Hypocrites Being Hypocritical

Come to the "right" side.  

I am completely befuddled by the administration’s approach to funding the hurricane Katrina relief effort. (Inadequate as it was.) President Bush has proposed massive spending cuts to make up for the 20 billion ear-marked for the Gulf-coast. Taking a cue from the White House, House Republicans have vowed to cut 50 billion from the next budget plus a 2% reduction in discretionary spending.

If you have been following politics at all in the last 4-6 years, you well know that social services will face the bulk of the cuts. Now I’m just a know-it-all law student, but does it make much sense to cut social service budgets in the wake of one of this country’s largest natural disasters? People desperately need all the help they can get.

And let’s not forget about the 286.4 billion dollar transportation bill that President Bush recently signed. It’s hard to believe that that there wasn’t 20 billion worth of pork in that big-ticket bill that could be diverted to Katrina efforts. I just don’t get it.

Has George Bush forgotten what the Bible says? “Love thy neighbor has thyself.” Jesus was once quoted saying “whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.” I guess all those evangelical (gross generalization I realize) conservatives have forgotten about “living their faith.”

There is such a juxtaposition of political ideologies in America. The conservatives seem to be more selfish, demanding tax cuts that benefit themselves and others like them. They demand that Bush appoint judges that would limit “choice” in a way that abides by their moral beliefs. They will not be happy until everyone, in this great land, thinks like them and shares their moral and religious beliefs. The evangelicals have not shown much tolerance to toward their follow man.

Now I am well aware that some of these same individuals donate money to charities and volunteer their time. I whole-heartedly applaud those efforts. It’s not that all liberals are angels. Many liberal politicians are just as selfish. But in my mind, conservatives generally conduct themselves with an air of self-righteousness. They think their religiosity makes them better. The Bible would respond, “Judge not, lest ye be judged yourself.” and “Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.” It’s pretty clear God doesn’t want you to act like an ass just because you believe in him. Making moral judgments about people is his job.

Oh yea Mr. President, one more Bible passage for your consideration: “Blessed are the peacemakers.”