Turning of the Tide?

The recent midterm election has certainly passedI have written previously (Home of the Free?
with some interesting results. The Democrats,about social rights and the welfare of citizens. I do
against the odds, took control of both houses ofnot believe it to be in the good conscious of our
congress. However, the results of many bills havenation to let moral issues dictate legislation. A
come up as a mixed bag of conservative andnation is not in any way morally bankrupt if it
liberal choices by the voters. This almostmakes decisions from a rational utilitarian
ambivalent passage of bills may also be backed upstandpoint. And for those who believe that we
by the sorts of people who were elected in thismust decide on policy based on Christian doctrine
general election. While the Democrats have wonbecause of our governments basis on those
this battle, it was the social conservatives of theirvalues, you should read the Treaty of Tripoli ( for
party that took the day. And if you're wonderinga refresher on the ideas of the Founding Fathers.
how one can be both a liberal and a socialIt is as we begin to develop our laws alongside
conservative at the same time, you may not bedogma that we lose both sight of the law and the
alone.intent of religious dogma as a personal rather than
Six states passed bills to raise the minimum wage,governmental guide.
among them Colorado. Arizona rejected a ban onWe cannot stand apart from the view that we
gay marriage while at the same time seven otherbelieve the governments of Muslim states to be
states including Virginia and Wisconsin passed suchagainst democracy because they follow religious
bans by amending the definition of marriage. Oncedictates and then propose that our own laws do
again Colorado was in this group, passing thethe same with impunity. A compass that points
marriage amendment and failing one that wouldsouth at noon and north at midnight is certainly
have given certain civil rights to gay couples.not a useful tool. In the future this must certainly
South Dakota voters rejected a ban on abortions.be considered if we wish to remain as the
And by the end of the day, any question as tokeynote speaker among nations for democracy.
the moral standing as an indicator of votesWill this midterm election make a difference? It
remains ambiguous.has set a tone for the rest of the time the Bush
The fact that various fiscally liberal bills passedadministration has left. If you side with or against
while while socially liberal bills failed does correlatethe president, there is absolutely no clear guide as
with the election results for new representatives.to how these two final years will go, even if his
I personally question the meaning of these results.party is not the current congressional
In my opinion this seems to create a picture ofheavyweight. These will be times in which the
America heading toward economically supportingpolitical battles should be watched very closely,
and possibly creating more social programs, butespecially if one wishes to ensure that political
only for certain segments of the population. Weinfighting and partisan divisions do not create a
are willing to spend more money for those peoplesystem in which our democracy becomes an
that fit the correct moral mold that we haveuntenable contradiction of programs, policies, and
created. I find that to be a dangerous position.terms.