You may be reading this thinking that you are in fact the epitome of normalcy… everyone should persevere to be more like you and things would be better right? I’m not even going to say you’re wrong because you may in fact be right. But, what I do have to say is that while I don’t think I’m any worse than anyone else, I am most definitely not normal in the sense of the world’s definition of normal today.

Number one, I believe that Christianity deserves a more prominent role in our society… Let me restate that… I believe the role of Christianity in the United States should be returned to its rightful place our forefathers intended for it to be. Our current society and governmental policy has desecrated the spiritual relationship our country was built upon in an effort to satisfy the liberal elitists and minority segments of society with unending rivers of cash.

Number two, I believe that the people should run our country, not the government running the people. Our government is not working for the people at this stage of our country’s existence… it is feeding upon the power that it has been given in an effort to rule our people thinking that it can make better decisions for us than we can for ourselves. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure I can make my own decisions without some politician telling me what to do and how to live.

Number three, I don’t believe in being politically correct. We can be congenial and friendly without having to succumb to the mind numbing actions being politically correct involve. If we can’t coexist amongst one another without offending each other, maybe we should have classes on being tactful and respectful rather than being force-fed something that only covers up people’s true feelings. Being politically correct doesn’t solve anything, it simply sugar coats the situation and makes for very fake conversations and relationships.

Number four, I don’t think the government is here to solve all of our problems. I believe the American citizen owns the power to change our world. We can’t rely upon or depend upon government handouts, stimulus packages, or interventions to solve our issues. Do you still have your mom and dad bail you out of trouble when you have issues? Does your dad come and change your tire if it’s flat? Does your mom still do your laundry and make you supper? We need to outgrow our dependence on government and relearn how to govern ourselves.

And finally number five, I believe every single person in our country, male and female, should be required to complete a full year of military service before turning 18. No, I’m not talking about joining the National Guard or Army… I’m talking about a year long (not school year, a full 365 days) course providing every young person a sample of discipline, structure, and military training that will lay the foundation for a strong young mind preparing to enter adulthood and the real world.

Do you think this sounds very normal in today’s society of religious decline, government handouts, and decreasing military recruitment? Our society is all about getting things because of some sense of entitlement. Where did the concept of earning what you deserve go? We have been trained to rely upon our government for sustenance and we have allowed our spirituality be gutted simply because an elite few has decided they don’t agree. We don’t respect our military the way we should and we do things right only if we are recognized and rewarded in some manner. I’m glad that I’m not normal in the eyes of our world. If I were called normal by the “normal” people of this world, I would be ashamed of myself.

Our current social times has placed being “religious” into what many consider some sort of horrific stigma. Nobody wants to be labeled the “Bible Thumper” within your group of friends. People have been led to believe that being “religious” must mean that everyone is closed minded and all followers must abide by some specific doctrine or they are not accepted. The last I checked, Christianity is much different than the religion of Islam… However, people have associated nearly all religions with such radical ideology and have thus started turning their backs to religion of all forms and fashions.

I’m not so sure that these times are any different than the past. It seems to me that religious people have been generally treated differently and persecuted throughout our world’s history. But, the United States is a relatively new society as compared to history and we were founded upon Christianity and the freedom of religion as one of our fundamental building blocks. If we are losing contact with our roots, where are we going?

Some people may think that we are becoming more affluent and intelligent as we gain more knowledge regarding the science of life. Some people may think that religion was just a figment of our immature minds looking for meaning to our otherwise mundane existences. Whatever the case may be, more people are choosing to not believe in anything rather than believe in something.

A fast rising segment of society is the so-called Atheists. These people have rejected the idea of God and choose to believe in nothing. The number of Atheists has doubled since 1990 according to the report. Another segment that is growing is the agnostic group. This particular segment has not completely rejected the idea of God… they just choose not to believe at this point.

Another alarming fact from the report is that those who call themselves Christians has declined from 86 to 76 percent. There are several “reasons” given for the decline… from various political parties establishing footholds within certain religious segments to the horrid news stories of religious leaders doing unthinkable things while in power. If these are reasons to discount or reject God in your life, I would say God was never in your life…

America has long been the hope of the free world. Our personal ties to Christianity have long been one of the building blocks of our great society. If you follow the tumultuous existence of our last few generations, you can very easily track the increasing number of Americans who have no faith to the increased violence, lack of hope, and general downward spiral our society has undertaken. Some of these are fact and some are opinion, but who can argue that the United States is in the best of times these days? That’s right, no one can.

As we allow our faith become overrun by those with no faith and no hope, our society will continue to pay the price. Our nation is a Christian nation… at this point. The remaining Christians in our society must make it a point to make the right decisions and live our lives according to our Christian roots. We have seen that the mistakes made can be devastating and can turn people away from hope and Christianity. It is up to us to turn the tide and show the world that being religious and being a Christian is nothing to be ashamed of. I’m proud to call myself a Christian, even though I am not perfect… the last I checked, neither was anyone else.

Lose weight/Get in better shape/Become healthier…

This seems to be the standard resolution for the majority of society for a variety of reasons. I’m right there with you. We can always strive to become healthier in how we eat, exercise, and live our lives. We must set goals that are attainable so that we do not become discouraged… nothing happens overnight. Remember, it took a long time to get into the state we are in and it will take time to reverse it. Focus on small battles on the way to the overall victory. Think about things in terms of weeks and months, not days and never allow a minor setback destroy your resolve or momentum in your journey.

Save money/Get out of debt

Everyone always wants to make that nest egg a little bit bigger. We also want to reduce the stress in our life that debt creates. Managing our money better during the new year is also a very important battle we wage each and every paycheck. Again, we must focus on the small victories in the course of our war on debt and savings. This particular battle may be a multi-year war and thus there are many opportunities to stray off course and allow the pitfalls of the war disintegrate our willpower. We must focus on the small victories and remember that things take time to right the wrongs of the past.

Be nicer or more caring/Volunteer more

As human beings, most of us have the born in need of wanting to help others. Giving our time freely by volunteering and helping others in need is a prime opportunity to satisfy this need. However, we all know how strained our current time allocations are. We can’t arbitrarily state that we will join several volunteer groups in our community or church and believe that we can sustain a drastic change in lifestyle. As with our other resolutions, we must think small first, and move to bigger and better things.

Many resolutions are dead and buried by the 2^nd week of the new year and some may only last into the 2^nd month. Overall, our resolutions are made in good faith because we all want to become the person we envision ourselves to be, but it’s very easy to become discouraged and migrate back to our previous way of life. If we make too many changes, we simply cannot stay on track and our resolutions become nothing more than pipe dreams. Stay small and focused and true change can happen.

With the economy, housing market, and job market in the dire states they are currently in, what kind of new resolutions make sense to make this year?

Work harder/Be more efficient

With jobs becoming scarce, we all need to work harder at the jobs we do have and also become more efficient at them. Society is spending less money and as a result, there is less money in corporate pockets. Production decreases and job slashing will continue to erode the job market. If we can make ourselves more valuable while decreasing overall costs by becoming more efficient, we can help protect our jobs.

Rebuild family/friend relationships

As the overall economy deteriorates, we all need help at some point. That help comes from our family and friends for the most because the government is not our support system. If there are issues that currently are keeping family or friend relationships broken, they should be worked through because these relationships with loved ones can make the difference between a lifestyle of depression versus one with hope. We all need loving relationships in our lives. Repair those that are broken.

Find your faith/Become active in church

America was born upon the Christian philosophy and faith. The vast majority of Americans still consider themselves Christians. However, church attendance is down. Our church family is another relationship we must rebuild and refocus our attention on. If we can come together again and put away our selfish and greedy differences and focus on living our lives through our faith, we can overcome the trials and tribulations the world continually tries to punish us with.

The new year can be a great year. Focus on each day by doing whatever you can to achieve your overall goals. Remember that winning the battles will not be easy and they will take time… some will take years. However, if we truly work on them, we can make a major difference in our lives and also those around us by simply trying to become better people. Our individual attention to ourselves will translate to everyone around us and we can make an immeasurable positive impact on society.

I’m not speaking from a spiritual point of view as I know the true meaning of Christmas and I am not solely focused upon the commercialized aspect of the season. But, I do want those around me to experience the Christmas they deserve, from both gift receiving and giving to the spiritual aspects of Christmas. This has been a tough year for most of us… a tough few years. I am ok with sacrificing all the commercial aspects of Christmas for myself, but I feel that it is my duty to provide for my loved ones a season in which they enjoy.

Christmas is not all about getting “stuff,” but sometimes, the “stuff” you want to give your loved ones truly means something. Without the means to provide it, it makes me feel empty. I am saddened by the fact that the commercialized Christmas takes away from the ultimate value it has in my life. I feel like I’ve succumbed to the massive marketing machines in our greedy and selfish world and allowed that aspect of Christmas gain too much importance in my life. This is the reason for my “empty” feeling.

Does any of this relate to how you are feeling during this year’s season? I have a feeling that many of us are feeling this way. We shouldn’t. We should be focused on the true reason for Christmas and not about the monetary portion of it. It’s hard not too though because everywhere we turn, we see and read about how horrible our economic situation is and how families are being turned inside out because their jobs are lost and their homes are being foreclosed. We also see things and think of nice gifts that would carry true meaning for our loved ones, but we can’t buy them. We just can’t…

Where do we go from here? I told my wife that I don’t want anything. I don’t NEED anything. All I NEED is her company and love. That is the absolute truth. I am past the age of wanting stuff just to have stuff. I am ok with less… more than ok, I NEED less. She responded with the same desire. She doesn’t want anything and doesn’t NEED anything. However, for some reason, I cannot do that… I cannot simply buy her nothing. What kind of husband would I be if my loving wife received nothing for Christmas? Would I not be a failure? Isn’t that what the commercialized world wants us to think? Don’t they want to guilt us into becoming a follower of their monetized Christmas season?

I admit I have been blinded by their greed and selfishness at times in my life. If I can say that I want, NEED, nothing, then why can’t I believe my wife when she tells me the same thing? I’m not lying to her so why would she lie to me? I believe that she is telling me the truth but my “world” view pushes me to discount her words. I still WANT to buy her “stuff.” The stuff I want to get her though means something to me and to her… because it’s from me. I want to fill her life with joy and satisfy her every need. How can she not WANT anything for Christmas?

It can be true because I honestly do not WANT anything for Christmas. Rather than focusing upon the gifts and the ability to purchase them, a return to the ultimate meaning of Christmas should be our focus. No longer would we feel empty or sad because we cannot fulfill the supposed needs of those we love by giving gifts. If we forgot about the commercialized aspect of Christmas, the emptiness would be gone. This article is actually a look at how I’ve felt over the last few months. I have progressed through these feelings, and as Christmas Day approaches, my empty feeling has been replaced with happiness.

That happiness resides in the fact that we are able to spend our time together, in love and truly happy… together. We are having a family dinner this evening with no gifts, just the people of our lives who can be with us, enjoying the Christmas season together. Tomorrow morning will be very small for us and I’m glad and content. My focus is upon my wife, my family, and my spiritual relationship… not with getting “stuff.” Tomorrow is Christ’s birthday. He was born to give his life for our salvation. That is the focus of Christmas, not receiving a gift. Merry Christmas to everyone and God bless your families.

Is the motivator in your life something physical, spiritual, or emotional? Can you quantify your particular motivator? More often than not, I would bet my money that the motivators for most are emotional and spiritual. Physical motivators are fleeting and are vastly overrated. Shooting from the hip here, I would guess that the physical factors for most are money/wealth, physical attributes/looks, and possessions. These are things people can easily touch and quantify. They are also things that are very shallow and volatile. For the most part, physical motivation does not last and only creates a continuous need for more because satisfaction can never be achieved without having more and more.

On the other hand, we have spiritual and emotional motivators. These factors can also create a constant state of dissatisfaction because many people cannot honestly express themselves and sacrifice their true needs for the needs of others or for fear of public retribution or humiliation. There are also situations where these needs can mimic that of a possession motivator. They can be a never ending hole that cannot be filled for whatever reason.

What makes me tick? At one point in my life, I can honestly tell you that physical possession meant more to me than anything. I wanted the best and more of it. I wanted the top of the line and wanted better than anyone else. I wanted it, I needed it. Many, if not all of us, probably go through this period of selfishness and greed in our lives.

Later in life, I entered an emotional motivator focus on life. Within this segment of life, I was specifically motivated by appreciation received from others. I would do anything as long as I felt that I was being appreciated and respected for my efforts. If I felt that I was being taken for granted or slighted, I would be immediately angered and become very aggravated. This emotional motivator is a very sharp two-edged sword. Very rarely is there balance or a middle of the road. I lived a hot and cold life while focused on my appreciation motivational ticker.

Now, I believe that I am entering a new stage in my motivational life. My life has become more motivated by my spiritual relationships. I still cling to the remnants of physical motivation. I don’t think any of us can truly be rid of our basic sense of want, not 100%. I am still holding on to my appreciation motivator too. I am trying to temper those times when I feel like I am underappreciated. Even with those still hanging around, my single most motivating factor in my life is becoming my spiritual relationships.

That truly makes me tick these days. As each day progresses and my previous motivators diminish in relationship to my core motivator, I feel more at peace. My spiritual relationships alters my outlook on the world we live in and provides me the necessary buffer against the damaging emotions other motivating factors bring with it.

My relationship with my wife and my Savior are my two most important motivators in my life. As I focus on these types of relationships, the other motivators become meaningless. I believe my progression through physical, emotional, and spiritual motivation is the path most of us walk through as we mature. Some may experience these motivators earlier in life or in a different order, but I feel that spiritual motivation is the pinnacle of life.

That’s what makes me tick. What makes you tick?

Upon first glance at that sentence, I would imagine we all turn our focus to an external enemy… an enemy from across the shores, a physical and political enemy. However, I believe the enemy is actually our own citizens within our society today. O’Reilly wrote this knowing that and has identified the threat as an entity he labels the “Secular Progressives” or S-P for short. I will label this segment of our society as our “insurgents.”

Yes, I label them with such drastic measure because the effects of their ultra liberal policies destroy the basic American moral values which we were founded upon. The American insurgency, aka insurrectionists or secessionists in my opinion, are looking to change the landscape into that of total anarchy. Our way of life, if they have their way, will change forever into something that could split the nation in a way we haven’t seen since the Civil War. No longer is slavery or women’s rights at stake, our nation’s moral and ethical value system is at stake.

Fighting for our individual rights is one thing, fighting for the continued life of our nation is another. The insurgents are pushing policies which are held by a very small percentage of our society. However, that percentage is growing and is funded by some of the wealthiest people in America. They have the ability to get their message out because they are in de facto control of the nation’s media outlets. They control the television air waves, a large portion of the radio waves, and have created propaganda spewing internet sites which are in place to lure unsuspecting youth into their control.

This is not a fight of Republican versus Democrat. It is not a fight between Conservatives and Liberals. This is a fight between the standard American citizen who holds our moral and ethical value set close to their heart and those who wish to remove all moral and ethical standards while replacing them with what is by default, chaos and anarchy.

Over 80% of our nation’s citizens consider themselves Christians. As such, they are bound by certain basic moral and ethical standards. If our nation has its moral and ethical standards destroyed by a small, but extremely powerful insurgency, expect a revolution by those who wish to uphold what the United States of America stands for.

Creating a society where anarchy and chaos rules serves two major purposes… greed and selfishness. If there are no moral and ethical rules to follow, what exactly is there to keep the average human being in line other than a basic understanding of what is right and wrong? And even then, right and wrong can be argued and litigated until wrong is right and right is wrong. Our society will simply focus on individual satisfaction at all costs because it’s our “right.”

Do we need the government to uphold our standard moral and ethical views? Do we need laws in place to tell us how to live correctly? It appears that we do because if the insurgents had their way, our country would already be in chaos. No longer does it appear that we have the innate sense to know what is right and wrong while living in society. No longer does it appear that we can govern ourselves in a free society effectively as the insurgents continue to gain power. No longer does it appear that we know how to live without greed and selfishness.

In the end, the country will make a decision. Will those of us who stand for something greater than the individual stand up for our country or will we simply allow the insurgency decide for us how to live our lives? I’m not telling you to stand up and start a militia in preparation for a revolution, I am telling you to use the most powerful tool in your arsenal… your vote. Yes, we just finished one our biggest elections, but it never stops. Speak up, write letters, attend a rally, do something other than allow the insurgents have their way because we are too lazy or pacified. They are the weaker force… we must band together and stop them before it’s too late. At that point in time, we may be beyond the simple casting a vote phase and into a full blown revolution.

The American way of life is worth fighting for. No, not the “American life” of greed and selfishness, but the way of life our forefathers fought and died to protect. If we do our part, our country can be reclaimed and once again be that shining beacon of hope to all who want freedom.

Following the title, the book proudly states “The investment guide the Anti-Christ doesn’t want you to read.” Here’s a short excerpt from the book: “…how to exploit the inevitable demise of the world in order to make a tidy profit. Sure, the rivers and seas will run with blood, locusts will swarm, mountains will move all over the place, and famine will strike. But for the five billion of us left behind, the post-Rapture world will be a time of even more unique investment opportunities.”

The writers achieved two things in my case. Number one, they created a book which interested me enough to pick up and revel in complete wonderment about how this pair of authors actually received payment to write such a book. Number two, they made me feel complete disgust towards them and their willingness to prey upon such a topic.

Oh, but it’s a book meant to be sarcastic, or funny even you may say… that’s fine and that’s your point of view. My point of view is much different. Maybe we should write a sarcastic and funny book about paraplegics or other disabled people. Maybe we should write a book about how to make money off the autistic children of our society. Maybe we should write a funny book about how terrorists continually murder innocent people. Different subject matter, but still not a funny topic… am I right? What exactly is funny about the Rapture in the eyes of the faithful Christian? Nothing.

People have made fun of religion since the dawn of time, but there are times when I think sarcasm and wit go a bit too far. This is one of those instances. Each and every situation in our world can be exploited to make money off of, but is it the right thing to do? Is it even right to write about it? Is it right to entertain such ideas even in a joking manner?

I have a problem with the publishers pursuing such a book let alone the writers conceiving and following through on their idea. Has our country become so desensitized that nothing is out of bounds when facing the all mighty profit motive? Has our daily life become so commoditized that nothing is sacred? As I have stated before, America still considers itself a Christian nation. When did we find it ok to make fun of it?

Everything is fun and games as long as it makes money right? I personally love comedy and sarcasm, but this particular book has put me in awe. Next thing we know, I’ll see a book about how to make millions by selling bread and rice to the starving in Africa. But hey, it’s a sarcastic and funny book… you must have missed the point. No, the point is that the subject matter isn’t funny and never will be no matter what looking glass you are peering through. Some things are best left to your inner voice and never allowed to see the public view.

In the last article, I mentioned the 16 pages of bickering that resulted from the original topic writer’s opinion piece. What I didn’t mention was the fact that nearly all of the “debaters” considered themselves of the same faith. How can there be such disparate viewpoints on an issue so black and white such as abortion? Without religion, sure, there can be many shades of gray, but within the religious community, there is one simple and resounding fact, abortion is not to be accepted.

Let’s just throw this issue out and focus on the bickering and the resulting ramifications, because in reality, the issue isn’t the problem. The issue is that there are too many differing factions amongst the religious community. Each denomination can be separated by many different sub-categories and have their own set of acceptable rules and regulations you should abide by. Orthodox and unorthodox, strict versus non-strict, and the list goes on. But, as part of the Christian faith, all teaching should be directly rooted within the Bible’s passages and messages.

When the public sees Christians fighting amongst themselves over such core issues, what are they left to think? Are they going to think Christians are following their own standards and spiritual guides or are they going to think much differently? Christians, while debating such issues, must watch what they say and must think about their personal spiritual relationship before regurgitating some “official” Church stance on the subject.

Personally, I am a Christian, but I do not consider myself a member of a specific denomination. I don’t believe you have to be Catholic or Protestant. I believe you are simply a Christian if your faith is in Jesus Christ. However, when I debate religion, I am slow to argue and quick to listen. Debating is much different than arguing. Debating will attempt to answer questions and offer informational arguments concerning the issue at hand. Arguing only leads to a winner and loser mentality no matter what the fallout.

Christians, who argue in front of their fellow man, believer and non-believer alike, do nothing but harm their faith and leave those who can hear, see, and read with distaste for all involved. How can people of the SAME faith, be at each other’s throats over issues which are so clear amongst the Christian community? Some people feel the need to be, or feel, right no matter what the costs are. Some people will destroy everything for their own personal satisfaction. This is what I equate religious infighting to… some people are so worried about winning, they are actually losing and they are hurting more people than they can ever imagine.

You can take this ideology to any issue in your life. If you are too worried about winning, then you are likely arguing. If you are worried about the other person’s point of view and listen, then you are more than likely debating. Debating is healthy and we all learn from it, even on spiritual issues. Arguing is always a lose/lose situation. In the case of religious infighting, it’s even worse than just a lose/lose situation, you are potentially harming everyone around you and your entire faith. Be quick to listen, be slow to speak. The old adage “Think before you speak” can be applied everywhere.

After this “debate,” where did the discussion leave us? It left us in the same place we were in before and maybe a step behind in the overall sense of Christianity. Our world and society has many differing points of view and her letter focused upon Obama’s unwavering support of the Pro-Choice movement. He has stated that one of his first actions as President will be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). Obama was also the co-sponsor of the Senate’s version of the bill in 2007 and he stated, “The first thing I’d do, as president, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That’s the first thing that I’d do.” I’m not going to regurgitate what the FOCA entails, but it basically removes all restraints from abortion until fetal viability. What is fetal viability? It essentially means before 24 weeks pregnant. You can find out any and all information you would like by simply searching online.

The lady who wrote this letter believes that based upon her faith, she cannot and should not vote for someone who supports abortion. Christianity by default is anti-abortion and is in fact quite the opposite. Christian leaders inform their congregations about the issues they vote about, not who to vote for (illegal by non-profit organization rules and regulations). However, based upon the issues and your Christian faith, someone should not come to the conclusion that voting for a pro-choice candidate is ok. I said “should not.” As we saw, over 65 million Americans voted for Obama in our Presidential election. Utilizing some recent data, nearly 80% of America considers themselves Christian. So, there must be a large portion of Christians who decided to vote for Obama no matter what his stance is on abortion is.

Sure, there are many other factors when choosing a President and we all know that a single position “should not” affect your overall choice, but for me, this is not a single issue versus many other comparable issues. Abortion to me is a deal breaker issue. For others, it is not and that is their right. For other Christians, it is not, and that is their right. I’m not trying to pass judgment upon anyone, but for me, if I had voted Obama, I would have effectively traded dollars for life. It supposedly means more money in my pocket due to his impending “tax cuts” and “better” economic policies in trade for his support of Roe v. Wade and the signing of the FOCA bill.

Yes, I know there are other issues at play including the two wars we are engaged in along with healthcare and educational issues, not to even mention immigration problems, but could I devalue my Christian faith for the blessings of government and dollars in my pocket? I could not. McCain was not my first choice and he was a “lesser of two evils” approach for me, but at the very minimum, he supported the protection of unborn children. Would I support someone who was Pro-Life but on every other issue I disagreed with? Of course not.

As for Obama and my vote, I disagreed not only with his Pro-Choice stance, but almost 100% on every other policy he supports. What if I had supported 100% of his other policies, would I have voted for him? Never. My Christian faith requires me to abide by my moral and ethical values. While being human, I do make mistakes, but this would have been a willful mistake. I would have chosen to rationalize that his Pro-Choice stance was a sacrifice we should make for the betterment of our country. Since when should we view trading unborn children’s lives as a necessary trade for a stronger economy?

You may believe that I am passing judgment, I am not. Each person, if truly being a Christian, KNOWS what the right decision is and they will either feel good about it, or feel remorse about their actions later if they chose not to follow. I voted my conscience in the sense of my faith and my policy choices by voting for McCain. Yes, I know our country needs change, but change for simply the sake of change is not what we need.

You may say there should be 0% religion in government because of the Constitution’s requirement of separation of Church and State. I say yes, the government cannot force religion upon our citizens, but our citizens can utilize religion and faith when voting and deciding policy. Taking a look at the latest statistics, 78.4% of Americans state that they are Christians. The rest is broken up into about 5% belonging to other faith traditions and 16.1% being unaffiliated with any specific religion. Our nation has always been and currently still is a Christian nation. Our forefathers and leadership during our nation’s formation were deeply rooted in their Christian faith, but they did not “shove” religion down our throats… going as far as making sure that it cannot happen.

Issue: Abortion

This may be the most divisive issue between the Conservative and Liberal Agendas. Unlike the Liberal Agenda believers, conservatives believe in Pro-Life. Many conservatives equate life with conception and not at birth. With life beginning at conception, abortion is nothing more than the murder of an innocent child. The innocence of life should be protected and not equated to a simple choice or right of the mother because it’s her “body.” What about the life of the child growing inside? Does it not have any rights?

Contradicting laws of our nation add to the volatility of this issue. Abortion is ok because the mother is “choosing” to abort because it’s her “body.” However, if a mother who is pregnant is murdered, the criminal faces two charges of murder. Or, if a pregnant mother is attacked and the baby is lost, the criminal faces a murder charge. On one hand, the child has no significance only because the mother decides that she doesn’t want the baby. On the other, the child is equivalent of a born human being, possessing all natural rights. The unborn baby either possesses all natural rights or does not. The Conservative Agenda says the unborn life possesses ALL natural rights.

Issue: Progressive Taxes

Unlike the Liberal Agenda, the Conservative Agenda does not believe in taxation to “spread the wealth.” Actually, removing the entire taxation system and replacing it with a “sales tax” is gaining momentum and traction amongst the true conservative nation. The idea here is to pay taxes upon the products you buy and not pay taxes on the amount of income you earn. Liberals utilize the broken progressive tax system to “earn” votes by “cutting” taxes for the poor and middle class… Look at your wallet and the past… when did you pay more taxes and when did you not?

Issue: Gun Control

Gun Control is another major issue dividing the liberals and conservatives. Liberals believe everyone will be safe as long as the people (not Joe Schmoe citizen) they determine should have weapons have them and nobody else does (I guess illegal weapons never cross their mind). Conservatives believe in the 2^nd Amendment and believe it is an American citizen’s right to own and bear arms. No, they are not saying we should have fully automatic weapons, tanks, and explosives. They are supporting our right to own civilian weapons if we are law abiding citizens because our Constitution and Bill of Rights says we can.

Issue: Homosexual Marriage

Like abortion, there are some religious motivations for opposing gay marriage. However, that does not mean the conservatives are forcing religion upon you. Our nation was founded upon Christian faith and ideology and the sanctity of marriage should be protected as such. Given that nearly 80% of our nation still considers itself Christian, it’s not a leap of faith to assume that the sanctity of marriage should be protected as one man, one woman. Marriage is not “just” a state recognized union, it is a Christian union.

Issue: Government Control

Conservatives profess that downsizing government is an ultimate desire. Decreasing the impact government has in our lives enhances our freedom as a nation. Conservatives believe that private enterprise produces competition and therefore we receive the benefits of better products and services. Government sponsored policies and services only add to the “fat” our government already abundantly has.

As you can see, there are night and day differences between the Liberal and Conservative Agendas. However, unlike what the media would have you believe, the conservatives are not about “shoving” religion down your throat and forcing you to abide by their beliefs. Yes, religion plays a factor in how their decisions are made regarding policy, but they are not creating legislation that forces the American citizen to abide by the Christian faith.

Citation: http://www.latimes.com/