A Voter's Lamentation

 

Pr 16:27 An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire.

 

 

As I was reading this Proverb, I couldn’t help but think of the state of American politics. Whether a man or woman is being considered for the Supreme Court, or a man or woman seeks an office in Congress, or the presidency, the opposing side tries to unearth every skeleton in every closet. An all out effort is launched to find dirt in that office seekers past in hopes that their past mistakes will disqualify them in the eyes of the voters.

 

Don’t get me wrong, character discretion is a good thing when selecting candidates, but it can go too far. Some of our confirmation hearings in recent history have gone too far in attempts to smear prospective appointees and candidates.

 

Let’s face it, something has gone sour in our election process in the land of the free and  the home of the brave. We have this two party system where the strategy boils down to each party pandering to fear. The Republicans paint fearful pictures of what a country would look like if run by Democrats, and Democrats paint a fearful picture of what the country would look like if the Republicans win.

 

And both parties are fearful that they will not be the ones in control. These fears produce an ungodly tension in the land and we have seen where that leads this past summer and earlier this month.

 

The uncomfortable truth in our system of government is neither democrats or republicans are calling the shots….. the lobbyists and their wheelbarrows full of money is what’s greasing the wheel (democrat or republican) You can vote the official out of office, but the lobbyist will be waiting for his replacement (democrat or republican) with more money to throw at what they deem as favorable legislation.

 

Let’s call this system what it is……bribery. And the Bible has much to say about bribes.

 

Ex 23:8 "And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.

 

Ec 7:7 Surely oppression destroys a wise man's reason, And a bribe debases the heart.

Pr 17:23 A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice.

De 27:25 'Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!

 

'That last one should shake a few who are on the Planned Parenthood dole!

 

What if we had men or women running for office who refused to take a dime from special interest groups? What if they told us what they stood for on the campaign trail and we can take it or leave it! What if we had men or women in office who could not be bought? It’s a pipe dream of mine I know.

 

Sadly it is the size of the campaign coffers that seem to determine the outcome of an election. They use their money to buy ads that create the most fear against their opponent and the average voter falls for it hook, line, and sinker, and the vicious cycle continues.

 

God help us! Give us legislators of integrity. Am I dreaming, or is it possible to give us legislators who will vote their true values rather than the value of what could be placed in their wallet.