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Just as many Americans don’t understand the left-right political spectrum extends from totalitarian government control on the left to anarchy on the right, there’s much confusion over the phony divide between “economic issues” and “social issues.”A story in last week’s edition of Politico attempts to stir up conflict between what it calls the “evangelical right” and the tea-party movement. I am certain it will be the first of many like it in media determined to see an end to both movements.
“A reeling economy and the massive bank bailout and stimulus plan were the triggers for a resurgence in support for the Republican Party and the rise of the tea-party movement,” explains Politico’s Ben Smith. “But they’ve also banished the social issues that are the focus of many evangelical Christians to the background.”
The story goes on to say the tea-party groups “eschew social issues.”
We have become conditioned to hearing that “social issues” are abortion and the gender-bending agenda. However, I would like to make the case that all political issues are, in fact, “social issues.” And just as those entering the political fray as tea partiers should recognize this, so must the traditional “conservatives” who have focused their attention on abortion and gender-bending.
I have some familiarity with both camps.
The problem both have is not always seeing the forest for the trees.
America is not just in trouble because government no longer respects the sanctity of life.
America is not just in trouble because government no longer respects the sanctity of marriage.
America is not just in trouble because government is spending more money than it has.
America is not just in trouble because government is redistributing wealth.
America is in trouble because government is doing all of these things and more to exceed the strict limits of its constitutional authority.
And, America is in trouble because government has, to paraphrase Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, “forgotten God.”
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These are the two principles that unite the vast majority of the tea-party movement with the more traditional “conservative” movement and especially those who are devoted to the sanctity of life and family.
There’s no divide here.
There’s only a divide if we create one.
And if we create one – or allow our enemies to create one – then America will return to business as usual, and the great awakening we have seen in the last 18 months will have been just a momentary blip on history’s radar screen.
This is a time for unity among pro-life activists, pro-family activists, “conservative” activists and libertarians. There are two principles that unite most of these people – whether they know it or not:
- Overwhelmingly they believe we are accountable to a sovereign God who grants us unalienable rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
- Overwhelmingly they believe the Constitution strictly limits the power of the federal government and uniquely recognizes and protects those unalienable rights.
This is where the focus needs to be between all of the freedom-oriented groups now battling to take America back from those who would transform it to be more like all the other nations of the world – those that long ago turned from God and those that don’t have a 223-year-old Constitution that removed shackles from the people and placed them on the government.
I know the heart and soul of the tea-party movement.
It is populated by people who think just like I do about these big issues. It is a movement of prayerful people, people who love God, people who go to church and synagogue. And it is a movement of people who revere the Constitution. It is not just a movement founded upon issues of materialism and economics.
Furthermore, I would submit to you that “all issues are social issues.” The great economic plundering taking place by a rapacious government and the elite they serve is a “social issue.” The victims are people. Private property rights is a “social issue.” Equal protection under the law is a “social issue.” The rule of law is a “social issue.”
And, most of all, the will of the people is a “social issue.”
Don’t let your enemies dictate the terms of debate nor the rules of engagement.
If you care about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, you care about “social issues.”
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