Another Year of Choices
By Barbara Dahlgren
The Bible says to pray for those in authority over us. (2 Timothy 2:1-2) In fact, Paul exhorted believers to do so. Why? Paul gives the reason, “…so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life…”
I’ve thought about this scripture a lot this election year. I can’t ever remember having two candidates who were more disliked and distrusted than the two we have running: Hillary Clinton for the Democrats and Donald Trump for the Republicans. Most people have just determined to vote for the lesser of two evils – whichever one that may be.
Politics has never really had a good reputation. I’m not sure when politics became such a dirty business, but some of the quotes I found were pretty old. So here are a few nonpartisan quips to lighten the mood for a heavy election. We even have some choice jabs from the greatest philosopher of all – Anon. I wonder if he’s Democrat or Republican?
“We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.” Aesop
“I’ve always said that in politics, your enemies can’t hurt you, but your friends will kill you.” Ann Richards
“The Democrats seem to be basically nicer people, but they have demonstrated time and again that they have the management skills of celery. They’re the kind of people who’d stop to help you change a flat, but would somehow manage to set your car on fire. I would be reluctant to entrust them with a Cuisinart, let alone the economy. The Republicans, on the other hand, would know how to fix your tire, but they wouldn’t bother to stop because they’d want to be on time for Ugly Pants Night at the country club.” Dave Barry
“The biggest problem with political jokes is that they get elected!” Anon
“In our age there is no such thing as ‘keeping out of politics.’ All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.” George Orwell
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.” Groucho Marx
“Ninety-eight percent of the adults in this country are decent, hardworking, honest Americans. It’s the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then, we elected them.” Lily Tomlin
“We need a law that will allow a voter to sue a candidate for breach of promise.” Anon
“The political and commercial morals of the United States are not merely food for laughter, they are an entire banquet.” Mark Twain
“Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary.” Robert Louis Stevenson
“In politics, stupidity is not a handicap.” Napoleon Bonaparte
“Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.” Ronald Reagan
“Politics – ‘Poli’ meaning ‘many’ and ‘tics’ meaning ‘blood sucking creatures.’” Anon
“Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even when there is no river.” Nikita Khrushchev
“Politics has become so expensive that it takes a lot of money even to be defeated.” Will Rogers
What about God? Is He a Democrat or Republican? According to this quote He’s nonpartisan. “Although He’s regularly asked to do so, God does not take sides in American politics.” George J. Mitchell
Consider this… The Bible says to pray for those who are in authority. (1 Timothy 2:1,2) These quotes give you even more reasons why you should.
Suggestions for practicing this choice…
Pray for this election.
Pray for this election.
Pray for this election.
Pray for this election.
Pray for this election.
