Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
America’s Dysfunctional Government

America’s Dysfunctional Government

Last updated on: October 4, 2023 at 8:18 am by Roger E. Olson

0 Comments

America’s Dysfunctional Government 2023-10-04T08:18:17-05:00 Roger E. Olson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

To Christians in America and around the world I beg: Please pray for America. America, as a nation-state, is by most accounts the most powerful country in the world. Our government, and one might say our society, is in crisis. If anyone doubts that, the latest news (fact, not “alternative fact”) is that the United States House of Representatives, one branch of Congress, just ousted its own Speaker (Speaker of the House) who, by office and law, is third in line of succession to the presidency. Should the president and vice president die in office, the Speaker of the House, whoever he or she may be, is automatically president of the country. That alone or alongside other powers makes the Speaker one of the most important persons in the world in terms of power.

What happened: A small minority of radical Republicans in the House of Representatives proposed that Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a “moderate” among contemporary Republicans, be removed from office. The Democratic representatives, from a minority position in the House, voted for his removal along with the radicals. That created a “first” in American political history—the ouster of the Speaker of the House from office by the congressmen and congresswoman he leads. In my opinion, this is a bloodless but nevertheless very serious coup d’etat. For now, the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives is empty, being filled by an interim person nobody has ever heard of (an ally of McCarthy’s).

I am no fan of Kevin McCarthy and I understand the Democrats’ concerns about him. He has been an on-again, off-again supporter of ex-president, indicted person Donald Trump who is on trial in New York City for civil crimes of fraud. He is also under indictment for a variety of federal crimes related to his alleged participation in an attempt to overthrow the election of Joe Biden.

Our national government is in chaos; what is happening in Washington, DC, possibly the most powerful city in the world, is unbelievable. Who do I blame? I blame both parties. The Democratic in the House should have supported McCarthy against the gang of radical Republicans who wanted him ousted for his alleged compromises with the Democrats. What compromises? Well, most recently, a compromise about the U.S. budget that saved America from a federal government shut-down. Apparently, the radical Republicans in the House want that to happen which would mean an economic crisis. Apparently, and in my opinion, that is what they want to foment a revolution that would somehow or other put them in greater power. They are all devoted, passionate supporters of Trump.

The Democrats should not have voted to oust Speaker McCarthy, something they did just because he is a Republican who, like the vast majority of Republicans, has supported Trump and who believes the most recent presidential election was “stolen.” The danger is, of course, that the new Speaker could be more radical and less willing to compromise than McCarthy.

During my lifetime as an American citizen, watching American politics progress or regress, I have never seen our federal government in such absolute disarray, with members of the two parties locked in such hatred of each other that they are willing to allow the common good of the citizens of the country to fall away from anywhere near top concern.

Many people the world over, but especially in America, have warned that we, the American nation, are headed toward a civil war, whether bloody or bloodless. It seems that in the halls of power in our federal government especially in Washington, DC, something of a civil war is already happening. The two parties are at war with each other.

In the meantime, America-at-large is falling into crisis on many fronts with no viable solutions being offered by our leaders. On last night’s Evening News all three major news outlets reported that “car jacking” have skyrocketed in the nation’s capital. Almost 800 have happened so far this year—including that of a congressperson. In the major U.S. metro area where I live, approximately 24K cars are stolen every year, including mine. A 16 year old boy was shot across the street from where I live, in an apartment complex, outdoors, just about one year ago. I hear gunshots many nights from my condominium in a relatively “safe” suburban neighborhood.

Homelessness is rampant in the U.S. Every day I see homeless people living in tents, under blankets, sometimes under bridges. The costs of housing has increased in most American cities to the point where most people simply cannot afford it even if they are working full-time. In the meantime, our American federal budget is bloated for military spending in spite of the fact that an invasion of our country is geographically almost impossible.

Many astute scholars of American politics at major universities are warning very seriously that America is now in “the legal phase of fascism.” Populism has always been a part of American politics, but now it is fueled by extreme anger toward…whom? A certain segment of the popular news media in America has fueled hatred and anger toward anyone who can rightly or wrongly be labeled “leftist.”

Of course, the contemporary American “left,” which bears no resemblance to the real “left wing” of American politics in the mid-20th century, has contributed to this crisis by itself being arrogant and unwilling to compromise on social, economic, and political issues. For the most part, however, these are academics, journalists, and bureaucrats who have tremendous influence on the Democratic Party at its grassroots level. However, to give just one example, the national Democratic Party recently censured a Southern Democratic congressperson for breaking with the party about certain social issues.

Homelessness, hunger, crime, mental illness, illegal immigration, racism, corruption in high places, the disappearance of the middle class, the widening gap between the rich and the poor…all need ALL national and local government leaders to come together to address them with real solutions. There is no hope of that in sight in today’s American politics or even in government itself.

What lies at the root of this crisis in America today? When asked, most people who pay any attention to politics and government will say either “the Republicans” or “the Democrats” (or “the left” or “the right”). I say a very serious moral failure of both parties to step back and away from refusal to compromise for the common good, even if that means just to avoid a complete breakdown of our society which seems to loom on the horizon. Both parties are locked in dispositions of hatred of their counterparts that paralyzes government from doing its work which is to help the helpless and everyone to live decent, free, and relatively happy lives.

*Note: If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of pictures or links. Also, know that I will not approve any comment that is aimed at misusing my blog for partisan political or ideological rants.*

Uncategorized

Previous Post

October 2, 2023

“The Upside-Down Kingdom,” Chapter 4 “Wilderness Bread”

Next Post

October 6, 2023 Should Christians Attempt to Legislate Christian Morality?

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"No doubt Lewis was inspired by earlier thinkers. Ironically (or perhaps serendipitously) I am now ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"I am sure Lewis would agree. After all, as a Christian he believed in original ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"If I’m not mistaken, the quote from Lewis is his interpretation of the “Conditioners’” own ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"Thank you! It's been a great re-read of a thought provoking, but somewhat dense, little ..."

Øyvind J. Karstad

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Against Liberal Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What city was the Apostle Paul imprisoned in for two years?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ephesus Corinth Rome Jerusalem