A Modest Political Proposal
Perhaps I should begin with a disclaimer. I am not a politician, a political commentator, nor a political science professor. I am a citizen and I vote. That said, I would like to make a modest political proposal.
I propose that every member of every city council, that all members of all 50 state’s governing bodies, and each member of the US Congress be required to personally read a bill in its entirety before they are allowed to vote on it. Reading a summary of a bill is not acceptable, nor can they have someone else read it for them. Moreover, in order to demonstrate that they have read each bill, they must take and pass an exam on it before they are allowed to vote. All who vote must pass the exam one week before they vote to give them time to think about what they are about to do. In addition, they must attend the sessions of their respective bodies or be removed from office the day they arrive at a failing grade in attendance. Finally, they must publish their pork on a website.
I further propose that citizens who vote must take and pass an exam on what every candidate “says” he or she will do once in office, before they are allowed to vote. Like politicians, each citizen must pass the exam at least one week before casting a ballot.
I have one more modest political proposal. All who know the Lord should pray for all who are in office at every level of government. The first two proposals are my ideas. The third is God’s idea. Paul wrote, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:1-6). The purpose for this kind of praying is that “we” (believers) may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence, not that “they” (politicians) might lead such a life. In other words, we are to pray that government governs in such a way that we will be able to live in peace. The ultimate purpose of these prayers is that people be saved. God wants all to be saved. Praying for those in authority so that peace will prevail enables the gospel to spread. Freedom from war and persecution facilitates the spread of the gospel (Hendriksen). The book of Acts records, “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied” (Acts 9:31).
The objection will no doubt be that it would cost too much to give and grade all those exams. Granted, it would be expensive, but the way it is being done now costs more. Also, prayer does not cost dollars, only time.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 9/30/2007
I propose that every member of every city council, that all members of all 50 state’s governing bodies, and each member of the US Congress be required to personally read a bill in its entirety before they are allowed to vote on it. Reading a summary of a bill is not acceptable, nor can they have someone else read it for them. Moreover, in order to demonstrate that they have read each bill, they must take and pass an exam on it before they are allowed to vote. All who vote must pass the exam one week before they vote to give them time to think about what they are about to do. In addition, they must attend the sessions of their respective bodies or be removed from office the day they arrive at a failing grade in attendance. Finally, they must publish their pork on a website.
I further propose that citizens who vote must take and pass an exam on what every candidate “says” he or she will do once in office, before they are allowed to vote. Like politicians, each citizen must pass the exam at least one week before casting a ballot.
I have one more modest political proposal. All who know the Lord should pray for all who are in office at every level of government. The first two proposals are my ideas. The third is God’s idea. Paul wrote, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:1-6). The purpose for this kind of praying is that “we” (believers) may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence, not that “they” (politicians) might lead such a life. In other words, we are to pray that government governs in such a way that we will be able to live in peace. The ultimate purpose of these prayers is that people be saved. God wants all to be saved. Praying for those in authority so that peace will prevail enables the gospel to spread. Freedom from war and persecution facilitates the spread of the gospel (Hendriksen). The book of Acts records, “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied” (Acts 9:31).
The objection will no doubt be that it would cost too much to give and grade all those exams. Granted, it would be expensive, but the way it is being done now costs more. Also, prayer does not cost dollars, only time.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 9/30/2007