Abandoning belief, true, life-changing belief in the God to whom all souls must give account, is the root of all corruption. We live among and have for leaders those who have lost their capacity to blush at any evil. Half a century ago, when I was just a boy, a corrupt leader could be shamed out of office. The people of his constituency could be duped for a while, but once the truth was out, the game was up.
But no more. Now they have contests to see how long they can continue to parade their brazen, godless exploits, because the longer they can hold out, the more likely the voting public will just shrug and move on. These are people behaving as if there is no day of reckoning for evil deeds, as if there is no Ultimate Arbiter of right and wrong. These are people who have accepted the godless premise of the so-called "Will to Power," the belief that the only true moral arbiter is success in imposing your will on everyone else. And this dark cynicism that leads to corruption is the very reason our founders have warned us that we cannot hold this republic apart from belief in God. At so many levels, we rely on individual honor, keeping faith to promises when all earthy motives have failed, for this system of ours to work.
Therefore, we must work on multiple fronts. We must take action, yes, and men and women of faith have always been bold to act, because they believe they must do what is right, even when the price is high, because that is our duty before God. But we must also foster the knowledge of God as the one whose blessing we must have if we are to truly succeed at anything, who will hold us to account for our lies and cheats and self-seeking. Without that sentinel of God-fearing honor posted in the heart of our leadership, there is no hope of escape from either corruption, or the bondage of tyranny that is corruption's natural child.
But I remain optimistic. Why? Because I have seen God reinstate honor, and the ability to blush, in hearts you'd have though were impossible to redeem. I have seen God do wonders. His arm is not so short that he cannot save us. He can turn this country around without even breaking a sweat. We must act, yes, but all our acts will be empty gestures if he does not grant us his blessing. You cannot win without God in your caucus.
Praise the Lord AND pass the ammunition.