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