. Faith is proven in action.

The subject made an impact on me because I struggle with Conservatisms general lack of concern for environmental issues as well as tendency to not get involved with social concerns as much. (I know the issue is complicated, but still . . . .)

Likewise, the Liberals are so far off from issues of faith that most Christians can't with good concious be a part of their party.

What if the Left changed its stance on abortion and homosexual "rights" - would more registered Republicans jump to the Democratic side?

My parents told me long ago that most Christians used to side with the Democratic party because their concern for the "poor and needy" was more in line with Christian beliefs. In fact, they were registered Dems until the early 1980's.

Anyway, what are some thoughts on this?

[Guest yod]

I always considered myself to be a democrat until the (democrat) governor of Texas, Mark White, raised taxes for a supposed teacher raise and they got none of it.

That was B.C.

I hold no loyalty to a party. My allegiance is to the Lord alone so my voting decisions are based on who has the "most" righteous platform or agenda.

Politicians usually are a reflection of what their constituents want so their agenda is OUR agenda.

That is why different regions of the country have pro-gay agendas (Feinsten in San Fran) or even religious ones (in the bible belt)

But it doesn't take a nuclear physicist to see that the Democrat Party is a loose network of special interests and most of them are liberal and anti-christ.

If that changed enough I might vote for one of them. Fat chance it happens in our lifetime though....

can you say Howard Dean???

[Guest SoulyHis]

Nebula,

You wrote "because I struggle with Conservatisms general lack of concern for environmental issues as well as tendency to not get involved with social concerns as much. (I know the issue is complicated, but still . . . .)"

Where did this idea come from? Who says that conservatives don't care about the environment and social issues as much as liberals? This is a lie that is repeated by the mainstream (liberal) media. I, as a conservative, am deeply offended by this belief, as I'm sure other conservatives are.

If we as conservative Christians did not care about or get involved with socials issues than how can one explain our offerings to the church. And I'm not speaking of just monetary offerings. Christians spend quite a lot of time volunteering at food pantries, homeless shelters, pregnancy crisis centers, visiting with the elderly at nursing homes, etc.

Just because we are not out trumpeting our deeds all the time doesn't mean they aren't being done. I would rather donate my time and money to my church than to my political party.

[Guest yod]

the environmental issues are home to socialists which make conservatives shy away from any appearance of supporting "them"

But I was a litterbug until I got saved.

[Guest ang357pat]

I think that you are listening a biased radio staiton I think this the one my husband listens to and this is biased. They are always critical of democrats they do this 24/7.-ang

[serotta]

I don't know that it would cause a difference in the number of REGISTERED democrats or republicans, but I think it might change actual voting in certain elections. I think that there is a considerable number of democrats that cross over due to their religious convictions.

[Ovedya]

I wouldn't go so far as to say that generally Conservatives are not enivonmentally conscience. I would say that generally the media, along with the liberal Democrats have historically painted Conservatives this way. Most Conservatives that I have talked with are concerned for the environment. However, there should be a balance between environmental issues and the rights of industry to safely and economically produce their goods. I reject the extreme liberal notion that big industry's goal is to "rape the planet" of all natural resources in order to make big profits. Liberals have pinned the "anti-environment" label on Conservatives for many years, and I just don't think it sticks as much as they want it to.

Same thing for Conservatives being unfair to minorities. How quickly Democrats are to forget the fact that during the Civil Rights movement of the late 50s and on into the 60s the Dixiecrats were spawned from the Democratic party, and that that party consisted of extreme liberals from the south. And yet we have the first sitting President in office who has hired the most minorities to higher positions in American history.

To me it boils down to a few basic disagreements that I have with the Democratic party, and with the liberal mindset in general:

1) Tax the heck out of the wealthiest 6% of the country's population in order to pay for failing social programs for the poorest percentage of the American population. The rich don't deserve their wealth and they don't pay their fair share. Therefore we should increase their overall tax burden in order to fund various social programs for the lower income strata. This, despite the fact that the wealthiest percentage of the American population already bear over 60% of the total tax burden, and the Federal social programs have been failing the American people for at least 4 generations. the "throw money at it and maybe it will go away" does not work.

2) Liberals overall tend to be less tolerant toward Christianity in general, and favorable to other religious views, especially New Age and Eastern mysticism. This, despite the fact that the very foundational principals of our country are found in Christianity. I personally believe that moral relativism is the greater religious tenet of the liberal mindset. And I simply cannot ally myself with a party that refuses to tolerate or accept my personal religious convictions.

3) The many conflicting messages given to the general population about the sanctity of life. Liberals generally belive that it is okay for a woman to take the life of an unborn child, and for an elderly or terminally sick individual to take their own life. Yet some of these people will chain themselves to a tree to save the life of an old growth tree, or to save a white owl. If liberals truly want to help defend the defenseless, why aren't there more liberals against abortion?

[hisgrace]

Nebula,

You wrote "because I struggle with Conservatisms general lack of concern for environmental issues as well as tendency to not get involved with social concerns as much. (I know the issue is complicated, but still . . . .)"

Where did this idea come from? Who says that conservatives don't care about the environment and social issues as much as liberals? This is a lie that is repeated by the mainstream (liberal) media. I, as a conservative, am deeply offended by this belief, as I'm sure other conservatives are.

If we as conservative Christians did not care about or get involved with socials issues than how can one explain our offerings to the church. And I'm not speaking of just monetary offerings. Christians spend quite a lot of time volunteering at food pantries, homeless shelters, pregnancy crisis centers, visiting with the elderly at nursing homes, etc.

Just because we are not out trumpeting our deeds all the time doesn't mean they aren't being done. I would rather donate my time and money to my church than to my political party.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[RustyAngeL]

I think that you are listening a biased radio staiton I think this the one my husband listens to and this is biased.

[nebula]

Thanks for the responses!

Just to clarify, I and the author didn't mean individual Conservatives didn't care about the Environment and the needy. It's about Party platforms.

Ovedya - I agree that environmental protection shouldn't mean punishing industries. There does need to be a balance.

But I don't think the Rep. party is taking the consideration of the environment serious enough.

Case in point:

The Chesapeake Bay is dying, and the people being hurt the most by this are the Watermen (self-employed people who catch crabs and oysters). I'd support any campaign to restore the Bay's life.

(The link above is a news release about what I mean with the Party platform concerning this.)

Does that make more sense?