Strong voice for Maine
The fact that Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud is an incumbent should not mean that he is entitled to win next month’s election. Our forefathers wrote that our representatives would run every two years so voters would have a chance to make a change when the incumbent has not done his job well.
I have always been proud of the men and women from Maine who represented us in Washington. They were respected and admired by their fellow congressmen. They had an effect in Washington, which is a big advantage for a small state.
Can you honestly say that you are proud of the effect that Michaud has had for Maine? Yes, he seems like a nice guy, and he did work at a paper mill a long time ago. But is that enough?
I don’t believe he has done enough in his 10 years in Congress. It’s time for a change in our representation in the 2nd Congressional District.
Republican Kevin Raye has proven that he is a leader and is able to work with members of both parties. He is a man of honor and integrity.
Yes, he’s a nice guy, too. The son of an electrician and teacher, he understands Maine people. You will be proud to call him your congressman. He’s one of us and will be a strong voice for Maine.
Cathy Terrill
Orono
Election faith
The story ” Mitt Romney’s candidacy offers opportunity to talk about faith, Bangor area Mormons say” (BDN, Oct. 7) says the two questions most frequently asked of Mormons are whether the church continues to endorse polygamy and whether Mormons believe in Jesus Christ.
It is true that Mormons believe in Jesus Christ. But that statement in and of itself means nothing. Virtually all world religions have a “belief” in Jesus Christ. The better question to ask is, “Do Mormons believe in the same Jesus Christ that we find in the Bible?” To this, anyone who has done their research into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ beliefs will answer, “No.”
For example, Mormons reject monotheism, the belief that only one true God exists, and instead say that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three separate and distinct gods. They also believe that Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers.
Mormons like to say that their teachings agree with the Bible, but what one needs to do is ask probing questions to find out what their religion really teaches on these subjects.
Chris Hearn
New Sweden
Smoking rights and wrongs
As an emergency medicine physician practicing in Bangor and a board member of the Maine Medical Association, I was frustrated to read about a Bangor City Council committee discussion on restricting tobacco use in city parks in an Oct. 1 article.
Several council members commented that smoking is about individual rights. It’s true that tobacco products are legal and adults have a right to use them. However, Councilor Geoff Gratwick got it right when he said this is an issue of public health. An individual’s right to smoke should end when it will adversely affect health for the rest of us. Families, children and those of us who don’t smoke (nearly 80 percent of adults in Maine are nonsmokers) should be able to enjoy Bangor’s playgrounds and outdoor spaces without worrying that we are putting our health at risk or having to be the ones to get up and leave.
We know that secondhand tobacco smoke, even outdoors, is dangerous and can subject people nearby to similar levels of dangerous carcinogens than indoor tobacco smoke. We also know that smoke-free policies in outdoor locations are very effective in preventing youth tobacco use in the first place.
For these reasons, the Maine Medical Association supports policies that protect nonsmokers from involuntary exposure to hazardous tobacco smoke. We hope the council does not water down the proposal to have a complete ban on smoking in parks.
Charles F. Pattavina, MD
Bangor
King’s support
I am writing to you to express my support for independent Angus King to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe in the upcoming election. I support King as a fourth-year University of Maine student who both cares deeply about the environment as well as my wallet. King supports the natural gas industry as a stepping stone from our oil addiction to a renewable energy future.
As for my wallet, King has supported, and continues to support, student-loan reform. With the amount of debt for the average Maine college graduate being the second highest in the country, Maine graduates could see some very serious economic turmoil in the coming years. Debt has already altered my plans for after school. Instead of going to law school, I will immediately enter the workforce to chip away at my student loans.
King supports the transition from a “debt-as-default” system to one that replicates the 401(k) system but in a reverse fashion, where employers match the payment of student loans until they are gone, then continuing to match for retirement plans.
As a student who cares about the environment, I support King because he supports me.
Gordon Merrick
Old Town
Elections matter
We vote for candidates for different reasons. However, the most important rationale is to choose candidates who most closely support our core beliefs. Do you believe that the best government is that which governs least? Do you believe that you are entitled to your income without major taxation? Do you believe that most jobs and businesses should be in the private sector rather than in the public sector, which has to be supported by taxpayers? Do you believe that most individuals have the ability and capability to make the best decisions for themselves?
If you answered yes to the above questions, you are a conservative. Personalities, polls and polished advertisements can distract or confuse us from voting for the candidates on the state and national level who support our beliefs.
There is a difference between conservative and liberal ideas. We need to be mindful about what we really believe and then follow through with our votes.
Darleen Lougee
Veazie
Chris Hearn – When electing a President we are hiring a leader for our civil government. Going after a candidate’s religion is not civil.
Dr. Pattavina – Thank you for speaking up for our lungs.
Gordon Merrick – Glad to see college age voters participating in our political process. King’s student debt 401(k) concept sounds intriguing!
Darleen Lougee – Elections are not black and white. There are plenty of us who may be more fiscally conservative, but socially moderate (and vice versa). Voters are not “confused” by all the negative advertising going on. They are angry!
Dear Politimom–
There is absolutely nothing wrong with testing a candidate’s faith as you understand it to figure out where the tension is in the candidate between his personal and religious beliefs and his obligations to represent his voting citizens.
Personally, I have a problem as a jew with the fact that mormons engaged in post-death baptisms of anybody they want to perform this ceremony for, including non-christian jews, muslims, and others (posthumous baptisms). The mormons’ incredible disregard for the religious rites and beliefs of others different from themselves speaks volumes to me and I will ABSOLUTELY consider it when it comes time to vote.
I am not an apologist for either Mormonism or Gov. Romney. My issue with Hearn’s letter is her judgement that Mormonism is ‘not Christian enough,’ in that it doesn’t meet her standard of Christianity. When I vote, I am “hiring” someone to fulfill governmental functions, not teach Sunday school.
Lest we forget the Obama-is-a-secret-Muslim hysteria.
So you have different issues that Hearn. Good for you.
Did you give the same level of consideration to Obama and his religious views?
Yes. I took a look at the Church of Christ.
That posthumous baptism carp is just a wee bit arrogant, isn’t it?
Absolutely not. Perhaps if you had family members killed in the holocaust, you would be sensitive to the absolute affront of some other religious group purporting to change your dead ancestors’ religious association.
About Mormonism….
In this instance the religion makes the man. Scary.
Chris, I vote for Gov. Romney due to his proven great leadership and ability to unite all Americans, whether Dem or Rep. Obama has none of these attributes. Focusing on social issues is merely a distraction away from Obama’s failure as a leader.
Focusing on social issues means the President cares about the human condition.
Republicans and Romney don’t care about regular folks only themselves and the money they can hoard.
The great uniter? Proven? Hardly.
Ask the state of Massachusetts about his leadership. I bet they would beg to differ with you.
Some facts about the leadership in Washington should you consider educating yourself: http://www.cbo.gov/publication/43656
Social issues? As in, issues affecting society? Us? We, the people? It’s a distraction to put a focus on such issues?
Or is it that you don’t like the progress that’s being made in certain areas and you hope these issues will somehow just go away…
Romney is a great leader and “unite-er”? Really? Have you asked yourself why he is not leading in Massachusetts? Do they know something you don’t know? LOL Vote for Romney if you want; just don’t try to tell us you’re voting for him as a great and unifying leader.
Massachusetts legislature is 80+ % democrats. Trying to “lead” them is like trying to herd cats.
Too bad you did not explore his time as Gov. of Ma. He was detested.
Chris Hearn.
There are too many levels of so-called Christianity for a free man to keep track of, hence, the seperation of church and state that our founders had the vision to incorporate into this nations constitution.
I’m voting Romeny/Ryan because I feel that they will uphold their oath of office to honor and be guided by that constituion that is now being trashed by the current leaders.
Their religion has absolutely nothing to do with it.
Sure looks like their religion does have an impact, possibly adverse.
Obama’s lack of religion, or any moral compass other than himself, (narcissist extraordinaire), certainly has had an impact over the past 3 1/2 years.
Their religion has everything to do with how they think and act.
Then what is it about the Rmoney/Ryan campaign that makes them televise ads that are blatantly false, such as the claim that Chrysler is moving Jeep production to China, or that Obama has stopped the work requirement for welfare? Chrysler had to publish a statement denying the lies, and republican governors had asked the Obama administration for some leeway in administering the programs. Where do the republicans get the idea it is ok to lie?
Chris Hearn, Dr. Pattavina, Gordon Merrick: good letters.
I don’t care about Romney’s religion. I do care that he and Ryan will attempt to impose their religious views on American citizens should they get elected. I will be voting Obama/Biden.
Oh, please. That attitude won’t do much for our economy.
Yes it will. When the focus is on morals, manners, religion and the insistence that one particular religion is better for everyone very little of real importance gets done because too much energy goes into fighting. That’s exactly what’s wrong with our politics right now.
The Do Nothing Republican Congress has spent much of its energy on anti-choice legislation. When not pleasing its fundamentalist base, it has taken steps that have threatened the economic recovery: holding the debt ceiling hostage so that it could get wrongheaded spending cutbacks; pushing for British style austerity, without tax increases, that would trigger another recession; opposing legislation that would increase needed public sector employment; and opposing legislation that would increase investment in rebuilding roads and bridges (and thereby boost private sector employment).
Economic history and the obvious effects in Europe of imposed austerity make it crystal clear that the only substitute for decreased private demand is increased public demand in the form of temporary deficits. Refusing to believe these economic facts and the embrace of anti-government rigidity is part of the same mindset that has the Do Nothing Republican Congress fixated on restricting contraception and abortion.
Thus, the religious rigidity of Romney/Ryan is a predictor of their economic rigidity: both are 19th century thinking ill-suited to a 21st century world.
Romney and Ryan won’t do anything to ease the suffering of most people. Only the rich.
Oh yes it will!!!!
wow SERIOUSLY? It’s pretty darned sad when the BEST candidate will be voted against because he has a religion. YOU Sir, deserve 4 more years of Obama’s politics. I- do not.
Agreed. I remember people who voted against candidate Obama because they believed he was a Muslim. That was shameful.
I never believed Obama was/is a Muslim.
However we do know Romney is a Mormon. On that alone he can be judged because of his severe views that would support the radical right and their quest to undo ROE vs WADE and the ACA. His religion would indeed influence his decisions.
Dr Pattavina
Let me follow you around for a day and look through your house for things you use and-or activities you do that might conceivably harm another person in some miniscule way. Especially something you might enjoy. Because after that I want Bangor to pass an ordinance taking that away from you.
Ah, a smoking libertarian speaks up. You proposal sounds like the STASI or KGB. Besides, what has anything confined to someone’s home have to do with harmful effects on the public. or are you going to put up the tobacco company balderdash that cigarette smoke and 2nd hand smoke are dangerous and hazardous to health.
Fine. I want to abolish cars. They kill people OUTSIDE. Is that better, Gopher?
The prohibition of smoking OUTSIDE is an absolutely ridiculous idea.
I quit smoking 25 years ago. And without government help either. I just want the nanny do-gooder to have a taste of his own medicine.
Darlene, what a load of nonsense. You really do swallow the Rush Limpmind/Fake-News talking point LIES don’t you? TeaPublicans are champions of MASSIVE GOVERNMENT. They give trillions to the oil corporations and many others. They dance for joy at giving trillions to an already bloated extremely SOCIALIST military industrial complex and military, celebrating more than 600 bases all over the world being the policeman of the world and want to give two trillion more to it that it isn’t even asking for. They want MASSIVE GOVERNMENT inside our very bedrooms, hospital rooms, and textbooks. Don’t be fooled folks. The TeaPubs talk about “small government,” but it is a SHAMEFUL SHAM. They are MASSIVE GOVERNMENT CORPORATE SOCIALISTS of the most hypocritical order. And as individuals, TeaPublicans themselves use MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES from public infrastructure, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, public safety, public parks of all kinds, plenty of welfare, and on and on and on. Don’t be fooled. The TeaPublicans are MASSIVE GOVERNMENT SOCIALISTS and underneath their LIES and BLATHER, they know it.
Tinserblic, what a load of nonsense. You really do swallow the Ed Shultz/Fake-News talking point LIES don’t you? Progressives are
champions of MASSIVE GOVERNMENT. They give trillions to the green
corporations and many others. They dance for joy at giving trillions to
an already bloated extremely SOCIALIST welfare , celebrating UN failure all over the world being whipping boy of the world and want to give two trillion more to it that it
isn’t even asking for. They want MASSIVE GOVERNMENT inside our very
bedrooms, hospital rooms, and textbooks. Don’t be fooled folks. The Progressives talk about “government help,” but it is a SHAMEFUL SHAM. They
are MASSIVE GOVERNMENT CORPORATE SOCIALISTS of the most hypocritical
order. And as individuals, Progressives themselves use MASSIVE AMOUNTS
OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES from public infrastructure,
Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, public safety, public parks of all
kinds, plenty of welfare, and on and on and on. Don’t be fooled. The Progressives are MASSIVE GOVERNMENT SOCIALISTS and underneath their LIES
and BLATHER, they know it.
Define socialism.
I subscribe to Anthony Giddens definition. A definition that takes into account the evolution of the concept from the strict 19th century, Marxist definition you wish to hold to. His definition accurately represents most modern European countries that follow the socialist model. You know, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, etc.You see, definitions evolve. Much like you believe the word marriage has evolved.Or do you still think like in the 19th century?
I adhere to the definition of every dictionary on the planet: a political theory that advocates government ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods. This is not a Marxist definition, but the definition that all literate people agree upon.
I doubt you can reference Giddens ever defining socialism as you are using the term. As a Third Way theorist who helped influence Tony Blair, he helped move the Labor Party away from a belief in government ownership.
If belief in progressive taxation and government regulation of key industries is called “socialism,” then Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ronald Reagan were all socialists.
You use “socialist” as a way of avoiding discussion of the merits of a particular idea with which you disagree. This is the height of intellectual laziness. It is as silly as anyone on the left calling Romney and Ryan fascists!
If we accept your classical definition of socialism then Tinserblic’s rant was complete balderdash as well. Mine was simply mirroring her own words showing how far off the deep end her rant was. I never intended it to be a serious discussion. I was poking fun at his-her over the top partisanship.
I notice you never challenge anyone on the left when they misuse terms like socialism or fascism or even capitalism.
As far as being a successful, practical, or even a workable ideology in the real world socialism has proven to be a complete failure at anything larger than a few families or a very small communal group. Giddens recognized the reality of pure socialism but also saw that many of the social and ethical aspects of socialism have been adopted or incorporated into the political systems of many countries. Particularly in Europe.
Socialism has evolved. Many call it the Third Way. That is a good a term as any other.
Feel free to quibble and nitpick over the details. You use such distractions over the definitions of words as a way of avoiding discussion of the merits of a particular idea with
which you disagree. This is the height of intellectual laziness.
And the majority of people know exactly what both Tinserblic and myself mean when we are using the word socialism. And how our interpretations differ. And most think that both your nitpicking and this discussion over a word are a waste of time.
Ms. Terrill, I could not be more proud of Congressman Michaud. He has fought to get veterans the help they deserve, fought against free trade agreements that have shipped manufacturing jobs overseas, voted to re-regulate Wall Street, voted to return sanity to our tax system, supported equal pay for equal work for women, voted for the Affordable Care Act, and been an independent thinker during all of his years of service.
In contrast, Kevin Raye has marched in lockstep with Governor LePage: he supported the elimination of Election Day registration and voted for changes in the regulation of health insurance which hurts Eastern Maine and allow insurers to pass on annual rate increases of 10% with no public oversight or review. Raye has voted to game the system to make it easier for Republicans to get elected and easier for health insurers to ram through excessive rates.
Darleen Lougee, it would be nice if the conservatives believed in the private sector doing things without taxpayer funding. The current crop of conservatives we have in Augusta and Washington seem to feel that we should have alternative schools. Too bad they wish to take the tax payers money to pay for them.
Would you like to see the private sector take over our police forces? That’s what it was like 100 years ago in many areas like the coal regions. The company owned the police. You can be sure that the law was enforced in the companies favor.
Should we stop public funding of the military? After all it seems that we are spending many billions in the defense of private industries interests.
Chris, I understand and agree with you on what your saying about the mormon faith, but Romney still has more character in my opinion than Obama. We can’t spend more than we bring in. We are about to cross a line where we will never get back to financial sanity. I have already voted for Gov. Romney.
It is the Congress that tells the President what he can or cannot spend. Granted he could refuse to spend what is authorized. Well, maybe not. Many of us have already voted. But I do not want to live in an America that has Tea Party values. Thankfully Maine will probably elect Obama. I will happily stay here with people that believe in the values espoused by this man and proudly call myself a Mainer. The rest of America can do what they want with the country. I will no longer refer to myself as an American if those who control the Republican party take over. These people cannibalize their own. Within the party they use the term RINO against their own members. You would have to go back to Eisenhower to find a Republican with the American values I hold near and dear.
Mr. Romney is currently running two ads, the elimination of work from welfare and the Jeep manufacture being sent over seas, that have been debunked as not true. The CEO of Chrysler was upset enough to say that Romney was living in a “parallel universe” to continue pushing this lie.
Mr. Romney is refusing to address his statement that disaster aid should be a state not a federal responsibility. He stories about working with the Massachusetts legislature are pure fabrication. He has changed positions so often according to the crowd that political cartoonists are having a hay-day with him.
Romney has character. It’s not a good character.
His “working with the Mass legislature” consisted of vetoing around 800 bills in 4 years.
A conservative, a moderate, and a liberal walk into a bar. The bartender says”hello, Mitt”.
Remember; Obamacare
Romneydon’t
Romney is an out and out liar, is that what you mean by his character. His financial policies would be a disaster .
So, voting for a Heathen if he “has character” is OK?
Leadership by the damned is OK if it makes life easier?
Oh… this is just so sweet!
The tenets of a politicians belief are of absolutely no concern to the voters. It makes no difference whether a president believes in God or doesn’t : whether he wears special garments or not, interprets holy books or not None of that is any of our business.
The only way religion would possibly matter is if s/he puts his/her religion above the Constitution or serving the people impartially. Which is why a Romney presidency is problematic. Before running for governor of Massachusetts he went to the elders of his church and consulted with them about a platform favoring Roe vs Wade. He is now running on a platform overturning Roe vs Wade. This is interference from his church and that is of concern to voters.
Do you also know that lying for the Lord is acceptable behavior. Sure have seen that played out over and over again.
“The tenets of a politicians belief are of absolutely no concern to the voters.”
I respectfully disagree with this statement. Unlike race, gender, sexual orientation, etc…religion is a choice and reflects upon the personality and judgement of the individual. Most religions expect the adherent to place their religion or god above all other things, such as nation, friends, and family (although most individuals don’t take it to this extreme). So yes, a politician’s belief should be take into consideration by the voters.
It does matter when they use their religion to base decisions on, such as abortion.
Pure BS. It is ABSOLUTELY my concern as a voter what religious tenets might be driving my elected official. Get off your high horse.
Romney’s Mormonism may be quasi-Christian, but Romney has not shown to be adversarial toward religion.
Obama, on the other hand, supports the Democrat party platform planks of unlimited abortion and gay marriage. Through Obamacare, he has passed laws restricting religious and personal freedom. His administration is openly hostile to Christians, and especially to Catholics. Peaceful, pro-life people are considered to be “threats to national security,” on the same level as terrorists.
Obama shows no fear of God. God has imbued all people with a conscience, which helps us to discern between what is right and what is wrong. People who do not fear God are not limited by their consciences, and are capable of doing anything.
I do not trust Obama with my safety, my family’s security, and the well-being and security of our nation. I am hoping that in this election, he will be voted out of office in an overwhelming landslide, so that people of his persuasion will think twice about running for the presidency in the future. May God have mercy on our nation.
something I came across after I had first finished this post:
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2012/10/30/Facebook-Censors-Navy-SEALS-To-Protect-Obama-on-Benghazi-Gate
How can we trust Obama, in the least?
The Mormon faith is extremely tolerant of other religions. It’s not the faith itself that concerns me. It is those who abuse their faith for political and monetary gain.
Obama does not act like a Christian, yet he claims to be a Christian. Are you possibly talking about him with your last 2 sentences?
No. I wasn’t referring to President Obama.
cancel
How do you figure, o judgmental one?
He doesn’t act like whose version of a Christian?
Any known mainstream version.
Define Christian.
Could you be thinking of someone who joined a large Chicago church for political reasons?
No.
Thank you for admitting to a double standard.
Since I am the only one who knows what I “could be thinking about,” your accusation of a “double standard” cannot apply.
You are obviously fishing around for an opening. Just tell your story and have done with it.
How do you know the President doesn’t “fear God”. Anyway, that’s a very Old Testament attitude, why do you hang on to it?
So you would force your religious views on others? They have to live their lives according to your values. Believe that is called self-righteousness. Why that is un-American according to our constitution. Bet you never thought of yourself as un-American. The President on this issue actually upholds the constitution. Thank God you cannot impose your religious beliefs on others here. You do understand that is what the Taliban does, right?
So, vote for the heathen because it’s convenient?
Oh… this is so beautiful!!! So many fundies putting their faith aside out of fear! Hypocrites every last one of them!!!
ROFLOL!!!
This is so sweet!
You should consider becoming an adherent of Bokononism. Its founding principle is “all religions, including this one, are a pack of lies.”
Since you have endorsed so many untruths in your post above, self-awareness, alone, should move you to an embrace of Bokononism.
Heistheone: Breitbart is a vicious propagandist. The link you site is a complete fabrication. That you subscribe to his lies indicates your vote for Romney is a manifestation of your intense dislike for President Obama and not a concern for your safety, security or your religiosity.
Romney’s Mormonism is dangerous. As is your statement since you base everything on religion. We all aren’t fervent believers and your philosophies should not be imported onto others.
That was done in this country once with disastrous results. We had our own genocide of sorts in this country with that attitude towards the indigenous people here.
History is a teacher. Conservatives choose to ignore the truth history has taught us and want to revise most of it to suit their agenda.
Cathy Terrill–I am proud of Mike Michaud and for all he has done for the State of Maine. I suggest you check out the things he has done for veterans and the State, he
my vote and will until he retires or I am dead.
I think we need to think more deeply about liberal and conservative ideals. This just might turn your thinking on its head.
Conservative liberalism: I support liberal trade laws, liberal corporate subsidies, liberal spending on the the military, private policing and prisons, liberal acquisition of weapons, liberal use of the death penalty, liberal use of voter suppression tactics, liberal use of minimum wage.
Liberal Conservatism: I support conservative energy use, conservative military spending, conservative use of chemicals, conservative land development, conservative executive pay, and conservative consumption.
That’s it folks! Take Mormonism off the cult list, put aside your outrage towards the heathens of the world, just because it’s convenient!
(Yes, one group of zealots did exactly that after harping on how Mormons were going to hell for decades: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/10/billy-grahams-website-removes-mormonism-from-cult-list/)
This demonstrates how shallow and vacuous “faith” is to so many outspoken “christians”, especially “fundamentalists” and “evangelicals”. It’s so easily cast aside and forgotten… wonder how their deity feels about that?
Truly hysterical!
There are times I envy those of you who have no God other than yourselves ,how much easier it must be to have no guiding influence other than your own selfish interests.How easy it must be to just look down upon those who try to hold to the tenets of their faith and discard them as irrational.
It’s perfectly just to “look down” on those who toss the tenets of their faith aside for political reasons…
Just by your standard that you the mangod have set forth maybe.
there are times i envy those of you who have no personal responsibility beyond doing what your religious leaders tell you to do, how much easier it must be to just do what you’re told, without ever asking “why?”. how easy it must be to just look down upon those who strive for the improvement of society and self, without promise of eternal reward or threat of eternal damnation, and discard them as irrational.
judgmental bs and intentional misunderstanding works both ways. we’re trying to have a freaking society here, people, and this sort of thing does not help that.
Best post ever man! Thank you.
What sort of thing is that?
judgmental bs and the intentional misunderstanding of people who don’t share your particular worldview. willful ignorance combined with condescension. i was just trying to make that point that it can work both ways, and to have a successful civilization, we should attempt to minimize this behavior. in your post you characterize atheists as selfish and pursuant of selfish ends. my response characterized people of faith as thoughtless sheep, their only motivation being the thought of reward or punishment after death. the point is that both views are extremist views and ultimately harmful to society. i apologize if i was unclear.
You will never see me being judgmental of others I honestly don’t care what others do .I find it hard enough to keep myself in check. My comment was my honest feelings about others who look down upon people who are trying to live their spiritual values.If you will read my posts you will notice I say try or trying because I do not always live up to the spiritual beliefs I hold.My only point was and maybe I was a little crass in making it is that life must be easier if you don’t have a higher power to be accountable to and no I do not and never have considered society a higher power.And as far as religious leaders I have none ,I only answer to One.
personally, i don’t believe in a god or gods. i don’t deny the possibility of such, i just find it highly unlikely. that said, i can tell you that life is no easier without a higher power to be held accountable to. i strive to be a good person. i strive to make society a better place for all. i try to be kind and understanding in all my dealings. i think you will find our core values are probably very similar, as are our shortcomings. is answering to a higher power with the expectation of paradise any less selfish than the hope of living on in the memories of future generations as a person who lived a good life and made the world a better place? we are all selfish in our own right, and that’s ok, as long as we are selfish for the right reasons and have a positive impact on those around us.
Wow I think we just found some common ground.
most people have more in common than they think. the differences are there, but as long as we can discuss them in a calm and rational manner, minimize them, and focus on what we have in common, our society can survive and even thrive. above all things, be kind, even if kindness is not returned, you can rest easy knowing you are doing your part to make the world a better place. if god is what it takes for you to live a good life, then by all means, worship god. remember, just because a person does not believe as you do, it does not mean they have no moral compass, or are purely driven by greed and selfishness.
Enough of this “voting for Romney because President Obama isn’t sufficiently Christian” charade. Vote for Romney, we’ll respect your choice. But, don’t insult us and Christianity by telling us you can’t vote for Obama because he isn’t a Christian. You are not fooling anyone. Most of us recognize bigotry when we see it posted.
Darleen Lougee:
Do you believe that armies, navies, air forces, coast guards, FBI, CIA, DIA, Homeland Security, airports, roads, bridges, navigable waterways, weather & GPS satellites, National Weather Service, public sewers and drinking water, schools, fire and police dept’s grow on trees?
If so – then you are “entitled”.
Yessah
If the government limited itself to those things then i would have no problem with it.
Ms. Terrill, “Our” forefathers were also ok with limiting the vote to property owners, members of a recognized church, and males. They were also fine with the enslavement of four million people, and they orchestrated a coup of the Articles of Confederation (which REALLY out the power into the hands of the people and states) and have been on a propaganda campaign touting this Constitution as good for all (when it’s really only good for the top 5% or so)…So I really don’t care what they thought and whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t good for the rest of us.
Mr. Romney and Mr. LePage will work good together when he gets voted in office…
Which polls are you looking at? It’s a loooooong shot for Romney in terms of the EC.
Im just passing the message along…….
Stevey is just out and about doing his usual phishing.
I bet when he gets people worked up and fussing he sits back with a smile on his face like the Cheshire Cat, admiring the mess he just made.