Politics – Page 15 – The Lutheran Zephyr

The Role of Government

Over at Lutherpunk’s bog, we had a lively discussion of abortion and other pro-life issues, and I asked what role the government appropriately plays in these issues. But beyond the pro-life issues, I wonder what a Lutheran understanding of government is. I am no Luther scholar, but I gather that for Luther government is aContinue reading “The Role of Government”

Cheap Heating Oil for America’s Poor

Does it bother anybody that many Democrats are negotiating deals with Hugo Chavez, the highly undemocratic dictator of Venezuela, to get heating oil at a price 40% below market rate for low-income Americans? Besides being no friend of democracy, free speech or political opposition, Hugo Chavez perpetuates the poverty of his nation through this so-calledContinue reading “Cheap Heating Oil for America’s Poor”

Alternate Sources

I love Google News. Bringing headlines from news organizations from around the world to my computer screen, I can read about any given news story from hundreds of different sources and perspectives. I used to frequent http://www.CNN.com, but now it has been deleted from my Favorites list in favor of the globally-minded list of sourcesContinue reading “Alternate Sources”

A Pro-Life Failure

Is there truly a pro-life position out there? Many "pro-lifers" are against abortion, but support the death penalty. Many liberals support abortion rights and perhaps even some sort of legalized assisted suicide (such as the Oregon statute upheld today by the Supreme Court), while opposing the immorality and injustice of capital punishment. The Roman CatholicContinue reading “A Pro-Life Failure”

The unexpected Christmas gift of communism

Yesterday on an NPR top-of-the-hour news report, I heard a piece about orthodox Christians celebrating Christmas in former communist, Soviet Bloc nations. The reporter said that Christmas is these countries is purely a religious celebration, not a retail bonanza. Gift-giving and commercialism are centered around the celebration of the New Year rather than Christmas, aContinue reading “The unexpected Christmas gift of communism”