The Party of Death
For some time, it has been clear that the Republican Party is a party of death.
In the debate over environmental pollution, Republicans have consistently opposed cleaning up our environment, and they have also consistently opposed regulations to prevent further pollution, although we know that many Americans die every year from illnesses that are caused by pollution. Republicans have favored those deaths.
In the debate over climate change, Republicans have consistently opposed action to mitigate climate change although we know that many people will die from disease, war and starvation that are caused by our changing climate, and we know that many Americans will die in wars that are caused ultimately by climate change. Republicans have favored those deaths.
In the debate over abortion rights, Republicans have for many years opposed a woman’s right to choose, and they have claimed to support a “right to life.” They conveniently forget that one of the main reasons for making abortion legal was that thousands of women had died from illegal abortions performed under unsanitary conditions by unqualified practitioners. The debate over a woman’s right to choose is really a debate over a woman’s right not to be killed, and in that debate, Republicans have chosen to deny her that right.
In the debate over national health care, Republicans have consistently opposed any kind national health care system, although we know that many Americans die every year because they lack health insurance. Republicans have favored those deaths.
In short, Republicans have consistently preferred to let people die rather than act to save their lives. They have done so because some of their wealthy campaign donors might lose money if action was taken to save lives.
This week, in Wisconsin, the Republicans showed their preference for death even more blatantly. They opposed delaying the state’s spring election because they believed that the pandemic would depress voter turnout and that any reduction in turnout would favor Republican candidates. Wisconsin’s Republicans did this although they knew that going to polling places would expose people to the COVID-19 virus and would undoubtedly kill some people. Republicans were happy to kill people to secure an electoral advantage.
Yet again, the Republican Party showed itself to be the party of death.
The Party of Life
The Democratic Party, on the other hand, is the party of life. The party has supported cleaning up our environment to save lives; it has supported mitigating climate change to save people’s lives; it has supported a national health care system to save people’s lives; it has supported a woman’s right to choose in order to save women’s lives; and Democrats tried to delay Wisconsin’s spring election to save lives.
Choose Life
At the end of his life, (Deuteronomy 30:19), Moses told the Israelites, “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore, choose life that you may live.”
We cannot do better than to follow his advice. Choose life!
