Confronting my biases in the 2020 Presidential Election.

 Logic - Ad Hominem - 3

https://www.txstate.edu/philosophy/resources/fallacy-definitions/Ad-Hominem.html

Ad Hominem arguments attack the person rather than the idea.  If you are a judgmental person, you could not vote for any person (if you tried hard enough!!).  

Today, I’m outlining my approach to the 2020 Presidential Election.

• I couldn’t vote for Mitt Romney because he was a Mormon (and we’ve never had a Mormon President - you probably couldn’t get a cup of coffee in the White House)

• I couldn’t vote for Hillary Clinton because she is a female (and we’ve never had a female President)

• I couldn’t vote for Joe Biden because (a) he is too old at age 77; (b) because he is a Catholic.  (We had one Catholic President and you know that went - Kennedy)

• I couldn’t vote for Bernie Sanders because (a) he is too old at age 78, and he is Jewish

• I couldn’t vote for Pete Buttigieg because he is gay

• I couldn’t vote for Barack Obama since he is black.

• I couldn’t vote for Donald Trump since (a) is old at age 74; (b) he attacks other candidates

• I couldn’t vote for John McCain because he had Sarah Palin as his Vice President candidate

• I couldn’t vote for George Bush because he is a Texan and is too rich.

• I couldn’t vote for John Kerry because he was from Massachusetts and was too liberal

• I couldn’t vote for myself because I don’t have any real experience in government

• But, I could support Lynette or Paul or Ron or Karl or Kris or Rob or <any other of my readers>) because they are smart!!

I couldn’t vote for Moses as he married outside the Jewish faith and was raised by Pharaoh

I couldn’t vote for Jesus Christ as he had doubtful parentage - (he claimed that God was his father!!)

If we look enough, we can find ‘something’ to judge political candidates - too liberal, too conservative; too inexperienced, too experienced (that is, he/she has been in office too long, we need ‘fresh blood’)

*****

I think I am non-judgmental - and I try hard, but I still have biases (and … ugh … I do have judgments).  I saw somebody smoking the other day and I immediately thought ‘smoking is not good’.  I saw somebody who was grossly overweight and I immediately thought they were ruining their health.  I was online with a small group and two of them who knew each other talked about going out for shots and used some profanity.  

Maybe if we had an obese, smoker, alcoholic running for President, I’d ‘see the light’ and see that I was being judgmental and change my mind.

*****

I have commented in the past that we ALL are created in the image of God - Genesis 1:27, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

So, who am I to judge which candidate should get elected?  

First, I need to take my biases away.  I think I have liked to “narrow” the field - to apply some arbitrary standard to eliminate a person.  

Second, I need to do my own homework.  Media will TELL me the reasons, but I need to understand Who, What, and Why a candidate makes sense for me (or not) - but not on my biases.

Third, look at the logic fallacies (that we looked at last week).  Is this candidate being honest or attacking using ad hominem arguments or straw man or other attacks.  I do realize that “Honest Abe” is not running this year - and that political “handlers” and media “handlers” may be calling more of the shots as compared to the candidate.  Are the handlers “shaping” the candidate into a silk purse (since you can’t make a silk purse out of a pig’s ear)? 

Fourth, read both sides - and try to read impartial views as well.  (I’m not sure there are many impartial views out there!!

Fifth, don’t decide too early - be open to events during the campaign season.  Aside.  During the early voting during the Texas primary season, I voted for a candidate who pulled her name out about three days after I voted.  This fall, early voting in Texas will begin three weeks before the actual November 3rd election day.  Might a candidate fall apart in those three weeks?  It is possible.  I think I will vote early, but I will vote during the last week before the election.

Sixth, my vote is my vote.  Other sane, rational humans may pick a different candidate because of their viewpoints.  I cannot grab a person and yell at them “You fool, don’t you see that my candidate is superior to your candidate.” 

Seventh - and lastly - I need to remember 1 Timothy 2:1-2 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”  (Note, that says “FOR ALL PEOPLE” and for “THOSE IN AUTHORITY”.  

So, you have my election strategy for 2020!!!  May God grant me wisdom, understanding, compassion, humility, and grace 

Hugs!!!

LOVE WINS!!!

Karen