Will Voting For A Better Party Save The U.S.?

This is but one example of the multitude of ways
our nation was built on brutalizing, massacring,
enslaving and otherwise exploiting people in order
to gain land, power and dominance.

Much has been said about the 2024 election being a watershed moment in our nation's history. Each person's miniscule-size vote, we're told, is crucial in determining whether the U.S. will survive or will join all past empires in their inevitable demise.

I'm not encouraging citizens to refrain from casting their single vote, a privilege few people throughout history ever dreamed of. Nor am I saying there are no significant differences between political parties that sometimes make one the far better choice.

But we should never expect any form of government resulting from our two-party system to save us. The best either has to offer may only modify, or slightly delay, the inevitable judgment all self-serving empires face.

If you question whether the U.S. is an empire, consider the fact that, with less than 5% of the world's; population, we have over three times the number of military bases abroad than  all other nations combined , according to the  CATO Institute  and multiple other sources.

The ancient Hebrew prophets insisted that a nation's only hope for survival is based on its people demonstrating genuine repentance through "doing justice, showing mercy and walking humbly with God." No amount of gaining dominance, demonstrating military might or claiming to be an exceptional, entitled, and privileged nation will ultimately secure our future.

Sadly, neither of our major political parties come even close to promoting that kind of repentance, including our making the kind of restitution for past wrongs that God's justice demands. For example, neither urge us to take responsibility to repair the harm done to native Americans, the formerly enslaved, victims of our nuclear and other indiscriminate bombings, and/or exploited field and factory workers around the world who make our exceptional wealth possible. This is not to say that the U.S. has not offered much needed food and other aid around the world, but nowhere near equal to the suffering it has created in supporting multiple wars--often in alliance with anti-democratic nations.

So while a vote might sometimes move the needle in a slightly more just direction, it may also lend support to policies that do quite the opposite.

I recently had both a conservative and a progressive friend share their sense of accomplishment in having cast an early ballot. I couldn't help wanting to get them together to ask, "OK, so now that you've canceled each other's vote, now what?"

That "now what" question brings to mind the oft quoted scripture applicable to all people everywhere,
“If my people will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sins and will heal their land."

According to Jesus and the prophets, that would mean voting for and promoting values like beating our many military swords into plowshares, welcoming “huddled masses yearning to be free,” caring for the poor and demonstrating love for neighbors and enemies everywhere.

Only that kind of righteousness “exalts a nation" and ensures its survival.