Political Thoughts
There has been much made of the "social, cultural, and religious issues" that have invaded the recent political discussion in the Republican Primary Season.
Availabilty of contraception through insurance versus religious freedom as practiced by some is only one of several issues being discussed. There has always been a tension between national laws and individual freedom. There are religious organizations that are being asked to pay for something that they don't agree with. Is this deal killer for religious liberty as we know it? I doubt it. It's an issue but even within any organization or institution there is hardly ever unanimity on an issue. This what compromise and tolerance is all about. The idea that the use of contraception is preferavle to unwanted pregnancy and abortion is hardly unique and the fact that most people use contraception most of the time is not contraversial. Men calling women sluts by implication if they want insurance coverage for contraception makes no sense.
There are also fairness issues related to immigration in Miami where a high school valedictorian is threatened with deportation because her parents over stayed a visa and never really complied with US immigration laws. The girl is a great student, somebody who under just about any other circumstances would have been welcome here. There is a group that operates under the acronim FAIR that is against almost any kind of immigration reform that encourages people from other countries to come here. The DREAM Act is another non starter and there are people that would be happy to review citizenship for people born here. This is a different place. We are all better off since we have made the tent bigger. Situations where good people are criminalized for no good reason and are made to work in the shadows, drive without a license and threatened with deportation without a good reason again makes no sense to me.
To many there are religious, cultural, and social issues involved with the economy as well. The "occupy movement" could be thought of in social, cultural, and religious terms. Speaking economically, why should equality of opportunity require heroic measures by some, while others have a much easier time of it because of wealth or position.
I have no doubt that people in a good place want to keep that place protected.
It is a corrosive and contradictory to have people elected to represent everyone and have them use their position to serve their donors first with subsidies and then say with conviction that everything government does is part of the problem, that wars can be fought without taxes or shared sacrifice and ignore issues in health care that could bankrupt either individually or collectively without reform.
We spend too much on many aspects healthcare and defense and then wonder why other issues are ignored or red herrings are served up in their place.
A sports analogy is in order. The current bounty hunter investigation in pro football. People cheer the biggest hits but are sadly quiet as our gladiators are destroyed in the process. It's a gamble, that's for sure.
Availabilty of contraception through insurance versus religious freedom as practiced by some is only one of several issues being discussed. There has always been a tension between national laws and individual freedom. There are religious organizations that are being asked to pay for something that they don't agree with. Is this deal killer for religious liberty as we know it? I doubt it. It's an issue but even within any organization or institution there is hardly ever unanimity on an issue. This what compromise and tolerance is all about. The idea that the use of contraception is preferavle to unwanted pregnancy and abortion is hardly unique and the fact that most people use contraception most of the time is not contraversial. Men calling women sluts by implication if they want insurance coverage for contraception makes no sense.
There are also fairness issues related to immigration in Miami where a high school valedictorian is threatened with deportation because her parents over stayed a visa and never really complied with US immigration laws. The girl is a great student, somebody who under just about any other circumstances would have been welcome here. There is a group that operates under the acronim FAIR that is against almost any kind of immigration reform that encourages people from other countries to come here. The DREAM Act is another non starter and there are people that would be happy to review citizenship for people born here. This is a different place. We are all better off since we have made the tent bigger. Situations where good people are criminalized for no good reason and are made to work in the shadows, drive without a license and threatened with deportation without a good reason again makes no sense to me.
To many there are religious, cultural, and social issues involved with the economy as well. The "occupy movement" could be thought of in social, cultural, and religious terms. Speaking economically, why should equality of opportunity require heroic measures by some, while others have a much easier time of it because of wealth or position.
I have no doubt that people in a good place want to keep that place protected.
It is a corrosive and contradictory to have people elected to represent everyone and have them use their position to serve their donors first with subsidies and then say with conviction that everything government does is part of the problem, that wars can be fought without taxes or shared sacrifice and ignore issues in health care that could bankrupt either individually or collectively without reform.
We spend too much on many aspects healthcare and defense and then wonder why other issues are ignored or red herrings are served up in their place.
A sports analogy is in order. The current bounty hunter investigation in pro football. People cheer the biggest hits but are sadly quiet as our gladiators are destroyed in the process. It's a gamble, that's for sure.
It isn't about freedom. Condoms and pills can be purchased cheaply at any CVS. This is about big pharma benefiting. We are talking about mandated expensive premium drugs not generics. Feel free to buy whatever care your sexual needs require. Don't cocerce others into providing it for you. As to the idea that you should compromise a moral standard because this is tolerance means you don't really have a moral standard.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should tax church property and businesses.
ReplyDeleteThis is a loophole few consider.
The concept of tolerance might also require respect for the worth and dignity of all people. The concept of due process should also apply.
Poverty has funky way of restricting people feeling free.
Thanks for your comments. I have missed your postings on FB.
The real question is whether a state-sanctioned moral orthodoxy should govern every facet of life or whether there are issues which are best left to individual cultures or communities to settle among themselves according to whatever idiosyncratic rules they devise.
ReplyDelete