Why Nunn-Lugar Matters | Capital Commentary

Why Nunn-Lugar Matters | Capital Commentary by Tyler Wigg-Stevenson.  MGB: Let's hope it does not mean he wants to keep the nukes.

Faith and Corporate Social Responsibility | Capital Commentary

Faith and Corporate Social Responsibility | Capital Commentary by Michael MacLeod.  MGB: Investing in funds is a partial solution.  It is now time for Christians to look toward enabling worker cooperative ownership of their workplaces.  This can be done through more concentrated union pension fund investing or through diverting a portion of social insurance to the purchase of employer voting stock.  Employee owned firms could then do more for their employees on the consumer side, as well as on the production side, including providing education, finance and even housing.  That kind of radical action is more in the spirit of the Church of the Apostles.

The Fragile Path toward Peace | Capital Commentary

The Fragile Path toward Peace | Capital Commentary by Mary E. Black.  MGB: Gaza needs to be ceded to Egypt.  I don't see any path in which the citizens of Gaza can be integrated into the Jewish state, even if it were secularized.  As for the lack of room for discussion - it is easier to be a peace advocate in Israel than to say anything politically against the Jewish State in the United States - including in private conversation.  In the end, there must either be a two state solution with the Arab portion of Israel united in one contiguous nation or incorporated into a larger Hashemite Kingdom (which would also rule Syria, Lebanon and Iraq) OR peace in Israel in a secular state which honors Torah provisions about welcoming the alien (although I suspect most Palestinians are Samaritans who converted to Christ and then Islam) so that the Ark of the Covenant can be returned from Axum, where it now resides.

Winner Take All or Splitting the Difference: Lessons from Switzerland | Capital Commentary

Winner Take All or Splitting the Difference: Lessons from Switzerland | Capital Commentary by David T. Koyzis.  MGB: In looking at basic reform, I would suggest regional government, with each region having roughly the same electoral voting strength, a regional Vice President and two Senators from reach region.  Much of domestic government, as well as domestic civil and military spending, would occur at this level, with the national executive (elected by the Vice Presidents and Senators) dealing with diplomatic and military issues, monetary and larger fiscal policy (mainly advising the regions on taxing and spending levels), protecting civil rights at all levels of government and industry and the advancement of science - from building a better electric car to space to medical research.  The POTUS would be selected every two years while RVPs and Senators would have six year terms, with all having a twelve year limit.

Could the Syrian Civil War Spread? | Capital Commentary

Could the Syrian Civil War Spread? | Capital Commentary by Paul S. Rowe.  MGB: I did not think expansion was possible. This article changed my view.  I still believe, however, that the end of this crisis lies in the return of the Hashemite Dynasty to Damascus to lead a federation of democratic countries in the region, from Lebanon to border of Iran and including the Palestinian portion of an Israeli two-state solution (with Gaza going to Egypt).

Why Stagnation? | Capital Commentary

Why Stagnation? | Capital Commentary by Steven E. Meyer.  MGB: Stagnation is extremely good for fundraising, which is why it continues.  Until one party becomes so obstructionist that it will sign up to no compromise, which now seems to be the case with the Republicans, the system is in equilibrium.  Now is the time for a new party to emerge, and it should work on a new social contract - however, I would prefer that it focus on the economic contract and look to more radical solutions on both employee-ownership of the workplace as well as employer provided services to replace those aspects of the State that are in constant contention.  This appeal to sphere sovereignty should definitely include the Evangelical Center at CFPJ.

Politics & Prose | Capital Commentary

Politics & Prose | Capital Commentary by Bryon Borger. MGB: E.J.'s book is on my shelf at home in books to be read.  Reviews welcome in the comment section.

Hope in the Face of the Fiscal Cliff | Capital Commentary

Hope in the Face of the Fiscal Cliff | Capital Commentary by Michael Gerson.  MGB: Sequestration is only on the table if they kick a deal on taxes down the road.  It does not make sense to describe both of these taking place automatically.  If a deal were made on taxes, the sequester would be cancelled.  Only if the tax part can't be agreed to will the sequester take effect.  Additionally, it is not the case that tax increases always increase revenue.  Indeed, when Clinton raised taxes on just the wealthy, growth went up.  In addition, if most workers were to face a tax increase, most employers would offset it with an increase in gross wages.  No one likes an under-motivated workforce.

Suicide and Narrow Social Agendas | Capital Commentary

Suicide and Narrow Social Agendas | Capital Commentary by Jack Hanke.  MGB:  This is a well done treatment of the issue.  From a Catholic perspective, St. Thomas More actually included assisted suicide in his Utopia.  As for abortion and gay marriage, they are not really political issues because the determination of rights is with judicial bodies, not legislatures, and these bodies must be impartial rather than reflecting the beliefs of the appointing officials.  Mostly this is the case, much to the aggravation of the general public (and the delight of those who make money off of people who think the political system can provide a different answer).  The question of suicide brings up a profound theological question - does God have needs and rights or is the whole of morality an act of Love for the good of mankind?  If you believe in a perfect God, I think the answer must be that morality is a gift and must ultimately be humanistic - not from a selfish base but a humanism designed by a loving Creator.  The Catholic myth used to be that human suffering added to the merits of Christ, which is hubris designed to both sell indulgences and extract obedience to the hierarchy.  It is on the order of the pride of Lucifer in his music, which he believed exceeded the merits of Christ.  Since the merits of Christ are infinite, they cannot be added to at all, even by someone dying a painful death.  Dying in the face of persecution is meritorious.  Suffering to find God is equally meritorious to find grace, but once you are in grace, it serves no purpose.

Bringing Order. Establishing Justice. Treating Water. | Capital Commentary

Bringing Order. Establishing Justice. Treating Water. | Capital Commentary by Katie Tarara.  MGB: The fall of man and the New Jerusalem are both myths, not histories and predictions.  They both identify human weakness and our utter reliance on the power of God, both here and hereafter.  Just as there is no Republican or Democratic way to pay for and run a sewer, there is not a secular or Christian way.  Most are simply public enterprises which run on fees.  Indeed, if there were a Christian way to run a water authority, the poor would not be charged at all.

The Xenophobia of Argo | Capital Commentary

The Xenophobia of Argo | Capital Commentary by Josh Larsen.  MGB: I had no desire to see this over dramatization.  There has already been a movie about this that was quite good.  No need to do another one to gin up war fever.

Christian Politics as Critical Loyalty? | Capital Commentary

Christian Politics as Critical Loyalty? | Capital Commentary by Timothy Sherratt.  MGB: Sadly, both so-called Orthodox Catholics and Mega-church Evangelicals have gotten so wrapped up in Republican politics and wedge issues that they have put politics before Christ.  This will not end well for them, as is obvious in this week's USCCB meeting.

Questions on Christians and Politics | Capital Commentary

Questions on Christians and Politics | Capital Commentary by Stephanie Summers.  MGB: We must first recognize that we have a lot of work to do on rebuiliding the American community.  The re-election of America's first president of African origin has awakened a conversaton on race that was thought to have been buried.  Before we do anything, we must cope with this, as it has never been settled, only removed from polite conversation.  It is now time to speak up.  No conversation about sphere sovereignty can exist if those who use governmental services are thought to be "the other" when that is not actually the case, as our current economy shows.

Post-Election Cooperation: The Opportunity of a Fresh Start | Capital Commentary

Post-Election Cooperation: The Opportunity of a Fresh Start | Capital Commentary by Michael J. Gerson. MGB: I suspect that many of the Tea Party firebrands in the House will be chastened by the fact that without gerrymandering, they would not have been back.  This may strenghten the position of the Speaker in forging a grand bargain with the President.  I do not fear the Fiscal Cliff, as many employers who are sitting on large cash reserves may simply raise wages in order to keep employees once tax rates return to Clintonian levels.  Should there be no extension of the Bush cuts, the need for a sequester ends and it can be dispensed with.  The fact that for most people, the fiscal clilff may really be harmless will force the Republicans to deal on taxes, which should not be hard as the Romney position and the Simpson-Bowles position are not far from each other.  I am sure the revenue committees, which are traditionally more non-partisan, will hammer something out to be passed either during the lame duck or soon after the start of the new fiscal year.

Why There Are No Women Voters and No Women’s Issues | Capital Commentary

Why There Are No Women Voters and No Women’s Issues | Capital Commentary by Lauren Swayne Barthold and Brian Glenney.  MGB: There are women's issues because many in the society and especially in the Church, treat women differently.  If women could be ordained in all church ministries in all Churches and were never denied equal pay, gender would not be an issue.  While it is, there certainly are women voters - although in some nations, even this is a recent phenomenon.

Whitman: “I am with you, and know how it is.” | Capital Commentary

Whitman: “I am with you, and know how it is.” | Capital Commentary by Aaron Belz.  MGB: I think Romney's most obnoxious comment was what he quoted from his father, that you should not go into politics if you need to work to make a mortgage payment.  While it is good advice, it is classist and shows a disdain for those of us who do have to work and are still political.

Evaluating Abortion in the 2012 Presidential Election | Capital Commentary

Evaluating Abortion in the 2012 Presidential Election | Capital Commentary by Mary Crotwell-Kirtley.  MGB: First off, abortion is not really an issue - as the abortion law is based on constitutional principles, not legal enactment.  It is unlike what our European partners have done by legalizing abortion by statute.  No one ever passed it at the federal level and the states are not allowed to act - so the biggest reform in the debate is to stop calling it an abortion law at all. Abortion is not an issue because there is no reasonable bill on the table and no likelihood that either Roe will be overturned (as Alito and Roberts refused to when given the opportunity in hearing the partial birth abortion case) or that a human lilfe amendment will be passed.  While Congress could extend person-hood to an earlier time, that time should not be conception and probably can't be any time before the end of the first trimester, as the prevalence of miscarriages in that time adds very real complications to making first trimester embryos legal people.  Any bill that includes bans on criminal investigation of miscarriage will likely give Planned Parenthood such a big exemption that the ban would be useless and no one seems to want to penalize mothers for seeking such services, which is impossible under equal protection principles in the criminal law (unless all murders for hire are made legal).  Likewise, tort relief would complicate malpractice insurance worse than it already is and lead to the denial of first trimester care by most providers at the behest of insurers.  Of course, exempting the first trimester and any abortion for the life or health of the mother (given a negative prognosis for the pregnancy it is unsafe to continue one which is doomed prior to birth) will cause the pro-life base to revolt (although the Democrats would surely accept it - and might enact it this next term to stop the debate).  If abortion is not an issue under real consideration, no politician's opinion on it is at all important.  Period.  Stop.  End the discussion.

Religious Freedom in the 2012 Presidential Election | Capital Commentary

Religious Freedom in the 2012 Presidential Election | Capital Commentary by Stanley Carlson-Thies.  MGB: The contraception mandate is an overblown issue, because it has been required of all people with third party insurance since December 2000 when the insurance covers preventative care.  This includes some Catholic agencies - who likely provided such care even earlier (I know Catholic Charities USA did).  We vote morally because God gives us the freedom of choice as individuals to do so.  That is where our rights are expressed.  I find it odd that the Catholic Church is using a Freedom argument to restrict the options of its non-Catholic employees - or even its Catholic employees who disagree with them.  This is an employee rights matter and the Church is on the wrong side compared to its prior positions on employee rights and freedoms.  It needs to walk what it talks on this issue and respect the moral judgment of its employees.  As for the immigrant case, it was badly botched - possibly with Valerie Jarrett's urging, however the Church should have protested the grant announcement before submitting its bid.  These are not political questions, however, but judicial ones - as is marriage equality especially.  The liberties of the few are not subject to the whims of the many in a society that calls itself free.  That especially includes the right to marry.  Indeed, if you modernize the text from both Genesis and Mark on what a family is meant to be as a separation from the parents and a cleavage to the other as one person, the biblical understanding should favor, rather than object to gay marriage, since the alternative is the legal infantalization of gays and lesbians and a denial of their rights to form the families of their choice.  Churches mainly resist this because they know that largely gay clergies will gladly bless such unions - and may indeed prefer them rather than join a celibate priesthood.

Politics & Prose | Capital Commentary

Politics & Prose | Capital Commentary by Byron Borger.  MGB: Post-election reading, although the piece on religious freedom might have been useful to the discussions on contraception last spring. Of course, if Obama wins, the topic will still have currency.

How Should We Vote? | Capital Commentary

How Should We Vote? | Capital Commentary by Paul Brink.  MGB: I would add, and give a fairly high value to, voting respectfully of the moral freedoms of others.  We should avoid to the greatest extent possible the making of choices on personal morality of others - especially when imposing public morality makes a police state necessary.  This is especially the case in the War on Drug (Users).  On the other hand, we should also vote communally so that some kind of group solution is possible when individuals cannot provide for themselves - and not just when due to poverty. The provision of both health care and education are usually too much for any family to bear in any year, so pooling in some cooperative way - whether it be private or public - is a necessity for society.  We must also vote for peace (which is part of voting biblicly - as is voting communally).