2010 California Election Forum

Spending, borrowing, printing and devaluing our money

One of the greatest economic evils is inflation—an economist’s term for the rising prices of goods and services.

Inflation robs everyone, because as prices rise, the money in your pocket, paycheck and bank account buys you fewer goods and services. And it especially hurts the poor and those on fixed incomes—it’s an immoral transfer of wealth at the expense of the average person and business.

As the government engages in historic spending—whether for yearly federal budgets or for extraordinary measures like bailouts and stimulus packages— they have only 3 options to pay for it: Raise taxes, sell Treasury Bills (like putting it on a credit card with an interest rate to pay it back) or print money.

“Can they just print money out of thin air?” you may be asking. They can, and do. It’s basically legalized theft by the government caused by an increase in the money supply…which in turn causes the value of the dollar to fall and prices to rise.

Little notice was given to one of the greatest massive expansion of power—and the money supply—by the Federal Reserve System (also known as the Fed) last month.

Pray for peace and an end to persecution

Militant Hindus in northeastern India have killed or beaten hundreds of Christians and burned over 5,000 houses and churches in the last 6 months.

Even today, your prayers for these besieged saints are desperately needed as hundreds of Christians still hide in the forest and more than 8,000 live in state-run relief camps. Many are reluctant to return home after the attacks.

Please pray for help for these persecuted Christians and that the Gospel will explode in this region.

Victory needed to protect freedom of speech

In a previous issue we discussed Rev. Walter Hoye in Oakland. Pastor Hoye’s ministry and calling has been to encourage those considering abortion to explore the alternatives and consequences.

He regularly—and peacefully—distributed literature in front of an abortion clinic and held a sign that read, “Jesus loves you and your baby. Let us help.”

Arrested for violating a new city ordinance to stop abortion protests, Rev. Hoye became a criminal.

Now he has been sentenced to 30 days in a county jail and a fine. The judge tried to give him probation if he agreed to stay 1,000 feet away from any clinic. He refused. The judge became so angry, he sent Rev. Hoye to jail immediately, regardless of an appeal.

Pray for him, the appeal and the larger issue of free speech.

What do you think? Should he have agreed to stay away and not gone to jail? Did he do the right thing? Email me at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Christian beliefs ridiculed in the classroom

In a speech class, Los Angeles City College student Jonathan Lopez chose to talk about his Christian faith and traditional marriage.

In the middle of his presentation, his professor interrupted him, called him a “fascist bastard” in front of the class and refused to allow him to finish.

Asked about his grade, he was told to “ask God what your grade is.” To see a short video clip about this incident, click here.

Exercising their right to uphold personal morality

In a past issue we reported the San Diego firefighters who were forced, against their will, to participate in the 2007 “Pride” parade.

The four firefighters won their jury trial. The city has changed its policy to allow for moral objections for future parades.

Outrageous penalty for social service worker

A group home counselor was suspended for six weeks following a beach field trip. On the trip, four kids came across “surf jam” at the Huntington Beach pier.

For about 10 minutes, the kids heard Christian music from Switchfoot, “exposing children to unapproved religious activities.”

A closer look at who stands on each side of the issue

The California Supreme Court Decision is coming. In the next couple of months we will have a ruling from the California Supreme Court on the Proposition 8 vote.

Will the judges again overturn the vote of the people, based on their own liberal ideology? Or will they rule on the side of democracy?

I’ve talked to legal experts and read a number of legal observations on the oral arguments that were made before the court.

Most are cautiously positive the court will uphold Prop 8, but will allow the 18,000 homosexual marriages made since their last ruling to remain valid.

Encouraging news is two justices who previously voted to overturn Proposition 22 may have a different stance this time around: Their attitudes and lines of questioning suggest that they intend to uphold Proposition 8.

Kids lead prayer, coach can’t support them

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from a New Jersey high school football coach who wants to bow his head and kneel during prayers led by his players. Coach Marcus Borden was ordered not to pray with his team—and the Supreme Court agreed he could not express his religious beliefs with the kids.

Here is a short video:

Christian agencies struggle to make a decision

The Equality Act covers England, Wales and Scotland. It bans discrimination against homosexuals in terms of access to goods and services…including adoption agencies.

The law makes no allowance for religious organizations to object on doctrinal grounds, effectively forcing many adoption centers to choose either to go against their deeply held beliefs or to be shut down by the government for noncompliance with the Equality Act.

The law went into effect in April 2007, but gives religious organizations 21 months to adjust.

So far, one Roman Catholic agency has been forced to close by failing to comply with the law, two are fighting for more time and three are deciding what to do.

However, five have agreed to place adoptions with homosexual couples.

What do you think? Should these five have given in? Email me at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Millions were spent to defeat Proposition 4

The November initiative known as Sarah’s Law, Proposition 4 (click here for information) would have prohibited abortion for unemancipated minors until 48 hours after the physician notifies the minor’s parent, legal guardian or, if parental abuse has been reported, an alternate adult family member.

Opponents of Proposition 4 spent $8 million. The top contributors include:

• Planned Parenthood, $4,485,000
• California Teachers Association, $450,000
• California Family Health Council, $80,000
• ACLU, $60,000

Other opponents include:

• California Nurses Association
• California Medial Association
• National Organization of Women
• California Democratic Party