“Pledge to America” Episode Four

Thus far we’ve seen the language of the “neo-Christians,” also known as “Evangelical Christians” or “Social Conservatives.” This author has, and will continue to refer to them as “pseudo-christians.” Wrapped in language of faith and values, honoring the Constitution and restoring the founding fathers’ intent, pseudo-christians drop not too subtle hints at armed insurrection if they do not get their way. The following “pledges” indicate how this country should be run – their way.

We pledge to advance policies that promote greater liberty, wider opportunity, a robust defense, and national economic prosperity.

The policies thus far advanced by Republicans towards these aims are cutting taxes, eliminating the Estate Tax, eliminating government regulations that protect the environment and eliminating wage and hour laws, while at the same time giving a blank check to defense contractors.

We pledge to honor families, traditional marriage, life, and the private and faith-based organizations that form the core of our American values.

Here is the social conservative agenda: honoring families and traditional marriage by discriminating against gays and lesbians; honor life by preventing abortions; and honor private and faith-based organizations by adopting pseudo-christianity as the de facto official religion of the United States.

We pledge to make government more transparent in its actions, careful in its stewardship, and honest in its dealings.

This, of course, is the opposite of the last Republican Administration. And once again, we have a key phrase from the pseudo-christian movement, “careful in its stewardship.” The last time Republicans were at the helm of the Ship of State, there were secret meetings to set the countries energy policy, so secret, that the Administration refused to divulge the identities of the participants. We now have the Patriot Act, and everything on the web is watched by Big Brother.

The Bush Administration took a surplus and gave it away by cutting taxes that disproportionatly favored the wealthy. Then he financed not one, but two wars with borrowed money, and kept those loans off the books.

As far as honesty goes, this country was lied to on an unprecedented scale. Muslims were blamed for 9/11 without a criminal investigation. We invaded Afghanistan on a pretext. We attacked Iraq based on lies.

But if we take the Bush Administration for an aberration, and that Republicans are truly an open, honest lot, we must examine current Republican leadership for evidence. While Presidential candidate John McCain changes the past as a windsock changes directions, VP Candidate Sarah Palin has been more consistent. She refuses to disclose her speaking engagement contracts, prescreens questions and speaks only to forums friendly to her. So much for transparency.

Republicans continue to espouse the same economic policies that caused our massive deficit in the first place. Yet their “Pledge” promises to restore careful stewardship. Simply put, their words do not match their actions. The same can be said for “honesty.”

However, “honesty” is relative. To pseudo-christians, “honesty” is faith-based. Honesty depends not so much as being aligned with the facts, but based on who made the statement. A statement made by one of their leaders is true, the leader is honest, even if the statement is provably false.

We pledge to uphold the purpose and promise of a better America, knowing that to whom much is given, much is expected and that the blessings of our liberty buoy the hopes of mankind.

This again is loaded with the language of pseudo-christians. The phrase “that to whom much is given, much is expected” is a typical platitude. While, on the face of it, this phrase argues for a progressive tax policy, the opposite is demanded of pseudo-christians: to whom much is given, more will be bestowed.

We make this pledge bearing true faith and allegiance to the people we represent, and we invite fellow citizens and patriots to join us in forming a new governing agenda for America.

The series of pledges concludes with an alter-call: “we invite fellow citizens and patriots to join us.” Just remember, as Bush famously said, “Either you are with us, or with the terrorists.” This is how pseudo-christians view the world. Either you are one of God’s Chosen, or you are one of the damned. If you don’t respond to their alter-call, you are one of the damned.

To be continued…

The views expressed here are those of the author and not necessarily that of The Zoo. Your comments, as always, are welcome.