A Question
Serious question: How is Barack Obama's position on same-sex marriage different from Dick Cheney's position? Both support legalization of same-sex marriage. Both view it as an issue each state needs to decide, not a federal issue. I see no difference.
EDIT: I've heard the argument that it was bolder for Obama to say something because he's President and that Cheney said nothing as Vice President. That is false. First, Cheney did say he supported same-sex marriage on the state-by-state level while Vice President. Here's an excerpt from an article in August 2004 from Associated Baptist Press:
During a morning campaign stop in Davenport, Iowa, Cheney indicated that he was maintaining the same position on legalizing same-sex marriage that he espoused during the 2000 presidential campaign -- that the decision should be left up to individual states. He also publicly acknowledged, reportedly for the first time, that his daughter, Mary, who works in his campaign, is a lesbian.
When an audience member asked him what he personally believes about gay marriage, according to a White House transcript of the event, Cheney responded: "Lynne and I have a gay daughter, so it's an issue that our family is very familiar with…. With respect to the question of relationships, my general view is that freedom means freedom for everyone. People ought to be … free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to."
Second, for a Republican Vice President with a President who supports a Federal Marriage Amendment to come out on this issue is a gutsier move than Obama saying, "It's a state issue..." among a party more supportive of the issue. So, I ask again - what's the difference in their stance on the issue? None.
Who Said This?
What Christian missionary said the following:
“We never try to convert those who receive [aid from our mission] to Christianity but in our work we bear witness to the love of God’s presence and if Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, or agnostics become for this better men — simply better — we will be satisfied. It matters to the individual what church he belongs to. If that individual thinks and believes that this is the only way to God for her or him, this is the way God comes into their life — his life. If he does not know any other way and if he has no doubt so that he does not need to search then this is his way to salvation.”
Give up? It was Mother Teresa. She wrote it in her book, "Life in the Spirit: Reflections, Meditations and Prayers." Quotes like that make you wonder. In John 14:6 it reads:
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
If a Christian, especially a Christian missionary says otherwise - they are wrong. Mother Teresa in this quote states a form of Universalism that is prevalent in American culture today. All faiths are equal, all faiths bring us closer to the Lord. If you believe truthfully in your faith you will realize this sentiment is false.
Few faiths at their core actually teach that type of universalistic salvation. They teach their individual truth. Christianity is no different - it teaches that through Christ alone is our salvation obtained. A missionary like Mother Teresa should have known better.
Now, I do not pretend to know if in her heart of hearts she believed in true universalism or other false doctrines, but that specific quote is troubling. What's the point of mission work if not to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the corners of the Earth? If you are telling these people they don't need Christ, but can focus instead on their household gods as a way to get "close to God," you are teaching false doctrine. This may be controversial and this may offend some, but it needs to be said. If a Christian leader says something false, it needs to be pointed out. This is an untruth in the Christian faith.
Perhaps this is an isolated comment. Perhaps this book was ghostwritten. But if this was in her heart of hearts, Christ was not the center of her mission work - people were.
EDIT: 1:18 PM EST - Some of my Catholic friends on Twitter sprung to the defense of Mother Teresa stating that in the context of her life she was getting at something different - that the Lord will use anything and everything to find us right where we are. I agree with that sentiment, but as I told them - I do not see that sentiment in the aforementioned quote. Maybe I'm missing something and if so, I apologize for taking something out of a larger context. My Catholic friends would probably understand her in context better than I as they are of her church.
That said, I stand by my opposition to universalism. And, as I stated up there, I can not pretend to know the true heart of Mother Teresa, I can only know what she said. This is how I interpreted her statement. If you have other interpretations, feel free to add them to the comments section.
On School Boards
My friends on the right in Maryland like to lament about the lack of local accountability for many of the school boards in Maryland. In Baltimore County specifically, our school board is appointed - by the Governor, in its entirety. This is unacceptable - as there really is no local accountability. That said, I do not support a fully elected school board. Why? I lived through them.
I grew up in upstate New York. In our area, local school boards are a) hyper local and b) directly elected in non-partisan races. What this led to in the past were a few issues. First, a number of locals who happened to be well known with little to no qualifications or ability get elected. These people in New York have the power to levy school taxes and completely define the local school budget. They also have the power to appoint school administrators. This led to some awful budgets, poor execution, and people elected who focused on raising the budget in their pet areas (ex. very specific school sports programs)
The second problem can be summed up in two words: teacher's unions. In some cases, I have seen teacher's unions pushing puppet candidates just to help themselves. I've seen spouses of teachers, including in one local election a former teacher who was fired having her husband run for school board. He lost, thankfully, but barely. Teacher's unions will become active in these types of elections and will push their own puppet candidates. The question is will local resident's recognize a puppet versus a serious contender for the post.
Thirdly, politics are driven into the school board. Whether intentional or not, making school board members elected by definition will make the board more political. Candidates will have a platform, plan for what they want to do - will be accountable to the voters. This is a good thing, but also a double edged sword. A focus on reelection by school board members may lead to them making decisions politically based on what will give them more votes as opposed to what is in the best interest of the entire school board.
On the other hand, being elected means they are beholden to the people and will be more focused on local needs. This is good. This is why I support the proposal for a partially elected school board as discussed during the legislative session. A number of members beholden to the people and a number of members appointed based on qualifications picked by the Governor or local government (the latter I would prefer).
Retro Old Line Elephant: In Defense of Term Limits
Originally posted February 10, 2010 - I still support term limits, although this specific legislation is a little outdated
In 2010, Delegate James King (R) proposed HB660, which would bring up to a vote a Constitutional amendment to implement 2 term limits for the General Assembly, Comptroller, Attorney General, and Governor. Over at Red Maryland, Brian Griffiths made some valid arguments about term limits, but I respectfully disagree.
The central point to Mr. Griffiths; argument is that Maryland will become like California, where deficits are out of control because the only memory left in the system is that maintained by unelected political insiders. While partially true - it fails to note a few key elements of the term limit proposal. First, the assumption is that Maryland will automatically fall into the trap that California has fallen into - he fails to note the number of other States which are doing just fine with term limits. Only 30% of States have legislative term limits, yet in 2010, 4 of the lowest unemployment rates in the US are from States with legislative term limits. The number one and number four lowest State budget deficit as a percentage of their general fund...have legislative term limits.
Second, the system does not work well as is. We have the same people in office for decades voting the same way in a rarely changing legislature. With term limits it allows people the freedom to enter into office with their own individual agenda to hope to accomplish, and not be as beholden to the party establishment. People will be able vote based on their conscience and not merely based on party whipping. The concept of citizen legislators is something to which we should all strive. Politics should not be a career path - politics can not be the only thing that defines ones life. But, I've discussed this before, so I digress.
Third, I agree with Griffiths on his other proposed reforms. Single member legislative districts and independent redistricting are great ideas. I feel that a combination of reforms are necessary to fix our legislature and our government. Term limits will minimize permanent politicians; single member districts would make each legislator more directly accountable; and independent redistricting will prevent the Democratic establishment from removing all the Republican leaning districts.
Now, to deal with the undue influence of lobbyists? I propose that we require State legislators to publicly declare any relative, former staff member, or personal connection who is a declared lobbyist on any level of government. By publicly declare, I mean that they should list those connections on the official webspace provided them by the State of Maryland. Also, we should require that State legislators and their staff are required to wait at a minimum of 24 months following the end of their service to the State to become a State or federal lobbyist. These are just two proposals, but I am sure there are other common sense, Constitutionally sound reforms we can come up with reasonable limits and open information.
Preventing undue influence by "professional staffers" I think is less of an issue than Mr. Griffiths seems to appear. Historic Congressional data suggests that the average staff person serves in office for approximately 5 to 6 years, compared to the average term of a Congressman of 10 years. I've never worked in a legislative office, so I can not discuss with confidence on the culture. All I know is that if I were a newly elected legislator that I would only want minimal carryovers and staff that was dedicated to assistance with legislative research. With term limits, aides would be focused less on those activities that many legislators do to bolster reelection bids (the press releases, mass mailings, etc) and more on the job of helping the legislator...legislate.
Now, this is not the perfect proposal, I think bringing this idea forward is the right idea. I would be more supportive of 3 terms for State Legislatures to allow for more memory in the Legislature, but even openly discussing the possibility is a step in the right direction. Openly debating the pros and cons of term limits is good and healthy.
Maryland Blogs / Sites
- Augie "Citizen Watchdog"
- Baltimore County GOP
- Inside Charm City
- Maryland Business for Responsive Government
- Maryland Public Policy Institute
- Maryland Reporter
- Maryland Society of Patriots
- MD Conservative Action Network
- monoblogue
- Potomac Tea Party Report
- PVRC Blog
- Red Maryland
- Right Coast Conservative
National Blogs / Sites
- 2012 Candidates on Twitter
- Anthropocon
- Bearing Drift
- Moe Lane
- Musings – It's Zarf-tastic!
- Oddly Said
- Other McCain
- Pithy Title Goes Here
- Race42012
- Ramblings…
- RedState
- RightKlik
- Ruby Slippers
- Secular ProLife
- Sundries Shack
- The Quinton Report
- TORARADICALcom
Religious Blogs / Sites
- Catholic Coffee Talk
- Challies.com
- Coleen York
- Ed Stetzer
- Edgemere Baptist Church
- Just1Word
- SBC Voices
- Star Wars & Spirituality
- Tally Wilgis
- The 140 Bible
- The Girl On The Road To Self Discovery
- Thom Rainer
- TroyStouffer.com
