My question is about the validity of political opinions of atheists. Many Americans believe that morality can come only from God. I question this as being illogical. I was taught that my word, handshake and signature on any lease, contract or oath taken would be the measure of my honesty. I learned this at the lap of my grandmother.

She was a Christian and covered the "Big Ten" as good rules to live by. She, however, put the whole responsibility of whether I would become a good person or a lawbreaker would be completely and totally in my own lap.

As long as I lived under her roof, her rules prevailed! They were consistent, honest and any infringement thoroughly disciplined! I never learned that God was watching me and keeping score.

I grew up learning all the bible stories and read the history of mankind from cover to cover in our small library in Santa Monica. I got a pretty good idea what was fact and what was fiction. I made no waves, got into no trouble and lived a good productive life. Religion was a subject that civilized people didn't discuss. So I never realized that I was an atheist until recently.

Here's the crux of my problem. In my political meetings here in Arizona, it is confirmed by the majority of the members that Republicans are Christians and want more laws to protect them coming directly from Washington DC.

The Internet is filled with Conservatives screaming for more government control over the social issues that they find offensive. I keep reading that America is going to hell and needs moral guidance right from the top. No, not God, WDC!

Hey, I think we could have all benefited from moral actions being demonstrated from the house/senate/white house and most members of the cabinet. I haven't seen a big load of morality for 20 years being shown by example in the WDC group.

When my kids were little, the Kennedy Boys were notorious skirt chasers. Did this bother me? No. What did it have to do with my family or me? They were politicians and their actions were those of politicians. Their role model could have been Ben Franklin.

During the 60s and 70s, drugs were everywhere. They were selling drugs and girls right in my neighborhood. Our neighbors simply started patrolling the streets and turning searchlights on these terrible people and they soon moved. The drug scene was never a problem in my home or the homes of my neighbors.

So why is it now that all these religious conservatives suddenly demand more laws to guide them through their days? What has happened to these formerly good Americans who wanted their freedom and liberty suddenly turn to Washington DC to solve their problems? They want the schools to suddenly have bible study groups. Why? Can't they do this at home? Apparently not.

What did I hear yesterday? "The schools aren't teaching my kids right from wrong!" This from a professed Christian loving father. Well, sir, you are a simple fool. This is your job, not the job of a Hillary-trained teacher.

The conservatives are turning into hopeless whiners demanding loving care from their government from the cradle to the grave. Pornography, prostitution, gambling, drinking, smoking, drugs and abortion are no longer the concern of the parents. They have turned all these problems over to the government to solve. These problems are not insolvable by any means, they just need to start with the homes, neighborhoods, churches and local governments. These are not the responsibility of the federal government!

I can only question that their faith in God seems to have left them high and dry. No basic good over evil, no right vs. wrong. Nothing but a void. When I try to point out the basic rule of taking control of the family rules and regulations and staying away from WDC, I am labeled a hateful atheist. Okay.

I guess if I were a Christian, I would stop fighting for the Constitution and simply had for church and pray. Well, I'm not a Christian or a Jew and have only my own logic and reason to guide me. My problem is that I am finding it difficult to find a group/think tank/discussion board to hash over the past problems in WDC and the future problems that will develop unless we are extremely careful about what we demand from the federal government. Tell Washington DC to start setting some examples of morals for a change. Excuse me I have to burp!

My personal freedoms are dissolving. My parks and recreation areas are now off limits to me. Since reading all the new federal agencies that have somehow gotten permission from WDC to search and seize my property without a warrant I am beginning to feel victimized. My taxes are to the point of being dangerously high and may soon make owning my home impossible.

We need to work together to cut spending in Washington DC. We need to eliminate all the social issues that belong to the States and get the house/senate to do their jobs and stop removing the State's rights.

Stop the War on Drugs; Stop the ATF from acting like Gestapo agents. Stop sending money to countries like Columbia who are furnishing the drugs that are killing our kids. Get out of the schools and classrooms. This whole mess that is taking up so much of Bush's time is not in his authority to handle. Give it to the Governors to fix.

The hangover that is now beginning to surface again is the anti-semite, racism and gay bashing that has taken over so many debates. This is sadly what the social conservatives have allowed to take over their websites and their discussion forums. This saddens me!

Start using logic and reason to govern our country.

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