http://www.covenantnews.com/abortion/archives/036770.html
January 04, 2008
A Message To Christians On The Eve Of The 2008 Election Cycle
By Pastor Matt Trewhella / The Covenant News
*** begin quote ***
Many have falsely claimed that presidential candidate Ron Paul would not support the Human Life Amendment because he simply wants to return the abortion question to the states. One lady even told me “if Paul is president and a law is passed at the federal level to outlaw abortion, he won’t sign it.” Oh, yeah, like that’s a real concern. Let’s see, the Republicans had the House, the Senate, and the Presidency for six years and how many laws were passed and sent to the President to outlaw abortion? Let’s set the facts straight on this matter. First, in his book Abortion and Liberty, Dr. Paul makes clear that he supports the Human Life Amendment.
*** end quote ***
This is probably the hardest issue for Libertarians. At best, it devolves into a shouting match. As worst, we have to divide the baby as King Solomon is reputed to have done.
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm
*** begin quote ***
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
*** end quote ***
First principle is that government has only one mission: to protect rights. Among these are the right to life. So clearly, gooferment has some role in protecting people’s lives. We as a people have to determine what that means. But that is a completely different discussion than the one we have been having. Groups warring over who’s going to to tell who what to do.
We need a lot less “telling” and a lot more “listening”.
That phrase about the consent of the governed is very important.
What if someone doesn’t consent?
# # # # #
Posted by reinkefj 
You must be logged in to post a comment.