Who gets bailed out?

Lehman Brothers must be really ticked off!! Doesn't it seem that EVERY other financial institution has been bailed out, but them. Must remind them of elementary school when they were the last ones picked for kickball teams.

It makes the conspiracy theorist who lurks in my soul's shadows wonder who they made mad.

It makes the compassionate one who tries so hard to push his way to the front of my soul wonder, "Why them?"

It makes the pragmatist in me wonder how folks make these choices. I'm just glad it's not me making those choices.

But, on the other hand why did this happen? How did it happen? Why aren't the people responsible for this catastrophes fired and publicly shamed? Who do they know or what do they know about them? conspiracy theorist back again!!

I'm the first to admit that this level of finances is over my head, but maybe it's over the heads of the ones leading these companies.

I just find it aggravating that these huge companies are run by people making bazillions and yet they, too, are incompetent and make hugely bad business choices. But, they seem to move from CEO job to CEO job and spread the misery around.

Maybe it IS time for people with less experience to be in charge?!?! Sen Obama's inexperience has always scared me. Sen McCain's deep experience and debts owed also scares me. Which is less scary? Which can bring real and positive change? I'm not sure I'm smart enough to know for sure, but I will make my decision by November, I'm sure.

But, it's not easy, is it? I guess (I actually know) that's what prayer is for. It's also what trusting in the sovereignty of God is for, as well.

Finances, politics, religion. Who knew they are so intertwined?

A New Theocracy

As I ponder this election and the "religious" furor associated with it, a few questions have come to mind.
1. How important is it for a candidate's stated theology to agree with mine?
2. Does their theology have a great impact on their domestic or foreign policy decisions?
3. Should I vote for the candidate with the "better" (by that I mean, like mine!) theology or should I vote for the candidate who is the better leader, regardless of whether they agree with my theology or even have a coherent one?
My take on these questions. I think it's important for me to have a grasp on a candidate's theology, but they don't have to be in my "camp" or even close to it. I DO think that a candidate's theology and cosmology DOES have great affect on their domestic an foreign policy. I think it has to! It has with GW Bush (world-wide hegemony), Clinton (private actions are not as important as public actions), Reagan (compartmentalized and pragmatic over idealistic), Carter (human rights are global, not local). Therefore, we should vote for a candidate who has a theology/cosmology that is good for our nation and for the world (not a triumphalistic one, not a compartmentalized one, not an overly idealistic one).
I think a candidate should have a vibrant personal faith that guides and directs them, but they should also be open to hearing other points of view and to see their leadership as a servanthood, rather than an empire-building exercise. They should NOT be people who make public policy based on a "word from the Lord." That scares me to no end!!
In the end, I want a leader who leads based upon what is good for the world and for our nation and is humble enough to listen carefully to people who disagree, but can and will make the tough calls. Leadership is not about popularity, but if you don't have followers ... you aren't a leader. I pray that our next president is a servant leader who seeks to make this world a more verdant, just and healthy place for humanity.