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The Forerunner

Can We Bring Real CHANGE to Government?

By Editorial Staff
Published May 2008

By Graham Dugas

Why is it so hard to have real and effective change in the laws that come out of Washington? Consider, for example, the National Endowment of Arts (NEA), you know, the folks who brought us the infamous Maplethorpe exhibit of homosexual pornography – all funded by you through your hard earned tax dollars.

It is horrifying that some in our Capitol believe that the only way it is proper to display the Cross at government expense is if it is submerged in a vat of urine, as did another NEA funded “project.” Decent people work too hard to be coerced into subsidizing a degenerate “artist” to produce such trash.

You may wonder: Why am I repeating this old news that most of us are all to familiar with? For this reason – people wanted to abolish the NEA and they wanted it done fast. So what did our fine elected representatives do? They compromised of course!

These brave stalwarts cut a whopping 15 percent of the NEA’s funding. Why can’t we see some real results from our elevcted representatives? I believe it is because of a flawed approach. There is a prevailing philosophy that goes like this – “It is better to get half of a loaf than none at all.” That is to say after the negotiations you come away with a little rather than nothing at all.

“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk likewise as ye have us for an ensample” (Phil 3:17). “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed” (2 Thes. 3:14). By weakening proposed legislation with watered-down language until enough of our foes will sign the bill we can get “half a loaf,” or so we are told. This is done because legislators know before hand who will vote for what and where others stand on the issues. With the passage of time we are finding out the “half a loaf” is no loaf at all.

We must aim higher, even at the risk of losing. I would rather have no loaf, find out publicly who stands where, put them on record and thus “mark” our allies and “note” our foes. If we lose in going for the whole loaf we don’t come away with nothing, rather we come away with great riches. We now have the names of those who oppose us.

With the half a loaf approach, we allow our enemies to hide behind a watered-down bill. We really don’t know who wants to retain funding for the NEA and who wants to abolish it because the compromise bill allows those who support perversion to hide out. Righteous politicians are not afraid of being on the record, but the wicked are. Lets not give them a place to hide.

John 3:20 states, “For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest hid deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

By putting these sly foxes on record it will be clear at voting time who is for Christ and who is against Him. This strategy will give us better legislators, which is what we really want.

Graham Dugas is a member of CHANGE.


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