The Circus of Politics

It is said that a single picture speaks a thousand words. Here are 9,000 words on politics.

Faith Based Leadership = FAIL

I'll try to keep this relatively short.

Not because I respect your time or think you have a short attention span, but because I got me a half slab of baby backs warming up in the oven. [they were delicious...nom nom nom nom!]

I'm starting to think we need one, basic, litmus test for elected officials at all levels.

"Would you describe yourself as 'a person of faith' who believes in God?"

If the answer is Yes, then they are disqualified from running for any elected office, from dog catcher (actually I've never lived anywhere that people elected dog catchers, or any other Animal Control type people...I'm just sayin'...) to POTUS.

I know that seems harsh. But here is why I think it's not only justified, but critical.

It all comes down to faith.

The definition of faith is "belief without evidence". A person of faith is able to take a concept that is taught to them by someone else, and just believe it. They don't have to have it proved to them. They don't need any evidence. They just accept and "know that it's true" because they "feel it in their heart" or "know it in their gut". In the most extreme cases, they believe it because "God spoke to them" or they "were touched by the Holy Spirit".

Carl Sagan (when speaking about UFOs and alien visitations) once said (paraphrasing) "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence".

If some one is able to believe an "extraordinary claim" like this...


...then they can probably believe much less extraordinary claims with no evidence whatsoever. Because they "just know it".

Claims like Iraq being a threat to America. Claims like Iraq having Weapons of Mass Destruction. Claims like the idea that we would be greeted by the Iraqis as librators. Claims like the idea that we can force a free and democratic middle east into existence by invading countries, killing people and breaking things.

I'd like a president who, when presented with an extraordinary claim, like "making rich people richer, helps poor people" would question that bold assertion.

Hypothetical President: "A rising tide only lifts all boats if everybody has a boat. If the tide is rising, and you ain't got no boat...wouldn't you drown?"




That would be a good question to ask.

Here are a whole lot of people smarter than me saying the same thing a whole lot better than me.



Keep people who believe in "God" out of politics. They are too gullible to be in charge

Elect scientific athiests. If you can find any willing to put up with the bullshit long enough to campaign and win.

A doubtful proposition, but worth the search.