Balance

I read a post on Facebook yesterday declaring how Republicans don't want children to be fed, don't want the rich to be taxed, don't believe in science, don't believe in equality, etc.  As a registered Republican, I was trying hard to see myself in any of that and couldn't.  On the other hand, a little further down was another declaration of how Democrats hate America, want to tax everyone to death, are trying to drown us in debt, are tying to keep the minorities under control with welfare, etc.

I just don't believe the average Republican or the average Democrat look anything like the extreme portrait painted by most bloggers and political commentators.  I do believe that the extreme of either position promotes thinking that is out of balance, being long on emotion and short on logic, which will lead to ineffectual and unrealistic choices that bring harm not good.

I think that the Republican led post 9/11 war on Iraq was fueled by emotion that probably eclipsed better alternatives.  I equally think that Democrat pushed Affordable Care Act, which no one read prior to voting into law was emotionally based and no doubt would have been modified had full disclosure been utilized.

My point is that left and right are both viable directions when used in tandem.  If you only make right turns or only make left turns, you only go in circles.  If you make a left or right turn and never deviate from that trajectory, you will eventually run off the road or into a building or over a cliff.  Extremism always leads to extreme outcomes.  That is why Solomon warned, "It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes" (Eccl 7:18).

Our Constitutional Framers understood that.  Employing the biblical principle, they developed a bicameral legislature with a two-party system.  They knew that there was a need for one side to balance out the other, to pull each other back from the edge.  They also had the common sense to know that it is just as far to the bottom whether you go off the right or left side of the bridge.

Maybe, in light of the biblical truth of balance, we could spend more time comparing and weighing the ideas of each party. looking for the best alternative or compromise instead of vilifying one another and refusing to consider something less than 100% of what either demands.  How about, instead of always finding things to spar over, we "consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Heb 10:24)?  How about we try to balance one another instead of blasting each other?  Jus' Ask'n.