"Why do people choose the substitute over God himself? Probably the most important reason is that it obviates accountability to God. We can meet idols on our own terms because they are our own creations. They are safe, predictable, and controllable; they are, in Jeremiah's colorful language, the 'scarecrows in a cornfield' (10:5). They are portable and completely under the user's control. They offer nothing like the threat of a God who thunders from Sinai and whose providence in this world so often appears to us to be incomprehensible and dangerous . . . [People] need face only themselves. That is the appeal of idolatry."
- David F. Wells
Monday, November 10, 2008
I was looking forward to digging into the details of the Obama Agenda, as found on the Change.gov site. I already had two posts up on it (here and here).
Looking at the site just now, I see that the Agenda portion of the site no longer contains detailed sections on specific agenda categories. It appears that the Obama transition team has cleaned out most of the detail from the site. So for now, there's not much to talk about.
This may have been a wise move. In reading the site previously, the agenda sections read more like campaign documents than transition documents. My guess is that the transition team started the Change.gov site out with, primarily, text from the campaign site. They quickly learned that that probably wasn't the best idea, as people began poring over the details and treating them not as campaign talking points but as the formal policy proposals of an incoming President.
In any event, when and if the site gains more content, I'll get back to posting on it.
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Comments on "The Obama Agenda: . . . Um, I'll Get Back To You":
2. Real DeCoy
- 11/11/2008 2:14 am CST
Just read and watched Richard the II by William S. Very interesting thinking to be done by analogy.
I was thinking that the irony of planning a march on washington opening a new era of concern for oppressed people should be the goal of concerned people...the point has often been made that the march on washington in '63 gave people a visual representation of the problem, drawing it out of the depths of abstraction into the concrete.
The woman who survived an abortion now becoming known in some places could make an "I am the dream" speech.
I suspect we might all be able to celebrate the historic nature of the Obama presidency if we could influence his thinking on one single issue and even change it.
Finally, the article linked below is gruesome but important reading.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2008/09/10/palin/
4. dbd
- 11/18/2008 11:59 am CST
The old "agenda" pages were just copied over from Obama's campaign website. New, more detailed pages are now up. Here is the section Reproductive Choice. It does not mention the Freedom of Choice Act.
* Supports a Woman's Right to Choose: Barack Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as President. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case.
* Preventing Unintended Pregnancy: Barack Obama is an original co-sponsor of legislation to expand access to contraception, health information, and preventive services to help reduce unintended pregnancies. Introduced in January 2007, the Prevention First Act will increase funding for family planning and comprehensive sex education that teaches both abstinence and safe sex methods. The Act will also end insurance discrimination against contraception, improve awareness about emergency contraception, and provide compassionate assistance to rape victims.
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Well according to Cecil Richards (president of Planned Parenthood) she has spoken with Obama and/or his transition team everyday since the election. From what I have read he is ready to get rid of restrictions to stem cell research and also lift the ban on funding groups overseas who support abortion. PP is also pressing hard to get all abstinence only programs de-funded. Here comes the change. I just read an article at http://www.dutchsheets.org/index.cfm/pageid/263 and he says, "America rejected God and asked for a king." I don't know much about this Dutch guy but I felt he definitely made some valid points about this election.