From Unethical to Evil to Death--the State of our Nation

I've resisted being direct in my previous blogs about the state of our nation. What is happening now is the fruit of decades of leadership that has managed our government by the politicians for the politicians. The corruption of power has divided this nation and prepared it for an imminent fall. It is time for you and I to be heard. Darkness is covering our nation. It's leadership has embarked on a path of destruction.

Ethics have been replaced by every man (party!) doing what it thinks right in its own eyes. The party line has become the gospel. Lies have been told so long they are accepted as the truth. Good has become evil and evil has become good.

I'm reminded of the people and leadership in Germany before World War II. A significant majority of the people knew nothing of the anti-Semitic plans and activities of the government. Their leader was charismatic, non-traditional and a powerful orator. Like the frog in a pan of water on the stove, the people of Germany didn't even notice the temperature rising until the water was boiling...and then it was too late! Government cannot be our god!

Behavior that is unethical has become acceptable. More than that, it has become the norm! Leading up to mid-term elections, the primary campaigning should be enough to wake us up! Saying what appears to be most expedient in disparaging a competitor is the least of the unethical practices. Blatant lies, half truths and innuendos in advertisements have sunk to the lowest level of depravity. But, never mind, this is the way we do it. The water gets hotter!

We are being governed by a president, a speaker of the house and a leader of the senate that disdains, if not hates, our nation. Disregard for the will of the people and the basic economics of government, and focusing entirely on achieving political and personal agendas, has set the stage for collapse. It is obvious to most of us that we can't run our businesses or our personal finances by continually spending many times what we earn simply by borrowing more money. Disaster awaits! Current leadership is perfecting the plan of decades that is leading to the destruction of our nation!

I'm not an alarmist but I am a contrarian (thinking contrary to the majority). My profession is auditing and I was trained to look beyond the surface of things. We call it professional skepticism. This is how auditors identify frauds! When the column of numbers don't add up, there is something wrong. Our nation's numbers don't add up! We can't print enough money, borrow enough money or increase taxes enough to pay the interest on the ballooning national debt, let alone its principal. Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die?

A perfect storm has begun! We must awake from our sleep and begin talking about the evil of our nation's leaders that is perpetrating fraud on the American people! In our circles of influences, we must speak and demonstrate our abhorrence of the evil that is overshadowing us. Most of all, we must pray!

2 Chronicles 7:14: "If My people who are called by My Name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Please send a link to this blog to everyone on your contact list. It's time our voices are heard!

Are We Becoming a Nation of Liars and Deceivers?

I'm fed up with the politics of compromise, deal-making, party agendas, hypocrisy, lies and deception. The art of politics has become never answering "yes" or "no" to a question. Party lines have divided this country and each of us, our children and grandchildren will pay financially, morally and socially...unless our "blinders" are removed.

I think it was Hitler who said, "Tell a lie long enough and the people will believe it as the truth." Sad to say, but the perceptions of many people of this nation has become their truth. Politicians, business leaders, news reporters, ministers, blue collar workers and, yes, even you and me, have made our perceptions our god.

Attending a church that split years ago, I witnessed the offense of the senior pastor produce lies about the circumstances in his later books. He believed his perception to be truth. He has no pulpit now.

I observed the president of a developing company nearly destroy it because he perceived anyone with different perceptions to be his enemy. His life became a lie. His bad life experiences were his truth and he feared that these experiences would be repeated. What he greatly feared has now come upon him and he is about to lose that which he created.

CEOs of investment funds, state attorney generals, senators and members of congress, pastors of large churches, White House press secretaries, presidents, treasury secretaries have lied and deceived the public. For some, there appear to be no consequences on earth; for others there are.

But it's easy to be "the pot calling the kettle black." It's easy for me to defend my perceptions by pointing at the faults of others. The question I have to ask frequently of myself is "What is my reason for offense?" Is it about me or them? My reasons should be more about the future and well-being of others than about my being offended by their behavior. My motives should be to see their lives changed for the better, not my being right.

A few minutes ago, I received a call from someone about an old situation in which I confronted a liar and deceiver. I realized I had given up on the person's behavior ever changing and that I just wanted him punished! Here's the truth: God's ways are not ours! He has made a way for the worst to be made clean through Jesus Christ! After all, He saved a wretch like me!

WHERE HAS INTEGRITY GONE?

Since the word integrity seems to have gone the way of relativism, here is an early definition from Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828 Edition:

"Integrity: The entire unimpaired state of anything, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty. Integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has a special reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfers of property, and agencies for others."

Cough! Choke! Where has integrity gone? Is it in corporate management? How about politicians? Is it a characteristic of the church? Do we see it in our current president? Do his appointees have it? Do you and I have integrity? When asked if they have high integrity, most people will answer "yes." On the other hand when asked if one's integrity affects their ability to do a job or hold an office, the answer is "no." The real question is, "does integrity really matter anymore?"

Here is a brief list of "polling" questions to get your input. Be honest, please!

1. Have highly publicized corporate frauds ever created justification for our cheating "just a little bit?" We're thinking about little things like leaving work half an hour early, answering personal emails or phone calls during work hours, or requesting reimbursement for a $50 meal when we only spent $5.

2. Does the apparent fact that many politicians don't pay all their income taxes, take contributions in return for favors, or blame others for problems they've created cause us to consider doing the same?

3. Do the publicized actions of fallen religious leaders affect our faith and personal integrity?

Let me know what you think about these issues and I'll discuss your comments in a future blog.