with Rev Dr Chris Walker
Where do we put our trust?
In our world politics looms large. We think politicians, and especially the leaders of the nations, are the ones who will enable their people to prosper. The state has the finances drawn from taxes and the political party in power decides how best to use the finances for the well-being of the nation. In a country like Australia we assume our politicians are not corrupt, unlike many nations in which political leaders ensure they personally benefit from their position of power. In democracies such as Australia and the USA we trust our political systems to have integrity and that our leaders will have the best interests of the people in mind. Unfortunately, this is not necessarily the case even in Australia with Scott Morrison as Prime Minister, let alone in the USA with President Donald Trump. This has become evident especially with recent events.
The presidency of Donald Trump has highlighted the weaknesses in the US political system. First, he won the presidency despite the popular vote having 3 million more votes for Hilary Clinton in 2016. Their strange electoral college system means that the winner in the various states gets all the electors’ votes and they are then tallied to get the winner. Winning the bigger states means more electoral college votes. The President, once in power, is able to appoint, and fire, people to work with him in important positions such as Foreign Secretary. These are not elected people but personal appointments from the President. President Trump has repeatedly appointed people but if they displease him are then fired and often criticized. The President has a good deal of power and while meant to work in conjunction with Congress, he can bypass it. Executive power can be utilized. We have seen this frequently with President Trump. Congress is supposed to be consulted when overseas military action is proposed. This was deliberately not done in the drone attack that killed the Iranian military general. If the president acts in ways that are considered seriously wrong, an impeachment process can be carried out. Congress, with the Democrats having the majority, sought to impeach President Trump. However, the Republicans thwarted the process which requires a two thirds majority to impeach which is well-nigh impossible to obtain. No president has been impeached and it is unlikely any will be so. Mitt Romney was the sole Republican to act on his conscience and voted for the impeachment. President Clinton was remorseful at the end of the impeachment process for him. President Trump gloated at being acquitted when the process was cut short and called the impeachment process a hoax.
The result is that we have a maverick president in power in the USA who is acting in ways that both demean the presidency yet also assert his personal power as president. Morally President Trump has an appalling attitude to women and incidents in the past that confirmed it, yet conservative Evangelical Christians are among his greatest supporters. They seem to think he is some kind of modern King David whose flaws are readily overlooked. His attacks on those he dislikes are twittered or spoken displaying a vindictive and egotistical personality. Yet he gets away with it. He deliberately has rallies for his supporters in which he acts like a Reality Television host, which he was, attacking others and asserting how great he is.
His recent State of the Union address was not really about the state of the USA but a rally to promote himself. Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi symbolically tore up the paper copy of Trump’s speech at the end of it. Later she explained her action. “I tore up a manifesto of mistruths. It was necessary to get the attention of the American people to say, ‘This is not true. And this is how it affects you.’” Pelosi also said Trump’s address reflected a “state of mind that had no contact with reality whatsoever.” “We do not want the chamber of the House of Representatives to be used as a backdrop for one of his reality shows,” she added, criticizing in particular Trump’s decision to award a medal of freedom to divisive radio host Rush Limbaugh during the speech.
While the lead up to the next presidential election in November is well underway, the Democratic contenders so far have not impressed. Meanwhile President Trump has an approval rating of 49% according to recent surveys. He could well win a second term which would be a concern for the whole world not just the USA with his denial of climate change, aggressive militaristic attitude, and the acceptance of his derogatory style of speaking.
Are we better in Australia? Our British style democracy at least means that our prime minister is elected along with others as are those given key positions. They have political experience prior to being allocated to different portfolios. As we know, even prime ministers can be overthrown while in office by their own party. Our current prime minister Scott Morrison won a surprising victory thanks to some poorly explained policies by the Labour Party. We now know of the sports money allocated to marginal seats and the extent of the donations from mining companies and property developers to the Liberal Party. It is not surprising that the Liberal Party is weak on climate change action and favours the rich.
As a Christian I do have the responsibility to vote for the people I think will best serve not just our interests but what I think are God’s interests, such as the well-being of the planet and all its creatures including us. Nevertheless, the psalmist’s words continue to ring true.
“Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that day their plans perish.
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 146:3-6).
Chris Walker
Chris is currently serving the Assembly of the Uniting Church as the National Consultant for Theology and Discipleship.
He has served in a range of positions and places in the Uniting Church including local church ministry in three congregations in NSW, as a regional education and mission officer, and consultant for evangelism and discipleship, in Queensland, as principal of Parkin-Wesley College in SA, and as a mission resource officer for Parramatta-Nepean Presbytery.
He has a passion for theology, mission and discipleship. His interest in writing has resulted in various publications including five books, most recently Peace Like A Diamond: facets of peace (Spectrum, 2009) and Living Life to the Full: Spirituality for today’s baby boomers (Openbook, 2005).