Political Philosophy
Dr. Thomas Lee Abshier
God gave America the gift of Freedom in return for our commitment to Godliness. When
we turn from a personal and loving relationship with God, our freedoms will eventually
ebb away. Without Godly self-regulation, He will not allow us to operate with the
freedom and privilege to bear arms, protect ourselves, and resist the oppression
of tyrants. Without Godly self-regulation, we will lose our right of self-determination
and choice of legislators, judges, and executives. If we reject the God of Heaven,
we will lose our right to choose our religion, our right to assemble, our right to
redress grievances against the government, our right to a speedy trial, our right
to mobilize and form public opinion via the press, and our right to speak our heart
on issues of Truth. But if we return to Godliness, He will restore the adult privilege
of freedom.
Character is the most important factor in choosing elected officials. Ideas, issues,
and programs flow from the well of character and direct decisions, judgments, and
leadership. Our elected leaders should form their considerations from the perspective
and consideration of Biblical principles.
My own search for Truth has been difficult but rewarding. I was raised as a devout
Baptist. But I strayed far from the faith as I searched for Truth as an adolescent
and young adult. In early middle age, 36, I returned to Jesus, finally understanding
why it was necessary that God create the world as He did, and why the sacrifice of
Jesus was necessary. My perspective, having traveled the paths of many world religions,
sects, cults, and traditions has enabled me to understand the breadth of the human
experience of worship. As a result of seeing good people in every religions, I believe
everyone has an emptiness inside that they seek to fill with the knowledge of God.
But, ultimately, there is only one Truth, and we all probably see incompletely. As
I continue on my spiritual pilgrimage, I have come to conviction that the most complete
and full exposition of the Truth can be found in the Bible, and all men may find
peace with God and man in submitting to Jesus as Lord.
Engineering is the basis of my life approach. My training as an Electrical Engineer
at UCLA set my foundation as a man of reason and experiment. I demand that every
problem be solved by reasonable and cost effective methods. I expect that the forces
involved will be identified, addressed, and that the solution will be determined
from a rational analysis. Every system has limitations, and it is not possible to
bring an optimum solution to a system which has limited resources. The American economy
is one such system. Currently there are virtually unlimited demands by every sector
of special interest in America. An entitlement mentality has overrun the capacity
of the working public to bear the burden. The implementation of this self-destructive
system of charity was either implemented by men so naive that they could not see
its end, or men seduced by the Satanic deceptions that ultimately lead to universal
servitude.
A good overview of the forces opposing the Liberty we have in America can be seen
in the movie, “Agenda, Grinding American down.” Go here to Buy the movie. Clearly
the communist/socialist/Leftist theory of life produces death and slavery, but the
leaders of this movement embrace and promote its widespread adoption as though it
were a road to utopian prosperity. One can only speculate what motivates men such
as Bill Ayers, and Jim Wallace, Lenin, Marx, Bertrand Russel, and the other prophets
of communal egalitarianism. The passion overtaking such men is probably a mixture
of a Satanic delusion, a hatred of God stemming from hurt or misunderstanding, all
framed as a desire to make the world better. Of course, such misguided allegiance
and commitment is based upon a skewed and limited life perspective.
The fall of the Roman Empire resulted when the leisure class voted for itself "bread
and circuses." The burden of oppressive taxes on the rest of society contributed
to the fall of that great Empire. A nation will collapse if the creative sectors
are not adequately rewarded for their contributions. The spirit of the individual
is broken when too little reward proceeds from the effort of work. The collapse of
the Soviet Union proved that a "redistribution of wealth" mentality results in a
generalized poverty. A Free Market economy can only succeed as long as property rights
are respected, and the workers retain a sufficient quantity of the fruits of their
labors. In his book, America's Real War, Rabbi Daniel Lapin, of Seattle, gives many
Biblical and historical proofs that a 20% flat tax, which allows a worker to keep
80% of his earnings, seems to be the optimum tax rate to stimulate the economy, and
create prosperity. Special Interest Groups and Pork Barrel Politics (and all other
types of corruption – selling favor for personal gain) have distorted the political
process. Federal Legislation should establish an environment conducive to productivity;
protective of people, property, and the environment; and direct the national effort
toward solving long-term problems.
As a Naturopathic Physician, I have learned to view life from a holistic, dynamic,
complex, cause-based perspective. The combination of a life-science and hard-science
background has equipped me with a somewhat unique perspective. I view the forces
of nature operating in the complex biochemical minutiae, while at the same time I
see the forces of the cell, the tissue, the system, the organism, and the world operating
on each level and between levels. The holistic approach arises naturally by engaging
in an open minded study of the facts of operation of life on many levels. When prejudice
is relaxed, a large view of life arises.
I bring this complex life-view analysis to the study of the society and solving the
problems that keep our nation from prospering. It is my experience that when I submerge
myself into the inner parts of a system, that I am able to eventually identify the
part of the system which is interfering with its function. I am a problem solver,
a thinker, a negotiator. I move people by reason. Once an idea has been identified
as True, it is only a matter of communication, action, and time before it becomes
reality.
As a Christian Counselor I have facilitated and witnessed personal growth and successful
living. I have seen fractured relationships restored, addictions conquered, and inner
limitations overcome. I have seen defeated and ineffective people learn to govern
themselves by Biblical principles and proceed on in life with success. The Biblical
principles of healthy relationship and personal habit extend beyond the bounds of
the individual, couple, or family counseling session. They are the principles that
must govern a nation.
As a philosopher and political scientist, I use the approach and methods I have learned
as a doctor and counselor. In formulating solutions, I first observe and understand
the situation fully. I consider the issue in light of a Christian worldview of life's
principles. I use reason and logic to analyze the best outcome on all levels for
all participants. I communicate with and confront the people involved. Together we
come to a mutually agreeable solution and action plan to manifest it. We then revisit
the situation at regular intervals until the solution is solid and working. I have
found these steps to solution compose a universally applicable strategy for problem
solving.
Counseling people on their deepest struggles and trials has given me a window into
the human soul. The answer is always the same, on some level we must submit our hearts
to the principles of Christ. These principles always produce success because the
Bible reflects the highest metaphorical expression of humanity. Within its hologram
are all the perfect patterns of health and social organization. As legislators and
leaders of the greatest nation on earth, we must bow to that authority, reason together,
and use our human knowledge and our heavenly insight. We will succeed in our efforts
at proper national governance when we submit ourselves to God and limit our actions
to Biblically consistent possibilities. When we engage this process, hope will return
and prosperity will follow.
