Stop trying to figure out what part of the Republican coalition needs to be purged. I think the alliance of religious conservatives, economic conservatives, and libertarians can be preserved. Why? In this climate of liberal triumphalism, the Democrats will over-reach.

The liberal economic policies of trying to bail out every industry in a downturn, protectionist trade policies, and the re-unionization of the workforce will be disastrous, making the economy much worse than it is now. Forcing taxpayers to pay for abortions will not be popular, even for those who agree that abortion should be legalized. The schools are going to get even worse and even liberal parents more alienated, once the teachers’ unions get everything they want. Hollywood will get even more depraved, now that it feels that it is in power. The courts will force gay marriage on states that don’t want it.

Conservatives should just wait. The left will make conservativism attractive again.

Can someone explain to me how anyone can justify the bill to replace the secret ballot with signed cards for workers deciding on whether or not to join a union?

The proposed Employee Free Choice Act passed the House, but it hasn’t even come to a vote in the Senate. Yet many union leaders and anti-union groups say it likely will become federal law next year.
“Sen. (Barack) Obama was one of the co-sponsors,” said Damian Hill, director of industry relations for the Associated General Contractors of Michigan. “He indicated during the campaign he would sign if it got passed. I think that’s the reason for the current interest.”

It isn’t new legislation, union leaders said. It’s been proposed at least twice during the current administration, but President George W. Bush promised to veto it.

Now the group Change to Win, composed of seven major unions, is calling for passage within President-elect Obama’s first 100 days in office.

“I call it the Employee No-Choice Act,” said attorney Peter Kok, chairman of the Employment and Labor section of Miller Johnson in Grand Rapids.

The legislation would enable unions to fast-track unionization votes and contract negotiations, Kok explained. Employees would not have to vote in secret-ballot elections to determine if a union would represent them. If half of employees plus one of a qualified group signs cards for a union, that union would become their representative.

What possible argument is there for this bill? What principles justify it?

Is the argument merely pragmatic, that unions and their supporters believe that it would increase union membership? Well, if unions find it necessary, that must mean that many workers are using the secret ballot to vote against joining unions. Which means they must think this bill will change unwilling voters into willing voters. Which means they believe that forcing workers to publicly expose how they voted will cause them to vote pro-union. Which means that they favor intimidation and coercion.

Our pastor sent out a prayer request for Bishop Elisa of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sudan, who is experiencing severe health problems. He included a letter from the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, which includes this information about how the Lutheran church of Sudan came to be:

As many of you know, the Holy Spirit has worked mightily through Rev. Elisa to establish the ELCS. Fifteen years ago, the Lutheran Heritage Foundation sent Andrew Elisa five copies of Luther’s Small Catechism and a Book of Concord, and from there, the Lutheran church began in Sudan! Today, there are more than 80 Lutheran churches, five Lutheran elementary schools and two kindergartens located throughout Sudan, attended by more than 15,000 baptized Lutherans. More than a dozen men attend the seminary in Baguga, studying to become the faithful shepherds of these people.

A major intelligence study projects the decline of America and the rise of India and China as world leaders:

U.S. economic and political clout will decline over the next two decades and the world will be more dangerous, with food and water scarce and advanced weapons plentiful, U.S. spy agencies projected on Thursday.

The National Intelligence Council analysis “Global Trends 2025″ also said the current financial crisis on Wall Street is just the first phase of a global economic reordering.

The U.S. dollar’s role as the world’s major currency would weaken to become a “first among equals,” the report said.

The outlook is intended to inform U.S. President-elect Barack Obama of factors that will influence global events. It is based on a year-long global survey of experts and trends by U.S. intelligence analysts.

“The next 20 years of transition to a new system are fraught with risks,” said the report, which was more pessimistic about U.S. influence and the potential for conflict than the last outlook for 2020.

Thomas Fingar, chairman of the intelligence council and deputy national director of intelligence for analysis, said harmful outcomes were not inevitable.

“It is not beyond the mind of human beings, or political systems, (or) in some cases (the) working of market mechanisms to address and alleviate if not solve these problems,” Fingar told reporters. “We could have a better world in 2025.”

China and India, following a “state capitalism” economic model, were likely to join the United States atop a multipolar world and compete for influence, the report said.

Russia’s potential was less certain, depending on its energy wealth and internal investment. But Iran, Turkey and Indonesia were also seen gaining power.

A world with multiple power centers has been less stable than one with a single or two rival superpowers, and there was a growing potential for conflict, the report said.

Global warming will be felt, and water, food and energy constraints may fuel conflict over resources.

“Strategic rivalries are most likely to revolve around trade, investments and technological innovation and acquisition, but we cannot rule out a 19th century-like scenario of arms races, territorial expansion and military rivalries,” the report said.

“Types of conflict we have not seen for a while — such as over resources — could reemerge,” it said. 

Anthony Sacramone, who once channeled “Luther at the Movies,” is blogging again at Strange Herring. Bookmark it and check it every chance you get for Lutheran insight and Lutheran humor. (No, the latter is not an oxymoron. Far from it. It’s a kind of a wild, cynical, absurdist, freedom-of-the-Christian, hidden, law/gospel kind of humor. Gary Larson of “Far Side” is a Lutheran humorist. Can you think of more such humorists and their qualities.)

UPDATE: Doktor Martin Luther is reviewing movies against at Strange Herring.

UPDATE OF THE UPDATE: As Cheryl observes, Doktor Martin Luther has restarted his old blot Luther at the Movies. Oh, joy! The spectre of Lucas Cranach that haunts this blog has missed him terribly. He is glad that his old comrade Luther is finally appreciating the arts, beyond just slamming the enthusiasts for always destroying them.

HT: Bruce Gee