I was quite impressed when I read that Senator McCain had decided to suspend his campaign to go to Washington to work on the "bailout bill". I thought it was a gutsy move given how close this race is.
I waited to hear how Senator Obama would respond when McCain suggested postponing the debate. I was disappointed to hear that he didn't want to postpone, indicating that he thought the American people would expect their President to be able to do multiple things at the same time, but that he would be available to help if needed.
I thought it was interesting that they both ended up in DC after all at the request of the current President.
Overall, I think it demonstrates leadership on the part of John McCain to act in the best interests of the country rather than that of his campaign.
Other sources that I read agree:
The Anchoress
Ed Morrissey here and here at HotAir (which inspired the name of this blog)
Mike Gallagher, whose talk radio show my sister-in-law recommends
Clarice
Thursday, September 25, 2008
On the Financial Crisis
Did you see the Fox News story on Sept 24?
I know some would question the veracity of the report, assuming that Fox is skewed to the right. But if accurate, it gives us an idea of where both candidates and representatives of their respective parties stand on economic issues.
A series of articles offering more thoughts from Investor's Business Daily, which I just discovered. I would guess that a Business publication might also lean right, but who knows.
Clarice
I know some would question the veracity of the report, assuming that Fox is skewed to the right. But if accurate, it gives us an idea of where both candidates and representatives of their respective parties stand on economic issues.
A series of articles offering more thoughts from Investor's Business Daily, which I just discovered. I would guess that a Business publication might also lean right, but who knows.
Clarice
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Wow! Discourse!
I've been quite busy the past week so I haven't stopped by this blog in a while. I didn't realize that we had comments to some of our posts. I'm very much looking forward to thinking through the issues that have been raised and starting new threads of conversation.
Clarice
Clarice
Friday, September 19, 2008
The Widow's Mite vs. Other People's Money
Why is it that the working poor give the most money to charities relative to their earnings? Remember Jesus' observations on charitable giving in the Bible?
The Widow's Offering
Mark 12:41-44 NIV (thanks to biblegateway.com)
41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,[a]worth only a fraction of a penny.[b]
43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."
So, I've heard that conservatives far outgive liberals in money and time resources. Let's examine a few candidates...
Obamas: According to this Arthur C. Brooks's article, the Obamas gave less than one percent of their income during 2000-2004 when their average income was $244,000. After media fallout and their income raising to nearly a million dollars, then they generously started giving about 5% to charities.
BTW, the national average for charitable giving is 2.2%. The poor give the most, followed by the rich. The middle class gives the least.
Clintons: According to The Tax Foundation, the Clintons have averaged over 8% in charitable giving from 2000-2006, with a peak of over 12% in 2004. Not bad.
George W's: I couldn't find recent tax info, but this article gives early 1990s numbers typically over 10%.
Bidens: This record shows Bidens' giving since 2000 at far less than 1%. Biden's spokesperson David Wade claims he gives to his church - so I ask who gives to a charity and doesn't claim it on his taxes?
Gore: The Washington Post, for example, shows he gave about 0.2% one year, to the tune of less than $400, but he gave over 5% another year.
For contrast, try this giving level: In 2005, the Cheneys gave away 78% of their income to the tune of $6.9 million!!! Now, I don't think they do this every year.
But this takes the cake! R.G. LeTourneau, one of the world’s greatest inventors of earthmoving equipment and founder of LeTourneau University, gave away 94% of his income yearly before he died, according to his autobiography, Mover of Men & Mountains.
And any good Christian knows that Biblical tithing is a minimum of ten percent. When I was a toddler, my dad started giving me a weekly allowance of $1. I was taught to give a dime to the church as my tithe and a nickel toward a missionary. Thankfully, I wasn't taxed on the remaining 85 cents.
Here's a link with a few more fun facts about how liberals like to give away OPM (Other People's Money) through taxes and government socialism, but not their own.
So, who really cares about the poor?
Ian
The Widow's Offering
Mark 12:41-44 NIV (thanks to biblegateway.com)
41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,[a]worth only a fraction of a penny.[b]
43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."
So, I've heard that conservatives far outgive liberals in money and time resources. Let's examine a few candidates...
Obamas: According to this Arthur C. Brooks's article, the Obamas gave less than one percent of their income during 2000-2004 when their average income was $244,000. After media fallout and their income raising to nearly a million dollars, then they generously started giving about 5% to charities.
BTW, the national average for charitable giving is 2.2%. The poor give the most, followed by the rich. The middle class gives the least.
Clintons: According to The Tax Foundation, the Clintons have averaged over 8% in charitable giving from 2000-2006, with a peak of over 12% in 2004. Not bad.
George W's: I couldn't find recent tax info, but this article gives early 1990s numbers typically over 10%.
Bidens: This record shows Bidens' giving since 2000 at far less than 1%. Biden's spokesperson David Wade claims he gives to his church - so I ask who gives to a charity and doesn't claim it on his taxes?
Gore: The Washington Post, for example, shows he gave about 0.2% one year, to the tune of less than $400, but he gave over 5% another year.
For contrast, try this giving level: In 2005, the Cheneys gave away 78% of their income to the tune of $6.9 million!!! Now, I don't think they do this every year.
But this takes the cake! R.G. LeTourneau, one of the world’s greatest inventors of earthmoving equipment and founder of LeTourneau University, gave away 94% of his income yearly before he died, according to his autobiography, Mover of Men & Mountains.
And any good Christian knows that Biblical tithing is a minimum of ten percent. When I was a toddler, my dad started giving me a weekly allowance of $1. I was taught to give a dime to the church as my tithe and a nickel toward a missionary. Thankfully, I wasn't taxed on the remaining 85 cents.
Here's a link with a few more fun facts about how liberals like to give away OPM (Other People's Money) through taxes and government socialism, but not their own.
So, who really cares about the poor?
Ian
Unequal Pay?
During Obama's acceptance speak at the DNC, he said; "Now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work."
Hmm, so why, according to seattlepi.com's research or multiple listings if you google "obama female pay," does Obama pay his female Senate staff on average 83% of what he pays his male staff? And why is he getting away with accusing McCain of opposing equal pay for equal work when McCain actually pays his female staff slightly more than his male staff on average?
Who's the hypocrite?
Ian
Hmm, so why, according to seattlepi.com's research or multiple listings if you google "obama female pay," does Obama pay his female Senate staff on average 83% of what he pays his male staff? And why is he getting away with accusing McCain of opposing equal pay for equal work when McCain actually pays his female staff slightly more than his male staff on average?
Who's the hypocrite?
Ian
Getting in their faces
Barack Obama said something on the campaign trail that I found interesting...and a bit revealing.
He said:
I found it interesting because as a follower of Jesus, I've made it a goal to tell people about the amazing kind of life I've found in Jesus just in case His way of living could make a profound difference in their own lives. Actually, I'm pretty convinced that Jesus' way is the best way possible, but I have to frame my mental thinking according to my first statement. See, any other way, then I'm accused of proselytizing, of trying to convert, of ramming my religion down the throats of others, of being intolerant of the beliefs of others, of (because I work for the University) violating the separation of church and state.
It seems to me that those who have been most ardent about taking religion out of government and education and anything public are usually from the left end of the political spectrum. So it's not okay to "argue" about religion or "get in their face" about their spiritual lives, but it is okay....even encouraged...no, let's call this mandated...to do the same about what Obama's campaign is promoting. So what's the difference? Aren't political views usually a reflection of a belief system? That's just one aspect of what he said that bugged me. There's a hint of hypocrisy there (and I am willing to admit that the right has its own hypocrisy...just not always so rabid). Here's the other. If a person really believes he/she has something great to offer me, I'm happy to discuss it and willing to be persuaded, because I'd love to pursue those things that might offer benefit to my life and the lives of others. But if a person's approach is to be invasive, then I start to think that it's not really about the common good, but instead about what he/she wants for self instead. And the argument seems rather self-serving.
I generally like to think more about good things to move toward rather than negative things to move away from. Thus, I would much rather spend time thinking about what the McCain/Palin ticket offers that would persuade me to vote for them rather than what dissuades me from voting for Obama/Biden. But this is one framework of thinking revealed in Obama's quote leaves a really bad taste in my mouth.
Clarice
He said:
“I need you to go out and talk to your friends and talk to your neighbors. I want you to talk to them whether they are independent or whether they are Republican. I want you to argue with them and get in their face.”
I found it interesting because as a follower of Jesus, I've made it a goal to tell people about the amazing kind of life I've found in Jesus just in case His way of living could make a profound difference in their own lives. Actually, I'm pretty convinced that Jesus' way is the best way possible, but I have to frame my mental thinking according to my first statement. See, any other way, then I'm accused of proselytizing, of trying to convert, of ramming my religion down the throats of others, of being intolerant of the beliefs of others, of (because I work for the University) violating the separation of church and state.
It seems to me that those who have been most ardent about taking religion out of government and education and anything public are usually from the left end of the political spectrum. So it's not okay to "argue" about religion or "get in their face" about their spiritual lives, but it is okay....even encouraged...no, let's call this mandated...to do the same about what Obama's campaign is promoting. So what's the difference? Aren't political views usually a reflection of a belief system? That's just one aspect of what he said that bugged me. There's a hint of hypocrisy there (and I am willing to admit that the right has its own hypocrisy...just not always so rabid). Here's the other. If a person really believes he/she has something great to offer me, I'm happy to discuss it and willing to be persuaded, because I'd love to pursue those things that might offer benefit to my life and the lives of others. But if a person's approach is to be invasive, then I start to think that it's not really about the common good, but instead about what he/she wants for self instead. And the argument seems rather self-serving.
I generally like to think more about good things to move toward rather than negative things to move away from. Thus, I would much rather spend time thinking about what the McCain/Palin ticket offers that would persuade me to vote for them rather than what dissuades me from voting for Obama/Biden. But this is one framework of thinking revealed in Obama's quote leaves a really bad taste in my mouth.
Clarice
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Getting to know McCain
I haven't been a big fan of John McCain up to this point. I suppose the "Maverick" title gave me a poor first impression. But when he made Sarah Palin his surprise choice for running mate, I was a bit more interested in what makes him tick.
Then I heard his speech at the RNC. I had heard that he wasn't a great speaker. I wasn't wowed by his speaking ability, but I was certainly struck by his story and his earnestness (at least what I interpreted as such).
A few days ago, I remembered that my sister-in-law told me that McCain's daughter, Meghan, has been on the campaign trail with him and has been blogging about her experience. I think you can tell a lot about a man by what his daughter thinks of him. She seems to think highly of him. You can check out her "musings" at mccainblogette.com. Oh, and she wrote a children's book about her dad. I think I'll be getting this for Jackson.
Clarice
Then I heard his speech at the RNC. I had heard that he wasn't a great speaker. I wasn't wowed by his speaking ability, but I was certainly struck by his story and his earnestness (at least what I interpreted as such).
A few days ago, I remembered that my sister-in-law told me that McCain's daughter, Meghan, has been on the campaign trail with him and has been blogging about her experience. I think you can tell a lot about a man by what his daughter thinks of him. She seems to think highly of him. You can check out her "musings" at mccainblogette.com. Oh, and she wrote a children's book about her dad. I think I'll be getting this for Jackson.
Clarice
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