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
