Friday, March 16, 2007

Protecting Honesty in Business - Is the Republican Party the "Christian Party"?

I came across a recent mention that the Whistleblowers Protection Act passed on the 14th of March, which protects Federal employees who expose waste, fraud, and corruption.
From whistleblowers.org

Washington, DC, March 14, 2007. Today, by a vote of 331 to 94, The House of Representatives passed the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (H.R. 985). The Enhancement Act is the first major reform of federal whistleblower laws in 18 years, and cures numerous weaknesses in existing legislation. The Enhancement Act will:

  • For the first time, provide most federal employees with a right to have their claims heard in federal court;
  • Protect most federal employees who expose waste fraud and corruption through their chain of command;
  • Provide a new remedy for federal contractors who expose fraud on the taxpayers

I read through the materials regarding this act and we certainly could use it. The part about it that really got me fired up though, was when I looked at the congressional voting record for the Whistleblower's Protection Act.

Not one Democrat voted against this legislation, though the "word on the street" is that Democrats just give money away willy-nilly to people and spend, spend, spend. If that is true, then wouldn't the Democratic party want to limit the amount of whistleblowing regarding waste and corruption?

Every election, the Republicans convince many Christians... well, actually many in white, Christian America that "Republican" and "Christian" are synonymous. Looking at the voting record, I noticed that 1/2 of the voting Republicans congresspeople went against this legislation.

Moment of Introspection

I am a Christian - I love Jesus (not that well, but he still loves me anyway). I want to serve him and do his will down here. If I were in a situation where I was aware of corruption and graft in my government job, would God want me to expose it with the light? The Bible seems to say "Yes"! Would it be un-Christian to want legal protection? If I were to suffer for my good deeds, that is rewarded by the Lord, but should I deliberately shun protection? Did God give us democracy for a reason?

Discussion Question

Can anyone explain why so many Republicans would be opposed to this legislation? The follow-up question, would be, Do you think Jesus would vote for the Whistleblower Protection Act? Can anyone explain why a Christian would be against the Whistleblower Protection Act?

Tawk amongst yourselves.