The Divine Right of Kings

I have long been in awe of Lincoln's arguments in the Lincoln-Douglas debates. (I think you can find them if you click on the picture of the Great Emancipator on the right to get to the Abraham Lincoln Online Archive.) They are a joy to read as he made short work of Douglas and his theory of Popular Sovereignty. (Although Douglas did win that election, Lincoln clearly won the argument.) One of the principal themes against slavery that impressed me was the link to the arbitrary "Divine Right of Kings," that is, as Lincoln put it, "You work and I'll eat the bread."

I've been thinking long and hard about that and how it may relate to our present political situation. Not being as smart as Lincoln, it has sorely taxed the electrically charged chemicals darting about my gray matter.

"For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent"

I'm getting closer to a unified field theory on government and religion. Keeping aside the obvious First Amendment requirement that Congress shall not establish nor interfere with the free exercise of religion (thus, building a "wall of separation" in Founding Father Thomas Jefferson's words for you proof-texters out there), I can make whatever linkage I want because I am not Congress and heaven knows everybody else does! (In spite of "no religious test" of US Const. Art. VI, clause 3).

There is a big lie continuing in our nation most visibly demonstrated with the "tea party crowd" whose aversion to representative government in general and our historically unique president in specific, are claimed to be founded on the anti-tax philosphy of our Founders. It's gotten to the form of religious belief (actually mythology) that we had a revolution to keep us free from taxes or that taxes (or health insurance) destroy our freedom. I just don't get it.

What Do Sarah and Anthony Have in Common?

Sexting? Lying? Hypocrisy? Making stuff up? Nope.

Actually, it's what a lot of people have in common. They are normal.

Now, I'm not making excuses for either one of them. They should get the consequences of their actions and choices. The Congressman may have to resign or at least his influence is significantly diminished. And someday, consequences will catch up with Sarah. It may take a while.

Stickin' Up For Sarah (Sorta)

Listen my children and you shall hear
Of the big bus ride of Palin dear
On the third of June, in two thousand 'leven
Hardly a man this side of heaven
Who doesn't know Sarah both far and near.

She said to her dude, "If the libruls ask
By land or by sea how the British came
I'll blame it on Katie who took me to task
Who asked me the papers and mags to name
Write on my hand, and two scams we'll see
And I with the confusing tale will be
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
So sure of my sex and with you on my arm
For the country folk, they love all my charm"

Why the Jell-O Salad (with Carrots) is Green!

If you didn't already know, green Jell-O brand gellatin with grated carrots is one of the icons of Mormon culture left over from the 50's and 60's along with those big, plastic grapes and weird politics. And fusing two of those three, the Utah State Legislature has designated Jello-O as the official state snack. And I finally figured it out! This is from  my own personal observation, but it just might be the explanation why the famous Jell-O is green!

The strawberries would help a lot!!

Romney In - Sarah Becomes Huckabee

I wish I could get a message to Mitt. I would tell him that he's a great guy. I really liked him as a moderate governor of a liberal state. It was good to save the 2002 Olympics.  He made a lot of money and maybe could help our economy grow. His dad was a great guy. His family's great. He was probably a great bishop and stake president. He went to my alma mater. But Mitt, please stop embarrassing yourself!

It's official. He's running for President. And this time, instead of trying to out-macho the neo-cons on torture and war, he's trying to recast himself, and even his Massachusetts mandated health insurance in a Tenth Amendment, states' rights way to appeal to the Tea Party. While I admit that is a really good, clever argument in attempt to justify Romneycare (which was a good thing), will anybody really buy it? I think it only appeals to the theoretical states-rightists, maybe the idealistic Libertarian wing. Does anyone think he can out-tea-party the likes of Bachman and Palin?

Knights of the Errancy: A Serious If Unintended Pun

So my subconscious is working overtime. Yet it all seems to come rolling back to my common themes. I blogged on Memorial Day about the honor due our Veterans (just below). And the link to my earlier blog about good intentions even among misguided knights and kings was intentional. Thinking on my title, "Knights of the Air and Sea" I realized it sounded like "Knights of the Errancy" (not to mention that "knight" easily becomes "night,"but let's not go down that Freudian path).

This is deep inside my idealistic heart and I find it hard to explain. But it does help in the distinction to be made from misguided soldiers of good intent and those who followed orders, whatever the intent, to commit horrific crimes that they would recognize if their hearts were not completely closed.