1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Who's in charge?

Discussion in '2000-02 Archive' started by Helen, Oct 15, 2002.

  1. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2001
    Messages:
    11,851
    Likes Received:
    1,084
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Dallas, I've read several thousand pages of Civil War-era history, and this is a new one on me. You have to do more than read between the lines; you have to read backward and upside down as well.

    Johnson actually considered staging a coup, which is why Sherman moved Army headquarters to St. Louis to get away from the intrigues in Washington.
     
  2. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2001
    Messages:
    11,703
    Likes Received:
    2
    Back to the topic.... (so sorry [​IMG] )

    I understand that we should vote and that some Christians are called into political public service.

    But I don't think the people per se are in charge at all. I am pretty firmly convinced now -- without any grand conspiracy theories in tow -- that those who have the money run the country. I think it is as simple as that. Whether it involves the expense of television campaign ads, bribing folks, blackmailing others, or whatever, I'm beginning to think this 'of the people, by the people, and for the people' ideal is now a fraud.

    Gee, and normally I'm an optimist.
     
  3. post-it

    post-it <img src=/post-it.jpg>

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2002
    Messages:
    1,785
    Likes Received:
    0
    I agree Helen. The people don't run anything anymore, the people gave up those rights to the politicians and the politicians are controlled by big business because the politician controls the laws by which big business operates. Between Big business and Big Government, we are being drained of life, liberty, and happiness and all our cash and possessions.
     
  4. Paul of Eugene

    Paul of Eugene New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2001
    Messages:
    2,782
    Likes Received:
    0
    Its worse than you think! Not only are the boys in the back room always cutting deals we know nothing of, the times when we are nervously aware of this going on are the times when it is not working for them as well as the other times!

    But one other thing we know as well - God is in control of history and He arranges things to confound the wisest and smartest of schemers. So take heart.
     
  5. Rosa

    Rosa New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2001
    Messages:
    443
    Likes Received:
    0
    Who is in charge?
    "We the people" are in charge. The problem is that "We the people" don't vote consistantly enough.
    If we want change in our govenment then we have to be willing to govern through our right to vote.
    If you make a mistake and vote for the wrong person you can change that decission in two to four years.
    You must vote at the Local level and the State level and the National level. People that gripe about not having a "good" candidate to vote for need to think about who they voted for in the local election. If you vote for "good" people in the Local levels then they can rise to the State levels. Then you have good candidates for the National levels. If you cann't find a "good" person at the Local level, run for office. Be that "good" candidate for Christians to vote for.

    If your representatives are not doing what they said that they would do, vote them out of office. If they lie, vote them out of office. If they steal, cheat or have bad morals, vote them out of office.

    Be informed. Read. Have discussions with other Christians about the moral level of our country and if you are dissatisfied: Do something about it.
    Change is very slow.
    Be patient.
    But Do something besides gripe.
    Run for office.
    Back someone that you would like to see in office.
    But most importantly.... VOTE
     
  6. Pete

    Pete New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2002
    Messages:
    4,345
    Likes Received:
    0
    I find it impossible to see words like "government of the people, by the people, and for the people" and not hear it said in a John Cleese-ese (Fawlty Towers) hyper-sarcastic tone.

    Anyone half decent who gets into politics is either soon just as corrupt as the rest, or forced to follow party lines by the party machine and gets out.

    These days when election comes around I just go and get my name crossed off and walk out without voting. I wouldn't even put in that much effort if it was not a $50 fine.

    I love Capra's Mr Smith Goes To Washington, pity it will always be fiction.

    Have I mentioned Aussies are generally a cynical bunch and don't think much of authority? ;)

    I know I know...

    However in an alleged democracy the people are supposed to be authority right? [​IMG]

    Pete
     
  7. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2001
    Messages:
    5,492
    Likes Received:
    0
    Key words.

    It is comforting to know history is in the hands of God.

    I had a Civil War and Reconstruction course at WKU in Bowling Green, KY. The Professor specialized in the Civil War; the above conspiracy was his favorite topic. Perhaps it was because of his standing on his head, (or something, while reading), none the less, he seemed to make a good case.

    There were personal letters of Congress and Washington Bankers, (which I never actually saw), that he used to support his stand.

    I will search for my notes, etc. and see what I have. Until then it does make you wonder how our govt. learned to covertly operate in Laos and Cambodia during the Vietnam War. Machiavelli did write about power politics, and most politicians subscribe to his idea of the lion and the fox.

    God Bless you all in your walk and service to Him.

    Bro. Dallas

    [ October 18, 2002, 01:11 AM: Message edited by: Frogman ]
     
  8. post-it

    post-it <img src=/post-it.jpg>

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2002
    Messages:
    1,785
    Likes Received:
    0
    After hearing this for years, I don't buy the line that we need to vote, as if that gives us the control. It doesn't, we the people have been fooled into thinking our wishes are being put forward by those we vote into office, but who really believes that anymore. Once any of them get into office, it becomes them against us. They line their pockets with money or contacts to use after they get out of office. In the mean time big money controls them and other polititians control anyone we elect. It is a big machine that is on autopilot, our vote is meaningless.

    That said, I will still vote, it is all the power the allow us and every once in a long while we get a "good" person in office and things change... at least for a little while. See, living in denial isn't so bad after all.
     
  9. post-it

    post-it <img src=/post-it.jpg>

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2002
    Messages:
    1,785
    Likes Received:
    0
    Oh, how true your words ring.

    It seems to be every politician's Bible. :(
     
  10. Bartimaeus

    Bartimaeus New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2002
    Messages:
    909
    Likes Received:
    0
    Rosa,
    I just recently moved to Arkansas from what I call little Chicago. The area commonly known as Lake Co. Indiana. N. W. Indiana

    Voting in Lake Co. Indiana is a joke. It is all controlled by the Democratic Party and has been since before your papa and mine was old enough to spell the word. Whenever the "vote" goes wrong the machines end up in lake Michigan. All the Republican's (not that I care about one single republicrat) were listed on last year's Democratic Ticket - HA!

    This country will not change until we have a Dictator. II Thes. 1

    I am glad He's coming back as a grave buster before he becomes a kingdom builder.
     
  11. Aaron

    Aaron Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2000
    Messages:
    20,253
    Likes Received:
    1,381
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Who's in charge?

    The Law. Our nation was not designed to be ruled by the government or the people, but by law--that is natural law, or the law of God.

    That's why the Declaration of Independence appealed to self-evident truths, nature and nature's God.

    "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers." Every soul--even the rulers.
     
  12. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2001
    Messages:
    21,321
    Likes Received:
    0
    That's why the Declaration of Independence appealed to self-evident truths, nature and nature's God.

    The D of I isn't the document that governs the Law. That would be the Constitution.
     
  13. Aaron

    Aaron Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2000
    Messages:
    20,253
    Likes Received:
    1,381
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Yes, of course. It is however the apologetic of the Constitution. It says why, and the Constitution says how.

    If the why is invalid, so is the how.
     
  14. Scott J

    Scott J Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2001
    Messages:
    8,462
    Likes Received:
    1
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Too bad OJ, Bill Clinton, and others have demonstrated that this IS NOT a nation of laws any more. Money and power trump justice... and the bad part is the peasants eat their cake rather than picking up the pitch forks.
     
  15. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2001
    Messages:
    5,492
    Likes Received:
    0
    was voting ever legitimately controlled by the people?

    didn't Jefferson believe the common people did not possess the common sense to vote?

    did Jefferson forsee the days of Peter Jennings and all the other media giants who we watch because they espouse our own beliefs?

    We are a society, a people who no longer have time to become involved in the issues enough to really know what is happening and why. We rely on the media to make our minds up for us in 30 minute around the world segments designed to boost ratings.

    "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein." Jer. 6.16

    I know this scripture is appealed to alot in this kind of discussion, however, the truth shall stand when the world is on fire.

    God Bless.
    Bro. Dallas
     
  16. PastorGreg

    PastorGreg Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2000
    Messages:
    809
    Likes Received:
    3
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Theoretically, we are a republic, a rule of law with the people represented by their elcted officials. We have never been a democracy. I think, Helen, that each believer has to act according to his/her own conscience in regard to political involvement. Historically, Christians have been very involved in our government, thus giving us the Judeo/Christian foundation that we had. I think we all realize that the ultimate hope of our nation is not in political involvement, but in repentance and returning to God.

    [ October 18, 2002, 06:18 PM: Message edited by: PastorGreg ]
     
  17. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2001
    Messages:
    21,321
    Likes Received:
    0
    Absolutely correct. We're not a democracy, we're a republic (also known as a representative democracy). This is an important difference froma pure democracy. Greece tried a pure democracy, where everyone voted on every issue. The result is that the average person didn't have the time or desire to vote on every issue. Look at us. We only have to vote every two years, and we still don't take the time to do it. So the system that was devised was a governmening bopdy wherein the power was divided equally in thirds (president, congress, and courts). We vote for for the persons who will represent us in the decision making process, and they do the rest while we get the privilege of complaining about them as we go about our lives.

    was voting ever legitimately controlled by the people?
    No, voting for representatives has been, though.

    didn't Jefferson believe the common people did not possess the common sense to vote?
    Yes, there was concern by him and others that persons would vote without taking the responsiblity to inform themselves over the issues at hand.
     
  18. Bartimaeus

    Bartimaeus New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2002
    Messages:
    909
    Likes Received:
    0
     
  19. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2001
    Messages:
    21,321
    Likes Received:
    0
    Uhhh... the 17th amendment was passed in a constitutionally acceptible manner.
     
  20. jonmagee

    jonmagee New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2002
    Messages:
    2,411
    Likes Received:
    0
    great news, yours, Jon
     
Loading...