Posted on 09/18/2012 4:30:34 AM PDT by Impala64ssa
You're not the first person to express that opinion, and there is a lot of merit to it in terms of basic party ideology.
Hikind has been in the Assembly for decades, so most likely has had many conversations about switching to the GOP, but has steadfastly remained where he is.
It's probably a matter of coming to the conclusion that his political goal is to stay in his current seat for life, or at least as long as he possibly can. There aren't any practical chances for him to move up to higher office politically because of demographics, and he is pretty well assured of re-election to the state assembly from his current district. He could possibly win that district as a Republican, but why take the chance on a plunge into the unknown, especially if the Pubbies seem to be destined to be in the minority in the Assembly forever? At present, I believe he may hold some committee chairmanship as a majority Democrat.
BTW, Hikind has not only endorsed Romney in this year's presidential election, but he has plans to work for him in Jewish communities in the battleground states of Pennsylvania and Florida.
Sounds like a DINO (Democrat In Name Only). And you’re right—there is probably a complex calculus behind is decision to stay D.
There is nothing debatable about gay marriage. Homosexual acts are a "toeva", an abomination carrying the death penalty in the Torah. While no one I know of support this (and Jewish law makes carrying out the death penalty difficult anyway), there should be no question about sanctifying homosexual marriage. It is an affront to god. Sadly, Reconstructionist, Reform and now Conservative (Masorti) Jewish Rabbis will marry homosexuals. This is a Chillul Hashem, a desecration of God's name. These are no longer Jews but Frankist heretics.
Let me go out on a limb and say that the percentage of Jews on any kind of public assistance is very low. Even though most probably think welfare is good.
Jews are not safe in this country beyond the protections of constitutional freedom. Same with Christians, homos, minorities and majorities.
In that design of constitutional Republic government the Feds are not permitted the power to be a centralized police and propaganda state beyond the restrictions of constitutional power. Therefore, there is no centralized power strong enough to build an propaganda, oppresssion/murder machine.
No more.
This is why advocating for Federal power is insane.
OOPS! My < I > didn’t < /I >!
Ironically, the Halakhah is actually stricter for non-Jews. For Jews, if the pre-born child is a rodef (pursuer, one who is on his way to murder someone), then abortion is not only permitted, but mandatory. Only when the child has begun to emerge from the birth canal is abortion of the child forbidden for any reason whatsoever (even the life of the mother). For non-Jews, however, this point is reached much earlier (probably your forty days). From this point abortion is forbidden even to save the life of the mother. RaMBa"M cites the verse shofekh dam ha'adam ba'adam, damo yishafekh (he who sheds the blood of man within man [ie, as a fetus], his blood shall be shed").
Jewish law makes carrying out the death penalty difficult
True, but capital crimes remain capital crimes even when no one has the authority to execute punishment (it is assumed the carrying out of the sentence is left to G-d). However, there were times in the past (even in the Exile) when Jewish communities had the authority, with the permission of the host government, to carry out capital punishment. Noachides are subject to capital punishment as well and some day these laws will be in full force.
In that design of constitutional Republic[an] government the Feds are not permitted the power to be a centralized police and propaganda state beyond the restrictions of constitutional power. Therefore, there is no centralized power strong enough to build an propaganda, oppression/murder machine.
No more.
This is why advocating for Federal power is insane.
Excellent post, Sara. I'd add that advocating for (more) state or local government power could be just as insane.
You might be surprised at the number of Jews in the United States on public assistance. This is particularly true of the ultra-Orthodox or Hasidic Jews who tend to have large families and are generally not as well educated in secular ways. It also is enhanced by the recession and the relatively easy availability of the government programs.
In general, though, I would presume that the percentage of Jews on public assistance is less than the average for the US as a whole, but I haven't seen any statistics on this.
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