Program Success September 2008 | Page 14

ARE YOU A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN? By Reverend Anthony M. Graham AMG Ministries Palm Coast, Florida www.amgministries.org 14 The Christian Reader September 2008 W ithin the political sector of our country, two dominant parties seem to control every elected office on a national, state, and local level – Democrats and Republicans. Researchers determine that Democratic voters are predominately lower to middle income families, young people with liberal views, minorities, and women. They list Republican voters as predominately middle to upper income families, older people with conservative views, religious people, and white men. Particularly during election time, it is amazing to see how Christian voters on both sides try to demonize the other party. I have heard statements like, “How could you be a Christian and vote Democratic?” and “How could you vote for Republicans who do not care about minorities or the poor?” Both questions are valid, but the ultimate question comes down to this; as a Christian, should I be proud to be a Democrat or a Republican? Let us take a deep look into both parties. The Republican Party seems to be the party of the Businessman. When you listen to conservative radio personalities like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, you get a sense that the Republican Party has a ‘pull yourself up by your own bootstraps’ viewpoint. They lecture that anyone who applies himself or herself will live the American dream. Unfortunately, the party of the elephant has a history of cutting social programs that were created to help those who are less fortunate. These programs were set in place to help people who fall on hard times and may need a hand up. There is a hidden, underling attitude that seems to come out of the Republican camp which states, “The government should not take my tax dollars from me to give it away to people who do not want to work.” If you really listen closely, you will hear this treacherous rhetoric that is utterly despicable. As Christians, we should know that one of the main priorities of Jesus was to help and feed those who were in need. In Matthew Chapter 6, the disciples seem to portray this hidden philosophy of the Republican Party; “Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus responses with the correct attitude that we as Christians should embrace; “You feed them.” We must have compassion on those that are in need. Of course, there are going to be some lazy people who are going to try to abuse the system. These individuals should be caught and punished, but those who are really in need should not have to pay for the sins of others. We should have no problem with the Republican view of less government and less taxes, but we should be against the cutting of necessary social and economic programs for people in need to make up the difference. The cutting of vital programs to pay for tax breaks is immoral and appalling and CHRISTIAN REPUBLICANS should stand up and denounce this practice! Christians who are Republicans need to cry out to God to forgive the sins of their party! The socalled Evangelical, Compassionate, Conservative Party needs to stand up and really exemplify the true character of Jesus…Care About and Feed the Poor! Do not just push them aside and walk over them. If you want to be a proud Christian Republican, you need to pray that the evil practices of the party be changed! Before Christian Democrats shout “Amen” and “Hallelujah”, let us inspect and analyze the party with the donkey logo. The Democratic Party seems to be the party of the Workingman. When you listen to progressive radio personalities like Ed Schultz and Stephanie Miller, you get a sense that the Democratic Party favors social action programs that help the poor and middle class. Unfortunately, the party of the donkey, that is always willing to speak up for the poor and others who are in need, has a history of embracing immoral and appalling practices also. There is a minor and a major offense that Democrats indulge in that needs to be corrected. The minor offense is the deliberate use of misleading information or halftruths. The famous half-truth that they use during election time is the old “Republicans only care about tax breaks for the rich”. Democrats use this scare tactic to cause a class war between rich and lower to middle-income people just to obtain votes. This half-truth needs to be exposed. Let us be real and extremely frank…rich people do not pay the same percentage of taxes like lower or middle-income people. Rich people operate under this principle; “control everything and own nothing.” Rich people hire high-powered CPAs who will use any and every tax loophole to benefit their wealthy clients. By the time they write off their car, their Rolex watch, the maid, the driver, their children, the cat, and the dog, they pay a small percentage of their yearly earnings in taxes. Lower and middle-income people earn money, pay taxes, and spend what is left. Rich people earn money, spend money, and pay taxes on the balance. Rich people put everything they can under their corporation to avoid paying personal taxes. The leaders of the Democratic Party try to paint a picture that only Republicans are benefiting from this tax system, but if you look closely, you will notice that they benefit from the tax loopholes also. Christian Democrats need to pray for their leaders to share the whole truth. Democratic leaders should not just create programs to give people a hand up, but they should also share the information they use so that others can b [