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Locked Door Transparency?

From My Perspective - - -

Life is filled with many oxymoron situations (oxymoron: a rhetorical figure where contradictory terms are combined). Government of the people, for the people, and by the people is supposed to operate with openness and clarity. Instead, what is taking place in an unfolding drama (or is it charade?) in the US Senate at the present time is anything but that purpose and commitment. A Committee that is working on particulars of a Health Reform Bill and Budget has decided to exclude the Republicans from the discussions because “they don’t behave properly”! They have carried this to a point of absurdity by not only locking the doors to the conference room but also changing the lock on the door. Guess who doesn’t have a key to the door?! At a time when one would hope there would be bi-partisan involvement, a decision for exclusion has occurred. Even if a group or individual “does not behave properly”, should they not be allowed to participate and offer constructive amendments to very important matters and legislation? When did we become a nation of rule by 60% rather than 100% representation? This means that a growing number of citizens are deliberately being ignored and disenfranchised so a multi-trillion dollar legislation can be enacted.

One wonders if the following words have any meaning or significance: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Whatever happened to “Tranquility” and “Liberty” in the scheme of things in Congress? Haven’t our elected officials sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States? It appears they need to read at least the Preamble – and – do so soon. In fairness, if a person wants to participate in a conference meeting, the purpose should be something more than to merely wrangle about minutia and counter-proposals. Those who are “locked out” should remember that they did very little to address health reform when they were the majority. The best they could do was come up with an outlandish and nightmarish Prescription Drug Program.

Is there any true hope that can emerge when some choose to do business in the shadows and secretly? Can exclusionary politics work effectively for a nation? What is the ultimate hope and goal for a viable nation that commits itself against any form of indenture or tyranny? One would hope there would be the reality of particular Biblical truth in the minds and governing protocols of elected officials.
Proverbs 21:1 from The Message: “Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; He directs it to whatever ends He chooses.”
In the KJV: “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turns it whithersoever He will.”
Proverbs 14:34 from ESV: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
John 7:4 - As Jesus was beginning his public ministry, his brothers tried to impress upon him a principle:
“No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
Luke 12:2-3 – A Truism Enunciated By Jesus:
“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”

There is always a day of reckoning and accountability for us all. Those who speak, whisper and act in what they deem to be exclusionary privacy will one day hear their words that were “whispered in secret” shouted in public! It is a frightening prospect for us. This very possibility should provoke greater character and manifestation of integrity and transparency both in one’s personal life as well as in matters that affect a greater number of people. How much whispering and scheming do you do in the shadows and darkness? Our Mandate is to “Walk in the Light as He is in the Light.” Why don’t we just do it? Consider these things with me!

Posted by peripheral on 2009-10-23 07:19:53 | Rating:

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"Government of the People" is, in itself, an oxymoron. You cannot rule the people by having the people rule you! The two forces cancel each other, and you are left with mere chaos (which should be obvious to anyone who watches the 6:00 news regularly).

The universe is a balancing act... Hot vs. Cold... Positive vs. Negative... Gravity vs. Inertia... and more recently (in the rise of humanity), Good vs. Evil.

Physics 101: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction! Everything you see on the news; everything you hear on the radio; everything you read about in the newspaper; ALL OF IT is nothing more than one force reacting against another. The pharmaceutical companies set themselves up to get rich; we respond with protests and appeals for "healthcare reform". We invade a country; they respond with protests and "terrorism" (I always loved that word... Boy, if THAT ain't the pot calling the kettle black, I don't know what is!).

And if all that isn't bad enough, we have to live under a government that has to decide between the public's wishes and those of whoever is handing out the campaign contributions! And people wonder why our government is so FUCKED UP!

"For the love of money is the root of all evil" ~ The Bible.
I leave you to look up chapter and verse. :)

Posted by davidfoster on 2009-10-23 08:35:15

What I find amusing is the same people who are up in arms now about a lack of representation [neo-cons, townhall hollerers, teabaggers, etc] had no complaints during the previous administration. Funny coincidence. The "moral majority" found out it's a "vocal minority", and now they're beside themselves with talk of being persecuted. When the GOP had a stranglehold on the government, everything was fine and dandy no matter how often they crushed their opposition. Democrats try desperately to get bi-partisan cooperation on healthcare reform, republicans become wholly uncooperative, and now they're complaining about not having bi-partisanship. Obama easily won the election, the dems were given control of the Congress, over 70% of the country wants a public option, and when asked who they trust to lead us through the recession, only 19% said "republicans". Where were the unrepresented conservative voices during the passing of the Patriot Act? It had far worse implications than any prescription drug bill ever could. I can understand why someone not getting their way would be upset, but when your way keeps people from having affordable healthcare, you shouldn't get your way. Nearly every industrialized, modern country has some form of universal healthcare. When our quality and availability of coverage ranks up there with Africa and Eastern Europe, we need to seriously question what we're doing.

"For the love of money is the root of all evil" - 1 Timothy 6:10

Insurance company executives profit from the suffering of others. Making a good living is one thing. Raking in billions while cutting off coverage for those who need it most sounds like a love of money to me.

Posted by colinstmichael on 2009-10-23 11:40:25

The issue is not about "what" is being done but "HOW" it is being done! Whenever there are Locked Doors and people excluded - the perception is a NEGATIVE!
This past election was about cleaning up the culture of corruption and the old way of doing business. There was to be transparency and bi-partisanship - legislation on the Web Page for all to read before it was voted upon. All of it sounded so refreshing and upscale!
But - Locked Doors? Republicans being excluded because they don't know how to behave? Have we become a bunch of petty third-graders and doing things out of spite? Did we elect adults or whining children to do the people's business.
They all deserve a good old-fashioned Chinese Cheer - Phooey! Phooey! PHOOEY!!! We trusted and believed those who have already betrayed that trust. Blame Bush; Blame Fox News; Blame Rush Limbaugh; Blame the Chamber of Commerce; Blame the Tea-Bag Parties; Blame the "rowdies" and the Townhall Meetings; Blame everyone and everything - but - when is this President and Congress going to take ownership of what they are doing and trying to do?? All of this is getting very old and BORING! The "blame game" has a short shelf life - and they have reached their expiration date with their excuses!

Posted by peripheral on 2009-10-24 06:57:50

We can't blame one side and not the other. Both are equally as childish. Those who are closing the doors would rather shut their opponents out than stand up to them. If they could call for the mommies to settle it, they would. The ones getting shut out have a refusal to cooperate based on political stance instead of the country's best interests. They say "no" to everything, including legislation they once fought for - but because the dems are for it - they're now against it. None of it seems to be conducted by adults, but at least the dems are trying to accomplish something. Reps are trying to strip the reform down to nothing. It's shameful. If they had a better idea, they could've proposed it by now. It's been a debate for decades. They've had more than enough time.

Posted by colinstmichael on 2009-10-24 21:26:37