Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Letter to My Congresswoman

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

I sent the following letter to my Congresswoman today.  It sums up rather well (which I think shows God guided my sometimes scattered thinking) what I'd wish to say to every adherent of the "conservative Republican" ideology.

Quite obviously, many who follow that ideology do so because their intent in it is deception.  (It's unclear if their demi-god founder had that intent.  To give him the benefit of the doubt, I tend to think he was just ideologically shallow: which is what makes his doctrines so broadly popular, contrary their true merit.)

But I sincerely believe my Congresswoman is basically an honest person, with an honest desire to do good for her constituents.  So I'm hopeful something in my letter will persuade her to re-think ("repent") the harmful ideology she follows.
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Dear Congresswoman Jenkins:

                I was glad to be invited to your phone conference yesterday.  I was in the queue to ask you a question when the hour expired

                As a legislator, you had to field a variety of questions and concerns, in specific details and as policies.  What enables you to do so, and what comes across strongly to listeners, is the philosophy of governance you bring to your job.  My question was about that philosophy.

                You, and other members of your political faction, frequently cite the famous dictum from Reagans’ first inaugural: “…government is the problem.”   And certainly your faction is proud to promote itself as Reagan’s heirs.

It’s quite an illogical philosophy of government for those whose job is governing.  Indeed, it’s the basic principle of anarchy, the anti-government philosophy.  I’d urge you to re-think your faction’s embrace of that belief.

                That belief manifested itself in Reagan’s core policy, “de-regulation.”  This is likewise the core policy of your faction’s governing: as you said in yesterdays’ telephone conference, to “reverse job-killing regulation.”

                Please re-think the philosophy of governing, and the governing policy, your faction derives from its founder.  They are bad principles, rejecting God’s mandate to human rulers in the first verses of Romans 13.

                As part of a human government, that scripture says your job is to be “a minister of God [to people] for good.”  Doing good towards citizens is also the commonsense principle, and the traditional American principle, of government’s job.  It’s amazing your faction has always been so equivocal about government doing good for citizens; and has often denigrated that principle as “socialism.”

                Scripture also says your job is to be a “…minister of God” by “bring[ing] wrath on the one who practices evil.”  Please re-think if that doesn't mandate regulation of corrupt practices in the financial system, for example; or regulating pollution that harms America’s land, water, air…and people ?  Your faction’s opposition to “job-killing regulation” is the worst kind of political cant, devoid of honest thought.  Please give it your honest thought.

                My personal sense is that you’re a decent person, and in politics from a sincere desire to do good for your constituents.  I truly believe your heart and your intent are vastly better, and more honest, than the philosophy of your faction.

                That’s why I’d ask you to re-think that philosophy, and your legislative practice of it.

Respectfully,  Steve Hicks

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

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