Mike Huckabee has already weighed in on Gov. Mitch Daniels statement that there might need to be a “truce” in the culture wars so that we can focus on economic issues, saying that he “cannot” and “will not” ever accept such a truce.
That seemed pretty clear, but apparently Huckabee was not content to let this issue go and so he has released a second statement saying that, contrary to Daniels’ assertion that social issues must be put aside in favor of economic ones, it is actually the morality at root of the social issue fights that can solve our economic problems:
Sadly, Gov. Daniels is not alone in his way of thinking and it’s not a new concept. During the last presidential election – many reporters, Republicans and Democrats suggested the same moratorium on morality. The political winds began to whisper of stopping the discussion on morality and starting the discussion on the “important issues.”
Let me be clear – MORALITY AND THE ECONOMY are inextricably linked.
• The collapse of morality and ethical business practices preceded the collapse of Wall Street – unchecked greed caused the downfall;• A decrease in morality preceded an increase in the prison population – state budgets via taxes, increase every year to pay for prisons; and,
• We don’t emphasize character in our public schools, and ignorance is expensive– a national high school drop out rate of 1 in 3 students produces poverty – crippling our economy in countless ways.
I’m not saying Wall Street, prisons and poverty are not the only influences on our economy – there are countless others – nor am I saying morality solves every economic crisis we face. But I am saying strong moral fiber would prevent many of our nation’s economic disasters.
Should we focus on the economy and the staggering and crippling debt? Absolutely! But I fear that talk of a “truce” means that we are making excuses for compromise on moral issues, and there is no need to separate economic issues from the social issues. We can and must focus on both.
Now is not the time to shift focus from moral issues we need to shift focus toward moral issues.
The idea that there is a “connection between traditional social issues like abortion and gay marriage and the economy” has been the Religious Right’s standard response ever since the economy tanked back in 2008 …and apparently it is one that they are sticking with.
