IOWA POLITICS AND RELIGION

The 2016 presidential race is upon us because we want it to be upon is. I cannot wait until Hillary Clinton is official in the ring. I worry about thing such as it is too early. She may peak in her campaign before the actual election. Keep in mind that she is an accomplished politician and is not likely to make any mistakes like that. With the Clintons, there is no danger of having more time to reveal some deep dark secret; everything there is to know is out there. Yes, we know that Bill did not shoot Vince Foster. We know about Monica Lewinski and Jennifer Flower. We also know about Republican Ken Starr twisting the law to impeach a setting president, but all of that is about Bill. We know Hillary too, about Benghazi and   . . . ?  The message is that she has been running for president for many years; she lived her life with that in mind there is not likely to be more revealed we do not already know. The only thing the Republicans do not like about her is that she is a Democrat, which means they will have to campaign against Democratic philosophy. Like the rest of the 99%, I welcome that.

On the other side of the fence, we have the Republicans. The vanguard has gathered in Iowa. There is not a moderate (rational) voice among them. This is not something new for Iowa. These 60% evangelical primary voters in that state lead the candidates around by the nose. 

The Republican Party treats their membership like Church members. If you are one of the chosen few, you will end up in heaven; if not you will be condemned to a "lake of fire" or whatever they think is the worst of all punishments, for being a Democrat . . .  or a person who is not a member of their "church". To be a Church member you have to believe their version of church dogma, which is that “God” picks the candidate and the only purpose a voter serve is to confirm what “God” wants. In their minds, elected officials have the objective of instilling biblical law as they see it, which is exactly the same mindset as we see in the Muslim Brotherhood. There is something they call proselytizing; you can become a Republican but only if you accept what they believe as a matter of faith and what they believe is found in the bible. Correction; they believe what “they” read in the bible. The bible is no more than a collection of old wives tales. Out of all this mishmash, they “pick and chose” what fits their need to gain power, which reaches to the heart of Republican philosophy.

Rick Santorum, for example, will look into a mirror and see “God” looking back. Mike Huckabee will tell you how to live your life while declaring that individualism is the key to Republicanism. Sam Brownback will say you have the “God” given right to choose, which means that you have to choose what Sam thinks God wants you to choose. The theme is simple; Rick, Mike, and Sam want you to be beholden to them; to do as they say. Does that mean that “God”, a mythical being, has the power or does it mean they, flesh and blood, have the power?

The campaign in Iowa is about Religion and not about politics. Republicans cannot run against the 99% and win; they know that. They are forced to take another approach. The hallmark of Republican campaigning is to say one thing and do the opposite; usually it is a fringe issue with emotional appeal: abortion, contraception, gay rights or deal with fundamental feelings such as paying “more” taxes or individual rights including racism. The issues are hand-picked to fit the population. In Iowa, the selection has to do with the fact that many people have altruistic feeling, which normally would make the Democrats; however, they are also religious. Therefore, Republican try to pile all the religious issues on their plate to counter balance their altruism. There a so many differences between secular and religion views that are hot button issues it would require a book to discuss them all. I will pick only one, and mention one, that is currently big in my State, which is North Carolina; Our state legislatures passed laws to prevent court implementing Shariah Law and now wait for McCrory to sign it, although ridiculous on its face, there is a message. It implies, for example, that if a young girl is raped, her Muslim family can "legally" kill her to save them embarrassment—honor killing. Seven States, which may include North Carolina, have anti-Shariah law constitutional amendments enacted or pending. Does any rational person feel that we have a problem with courts in the U.S. following Shariah law or is it a political move made in response to xenophobic hate by the Christian hate machine? Isn’t it like the voter ID law; they want to prevent something from happening that isn’t happening in the first place. Are Republicans, no matter where you find them, rational beings? I think they are acting rational if that means they are doing whatever they have to do to get power. I also know what it means when they have the power. Gov’s. Scot walker proved that in Wisconsin, Snyder proved that in Michigan, Kasich proved that in Ohio, Scott proved that in Florida, and McCrory proved that in North Carolina. They lied there way into power on red meat social issues and then enacted radical plutocratic policy. Now they want the presidency. Isn’t there a message to the American people in all of this. Maybe I am wrong; perhaps the American people want corporations to be the government. Maybe they want to give up their democracy to Exxon, BP, Google, Wal-mart, Wall Street, and Bain Capital, or they want management to be unopposed by unions that is they want lots of $7.25 per hours 36 hour jobs so they have the opportunity to work two jobs and pay $50,000 per year college tuition for their children. Pay attention to Iowa, more is at stake than some rinky-dink primary vote and fried butter.

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