Pages

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Answers: Politics and Blogging

It seems like courthouses and answer posts are the easiest topics for me to actually get posted these days.  I have so much more to write about, but for now I'll answer the awesome questions posed to me about blogging and politics!
Summer asks: What inspires your writing?
The places I visit, things I do, books and articles I read, what I think and pray about, and the people I talk with.  I'm also inspired by the five years of posts I already have on this blog, my love of writing, and the kind comments I receive.

Gloria Kluth asks: What made you decide to start this blog?
I wanted a place to share my political thoughts.

Adam asks: Which president do you think was the most under-rated? 
After looking at historical ranking lists,  the most under-rated is going to have to be George W. Bush.  He may not have been the greatest president, but currently he is rated as 10th worst.  That means he's rated worse than Richard Nixon, who actually resigned, and Herbert Hoover, who was president at the start of the Great Depression.  History will think more kindly about Bush than people do today.
Allison asks: What made you so passionate about politics? 
My parents were always interested in politics.  We didn't have a television around our house when I was little, so one of the first things I remember watching was the election results coming in for the 2000 election.  They took us to a Bush rally in 2004.  And instead of reading comics as a child, I read Investor's Business Daily and The Wall Street Journal--which my papa subscribed me to when I was 10 years old.  

When I finally was going to be old enough to vote, my parents took me to see several of the primary candidates in 2011--Santorum, Bachmann, Cain, and Paul.  We went to the Ames Straw Poll together.  I wanted to make sure I voted for someone I could have a clear conscience choosing, and after a lot of research, I decided to vote for Ron Paul.
Ron Paul and I in 2011.
After the straw poll, I read several of Paul's books, and we went to another of his rallies.  I really liked most of his ideas, and I admire that he's a man of integrity.  Being part of the Ron Paul Revolution was awesome.  He inspired me to read Bastiat, Hayek, and Von Mises.  

Today I'm a registered Republican because I like to participate in our state's caucuses (otherwise I may have chosen to be an Independent).  I'm highly skeptical of politicians in both parties.  I'm not passionate about being a Republican.

But I am passionate about liberty.  Why?  Because my family fought and died for it.  

On one side of my family, I'm a third-generation immigrant.  But on the other side of my family, my roots go back to before the Revolution. My family fought for independence from the British.  They died to preserve the Union.  They suffered the life-long effects of mustard gas in World War 1.  They died in World War 2.  My grandpa, a United States Marine, is one of the Frozen Chosin who survived Korea.  My mom served during the Gulf War.  

If I had to walk through snow and bitter wind the five miles to the polls to vote, I would.  They sacrificed far too much for me to forget.  

For me, voting and political involvement and self-education are ways to honor the memory of my forefathers who had the faith to fight for a liberty they could pass on to me.  
Abe Lincoln and I at the Ames Straw Poll in 2011
John Adams wrote, "Posterity, you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that ever I took half the pains to preserve it."

Mr.  Adams, may you always be a happy man in heaven.  

35 comments:

  1. How fascinating and enjoyable to read your post, Bethany, and to see your lovely photos! Ron Paul looks like a lovely, kind and caring person!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Interesting to read politics is a branch which I petsonally do not like very much

    ReplyDelete
  3. I completely agree. I too am registered with the same thoughts but passion for liberty. It can be frustrating that so many of our generation do not see fit to learn of our country and forefathers and why we value our freedom so much. The world today will sometimes challenge me to make good use of that freedom even more! :)

    Also, I absolutely love your thoughts on voting - the sacrifices in our history were not made so we could be lazy and let the country's liberties slip through our fingers. Not to act, is to act.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you are passionate about your freedom and preserving it, Skyeler.

      I have friends and family who don't vote for very good reasons, and I respect their views as well.

      But it is sad when people don't take the time to educate themselves about our country's history and our political system.

      Delete
  4. Hi Bethany! I’m going to try to keep my comment to a moderate length but if I’ve gone on too long do let me know. :-) First, re blogging and your answer to what inspires your writing. I love the part of your answer “the five years of posts I already have on this blog.” That hit home with me! We’ve blogged for about the same period of time. I started around the beginning of 2011. One of the best things about blogging, if you are reasonably consistent, is the ability to take a look back and, in an organized way, see what life has been serving up for you. To me, it’s a neat form of journal. Secondly, re politics … I am so happy to see you say, “I'm not passionate about being a Republican.” I do admire your passion for liberty. I absolutely agree, but also recognize that exercising our liberty in a Capitalistic economy creates some real challenges. The Democratic Party is chastised for wanting too much regulation. But somehow it has to be done. For example, the recent case of Mylan pharmaceutical company increasing the price of the life-saving EpiPen more than 460% since 2007, while the company’s CEO, Heather Bresch, has seen her salary jump up more than 670%, to $18.9M, during the same period. Using the standard 40-hour work week Heather is making just over $9000 an hour. And yet many business people are not in favor of increasing the minimum wage for ordinary workers to even $15. You know, it seems to me, that perhaps we have hit on the great challenge for America. We seem to be split down the middle when it comes to politics. Could it simply be the challenge between unregulated liberty, and those who basically want to do whatever they like, and those who are willing to accept some regulation, recognizing it is to the benefit of our society as a whole? This is the thing that makes politics such a quandary for me! But let there be no mistake, I admire you for getting right into the middle of it all to find the best path forward! Thanks for another well done post and have a great weekend ahead!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, we need to get away from the Crony Corrupt Capitalism that many companies employ and get back to a Morally Sound Decent Capitalism that will benefit the Middle-Class and even the Poor. The Rich will survive but they better do it in a ethical moral way or be punished.

      Delete
    2. Hi John, I always appreciate the time and thought you put into your comments. And thank you, Jimio, for adding your thoughts as well.

      Liberty and Justice must go hand-in-hand. There is no true liberty without justice.

      There are so many things wrong with our current system. I personally believe the government has created a lot of problems in efforts to solve other problems. I don't believe in minimum wages at all myself, as they interfere with the free market; but then corporate welfare interferes with the market as well. It would take a major overhaul to get everything back to a near-ideal capitalistic system that would benefit everyone instead of catering to one class or another.

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Sooner or later we'll get this all figured out...maybe ;).

      Delete
  5. Great answers, Bethany. I've really enjoyed getting to know you better through your answers. I believe we take for granted the freedoms we enjoy. People have fought and died to pave that road for us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very true. It's too easy to take how good we have it for granted.

      Delete
  6. Thank you for answering my question, Bethany. It has been nice learning about you ♥

    ReplyDelete
  7. you look very beautiful in your pictures bethany...i try to stay away from discussing politics on my blog and with my friends and family. i find it to be a personal, private choice and it is just the way i feel.

    i know not everyone feels that way and i am "whatever" on that topic, i am embarrassed by our choices in november!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't blame you! I'm not enthusiastic about either of our choices either.

      Delete
  8. If only there were more young people like you who are passionate about Christ and bringing that element to the voting process. Our country is surely in one mess and in need of GOD. There is no man or party or political group who will save us. My burden is that God's people will humble themselves and pray and seek His face and truly turn from their wicked ways. Without our doing that, I see no solution, as the way of the cross is our only hope. God bless you, Bethany.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does look pretty bad, doesn't it?! Agreed that we had better only be hoping in God! Blessings to you as well, Cheryl.

      Delete
  9. I think it is great to see young people, such as yourself, being involved in the political scene.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I really loved reading all your political posts so far, they're really interesting. I've started getting into politics a little more too, so it's awesome to hear other people's thoughts too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Bethany, thanks for answering the questions! It's been a pleasure getting to know you and I am thankful for your love of politics. Though I do my research, refuse to be misinformed about the candidates, and believe I have a duty and responsibility to vote, politics has never been a love of mine. So thank you for using your natural love and talents to share things with the rest of us. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This election is making me love politics less and less, but I still find it very interesting to watch. Awesome that you stay informed! Good for you!

      Delete
  12. I think it's often true that parental influence and the kind of experiences you have as a child have some influence on the things you're passionate about as an adult. Politics isn't terribly exciting to me, but growing up overseas definitely influenced me in many ways--both from cherishing what is beautiful and good about the USA, to also recognizing and loving the beauty in other cultures. I'm passionate about multi-lingual education, justice for oppressed minority people groups (a big problem in SE Asia, and of course, globally, but to different extents), and education for women and prevention of domestic abuse. I know I'd be passionate about different things if I hadn't grown up being surrounded by these types of things.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those sound like good things to be passionate about, Rachel. Your multi-lingual knowledge always has impressed me, since I still grapple with Spanish verb tenses! Learning about other cultures to the depth that you have must be a very eye-opening experience.

      Delete
  13. I admire your passion for politics!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Interesting post. I had many ancestors here before the revolution too. My great-grandmother did a bunch of research in order to join the DAR, so I have a nice family history from her. One of our ancestors was a British sailor who jumped ship to join the Americans and great-grandmother wrote "Should I be proud of someone who betrayed his country?" Good question.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, that is awesome that your great-grandmother did a lot of research for you! Sounds like you have a fascinating family history.

      Delete
  15. Wow, you have quite the family history! And what a great quote from John Adams; I'll have to put that someplace where I can remember it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a document saved with pages and pages of my favorite quotes...At least collecting quotes is not as expensive as collecting coins or stamps!

      Delete
  16. Bethany, I really like your thoughts. You sound very well rounded and with a lot of common sense - something I often miss these times. Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Another good post by you and that last picture is just great fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's not every day I get to have my picture taken with Lincoln!

      Delete