COLUMN: The three G’s of politics
The three G’s of politics have become increasingly important issues for both parties to deal with. Guns, gays and God are now major issues surrounding both the Democratic and Republican Parties. Each party has had to take a stance on each issue creating a new philosophy for the party. An example of this is how the Republican Party is starting to pick up states in the South that used to be in the Democrats’ back pocket. What has caused this change? The three G’s have.
The argument of guns is a complicated one. Gun rights groups say new legislation would infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. Gun control advocates, including Handgun Control, support even stricter provisions. The core argument of gun control revolves around the Second Amendment. The original intent and purpose of the Second Amendment was to preserve and guarantee, not grant the pre-existing right of individuals, to keep and bear arms. Although the amendment emphasizes the need for a militia, membership in any militia, let alone a well-regulated one, is not required to exercise the right to keep and bear arms. The Second Amendment states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
What have the courts in Massachusetts done? Both parties are unsure what to do next. Neither the Republicans nor the Democrats are in support of gay marriage. Yet this is a cultural issue where the left has won its battle and the parties will now decide where to stand. The court’s decision plainly imposes a regime of gay marriage on Massachusetts. If the legislation chooses not to abide by the ruling, the court will force the county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Each party is going to have to decide where they stand and face the fact that they are going to lose either the liberal or the conservative vote. Don’t look to the Democrats as the supporters of gay marriage either. John Kerry has expressed his opposition to the issue as well as other Democratic presidential hopefuls.
The third issue is God. Our founding fathers created a system where God was a central figure. The forefathers came here because of God, the Constitution was written with God in mind. The Constitution was silent on the subject of religion. They established no national church; delegates of the Constitutional Convention believed that religion was a matter best left to the states. The only mention of religion in the Constitution was that there should be no “religious test” required by any federal officeholders and that one could “affirm” rather than “swear” in taking the oath of office. What many people mix up is God and religion. I believe that there should be separation between church and state – that religion should be left out of schools. Religion can be taught on Sunday at church; it does not need to be taught in the classroom.
The three G’s have taken center stage. It used to be that the economy, war and foreign policy were the issues that determined elections. These ought to still be the issues. The three G’s now have the ability to swing elections. Republicans are starting to carry southern and rural states by holding on to conservative values. Democrats are carrying more heavily populated and urbanized states by pushing for values that are more liberal. This is changing the political spectrum and to whom each party caters.
Spencer Lloyd is a junior majoring in business information systems. Comments can be sent to shlloyd@cc.usu.edu.