The Blog of toussaint

"There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs.  There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being.  But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly.  The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom.  They are trying to force government leaders into following their positions 100%.  If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain; they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both.  I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if i want to be a moral person, I must believe in A, B, C, and D.  Just who do they think they are?  And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?  And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate.  I am warning them today:  I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of conservatism." 

That is a quote from (R)Senator Barry Goldwater from 26 years ago.  He recognized the threat of demolishing the barriers between religion and the government.  Beware, my friends of those who use God's name to defend their positions, be it Bin Laden or Bush.  When i saw this quote from Barry, it made me long for they days of true conservatism.  When they believed in little or no government intrusion into your life;  lower spending and taxing; no nation building or being the world's free police force; balanced budgets, states rights, and the attitude of live and let live.  Over the next few years, we are going to have to decide our role in this world.  Whether or not to nation build will be a defining issue for the next president.  And i just hope the true Conservatives find their voice to help the Republican party become more reasonable.