Posted on 12/19/2011 3:05:36 PM PST by rhema
Iowans are strongly pro-life and supportive of traditional marriage. These remain strong "bridge" issues that unite economic conservatives with social conservatives whenever questions like abortion funding or overturning true marriage are put on the ballot. When pollsters find that Iowa's likely caucus-goers -- including large blocks of Evangelicals, Catholics, and Lutherans -- are citing the stricken economy as their greatest concern, this does not mean social issues have been forgotten.
First, most of the GOP candidates are already on board for the defense of human life and true marriage. So it makes sense for Iowa voters to tell pollsters and focus group moderators that their primary concern is the economy. This does not mean they don't care about abortion or attempts to undermine marriage. It just means that after numerous candidate debates, those who advocate "civil unions" as a supposed compromise on the marriage issue have difficulty even making the cut to be on the stage. Iowa's Caucus-goers voters aren't buying this obvious ploy.
Second, there need be no conflict between economic and social conservatives. I'm reminded of a story about blueprints for an Iowa convent that had to be approved by the Vatican. The plans came back from Rome with a question: Sunt angeli? Are they angels? The local architects had neglected to put bathrooms in the convent.
We who are pro-life and pro-marriage know that families need jobs. They need a growing economy. But economic conservatives need to recognize that it is stable married families having children that drive economic growth.
Former Wall Streeter David Goldman pointed out in Of Demographics and Depressions (First Things, May 2009) that the economic slump began in the home mortgage industry because we have no more young marrieds with children than we had in 1969. The home mortgage industry has been the driver of America's post-World War II economic prosperity. Cohabiting couples and single parent families tend to rent, not buy.
Consider these examples of economic and social activity. Harry is a rock star. Or soon will be. Harry sleeps in his girl friend's basement. He does a little dope. At night he is the lead singer in the band he has formed. He is soft-spoken and respectful of his elders. Harry's parents shower love on Harry's daughter by his girl friend. Jim is a young husband in the same city. He and his wife have three children under three. Jim has to work long hours as a lawyer, but he does so willingly. For now, he rents. But he has bought a van. Harry's daughter is supported by his girl friend's family and by his own parents. Jim's three children are provided for by Jim.
Does it matter to America whether the rising generation follows the Jim model or the Harry model? Harry's girl friend is successfully pursuing a career. She doesn't do dope. She doesn't have time. Jim's wife is raising their expanding family.
Can America afford to subsidize the breakdown in the family? Planned Parenthood thinks we can. They see a smaller America with smaller hopes. Just keep shoveling public monies to them and their family banning activities and all will be well.
President Obama is suing Texas, Indiana, and Kansas to keep the torrent of federal funds flowing to Planned Parenthood. Not even state governments should be able, according to him, to stop subsidizing this abortion advocacy institution. In all the thousands of line items in the bloated federal budget, the one Sacred Cow for Mr. Obama is Title X, the cash cow for Planned "Barrenhood."
Are we the blind following the blind? Have we so shackled ourselves to the dogmas of population control and no-growth "progressive" taxation and regulation policies that we cannot see the obvious way out? Strong families are the engine that drives strong economies. It's that simple.
As my colleague, Dr. Henry Potykus, a Senior Fellow at FRC's Marriage And Religion Research Institute, confirms, human capital is the key to our economic growth. Young marrieds -- especially those who worship regularly -- plus education generate the greatest amount of human capital.
Iowa has always had a strong base of intact families and a strong education system. If Iowans know this and appreciate it, it's no small wonder the Iowa's GOP Caucus-goers are strongly pro-life and pro-marriage. And they know that this administration's economic policies are not working. Most Americans sense this. Socialism has never worked wherever it has been tried.
Ronald Reagan began his working life in Iowa, as an announcer on WHO radio. Reagan did not beat voters over the head with Scripture. But he did have fun with some devout evangelists of the Gospel of Marx: "Socialism might work in Heaven, but they don't need it. Socialism would work in Hell, but they've already got it."
It was Reagan who most successfully united social, economic, and defense conservatives. That winning coalition needs to be assembled once again.
I have experience in this matter.
having been married for over 38 years, I tend to disagree with you.
Yeah but the dis-solution of marriage has ruined a lot of perfectly good children.
I had two spouses (female) decide to just jump off the team. One after 6 years. One after 25.5 yeats.
Women are a puzzle that I don't have the time, inclination or ability to solve.
Carry on.
aye aye sir.
I think that what “ruined a lot of perfectly good relationships” was NOT marriage, but our CULTURE, and its lack of support for marriage!
If you are in a perfectly good relationship, then got married, it wasn’t the marriage that destroyed it.
That makes it your problem.
That is where you are wrong-—God’s Standards are the fundamental issue of our entire country.
We are not a country ruled by non sensical laws—arbitrary law is unconstitutional. We were designed with Natural Rights from God. “Right Reason according to Nature” is the basis of law in the U.S.
When life starts (in the womb—proven scientifically) is a Federal issue and has to be protected. Every person has a right to life—even in the womb. Inalienable—means you do NOT have a right to make laws that take it away. States NEVER have the right to take away inalienable rights. NEVER.
Homosexual marriage goes against God’s Laws—the teleological reason for the human race is outlined in Natural Law Theory which makes homosexual marriage stupid and destructive to societies by every definition. We are a country based on “the laws of nature and nature’s God—not barney’s stupid thinking.
These issue are fundamentally transforming us to a nation under arbitrary laws—like Stalin’s and Hitler’s governments—and taking us off our our GOD-CENTERED government—Supra Positive Law is the basis of our Human Rights—and the right to discard the laws of nature—and include “urges” of Barney Frank to be given special rights destroys our legal system and the Christian paradigm-—the standards of Right and Wrong can never be changed. Children have the natural right to their biological mother and father—at least a government that promotes human beings to do their fundamental duty and raise their own biological offspring.
We were designed to protect dignity of all humans. Sodomy should be outlawed—it destroys dignity in humans. It can NEVER be promoted as “good” and “protected” in a Virtuous society.
Yes, our culture is actively promoting behaviors and dysfunctions to destroy the morality of our young. They model dysfunction 24/7 and promote deviant, destructive behaviors. Selfish, narcissism and irrational worship of mother earth. and Odin.
The schools also destroy knowledge and wisdom and indoctrinate into “lifestyles” devoid of knowledge and reason and morality. In fact, curricula was deliberately designed (strands) to target and destroy moral beliefs—esp. Christianity. (BK Eakman).
Without virtue—you can have no flourishing long term relationships. It will never happen.
Bull.
We need to stop focusing on these types of fire and brimstone faith-based issues, and focus on getting our country back on track.
Pre-born babies are being brutally slaughtered. Stopping that is getting the country back on track.
Exactly what support for marriage do you want the culture to give?
I might get banned from posting this but. Here goes. The Religious Right bailed on defending marriage long ago. No Fault Divorce and its being passed in Calif. Under then Gov. Ronald Reagan was his biggest mistake. Churches and Ministers routinely hold Men accountable for their morality. With so called accountability groups. When it is primarily Women with Children including Christian Women who Divorce Men for primarily emotional reasons. Gays are not destroying marriage. No Fault Divorce and the Legal Industry has long ago. That genie will not go back into the bottle.
Where Gays have been free to marry in Europe. Less than ten percent choose to get married. Removing Men from families is the quickest way to promote Socialism and the growth of Nanny Government.
Quite true. And many self-proclaimed conservatives sign on to the status quo of government-controlled marriage. Marriage should be a private contract between a man and a woman, with the terms set only by them and binding only on them.
When it is primarily Women with Children including Christian Women who Divorce Men for primarily emotional reasons.
Female petulance has always existed throughout history: the difference now is material.
A woman divorcing typically gets the kids, the house, the money, etc. That packages incentivizes women to divorce.
See posts 11 & 12
"Typically" is the key word....I was not typical about 35 years ago....I went for joint custody, and NO child support...or alimony....I knew what all that meant having watched my Mother. I just wanted OUT due to justifiable issues...relating to the "culture" that my ex bought into.
http://www.nationalreview.com/home-front/286160/marriage-whats-it-men/suzanne-venker
This article in National Review is well written and in my view spells out the reasons why marriage is in trouble. One word feminism. Men are tired of being exploited Financially. This is not due to Gay marriage. The latest new group that bottom Feeding Lawyers are looking to skin in Divorce settlements.
I don’t disagree...and I’m a boomer, who lived thru the 60’s....it wasn’t easy...I still believe in marriage, but, then, I never really went for the Feminist stuff, even though I was in Human Resources....which today would drive me crazy (well, it nearly did 20 years ago)...and, I was a professional working woman. I remind my husband all the time how LUCKY he is!!! Ha.
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