Should Religion Affect Politics?

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Should Religion Affect Politics?

The Book of Mormon demands it.....

Therefore, choose you by the voice of this people, judges, that ye may be judged according to the laws which have been given you by our fathers, which are correct, and which were given them by the hand of the Lord.

Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your lawâ??to do your business by the voice of the people.

And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.

Mosiah 29:25-27

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OK, I'll admit to some conflicts between the Bill of Rights and the Ten Commandments:

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

That would be in diametric conflict with the Establishment and Free Exercise clause.

Were I writing the laws for this country, this is not a commandment that I would propose should be reflected in the law of the land. (I think... But see what BCSpace cross-posted with me, above.)

2. No graven images.

In the usual understanding of that commandment, I see this as a "reasonable restriction" to the Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press clauses. I see no problem here.

There's probably a problem with the Free Exercise clause.

Again, I personally wouldn't propose that this should be codified into the law of the land.

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy god in vain.

Again, this could be a "reasonable restriction" to the Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press clauses.

However, I again wouldn't propose that this should be codified into the law of the land.

4. Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy.

We for many years had "blue laws" that enforced the sabbath, without running afoul of the Constitution. There is no problem here.

5. Honor thy father and thy mother.

I don't know that this is something that one could reasonably codify into law.

6. Thou shalt not kill.

No problem.

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

No problem. We had this law for many years.

8. Thou shalt not steal.

No problem. (We need to remind the Congress about this one when they are writing tax laws... )

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness.

My understanding of this has been that it applies in to legal and quasi-legal sorts of situations where one might bear false witness against others. I see no conflict here, and the basic principle of honesty is in fact codified into many areas of law--not just court testimony, but also fraud, torts, and pretty much any circumstance where one person might seek to deceive another.

10. Thou shalt not covet.

This is a state of mind, not a action. I don't see it as something that might be codified into law.

I remind people that I have not proposed that the Ten Commandments should be the law of the land. I am merely responding to declan78's assertion that adopting the Ten Commandments would "shred the Bill of Rights." While it would indeed nullify the Establishment and Free Exercise clauses, it appears to me that it has very little effect on the rest of the Bill of Rights, nor on anything else in the Constitution.

[thesometimesaint]

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No problem. (We need to remind the Congress about this one when they are writing tax laws... sad.gif )

Gov. Pawlenty can't dodge ownership in bridge collapse

By Kathlyn Stone

Six years ago independent engineers at the University of Minnesota warned that the I-35 bridge had â??evidence of fatigue on the main truss and floor trusses and said the bridge might collapse if part of the truss gave way under the eight-lane freeway.â?

In a brazen CYA move last night, Gov. Pawlenty (Bush Republican) said 2005 and 2006 bridge studies indicated there were "no structural deficits" in the I-35 bridge.

But today the president's spokesperson said the report actually said there were structural deficits. A 2005 federal inspection rated the bridge 50 on a scale of 120 for structural stability, and the Bush administration said it was up to state officials to take corrective action.

The Minnesota Legislature attempted to take corrective action by passing transportation funding bills, but Pawlenty vetoed them.

In a followup CYA move Thursday morning, after being cast aside by Team Bush like a used-up trollup, Gov. Tim Pawlenty orders inspection of all state bridges. Sure, make it look as if you suddenly care about public safety. A new round of inspections (by more political appointees or privatized and outsourced, one should presume) does not deflect the fact that four people are reported dead (so far), the bodies of passengers in 20 cars are now resting in the Mississippi or trapped beneath twisted metal, and 79 are injured from yesterdayâ??s collapse.

How do you like them apples, Pawlenty? You pledged to follow the Bush-Cheney playbook to a "T" â?? forsaking Minnesotansâ?? interest -- and now you are left holding the bag all on your own. Every Minnesotan knows (or should be aware) that the MNDOT, the League of Minnesota Cities, bi-partisan legislative and citizens groups and the state's largest businesses have been begging for transportation funding, including attention to problem bridges, for years. Citizens even passed a constitutional amendment last fall because of your stubborn refusal to deal with the transportation budget crisis.

Pawlenty twice vetoed a bi-partisan bill to increase the gas tax to pay for the stateâ??s transportation infrastructure needs and took no steps to heed numerous warnings. Failure.

"I'd stand with President Bush if his approval rating was 2 percent. I won't abandon my leader just because times are tough." Gov. Tim Pawlenty, October 20, 2005â??

Seventy-seven percent of Minnesotans are willing to pay higher taxes or user fees to fund highway and transit improvements to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety. This highlights Minnesotaâ??s significant and growing transportation problem and Minnesotansâ?? desire to do something about it.â? â?? Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Report, January 2006

â??In cities across Minnesota, transportation maintenance and improvement costs are contributing to increasing property taxes. And a lack of state funding has delayed critical improvement projects and repairs needed for both safety and economic vitality. As time passes, the needs and the project costs increase. â?? League of Minnesota Cities

Support for Minnesota's Transportation Amendment Reaches Record Level

"Deteriorating roads and bridges, unsafe highways and intersections and limited transit options for residents in Minnesota are all serious threats to our quality of life. This amendment will provide millions of dollars every year for local governments statewide to improve critical transportation projects in their communities," said Ken Brown, Olmsted County commissioner and supporter of MBRT. Olmsted County is one of 64 counties, along with the League of Minnesota Cities, that supports the amendment. -- Minnesota Transportation Alliance

Minnesotans vote 'yes' on transportation amendment

November 8, 2006 Minneapolis â?? (AP) Minnesota voters locked state government into spending more money on roads and public transit, approving an amendment to the state constitution that's expected to funnel an extra $300 million a year into transportation projects.

And just one more thingâ?¦.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar says: "Bridges in America don't just collapse."

She's said it at least three times now in press conferences and interviews since last night. Every time I hear that it about sends me through the ceiling.

Wake up, Klobuchar. There's a price to pay for privatizing and outsourcing the government. The public's safety and welfare just doesn't matter to modern "public servants." We were warned about the bridge (and others) years ago and those in power chose to give tax breaks to the wealthy and fund an immoral war instead.

Authors Website: www.kathystone.squarespace.com

Authors Bio: Kathlyn Stone is a Twin Cities, Minnesota-based writer covering science, health policy, the economy and international relations.

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No problem. (We need to remind the Congress about this one when they are writing tax laws... sad.gif )

Gov. Pawlenty can't dodge ownership in bridge collapse

By Kathlyn Stone

Six years ago independent engineers at the University of Minnesota warned that the I-35 bridge had “evidence of fatigue on the main truss and floor trusses and said the bridge might collapse if part of the truss gave way under the eight-lane freeway.”

etc.

OK...

So, you'rs saying that government should be spending our tax money keeping bridges from falling down, instead of the huge amounts that go to unconstitutional programs of various sorts? I'm in agreement there. I don't see the connection with this thread, though.