Bork, Ethics, Politics, and Faith.
”Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines “Bork” as ‘to attack or defeat (a nominee or candidate for public office) unfairly through an organized campaign of harsh public criticism or vilification.’” From an article by ELIZABETH PRICE FOLEY, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR — 09/04/18 09:15 AM EDT 361 THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY CONTRIBUTORS ARE THEIR OWN AND NOT THE VIEW OF THE HILL
In 1987, Senate Democrats “Borked” President Reagan’s Supreme Court Nominee. It was so wrong that the word “Bork” came to mean an unfair attack to defeat a candidate for public office. This is just one of many ethical problems in Washington. The removal of the filibuster for candidates, first by democrats and then by republicans is another ethical problem. It is an ethical problem that actually mirrors the corruption of our nation. People are so broken they can not work with or accept those that they disagree with. Some might not see this as an ethical problem, but it is. We are supposed to be able to work together in a diverse society and only selfishness and pride keep us from being able to do so.
In 2013 the Senate Democrats made it possible for a simple majority vote to place all judicial appointees, except the Supreme Court. In 2017 Senate Republicans applied that to Supreme Court nominees.
I believe it will be impossible to ever go back to the required 60% vote to place appointees. This is because we are now a so divided nation that it is virtually going to be impossible to ever have our senate approve anything controversial by a 60 % vote.
The blame for this can be placed upon both sides. Currently, the Democratic party is blaming President Trump; but they are to blame also because they are the ones who marginalized half the population. (Nothing is more divisive than calling people who vote on the other side, “deplorables”.)
The blame not only can be placed upon both sides politically, it can be placed upon both sides of the journalistic world. “Fake News” is the norm. That is “news” that reports the facts in such a way that the truth is obscured. It is ridiculous to say that “fake news” does not exist. Objective Truth in the news is almost impossible to find, even on a local level. Read the discussion forums on the local news if you don’t believe this.
Personally, I have not let this bother me too much. I sleep well at night. God watches out for me. He is good at it. Psalm 4 is very appropriate. Verses 6-8 are my story. “There be many that say, Who will show us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased (referring to the unethical). I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD only makest me dwell in safety.”