Pages

Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.

Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Opus 2026-150: Temporary Necessity

A common claim of growing government control is that it is only temporary.  How many taxes have been pushed because there was a short term need?  Then they never go away.  The only government program that comes to mind that I feel has ceased is DOGE and it is the one I approved of.

This brings to mind Abraham Lincoln.  On some lists he appears as one of the great presidents.  On others he is the worst.  The reason for putting him last focuses on the exercise of presidential authority during the Civil War.  I am going to need to look it up but my memory tells me that the Constitution gives the president authority to suspend Habeas Corpus during time of war.  Done.  I was right:

Article 1, Section 9.  The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety require it. 
That seems clear.  How did the list prsented by a “conservative” lawyer tell me he was wrong?  Possibly because it is under the legislature not the president.

Did he cancel them before he was killed.  Would he have cancelled them if he had lived?  Does it make any difference?

Under what circumstances is it moral to act immorally?  Sometimes it is an easy choice.  It is not easy to do the right thing but knowing the right thing is clear.  The classic example is Dutch citizens hiding Jews from the Nazis and lying about it.  The only person who has a problem with that is the SS.  When we get down to paying your taxes because you disagree with how the government will spend it, things get a little more questionable.

Life is not simple.  We are entering a time when that is a simple statement.

homo unius libri

No comments:

Post a Comment

Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.