Voting Intentions?

Thursday 30^th June 2011, sees yet another chance for the people of Inverclyde to cast their votes, this time as a result of a by election caused by the death of the sitting MP, David Cairns.

For the Christian, voting is not an easy business. My own simple thinking is that most of the political parties do not set out to do us harm. To an extent, they all want the NHS to work properly and better, they all want our education system to improve, and they all want better safety and reduced crime. It is reputed that even Hitler got the trains to work on time in 1938. So what is there between them?

Simply put, I try to see which person and/or party is most likely to react morally and ethically to life's other issues. You know, like legalising marriage for homosexuals. And how about those liberal minded (not necessarily the political party) folks who want to bend over backwards to protect the rights of the criminals, instead of the victims? Then there is the scourge of alcohol and bigotry in our region. Who will take a stand on the side of common sense and not play politics with the issue? How about knife crime? Who will be clear about who the victim really is, and not constantly emphasise the bad upbringing a knife user has had?

You may know I have always advocated the use of our right to vote. It is our democratic heritage which was hard fought to win for us, so we should not 'opt out' because we can't be bothered. Voting is an obligation which we should embrace, after all it usually only comes round once every 4 or 5 years. Don't put your cross against 'the usual suspect' because that's what your family has always done, but put your cross where it matters most, morally. That's where your own cross may partly reflect the values of another Cross, and the one who hung there. After all, He is our only real advocate and representative!