Forming Consciences

There is one thing certain and that has proven to be true since the beginning of time. That is, everything has an equal and opposite reaction.

Decisions must be made in harmony with beliefs as taught by our Orthodox faith. Fr. Peter Preble is giving the course which I am attending on Thursday evenings, to help form what is known as faithful citizenship. Following the class, (which is held after the Vesper Service), there is an opportunity for questions. We can all learn from each other.

What happens next? We go home and mull through what we've heard, and hopefully, it should help us to make a determination. Not so much with a party, but with the person who best represents what we are asked to believe in.

It should be that easy. But its not. November 4th. is coming sooner than we realize. That is the day of decision. Are we ready? People are moving with an hysteria. Are they really thinking of the consequences of their decision. Your vote is critical in shaping the future of this county. (And what of this voter fraud situation, we are hearing about)? Come on! Why not steal the election to guarantee victory? Interesting concept, but illegal.

We have just two weeks. Clearly the economy will be the determining "issue." Everyone, whether or not you are politically involved, is feeling the pressure of higher prices. Americans are suffering. (While those who have contributed to our demise get off scott free,(Are they in jail? No). What of our by-partisan bailout, does that make sense? What, $5 trillion now?) Who is paying?

Both candidates seem likable, so we've got to dig deep. Try to shut out the media, who are more than happy to influence our vote.

No matter what your political persuasion, two main factors remain and it boils down to this in my way of thinking:
The money has to come from somewhere, it doesn't fall from heaven. Much is being promised. Who's paying? (We are). Aren't we heading toward socialism?

1. So, is it a tax and spend government for the general welfare or,
2. is it time not to raise taxes, to allow business to expand, growing in prosperity and strengthening the economy.

DO NOT TAKE MY MONEY IN TAXES AND GIVE THEM TO SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT DESERVE THEM. Understand that. One candidate is the big spender, he will triple the deficit of Bush. Who's paying.
The other is saying that he will not raise taxes, because that would ultimately make things worse.

In the first example: does the government have the right through forced taxation, to take what should be ours, in a redistribution effort?

(At what point will people want to keep striving at a higher level, only to have it taken away from them)? Income redistribution? People feel betrayed already.

No additional tax will be rendered on 95% of the people? 40% do not pay taxes already, and they get a check. Does that make sense to you? We are flat on our back, we should not be raising taxes.

Do we really have that many wealthy folk? The top 5% of wage earners are paying 80% of the taxes. (Tax rebates should be kept in place, a proven method that stimulates a weakened market).

• The second part is that if business are taxed beyond what is acceptable, will that result in job loss or perhaps liquidity of their business? Will those businesses lose their competitiveness in the world market?
• Or, company's will raise their prices, guess who will pay?
• Or, maybe they will move to another country.
• Corporate taxes are already the second highest in the world, and those taxes are passes on to us.

I've always been a bottom line person. Change can be both good and bad. I tell my family that when you have to pay more tax you are less free. You have the freedom to choose now. So are your eyes open?