TulipGirl

I haven’t been doing much political blogging lately. Some gentle proddings from people I respect have led to this post on why I’m voting for McCain / Palin, and why you should carefully consider voting for them, too.

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1. Iraq, Afghanistan, and the War on Terror

Perhaps surprising to many people, national security and foreign policy issues are weighted the heaviest in my decisions this election. No one I know likes the war. No one I know wants it to continue. We want it to end — and for me, it is vital it ends well.

Iraq is a hot-button issue. Whether we should or shouldn’t have gone in to Iraq hardly matters now. The fact is that we are there now, and we are helping a government get on its feet to provide security and stability for its people. That takes time. I trust that the Iraqi people are intelligent and can run their government without us, but they are still working on setting up the structures and policies and working out the kinks. While they are doing that, we have the moral obligation to finish what we started — premature withdrawal by U.S. troops will undermine their government and stability and in essence undo what has been done the past several years. The Iraqi people have suffered too much, U.S. troops and their families have given too much to bailout now without finishing the job well.

Similarly, with the ongoing challenges in Afghanistan and as challenges arise in other parts of the world, we need a president with experience in government and experience in wartime. John McCain has that experience, and I believe he will be the most competent Commander-in-Chief.

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2. The Constitution and Balance of Powers

Apart from the abortion issue, Roe v. Wade was a poor judicial decision and I appreciated McCain bringing up that point in the third debate. I wish I could say I was surprised that Obama spoke in favor of activist judges. On a constitutional level, I’m concerned that the continued appointment of judges who legislate from the bench will upset the balance of powers in a manner that will hurt the U.S. and the structure of our Constitutional government for generations to come.

Similarly, I believe it is foolish to have the federal legislative bodies be overwhelmingly represented by only one party, and at the same time have the president be of the same party. As a conservative, I want the federal government acting slowly and deliberately on most matters; I want the representatives we have elected to reach consensus and be willing to compromise. That is healthy. I want to see the legislative, executive and judicial branches functioning as an effective system of checks and balances, and I want to see the people of the U.S. represented by an array of voices.

I believe that John McCain will appoint judges who are not judicial activists. And as he has in he past (to much chagrin on the part of many conservatives), I believe that McCain will be able to work with a strongly Democratic congress while providing an effective counterbalance.

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3. The Poor, Infirm and Disenfranchised

The U.S. is a wealthy and generous country, yet even in our bounty we have many who suffer, hunger, lack and struggle. Scripture is replete with commands to care for the poor, those who are not citizens who live among us, the orphan, and the widow. People in the U.S. respond generously to those in need, through individual and private giving, through charities, through churches, and. . . yes. . . through directing our legislatures to pool our tax revenues to provide safety nets through the government.

We find, however, that the more we expect the government to provide for the disadvantaged, the easier it is for us as individuals and as communities to turn our eyes away from those struggling around us and assume that they are already being “cared” for by the government — but how much true care is given apart from the personal investment in other peoples lives. How can we bear one anothers’ burdens if we are so far removed from those who are weary and heavy laden? It is abdicating our responsibility as individuals, as churches, as communities to direct the government to use tax dollars to do what we are supposed to do ourselves.

Government-mandated health programs will not fix the health care problems people face. Add an increase in government bureaucracy, and doctors and health facilities will be even less willing to care for those patients who are within that governmental system. Less doctors, more patients. . . less resources, more demand. . . this will lead to difficulty of getting care that is needed by those who need it most — especially the elderly, the chronically ill, and those dependent upon governmental assistance.

Yet, one of the jobs of the government is to protect those who are most vulnerable. We need to continue to have legislation that protects the human rights of those who are marginalized, those who continue to face discrimination, those who are weak. . . A good government protects the vulnerable from oppression, and provides the freedom for its citizens to care for one another.

I am voting for McCain because he recognizes that the government can provide good, but also has its limits — and that limiting government provides freedom for people to care generously for those around them.

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Many other issues face our country and are issues I believe are of great importance. These include protecting preborn children, maintaining a democratic capitalist economy, international cooperation and support for other countries, advocating human rights, sensible immigration policies, lowering taxes, educational freedom. . .

Overall, McCain/Palin will provide the strongest leadership for these issues and the challenges face us at this point in history.