Sunday, November 7, 2010

Politics takes on the 10 Commandments


(P.J. O'Rouke gets it. This is an excerpt of "Morality in Politics" from Don't Vote. It Just Encourages the Bastards) --

Politics violates not only the first commandment about who's God, it violates the other nine as well. Politics could hardly function without bearing false witness. Likewise, without taking the Lord's name in vain. The more so given that, in politics, the Lord who is so loosely sworn by is you and me -- mankind.

In modern government politics has taken the place of mere tyranny. The result has been more killing in the past century than in all the preceding centuries combined. Convetousness and stealing define redistributive politics, and, without redistribution, politics would have no political support. And graven image is as good way as any to describe the fiat money by which redistributive politics operates.

Politics' insistence upon involvement in every human activity, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, is more anti-Sabbatarian than golf. The Social Security system is no way to honor thy father and mother. As for adultry, there was, and there may still be, Bill Clinton.

Even to be "politically engaged and informed" may make us one of the devil's party, driving around town with a "Vote for Satan" bumper sticker. Listen carefully to that most politically engaged and informed radio network NPR and hear the evident relish with which it reports misfortune, inequity, and suffering around the world. The unspoken gleeful message is, "More occasions for more politics!" Nor are conservatives without delight in the others' misery. How we long for unemployment, anxiety, anger, and fear of bombs in boxer shorts on the next election day.

I believe in original sin, and politics may be its name. However, unlike some of my fellow Republicans, I do not believe God is involved in politics. Observe politics in America. Observe politics around the world. Observe poilitics down through history. Does it look like God is involved? When it comes to being a political activist, that would be the Other Fellow.

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