My ears always perk up when I hear the Bible quoted on the House floor to argue against a bill I support. Today, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Indiana) didn’t do as bad a job with Luke 11:46 as Shimkus did with his Bible quotes. The verse Pence quotes is one of Jesus’ three woes to the lawyers in Luke’s Gospel. Rep. Pence calls them ‘lawmakers’, which isn’t a good translation of the word nomikos in Luke, but neither is ‘lawyer’, the common translation. A nomikos in Luke seems to have authority to control people’s way of living Judaism. They are zealous for the Torah, and people consult them about how to follow the Law. Jesus’ woes to them in Luke 11 indicate that they have an obligation to help people follow the law and not just ‘burden’ them with things to do. The nomikoi in Luke joined the scribes and Pharisees as some of Jesus’ biggest opponents, as they had always been toward God’s prophets.
I suppose nomikoi could have made pronouncements which were legally binding, so in that sense they could be considered lawmakers. So let’s let him slide on his use of Luke 11:46. But what he says about the bill is completely wrong.
He says, ‘But there’s no dispute, the Democrat cap-and-trade bill will raise the cost of energy to every household in America, every small business, every family farm…’
Wrong. It’s going to lower our energy bills.
‘…and it will cost millions of American jobs.’
Wrong. It will create millions of jobs.
If you are going to talk about lawmakers putting a burden on people and not lifting a finger to help them, I’m sure we can find some examples, but this isn’t one of them.
By the way…
Whether you’re much of an activist or not, you can do something to help (if you’re reading this on June 25 or June 26). Congress is getting a lot of calls right now both for and against the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The vote will likely be tomorrow. Your call could tip the balance.
Here’s what to do:
Call the Congressional Switchboard and ask to be connected to your representative. If you do not know who your representative is, click here and enter your address.
House Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
What you can say…
Please pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act, HR 2454. I am calling as a person of faith (and/or as a member of ___________ congregation in _______). This bill will help launch a clean energy future and avert the worst impacts of climate change.
UPDATE: The bill passed! It was very close. It’s heading to the Senate next.
"because you’ve got the whole speaking-truth-to-power element and corrupt-institution-as-propaganda-machine element." I'm not sure I understood what you meant by the "speaking-truth-to-power element". I do understand what you mean by "corrupt-instittution-as-propoganda-machine." To me this describes the "progressive" driven public education system, labor union driven private sector and governement union sector, and many other institutionalized propoganda machines preaching sermons trying to claim moral high ground with their religion of eco-crisis. The way this propoganda machine is set up I have to pay it with my property taxes just to name one. If I was in a union, they would be sucking out part of my pay to fund labor bosses agendas which have nothing to do with the purpose of the union. "you’ve also indicated that your perspective is closely tied to your economic self-interest. I don’t mean any disrespect." Yes, you mean disrespect. You would like to show I am this horrible selfish capitalist. That's part of the progressive claim to moral high ground. Excuse me for appearing selfish to you. I am trying to protect myself and many other sincere seekers from being scammed. Pardon me for not wanting to be generous towards scammers. "at the end of the day, we drink someone’s Kool-Aid"- I feel say that you view life so void of facts and truth to consider it all cool-aid, one side or another. I think there is plenty of nutritious liquid out there to be found.
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