Debating and Dancing

I was just thinking about - - -

After listening to the Democratic Candidates' Debate (?) from Philadelphia, PA, one could wonder whether or not this was a forum for decisive and precise discussion of personal convictions and likely policy, or a poor imitation of Dancing With The (Wanna-Be) Stars. At the end of 90 minutes, one was left with the impression that exaggeration, taxation, and total disconnect are part and parcel of who these candidates are in actuality. The Republican Candidate was silent - which is a practice that all of the candidates might do well to emulate. Fortunately, I was listening to part of this hum-drum presentation on XM Radio and this afforded me an opportunity to scan various programs. The one most like the Debate Station was the Comedy Network.

This political year we have heard from the various candidates statements that are lies, exaggerations, and evasive. We have heard everything from A to Z in terms of Iraq, Oil, Economy, Immigration, etc. The solution for everyone is to blame George W. Bush for every ill in the country and world; to withdraw troops without regard to the consequences for a nation in transition; increase all kinds of benefits to people - legal and illegal; and - of course - raise taxes on those horrible "rich" people.

The facts that get muddied by the candidates is in terms of who is actually carrying the greatest liability in terms of taxes. A summary reveals: Top 5% pay 53.25% of all income taxes. The top 10% pay 64.89%. The top 25% pay 82.9%. The top 50% pay 96.03%. The bottom 50%? They pay 3.97% of all income taxes. The top 1% is paying more than ten times the federal income taxes than the bottom 50%! The top 1% earns 17.53 of all income. The top 5% earns 31.99. The top 10% earns 43.11%; the top 25% earns 65.23%, and the top 50% earns 86.19% of all the income. Every statistic and “fact” can be debated and spun – that’s part of the overall quagmire in debate. No one is willing to stand up and indicate – “We have seen the enemy – and – the enemy is us. The same politicians who ask us to vote them into office to repair these problems are among the same ones who helped cause these problems. That’s tantamount to being asked to elect the fox to guard the hen-house from inside the hen-house.

The Bible states in I Timothy 2:1-3, “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings (Presidents) and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior…” I can’t help but wonder if we have not arrived at a point where we should not just PRAY FOR those in positions of authority, but to also ask Almighty God to PREVENT THEM FROM PREYING UPON the citizenry of our nation. In the midst of the candidates BRAYING, we need to be PRAYING!

You think about this with me - - -