It’s that time of the year when we start to hear speeches that feed us predictable lines about the state of our nation. “The state of our nation is strong!” – said pretty much every president in my life time. Based on what though? I don’t know what they base that statement on besides the idea that this is what presidents are supposed to say to make us feel good about ourselves and our nation. Besides, no president wants to actually tell the truth about the portions of the country that aren’t in great shape – what would that do to re-election efforts or future judgements of history?
I don’t bother to listen to the State of the Union address. I haven’t since the mid-90’s when I figured out that all it really is is a prime time speech with a laundry list of legislative goodies the president wants to pass (as opposed to talking about what the actual state of the Union is), and the presentation of some tear jerking stories that act as a prop to tug at people’s hearts so that their elected representatives will feel more inclined to vote for this or that pet legislative agenda. (Thanks Pres. Reagan for starting this.)
I think a regular assessment of how we are doing is important. I just don’t appreciate a campaign speech to do it. I never have.
I hear that we have a strong economy. But I have questions. If our economy is so grand, why is there an increase in homelessness and a prediction that elderly homelessness will double by 2025 and triple from the current level by 2030? Hmm.
If our economy is so strong, then why are we not spending more money to lift people out of poverty, or at least get them to a place that they aren’t worried about survival each day with housing, or food?
If our economy is so strong, then why is the suicide rate so high?
If our economy is so strong, then why aren’t we doing something to alleviate the imprisonment of debt on students? Or at least on future students?
Why does an economy exist at all? This is the best question I can think of. Is it only for selfish purposes? That seems to counter what an economy actually is though and how it is measured.
Does an economy exist for the benefit of the society that it functions in? How is that happening in our society? Not just for those who are benefiting the most, but for everyone?
The new Finnish Prime Minister said something recently that seems fitting to this conversation. She said, “The strength of a society is measured not by the wealth of its most affluent members, but by how well its most vulnerable citizens are able to cope. The question we need to ask is whether everyone has the chance to lead a life of dignity.” (San Marin, Finnish Prime Minister)
I think Ms. Martin is right on target. I also think this way of thinking is more in line with what Jesus taught than any American politician I have heard.
What is the state of our economy? I can’t speak about the economy overall. I don’t have the research to back it up. I only have my observations and what I read from a variety of sources. Is the economy strong? Sure, for some. But I suspect that they would be doing fine regardless. Is the economy strong for all? I doubt it. Our economic system isn’t designed to benefit all.
And before you comment on economic theories, let me say this – I’m really not all that interested in a debate on the theories of what economic systems are “supposed” to do. Those who are experiencing homelessness don’t have that luxury.
But I do have to ask this – How is it that the wealthiest nation in history has a large number of people who are experiencing homelessness? How is it that the wealthiest nation in history is able to afford plenty of military weapons, but can’t afford to make sure it’s own people are housed, or fed, or have adequate health care? How is it that the wealthiest nation in history can’t afford to do things that would keep people out of poverty?
What is all that wealth for anyway? Is it an end unto itself? If so, then what’s the point anyway?
I wonder what Jesus would say about the wealthiest nation in history. I wonder if Jesus would have something to say about how that wealth should be used for the citizens of such a nation – especially the most vulnerable. I wonder.
There’s a couple of places in Scripture that quotes Jesus as saying: “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Matthew 6:24, NRSV)
I wonder if the same could be said of the economy. Can you serve God and the economy?
Laced up Lutheran 
Sorry. I was in the middle of a complex comment when my computer sharted and made a mess of it.
Now I am back, and trying to truncate the thought.
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No worries.
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I am a “never-Trumper” to be sure, but I really am deeply unenthusiastic about the Dem’s too. I consider myself conservative, and so there are many liberal agendas I just ain’t gonna roll with either.
I don’t even LOOK FOR HOPE in American politics. I think American politics, even if the least corrupt of all governments in the world, is deeply corrupt and harmful in ways humanity just cannot see, at present.
At the moment, I am feeling disgust with Ken Starr.
Starr is a member of the same church “brotherhood” (communion) as me. He is a member of the same church (denomination) as the one that got shot up a few weeks ago near Ft Worth. I went to school with some of his nephews AND he has a brother (or maybe a cousin) in leadership at the church I currently have membership in here in Lubbock.
I never met Starr myself, but I must say that EVERY SINGLE TIME I HAVE EVER HEARD ABOUT HIM IN THE NEWS, I have been ashamed of him.
I never heard of him before he prosecuted President Clinton. And while Clinton’s behavior was despicable, I found it, personally, to be non-impeachable. I did not make a fuss about my view on that, but I quietly agreed with so many other critics about the fact that these consenting adults did ugly stuff which was private in nature and did not rise to the level of criminal or incompetence. It showed deep flaws in the man’s character, but we could assign the same to King David, and heaven help Ken Starr if he wants to prosecute David!
I didn’t vote for Clinton, and I thought it was good for his bad character to go away, but “impeach”? No.
Hmmm..
but Starr thought differently. So he pushed the matter.
I always felt like even at the time that Starr’s prosecution was not really even about Clinton’s character. It was a political ploy. I couldn’t prove it, but I always felt that way about Starr, and I think that says something about his character.
Always willing to keep that view to myself, since voicing it wouldn’t change anything AND without some way to prove it would just be me smearing his character. And this is especially all the more complicated by the fact that we are in brotherhood together. Its a fight Christian brothers should not air in secular courts or even in secular media… right?
Hmmm…
But he staked his name and reputation on that prosecution over the private, sexual indescretions of the president as if they amounted to impeachable offense and character flaws too deep for the man to even lead a secular nation.
In the interim, he went on to preside over Baylor Univ as president where he fumbled allegations of rape against key football players who it sure looks like were probably guilty!
Yeah. The same man who was so staunch about the consenting adult issue when it was a Democrat president, fumbled his responsibility toward young Christian girls whose parents sent them off to a Christian university to get an education, and allowed alleged rapists to get away with actual crimes which were far worse allegations than Clinton faced.
At least Clinton had enough shame, enough scruples to deny his sin! Yes, that meant he lied, but it also meant he felt shame for it!
Now we have a SELF-PROFESSED “PUSSY”-grabber! Women lined up around the corner claiming CRIMES as well as indecency. Porn stars payed off! The man has no evidence of even a modicum of Christian character, but Ken Starr is riding in to the rescue to claim that his actions are not impeachable offenses???
Wow!
And I have reason to believe, based on the rhetoric I hear at the church/congregation I attend, that this same KIND of flip flop (that used to be a political dirty word!) is so agregiously tossed around by every wind and wave of political doctrine – the only true north available to it is partisan hackery (I had to look up “partisan hack” since it is not terminology I ever used before). And of course, this is the exact crap SOME of us Christian types complain about EVANGELICALS already, but here it is right in my own circle of friends and brothers AND on the world stage too!
YUCK!
It is so disgusting! I feel dirty just being associated with my own church!
Ugh!
Anyway, I really don’t see ANY help for this in winning the impeachment or the next election. I hate to say it, but short of Judgment Day coming in my lifetime, I think it will take a couple of centuries to cleanse this political mess the church is so deeply engaged in. And I feel sick about it.
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Wow. That’s a lot to process. I didn’t know all that background about Mr. Starr.
I’m wondering how you got to impeachment from the post. Something must have triggered that. Would you mind sharing what that was?
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Sorry, I tried to segue in my original comment. when it tanked, I just threw in the towel on that.
I figured my topic wasn’t that far from yours.
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No worries. I’m often curious what causes people to comment or what stirs them. I don’t think impeachment is far off of a topic. It’s also really complex and I haven’t commented on it because of that complexity, and with my own experience in the past having worked for a US Congressman during the last impeachment. Some things are a little too close. Having worked on the Hill during the last one, I have many thoughts about impeachment, but I fear not many would understand or be able to connect to them.
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The impeachment is not my real gripe. If I thought it might achieve something worth while, then I might care more. Fact is… whether it succeeds or fails, about half the nation will be upset with the outcome either way. In THAT situation, impeachment is not effective and probably just damaging.
Was when it happened to Clinton. Is now too.
BUT…
My frustration is more with the church. And Ken Starr is the face of THAT as far as I am concerned. FICKLE as all get out except for the blind devotion to the powerplay in the favor of Republicans (in this case – to be fair, if he were as fickle working the other way, I would be about the same upset.)
The church is in bed with this whore. Like St. John says “Pull OUT of her!”
but we don’t. and some of the very people I SHOULD BE respecting and trusting the most are screwing her for all they are worth and leading our church in this tawdry mess!
My stomach is upset.
Sorry… very busy today but upset too…
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No need to apologize. I agree that the whole situation is a mess. But it didn’t just become a mess overnight. It’s been building as a mess for a long time. And our devotion to political parties is a sin frankly. They have replaced faith in God for too many people.
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