The True Republican Scandal
January 29, 2002
by Melissa Brown

Why is everyone so surprised about Enron? What about it is so shocking? Surely not the connection between Enron and the Bush administration? Or the connection between Enron donations and bills that reflect the best interests of Enron? That is the Republican way. This has been known and understood for the longest time. It's in everything Republicans say and do. It's their reason for being.

Take the smaller government that Republicans say they want. Why? Because it's cheaper? That is something that the common man can understand. In reality, smaller governments do not have the resources to watch over and control their people. Ok, that also sounds like a good reason that common people can understand. But then again, I'm sure a common thief would also like such an idea of less police.

More local control. Sure, I can buy that. Except that it allows major corporations to set down in a small hick town and do as they please. Who in the hick town could control or police such a corporation backed by billions? Pollute the local enverment, not the big corporate executives problem, they live elsewhere. Clean it up? Get real, that costs money which the corporation wants to keep. By the way, who can prove that the waste is damaging the environment or causing locals harm? Who can spend the time and money on research? The corporation? No way. Only the government can come in and do that. But it's back to it being a "local problem."

So of course, Republicans want less government. It makes life easier for Business. It's not necessarily the best thing for the common person.

However, Republicans do support the government when it comes to making things easier for them. Like the major road system. Enforcing contracts. Protecting their investments. Especially protecting their investments. The military is good for that.

The major problem with the Republican Agenda, is that their agenda benefits a very few voters. So Republican think tanks spend billions coming up with ways to make the Republican Party appeal to the common voter. And spend billions getting the results of the think tanks to the common voter.

Ever wonder why there is a connection between the rich Republican Party and Christianity when the very basis of the Christian belief is Christ's own words? Jesus taught to give wealth away. He talked to the poor and about the equality gap. He did this, more then talk about heaven and hell.

Jesus had a major problem with the Pharisees. (The makers and interpreters of Jewish law.) The Pharisees were posing too much of a hardship on the Jewish people. One of the few times Jesus lost his cool was in the temple. He turned over tables and yelled at the workers to GET OUT! Why? Because they were money lenders who were accepting usury. Or what we call "interest." Then he berated the Pharisees for not only allowing such a sinful (yes it was called sinful) act, but also for receiving a kickback from it.

On Jesus's dealings with the Pharisees alone, how does the Republican Party connect with Christianity? It doesn't. Anymore than the Democratic Party. The only difference is, the Democratic Party never attempted to make such a connection or use such a connection for political purposes. Only the Republican Party has done that. It was the only way to form a connection from the Republican Party to the common voter.

During the Clinton Years, the Republican Party ran as the "Moral Majority running against an Immoral Party." Never mind the numerous accounts of "parties" on Capital Hill, attended by members of both parties. Mistresses galore, all over DC, not just in the "immoral party." The lists go on. By all accounts, neither party could claim "morality." But that is exactly what the Republicans did.

They were quick to point out "sin" in the other party, but slow to discuss the "sin" in their own party. It wasn't even a case of putting one type of sin as being more sinful, as it was just plain turning a blind eye.

How does that equate to the Christ's own words in Mattew 7:3-5? "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

Christ's words are wise, and explain another Republican problem. Now that they have been pointing at specks, they have to deal with people looking at their "plank's." Not out of revenge, but because they have set themselves up as leaders of morality. But Christ warned them in Mattew 7:1-2. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

However, even attempting to justify one's sin as less sinful or attempting to classify anothers as more sinful doesn't work either. Not when ALL sin is equal in the eyes of God.

The Republican think tanks did a great job. Who is interested in talking about bills, loopholes, and agenda when morality is at stake? They managed the unthinkable - created a movement which encouraged Christians to forget Christ's own words. And when Christ's own words were fullfilled, they claimed it was because of revenge. Talking about avoiding responsiblity for one's own actions.

Now, some so-called great Christian leaders of this country and many who support them believe the attack on the WTC was a wake up call to America. Wonder if they also believe the same about the down fall of Enron?

Thankfuly, not all Christians fell for the Republican Christian Movement. There are many of us out there that see how they have used our faith for their own means.

"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." - Mark 10:25.