*Posted by Winston Hottman
You can hear the rhetoric from both sides of the political aisle:
“Elect out candidate and Americans will have jobs.” “Elect our candidate and everyone will have healthcare.” “Elect our candidate and your money will be safe from unfair taxes.” “Elect our candidate and you will get a good education.” “Elect our candidate and a fractured partisan government will start holding hands and working together again.” “Elect our candidate and America will be protected from her enemies.” “Elect our candidate and the world will be a safer, more peaceful place.”
Both parties have a deep-seated messiah complex. The Democrats believe they can remedy whatever may ail us if given enough tax dollars and government programs. The Republicans, despite all their talk of “conservatism,” continue to promote the idea that a single man, the right presidential candidate, has the power to mold this nation into what it should be.
What happened to real conservatism? What happened to the idea that the responsibilities of the federal government should be limited because government is de facto limited in its ability to do most things well? Somewhere along the line Americans of both blue and red persuasions bought into the idea that the man we put in the White House can single-handedly determine the destiny of this nation.
And we’ve paid a heavy price for it. We’ve discouraged individuals’ involvement in the political process and in their communities. Most Americans will talk about politics and complain about the dishonesty, bickering and moral failures of government leaders, but when it comes down to actually doing things like voting and being involved in our communities to make a difference, few get involved. And why would they? If America’s problems are ultimately solved from the top down, what’s left for the little guy to do?
Of course, doing nothing isn’t the answer. Simply not voting or being involved doesn’t help the problem. To be honest, it just makes us lousy citizens. The problem that needs to be addressed is deeper. It’s a faith problem. It’s about where we are putting our trust, not just about what we’re doing or not doing.
What should we do then?
It’s simple. Apostatize.
Abandon your faith in the federal government. Whether Democrat or Republican or anything between or outside of that spectrum, stop trusting Washington politicians to fix your problems. Recognize that their powers are limited. Recognize that their designated responsibilities, as penned in the Constitution, are indeed quite limited. Recognize that whatever candidate a political party may present to the American people, he cannot ensure jobs, healthcare, education or a free and prosperous life.
