Whatever it takes...

A little after 10:00am on Thursday June 28, 2012 my jaw dropped as I looked at the news feed on my phone.The ruling from the supreme court had been announced that it had judged the Affordable Care Act "Constitutional". Admittedly I was entirely surprised by their ruling.
Surprise later turned into depression and later still, into anger.I've been angry with the court's decision ever since.
As a few days have passed and as I have taken time to reflect on things both recent, and in years passed, one phrase has been popping into my head. A phrase that I realize now that I hear often and from many people for different reasons.That phrase is
"whatever it takes..."
Suddenly, I can envision this phrase being applied to almost unlimited situations. Situations and circumstances both great and trivial. This mindset, or philosophy if you will, could be translated into " the ends justify the means", and I believe this way of thinking has permeated into the way we all conduct our selves whether we realize it or not.
Let's start with the trivial and seemingly inconsequential instances where I could see this philosophy put to one's use.
How many of us when running a little late for work or other destination while driving and approaching a red light,in our haste cut through the corner gas station parking lot to avoid the light? Or how many times have you been standing in line at the checkout about second or third in line, and another lane is opened to relieve the backup, and the person who just walked up to the line quickly redirects themselves to the open lane. How is that any different than the traditional breaking in line? Seems to me that the courteous thing to do would be to offer the opened lane to the person who has been waiting the longest. We all know how it feels when we get that instinctual frustration after someone breaks in line ahead of us, don't we?
Again, trivial isn't it, but do you see my point? These are examples of we have become accustomed to ignoring traditionally accepted rules of behavior in a populated society, and we do it because we have to get to work, or we're in a hurry to checkout at the store so we are willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.
Now let's look at another scenario with a little more weight to it. Recently our parish has done some minor renovations. Among the items of work to be performed was the replacing of the carpet in our sanctuary. In his comments to the congregation after a service, our pastor informed us that some funds were needed to help pay for the new carpet. He then stated that we should just give the needed funds directly to the parish and not place them in the usual "building fund" envelope. Why? because according to the pastor the parish had already fulfilled its money obligations to the Archdiocese for the year, and any money offered in appropriate envelopes would be sent to it first and after its cut was taken out, the remaining funds would be sent back to the parish anyway. Apparently, such funds raised as the basket is passed normally go to the Archdiocese accounting office where the Archdiocese extracts a percentage in what amounts to a tax until the parishes' annual debt is paid. In this case our parish had already paid its bill, but was technically required to send in building fund offerings anyway so the Archdiocese could get its cut.
Now I heard this with my own ears, and unless I am mistaken in what I heard it sounded to me like the pastor was stating that the Archdiocese didn't really need the money and therefore he was willing to do whatever it takes to get the carpet down.
Now let's get real heavy. Let's relate this philosophy to our government and the way they have been governing, or ruling over us these past several years. Let's go back to the subject that started this post and talk about the Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare" and how it became the law of the land. I watched, as maybe you did, the shell games, the bribes, the backroom deals, and the blatant disregard for established Senate rules, and the arm twisting of members of the House who knew better.
The concept of universal healthcare has never enjoyed popularity with the vast majority of the American people.Because , I believe that most Americans are industrious, self sufficient, and independent minded individuals who value a traditional sense of American freedom. Although many of which do not know how to express or exercise their God given rights.
Unfortunately there also exists many Americans who don't agree, or at the very least don't care about their unique place in history. they don't understand that their heritage is blessed, but their current ambitions for material welfare is not. Some would argue that its not the material welfare that prompts their wants for "free" healthcare, but they are only fooling themselves because nothing can save us from physical deterioration, sickness, and ultimately death. Not even the most prosperous nation in history.
They are pawns for the those in power. And that's what this takeover of one sixth of our GDP really is about....POWER and control. Our Federal government is willing to do whatever it takes to maintain and add too their power and control over our lives and our freedoms. It was on display when they passed this horrific law. It's on display when drones fly overhead watching and killing undeclared enemies of our nation, and now, watching our own citizens. Its on display constantly by both parties in all three branches of our government because they have proclaimed themselves not to be bound by the rule of our Constitution, but are willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get done what they want, how they want, because they want. Rules be damned! Laws be damned! Our future be damned!
I don't know what it will be like if Mitt Romney becomes our next president. I can only hope a return to some good and decent civility, but I do know for certainty what it will be like if Barack Obama is reelected. Barack Obama is willing to do whatever it takes to make the American people do whatever HE wants.
Please remember this. Not even our Lord followed the whatever it takes philosophy to bring goodness and kindness to this world. He could have changed everything by the wave of his hand, but instead he subject-gated himself to the will of his Father. He followed the rules because he was trying to be an example for all of us.
It's now up to WE THE PEOPLE to turn this thing around and get back to a republic based on the rule of law, and it won't require doing whatever it takes yet. we just need to show up to the polls on November 6, 2012 and vote for Mitt Romney. We don't really have another choice.

God Bless.