Trump Repeal Will Help the Religious Left

FEATURE COMMENTARY

By JIM PURCELL, MPS

The president of the United States, Mr. Donald Trump, is advocating repealing a rarely enforced rule at the IRS that says pastors who endorse candidates from the pulpit place losing their tax exempt status at risk. According to YahooNews, the president said, "I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution."

This struck me today, and I will explain why. As the former associate pastor for the Stelton Baptist Church, in Edison, New Jersey (2006-2010), there were regularly stringent warnings from American Baptist Churches -- New Jersey to avoid preaching politics from the pulpit of churches. This was despite the fact that the denomination, in my opinion, endlessly endorsed right-wing causes and politicians of every stripe. In fact, in my practical experience, this IRS edict did relatively nothing to silence the Religious Right and was , instead, used almost exclusively to silence the Religious Left.

I remember the Right within American Baptist Churches, during 2007 or 2008, actually mandating that denominational seminarians and clergy sign oaths stating that they would not advocate abortion politically or participate in any marriage ceremony involving gay couples. I know this because I was asked to sign this at the First Baptist Church of Long Branch, and I declined to put my signature on any such thing. 

You see, when the denomination, especially in the person of its then and current leader, Bishop Lee Spitzer, put out anti-abortion rhetoric and anti-homosexual rhetoric from the pulpit years ago, it was promoting a religious/political agenda. The Religious Right wraps themselves up in the belief that their translations of scripture, called exegesis, are so absolutely correct that it is something other than their personal politics -- that their opinions transcend their opinions and enter into some kind of hallowed truth. Of course, that is not true.

There are many opinions about how to read and interpret biblical scripture. To interpret scripture along political lines, especially the politics that one subscribes to, is inconsistent with Christian preaching and teaching. It should be the Lord's message found in the Lord's Word ideally, not the message of the person preaching, the human who has ulterior motives and agendas. The message of whomever happens to be preaching that day should not be the one that is searched for in the Bible fervently to support some personal belief they hold. It should be, it must be the Word of God, given to us in the Bible. Still, the world is what it is, and honest and true it is not. 

I vividly recall liberal clergy in American Baptist Churches -- New Jersey, several years ago as of this writing, being very bullied by this law that Mr. Trump plans on repealing. It is Right Wing clergy that espoused this law, who used it as a weapon against their more liberal colleagues to gain their silence. Some of us liberals, though, would not shut up. Some of us were sanctioned informally by our denominations, if not formally...because we interpreted scripture in ways that were not popular with powerful cliques in our religions. Some of us preached reconciliation with the gay and homosexual community, and some of us advocated for the life of a mother over the life of a fetus. Unlike conservatives, progressive clergy does not tend to group together in groups. My censure was one that was an example, I suppose, for people who might speak their mind over the party line. 

In my case, there were several things that stymied my career decreed from the Bishop's office. On top of that, despite winning a scholarship from my denomination that year, it was never paid because I had refused to take part in bias against homosexuals in the community. 

 However, I do not think Mr. Trump quite understands what he is doing with this action. He will, in essence, empower those who have been silent to speak out, some for the first time, because they will no longer have the long arm of this law hanging over their head. Mr. Trump's supporters are not the ones who were impacted by this law -- it was those who would be sending messages in direct opposition to Mr. Trump's self-proclaimed 'Christian Agenda' who would be emboldened by this action. 

Conservative watchdogs masquerading as clergy would no longer have their 'big threat' over their colleagues. So, I think this is a good repeal of a bad law, though it may be one that Mr. Trump regrets doing in the near and long term. Truly, removing this road bump to free speech will have a positive effect. 

War-Monger DC Trust Fund Babies Try to Take Social Security Away

Trust fund babies in Washington try to take our Social Security away!

I view myself as neither a Republican, Democrat or as Independent. I could care less about what crook gets to serve in what office anymore; the system is broken and some things one just has to live with. But, I do identify as both a Senior Citizen and a Disabled Veteran. And, when it comes to that, I feel pretty strongly about things.

I started contributing to Social Security when I was 16 years old, with a full-time job. I didn't stop having a full-time job until I was 47, when my injuries and disorders just caught up with me. I depend on Social Security being there for now and the future. And, any soft-handed, trust fund boy or girl in elected office that tells me they are going to "change" or "end" Social Security can go straight to hell.

The politicians in this country, at all levels, take care of the wealthiest Americans, really. Wealthy people are well represented at every level of Government. Yet, it is only Social Security that rewards the hard-working men and women of this country and gives them the square deal they deserve in this life right here. The rest of that stuff the politicians babble on about on television or in their speeches is a load of crap. I hate the idea of paying for their crap, but that is something no one can stop. Still, I'd protest every damn day if I thought anyone was thinking about touching Social Security in any way whatsoever.

I hear all the time by some politicians that "...it is just impossible to keep on funding Social Security as it has been." Well, kid, let me tell you this: People contribute to Social Security all their lives -- that is what is funding it. And, people are contributing to it right now. If there is an accounting problem, maybe it has something to do with two dumbass wars you thought were a good idea for 10 years.

Everyone knows these wars were dragged out to their illogical conclusion and were for years. How much money did the Good Old USA waste and flush down a toilet in Southwestern Asia? Who the hell knows -- but if we had it back Social Security would be fine into the next century without any nonsense.

A whole lot is being done in the name of "national security" these days -- more than any other era. If I were talking to our key government leaders right now, I would tell them this: You can bug my phone if you want, my Facebook page and my e-mail and Blogger accounts. I don't care. I am a loyal American and, whatever else I have been in this life, I have been that all of my days. But, don't you think my damn Social Security check is going to pay for one damn camera for you. If you need to, U.S. Government, you get a paper route to afford that crap -- I've earned what I've earned and you can get your grimy mitts off my Social Security. For that matter, don't even look at it -- I don't want to hear the words "Social Security" from any of your lying mouths.

If you have a bright idea about saving money, you go find it somewhere else.

I recall, as a child at the Marine Military Academy, in Harlingen, Texas, a speaker on the occasion of the Marine Corps Birthday, Nov. 10, 1775, being Chief of Naval Operations, Vice Admiral Thomas V. Foley. His words have rung in my ears ever since he uttered them and they are with me today. I have not forgot something he said and it went like this: "I just got back from Russia recently, where I was in Moscow. And, I would go for a run in the morning and be followed. I would use the phone and it would be tapped. Where I lived had listening devices in them. And, I knew it was not someplace that was free. Then I returned to the United States and instantly felt the freedom of this country again. This is a place where the Government does not follow you, tap your phone lines and where someone can truly be free."

Well, that isn't so anymore is it?

America does a lot of the things the Reds used to do back in the day, as a matter of national security or whatever.

I traveled to Washington DC as a child of 7 or so with my family and it was magnificent. I could and did walk right into the Capitol Building without anyone stopping me. I stared at the ceiling until I was dizzy. Then, I ran immediately to the gift shop and wailed until my parents bought me anything from there. I think it ended up being one of the glass snow scenes of the Capitol and I was content.

Today, you might as well be visiting a sealed off encampment, braced for attack as visit Washington DC. I am not saying there is no cause for this, but I am saying that America is diminished for it, and the spying on its own people and the ridiculous, frivolous wars of 10 years. Yes, we are a great nation, but we are no longer a nation with great leaders or possessing a great people. Right now, we live in the best possible country on this earth, but it is a country not as great as it has been before. And, a lot of us think that, I am pretty sure it is not just me.

What does that have to do with Social Security? Glad you asked. It has everything to do with it, because all of this nonsense costs money. The Federal Government has to find money for all of this crap, and then they cast a wary eye at Social Security. Well, Mr. Wary Eye Looker: Go to hell! Fine, this is the world we have now, well and good. Don't drag me into your mess.

I've paid my taxes, served my country during times of peace and war, as well as my community when it was needed -- like so many of us. Well, go and play your 1984 George Orwell games all you want. Like I said, put a microphone in my morning tea if you want -- but leave my Social Security alone. I don't like the way my world has changed, and I think I am not alone in that one either. But, this is the world the young people want, the ones they allow their politicians to give them and I have far fewer years ahead of me than are behind me so this world in a political, social and business sense is no longer my affair. But, as an observer with no dog in that hunt, it full-on sucks, in case anyone didn't know.

Well, thanks for stopping by and listening to my rant. As always, best of the week and seeya later, alligators.