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Bernard Rapoport is a member
of the Board of Contributors,
Central Texans who write columns regularly for the
Tribune-Herald. He is
chairman emeritus and founder of American Income Life
Insurance Co Also he is
past president of the Board of Trustees for the University
of Texas, creator and director of the Bernard and Audre
Rapoport Foundation (which give funds to improve education,
health, culture and citizenship for America and the world),
and a dear friend of peace. His ideas have been sought by
American presidents, foreign ambassadors and statesmen, and
leaders of industry and finance. He is a man of great wisdom
and a lover of peace.
Sheep led to voting booth
Why do abortion, gay
rights dominate our discourse?
Max Weber reminds us that too often we act
like a herd of sheep. We say we're for something
without reasoning the validity of our
conclusion.
A herd of sheep; yes, let's-take two issues —gay
rights and abortion rights. When we vote for someone
predicated only what his or her views are on one or both of
these particular issues, we are neglecting our children as
well
as ourselves.
Former U.S. Rep. David Bonior of Michigan
is
one of the most intelligent, committed politicians
I've known. He also is anti-abortion.
My
wife is totally committed to reproductive
rights. Yes she and I supported Bonior wholeheartedly.
We contributed significantly to his
campaign.
People asked
Audre why. She said, "He's
sort of like Ivory soap-99.5 percent pure."
It's easy for me to explain why I supported Bonior. In
Congress he was more committed to helping that large
percentage of citizens who can be categorized as "not
having
enough" than anyone I
know.
On to the rights of gays and lesbians, most of us have
a position. But in assessing
a candidate, surely the voter
has other concerns, that is,
unless we truly are a herd of sheep. Surely we are not
a nation of people willing to
determine who will fill our
government based on this
single issue.
It
is amazing that these things would be such major issues in a
society where a few have too much and too many have too
little.
I went to get prescriptions filled for my
heart condition the other day. The bill was
$1,000.
I said to the pharmacist, "What if I didn't
have that amount of money?"
He said, "Well, you couldn't have them."
I
said, "You mean in this land of ours, the
richest country in the world, that I can live
because I have money and
someone who doesn't have money won't be able to
live?"
I told him it was a terrible
injustice.
He
responded, "I know
that. But that's the way it
is."
It brings me to this herd of sheep concept. Doesn't it
make sense that before we
consider for whom we're
going to vote, we know that his or her commitment is to see
to it that the American
citizenry has a greater opportunity
to have good health treatment or an outstanding
education regardless of economic
position?
Where we are now doesn't bode well for the future. We don't
have the commitment to
education that we had.
Sure, the herd of sheep wants education,
but "don't increase our taxes."
That's the attitude too many of us have, especially
those in the real wealthy categories
who escape so much of their taxes through
legal machinations.
Too many of us vote for a candidate without
knowing his or her priorities are. "I'm for
health" and "I'm for education." What does
that mean?
And if they really mean the above, how do
they plan to pay for the two?
When I look at what is really at stake and what that
drives elections — issues like abortion
and gay rights I get mad. So should you.
The problem is that we're getting mad in
the wrong ways. Before deciding what you're
for, decide what kind of world you want.
What we have in our land is a political virus.
By letting these two issues control our
discourse over public policy, we will have an irrecoverable
sickness in our country.
That said, I'm an optimist. I believe we are
ready to reassess the standards in determining
how we govern ourselves and how we
vote.
One
time, when giving a talk in a newly-opened park, Rapoport
said: “Taxes are the price that we pay for our freedom, our
democracy.” He lives his philosophy that those who get in
great quantities must give back to the community in the same
volume. His Foundation is famous for giving to those who
need but do not have the resources to get. He is a giant in
philanthropy. He really puts his money where his mouth is
and in so doing serves all efforts toward peace.
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