IN THEORY:Looking back, ahead

The recent rejection of the Bush policies by the general electorate is the significant event of 2006. That is a news story, of course, but it is also a religious event inasmuch as it indicates that many religious people are no longer just one-issue voters. They have learned that the actions of politicians do not often follow the promise.

The president who claimed to be guided by God has certainly ignored many of Jesus' rules and has been actively feathering the nests of the super wealthy (those who can provide generous political donations to his party) at the expense of the average family. And no help to the poor from him! He has put the country so far in debt that future generations will be hard-pressed to pay it all off, but he continues to give tax breaks to those who already have the most money, further increasing the gulf between the wealthy and the poor.

Admittedly, our economy is doing well, at least as indicated by the stock market, which has been charging ahead, but if we were actually starting to pay off the great debt from the unnecessary, ill-conceived, and evil Iraq war, there wouldn't be the available money circulating around that the economy needs to maintain itself.

Secular governments have many advantages over theocracies in pluralistic societies.

When a government is run by a dominant religious group it can end up as in Iraq, with hatred and violence between the factions. Secular governments, as established by the founders of our country, where no one religion is allowed to dictate rules of general behavior, permit those of any belief to feel secure and happy.

For the coming year, I look forward to many more general decisions being made based on reason and common sense.

JERRY PARKS

Member

Humanist Assn. of Orange County