{"id":199,"date":"2004-10-28T01:17:38","date_gmt":"2004-10-28T05:17:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/anderkoo\/2004\/10\/28\/hearts-stomachs-an-open-letter-about"},"modified":"2004-10-28T01:17:38","modified_gmt":"2004-10-28T05:17:38","slug":"hearts-stomachs-an-open-letter-about-the-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/anderkoo\/2004\/10\/hearts-stomachs-an-open-letter-about-the-election\/","title":{"rendered":"hearts & stomachs: an open letter about the election"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

As many of you know, Gene and I began our life together as husband and
\nwife seven weeks ago at the University Lutheran Church here in
\nMassachusetts. We wanted you to know how much we appreciate the love
\nand support we received from all of our friends and family. We are
\ntruly blessed.<\/p>\n

As we begin planning our lives together, we are also thinking very much
\nabout the Presidential election that is only a week away, because the
\nresults of that election will have so much of an effect on our future
\n(and future of our children). I wanted to share with you some of my
\nfeelings and thoughts about the election. I will say up front that
\nthese feelings and thoughts mix religion and politics, because my
\nChristian beliefs have shaped my beliefs about government. 
\nFrankly, I’m hoping that some of you will agree with me, but whether
\nyou do or not, I respect the choice that reflects your beliefs and look
\nforward to future discussions. <\/p>\n

On November 2, I will vote for John Kerry. I will not do so because he
\nis perfect or because I agree with all of his positions. I don’t.
\nStill, I think that Kerry reflects a wiser approach to government than
\nour current administration demonstrates.<\/p>\n

Our government is not perfect. I don’t believe we can expect perfect
\nhuman community until Christ’s return. But, I do believe we are
\nstewards of our time, talents, and treasures here on earth. And, I
\nthink we can ask as much of our government: to be a good steward and
\ncaretaker of God’s creation and the many blessings of this life.<\/p>\n

I am concerned that George Bush and his government has failed to use
\nwisely the wealth and reputation of this nation. The most notable
\nexample, for me, are policies that encourage us to think in terms of
\npersonal tax benefits rather than national and community-wide welfare.
\n 
\nIn 2001, George Bush offered the first of several tax cuts and many of
\nus started receiving checks in the mail. He has cut taxes twice since
\nthen. Christianity reminds me that we are sinful, tending toward
\nself-gratification and convenience. So, when George Bush started
\ntouting personal tax cuts and personal saving as the solution to large
\nnational problems, I had to stop and ask myself, is this stewardship or
\nconvenience? Although the President promises that tax relief will
\nstrengthen the economy, is this more for my own comfort than it is for
\nmaking my country better? <\/p>\n

I am worried that Bush’s tax cuts are not making our country better –
\nand working Americans will be hurt the most by them. Tax cuts flow most
\nheavily to the wealthy. My tax savings is about $900 a year; people
\nearning $1 million a year receive about $50,000 a year in tax relief.
\nAt the same time that Bush issued tax cuts, he started cutting back on
\npublic-private partnerships that help millions of poor Americans secure
\nhousing, claiming it was too expensive. He is urging us all to invest
\nin our own private health care savings accounts, but what becomes of
\npeople whose wages barely pay the rent, never mind saving for future
\nhealth catastrophe? He has no credible plan to help the 40 million
\nAmericans, including 11 million children, who have no health insurance
\nat all. <\/p>\n

Bush tells us we can apply compassionate conservatism and charity to
\nmeet our nation’s needs. It is true that we can help heal each other’s
\nbrokenness through prayer and service – but can we provide our neighbor
\nwith health insurance? I tend to think that our larger concerns – like
\nhealth care and housing – require thoughtful action by private citizens
\nand government together. Bush’s tax cuts make this harder to do. Tax
\ncuts and war-related spending have produced a national budget deficit
\nof $422 billion – a deficit expected to grow to $1.4 to $5 trillion in
\nthe next 10 years. Just like you or me, the government has to pay back
\nits debts. Today’s tax cuts borrow against our future ability to meet
\nthe needs of Americans. To me, this reflects poor stewardship.  <\/p>\n

I see George Bush’s preference for self-interest over stewardship
\nleading our conduct in Iraq as well. I confess that, even though Christ
\nteaches us to love our enemies, I am not a pacifist. I do, however,
\nfeel that war is the tragic choice of last resort, when all other
\noptions have failed. There’s a lot I don’t understand about the war.
\nBut, the question that persists for me: is the war for Iraq or America?
\nWas it to free the people of Iraq or to demonstrate America’s might in
\nthe wake of 9-11? If it was the latter, was it good, wise reason to
\ninvade a nation and put soldiers in danger?     <\/p>\n

George Bush tells us that we will be better off – richer, more
\ncomfortable, safer – going his route.  To me it feels like he’s
\nasking me to vote with my gut – that is, out of self-interest. But I
\nbelieve that we Americans are blessed: our stomachs are full. Our greatest challenge, as it always
\nhas been, is to love: love our neighbors and even our enemies. So as a
\nChristian struggling to find my place in American politics, when asked
\nby either party to vote with my gut, I will try instead to listen to my
\nheart. I pray you will do so as well – no matter who you choose on
\nNovember 2.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As many of you know, Gene and I began our life together as husband and wife seven weeks ago at the University Lutheran Church here in Massachusetts. We wanted you to know how much we appreciate the love and support … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":272,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[96],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/anderkoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/anderkoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/anderkoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/anderkoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/272"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/anderkoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=199"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/anderkoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/anderkoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/anderkoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/anderkoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}