Reagan’s eloquent rhetoric captured America’s heart. His genuine love of America was only eclipsed by his love for his second wife Nancy. Born and raised in the mid-west, he had a strong Christian faith and studied at a small Christian college in Illinois.
He voluntarily enlisted in the military and, just as his acting star was rising, was called up to serve his country. Despite being classified as "limited service only" (due to near sightedness), Reagan used his talents to create over 400 training films during his time in the military. After that, he was active in politics more than two decades before ever holding an elected office. It would be nearly another decade before he’d run for the Presidency and fourteen years before he’d actually win.
By the time he took office, three decades of studying and reasoning about the American political process had honed his foundation in economics and sociology and prepared him to lead this country.
In some ways his Presidency was a success. He had the nerve to stand against strife, both foreign and domestic, on the basis of his reasoning about what is best for America. Yet, his policies quadrupled our national debt, led to the Savings and Loan precursor of the 2008 economic crisis, and resulted in America being found guilty of war crimes against Nicaragua by the World Court (the International Court of Justice).
To the Republican Party, Reagan is a mythic hero and they’ve been searching for his second coming ever since. Now we’re seeing many pretenders to the throne, flaunting their Christian credentials and almost one decade of experience, but in reality they aren't very different from the pretender to the ultimate throne.
In John 8:40-47, Jesus, speaking to the Jews, said:
"But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; ...
"You are doing the deeds of your father" They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God."
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.
"Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.
"You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
"But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.
"Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?
"He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God."
In short, Jesus is explaining to the Jews that Satan is the father of all lies and when they lie (and despite their claims to be a chosen people descended from Abraham) it is proof that they are children of Satan and not children of God. Leaving aside the fact that the Bible clearly tells us to help the oppressed and the needy, lets just look at this issue of truthfulness within the Conservative movement and the Republican Party.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ... Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.James 3:3, 3:5-6
Citizen Palin chose to return to public discourse in early August by accusing the healthcare reform bill of containing "death panels" for the elderly and disabled. HR 3200 is freely available on the internet and the section she’s referring to, section 1322 titled "Advance Care Planning Consultation", simply doesn’t contain anything like her claims.
While the government will reimburse the cost of consultations, you are no more required to use them than you are to go to a dentist. Unlike Palin’s claim that "bureaucrats" will decide your fate, the section specifically limits reimbursement to physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician’s assistants. So, if you choose to call a bureaucrat in to consult, you’ll have to pay him out of your own pocket.
Reasonable people would have thought that after a brief "how crazy is this?" news cycle, the whole issue would be left to the humorists.
Wrong. Instead, this flatly false information was fanned by Republicans (" and is itself set on fire by hell") who picked it up and pushed it forward as if there were any truth to this fearmongering tactic.
This inspite of the fact that in 2003, 204 Republicans in the House and 42 Republicans in the Senate voted for the Medicare bill (targeted at the disabled and those 65 and older) that included:
Hospice Care. For those not familiar, hospice care is when a patient agrees that they will no longer seek treatment for their condition or to prolong life. Instead, they agree to accept only pain management until they die in exchange for coverage of their costs. From the "Medicare Hospice Benefits" brochure; "The goal of hospice is to care for you and your family, not to cure your illness."
The Medicare Part D Donut Hole This is the program where Medicare drug prescriptions are covered (after an out of pocket deductible) until you’ve reached $2,700, then the patient must cover 100% of the next $3,454 before they have any assistance in covering the cost of their medicines. In 2006, 25% of enrollees fell into the Medicare Part D Donut Hole and 4% actually reached the other side. In 2007 it was estimated"by Actuarial Research Corporation for the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that over 3 million of the 24 million Part D enrollees [would] reach the gap." Yet, there is no one complaining that this is a way to rid the Medicare rolls or the most expensive, chronically ill seniors.
Why? Because most Americans believe as Reagan did and as is inscribed at his burial site:
"I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph and that there is purpose and worth to each and every life"
Is it any wonder that articles titled "Can a good Christian vote Republican?" came out in the 2008 election cycle?
This truly is a time for Christians to return to their Bibles and learn to practice discernment who we support politically. We need to put aside our belief in party rehtoric and become better adept at using the Internet to sort out the wheat from the chaff. God is lifting the veil that hid the deceipt and corruption. It's our duty to open our eyes and look beyond it, to seek the Truth and to hold the liars accountable.
"And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" Matthew 3:10-12