Steven Osborne's Blog

Social Issues and Economics

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

In a recent op-ed on LifeNews.com Family Research Council President, Tony Perkins makes the case for why the Republican Party should not abandon “social” issues in the lead-up to this November’s elections.

Mr. Perkins makes some very good points in this article, namely that the two other regions of conservative thought; national security and economics, will surely unravel without is a culture of life and the family. For instance, Perkins points out that many Christian Conservatives are rightly opposed to abortion on moral grounds. However, even if one is completely devoid of moral reasoning he can still oppose abortion on the basis that it does not make good economic sense. Citing the journalist Dennis Howard, Perkins brings attention to the fact that the approximately 50.5 million abortions since 1973 have eliminated in the United States an estimated 35 trillion dollars in unproduced gross domestic product. Economic conservatives who truly believe in a free market system would not support forcing 50.5 million consumers out of the market.

The same can be said for the family, which is the building block of a society. While Christian Conservatives understand that God has ordained marriage between a man and a woman in the order of things that He has set down. It is also important for economic conservatives to care about the institution of marriage because if marriage is redefined it is essentially undefined. We have seen in the nations of Europe that the undefining of marriage has serious consequences on society. If economic conservatives simply allow the institution of marriage to be dissolved, then the government will quickly be forced to fulfill the role of currently parents, which would lead to an increase in government services and more government control over the economy.
I appreciate the fact that Mr. Perkins made this point. The much derided “social issues” have a serious effect on all areas of our public policy. So it is time that we start taking these issues seriously.

The New Civil Rights Movement

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

During the mid-20th century many American cities and towns were suffering under the injustice of discrimination. In many cases government authorities were forcing businesses to segregate their facilities and services. Many public facilities across the country were segregated. It was in the midst of all of this that Dr. Martin Luther King, stood up in the face of tyranny and demanded justice. One of his most memorable quotes was that, "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Dr. King was persistent in his fight to secure justice.

In today's time there is another violation of justice in America. This injustice is found in the form of abortion. Millions of unborn babies have been denied equal protection under the law based on their status in life. This is an injustice that has put a stain on our nation.

However, just as Martin Luther King stood up for justice and civil rights in his time, a new generation of civil rights leaders have arisen to stand for justice in this time. One of the most vocal voices has been that of Dr. King's niece Dr. Alveda King. Dr. King recently spoke at the rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and gave a stirring speech calling for a revival of our God given liberties. Day Gardner, President of the National Black Pro-Life Union, has written a powerful column describing Dr. King's historic speech. The speech was a clarion call for the new justice movement. It emphasized the need for Americans to not look at themselves in terms of racial divisions, but rather she exhorted us to look at ourselves in terms of the "human race." The speech was truly historic.

A new civil rights movement is emerging in America today. This movement is seeking to extend the blessings of liberty to all people, including the unborn. It is not an attempt to "hijack" the original civil rights movement. Rather, it is taking the principles of liberty and justice from the original movement and is applying them to all of today's challenges.

This new and exciting movement is not limited by race. It does not see White, Black, Hispanic, or any other race , but rather envisions a "human race." This new justice movement is a powerful force in the American political scene. At its core it understands the principle that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Ken Cuccinelli issues opinion on abortion clinic regulations

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Willie Deutch over at his VA Social Conservative blog, has written an update on Ken Cuccinelli's recent opinion that the state of Virginia can indeed regulate health standards at abortion clinics.

Check it out