Indiana Governor Mike Pence made headlines several months ago, and they were not for a positive reason. He was attempting to uphold a law allowing businesses to use the excuse of religious belief to refuse service to same-sex couples. As anger turned into boycotts of local businesses, he reneged. His latest transgression is refusing to allow Syrian refugees into his state. He is joining others who profess an irrational fear based on religious prejudice.

Before a refugee is allowed into the United States, careful screening is mandated. The average time period is two years to obtain legal residence. But GOP governors don’t care about the facts, they are simply using fear tactics to support their agenda.

The ACLU has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the non-profit group Exodus Refugee Immigration. It charges Pence with 14^th amendment violations as well as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Pence is allowing refugees into his state but not if their origin was Syria.

Five days after the attacks in Paris, Pence diverted a Syrian family coming to Indianapolis to Connecticut. One thing I can guarantee; GOP politicians will never be accused of having too much compassion for their fellow man.

Rash action which has no foundation in the truth will never protect America from terrorists. We must have some faith in our federal government, and be vigilant at all times. The world is at war, but it’s not a war that anyone has previously experienced. It is useless to spend hundreds of billions of dollars for defense. Unless we were engaged with another major power, most of the arsenal possessed by our military is useless.

The people of our nation should fear a terrorist attack. Guns are readily available for purchase by anyone; virtually no restrictions are placed on their sale. Shockingly, suspected terrorists on the government’s ‘watch list’ are not restricted from purchasing assault rifles and high-output magazines. In support of the NRA gun lobby, GOP politicians have blocked legislation to prevent the purchase of weapons of mass destruction by suspected murderers.

Pence supports GOP positions on all issues. He has no real concern for the people of his state, he’s concerned about votes.

The GOP has one huge problem; their base is dying. They are primarily the party of old, rich, white men. Because they fail to support issues important to blacks, Hispanics, women, and younger voters they will lose the majority of their votes.

GOP politicians such as Pence support the positions of extremism in their party. The have ‘fallen in line’ with Trump, Carson, Cruz, Gingrich, Cheney, Palin, and Coulter. They have no concern that their policies are destroying the fabric of America and have forever damaged the hope that the United States could once again become a great nation.

George W. Bush once said that “they hate us for our freedom.” The people of a nation are not free when their government fails to address their needs and desires. When our nation moved from a democracy to an oligarchy, freedom and individual rights were discarded.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Source

Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey

Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/By-James-turnage/e/B00LOCJ2Z2