Democrats, the Common Man, & the Price of Gas

Let's get some things out of the way. Firstly, I was never a Trump guy. I didn't vote for him either time, primarily due to ethical concerns. Secondly, gas was artificially low towards the end of Trump's tenure because of the shutdown. Too few conservatives remember or acknowledge that. Thirdly, Trump sent out the first stimulus, much to his chagrin (I think). Politically speaking, he had absolutely no choice.

Nevertheless, we must give credit where it is due. One thing Donald Trump had going for him was that he honestly cared about America's working man. I know, I know...that's political sloganeering from time immemorial, but Trump's background, demeanor, and actions certainly appeared to demonstrate a genuine pride in America and concern for her citizens.

That is more than can be said of Biden.

One more thing to get out of the way. When I say Biden, I'm really referring to his handlers--those people (whoever they may be) who are actually running our country right now. Biden is genuinely suffering from dementia and Harris is genuinely out of her depth, which leaves one to wonder who is dictating public policy at this point. Throughout this post when I say Biden, I am referring to his administration as a whole.

Biden's policies, particularly inflating the dollar and killing the pipeline, are proving disastrous for average Americans. The prices of gas and food are rising sharply, which is quickly decreasing the common man's quality of life. The fortunes, not of billionaire CEOs, but of average folks hoping to retire after decades of honest labor, are being stolen by inflation. The middle class is all but being eliminated. We are entering tough times, and tough times are much tougher for the lower classes.

Let's focus on just one item for a moment: gasoline. The price of a gallon of gas affects the working man (those hovering right above and below the poverty line) disproportionately for several reasons. Those of us who work in the trades, manufacturing, food service, etc. have to drive to work. We can't work from home and we often commute significant distances. Moreover, keeping our tanks full is a much higher expenditure, proportionally speaking, than it is for the upper classes, for whom it is negligible, an afterthought. The average American can't simply go out and buy an electric vehicle or find some other alternate source of transportation. So, while higher gas prices are probably an annoyance to the upper classes, they are devastating to the rest of us.

All of this is to say that, per usual, the Democrats' policies are hurting precisely those people they are designed to help. The Democratic party, which is a far cry from the liberal institution your grandfather supported, is either too stupid or too elitist to care. I think both are probably true. On one hand, you have those career politicians who care about little else than the next election. These folks have never worked a honest day's labor in their lives, are oblivious to the price of gas, and laugh behind closed doors at the seemingly insignificant concerns of common folks just trying to make it through another pay period. Of course, this much can certainly be said for many Republicans, too. This is simply the way of the politician.

On other other hand, incompetent zealots seem to have taken over the leadership of the Democrat party. These influential radicals are openly opposed to the America into which they were blessed to be born and don't mind burning it down to accomplish their goals. They are so selflessly willing to sacrifice the wellbeing of average citizens to achieve what they view as the greater good. These zealots are far more dangerous than their status quo counterparts.

In other words, the price of gas is no accident.

Between these two groups, the Democratic party has never been more alienated from the plight of the working man. It is difficult to imagine an administration more out of touch with the needs of their constituency. Despite their claims, they lack the shrewdness and compassion necessary to lead this nation.

We have two more years of this, so you might want to tighten your belts. It's going to get worse before it gets better.

4 Reasons I Affirm Paedocommunion

If you have interacted with me on social media, you know that I have always been outspoken on the issue of Paedocommunion . It is a theological position and a liturgical practice about which I am passionate. Having been raised, and having raised my children, at the Table, I cannot imagine attending a church that didn't allow PC. I hope that when I am old and gray, I will still be an advocate for bringing little children to the Sacrament. Throughout the 12 years that I have had this blog, I have written scattered thoughts on the topic, but it appears that I have never written a concise summary of my reasons for affirming PC. I was thoroughly convinced that I had, but I can't seem to locate it, so I guess I never did. So, to rectify the omission, here are four reasons I hold to PC. 1) Paedocommunion is Biblical. Any discussion of the topic should start here, and I would hope that both sides of the debate would make this assertion. However, l...

1 Corinthians, the Covenant Hermeneutic, & Paedocommunion

As an adherent to Paedocommunion (hereafter PC), I have always found it painfully ironic that Credocommunionists use 1 Corinthians 11 to withhold children (among others) from the Table. One can imagine St. Paul shaking his head as he watches theologians using his discussion of unity at the Table to divide the body at the Table. You're missing the point! he would say in exasperation. Not only does 1 Corinthians 11 not forbid PC; I would go so far as to say that there is no better defense of PC in the New Testament than the epistle of 1 Corinthians. Credocommunionist logic is pretty straightforward. 1 Corinthians 11:28 says, "Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup." If, they argue, one is unable to fulfill the exhortation to examine himself, then he may not eat of the bread and drink of the cup. This is a pretty logical deduction, right? Credobaptists would adamantly agree. Acts 2:38 says, "Repe...

The Real Presence & Paedocommunion: A Deeper Rift Between Reformed Churches

You're going back to Rome! Theological disagreements within the Reformed world, especially those of the last half century, often devolve into these sorts of accusations. As controversialists like Doug Wilson and Peter Leithart began to break away from the larger conservative Presbyterian and Reformed denominations, it became clear that the rift was deeper than semantics and systematic minutiae. Much like the Reformation four centuries before, the Table was a primary point of conflict. What does it mean? Who may partake? What do we call it? These questions, along with a few more, divided Reformed brethren as the physical elements of our religion reflected deeper conflicts. Good men began to understand that the problem wasn't just in our logos, but in our pathos and ethos, as well. Paedocommunion (hereafter PC) has been one of the hottest points of contention. PC has always been normal to me as I grew up with it. I underst...

Always Reforming

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