Love and Truth, Not Hate and Lies

Our guiding principles in politics as in life must be love and truth, not hate and lies.

In assessing what to do about climate change, abortion, immigration, the economy, drug use, education, medical care, and every other issue we must base our policies on as much accurate information we can acquire and by committing ourselves to helping as many people as possible. Hate and lies only distract us from our best version of ourselves.

As to climate change, it is now obvious that the burning of fossil fuels is befouling our planet and that we must transition, as quickly as possible, to other sources of energy. To deny this is to deny our children and grandchildren their rightful inheritance - the same beautiful, bountiful home that our ancestors bequeathed to us.

Regarding abortion, extremists spend much energy on how much they hate the other side, how immoral they are. But that ignores the genuine suffering of those with whom they disagree. Fetal life is precious and worthy of protection. But so is a person's body and the freedom to make decisions about our own lives. Abortion requires compromise between those fundamental imperatives, and the solution will be forged by those who are willing to listen to each other.

Hatred of immigrants is an age-old problem, as are lies about them. Immigrants in America do not eat cats and dogs. They are not rapists and murderers. They do not poison our blood. Christians ought to remember better than any of us what Christ had to say on this subject. To hate immigrants is to hate your own mother and father. The truth is that immigrants are far more law-abiding than native-born Americans, and they are here because they chose to be and because they love this country, which is more than I can say for those who were born here and who despoil the Statue of Liberty and all that she stands for. Immigrants are proof of American exceptionalism. People want to come here because you can live better here, and more freely. Just from a selfish standpoint the truth is that immigrants stimulate the economy and make America wealthier. Welcome them. Thank them. Love them.

When we speak of the economy we must focus not only on our fears ("Bills, bills, bills!") but on our hopes and our dreams. How can we expand opportunity for all? How can we stimulate commerce, support small business, and make it possible for anyone willing to work to rise?

One approach to drug use is fear and anger, and to blame others (like immigrants) for our own weakness and indulgence. It is true that opioids are a curse - over 80,000 Americans die from opioid overdoses every year. People die from other drugs as well - over 30,000 from meth, over 25,000 from cocaine, over 5,000 from heroin. But the problem is far worse when we consider legal drugs. There are over 175,000 deaths annually from alcohol (not to mention the thousands that drunk drivers kill on the road) and 480,000 deaths per year from cigarettes, including 40,000 per year from secondhand smoke and 400 infant deaths from secondhand smoke. If you are angry about drugs, you should focus your anger on alcohol and cigarettes. If you want someone to blame, blame ourselves. No-one forces us to drink or smoke or take drugs. Instead of hate try love. Let's attack the root causes of drinking, smoking, and drug use - people are lonely, people are depressed, people are cold and hungry. And let's not put people in jail - let's treat them, and teach our children how to live productive lives instead of chemically altering their mental state.

Let us make education and medical care universal rights, not  luxuries that people receive only if they pay for it. The truth is that we are the richest country in the world. If other industrialized countries can bless their inhabitants with these basic human rights then we can as well. Stop worrying about whether someone else receives a benefit that our country can easily afford, and start being grateful that we live in an age where it is possible for everyone to live healthy lives and to reach their highest potential. 

Our best version of ourselves is achievable by adherence to the truth and commitment to love.