Give your barely sparking neurons a workout.
The speaker contended that when one doesn’t have God in their life, the government or “state” will become their guide,......
False choice. AI response to the question I posed equivocates in its answer which begins with 'depends', confirms that it IS a false choice, and ends with 'depends'. AI as squish?
What ISN'T equivocating is to state that Johnson is a wannabe theocrat who routinely blurs the line between church and state by always choosing church over state. The GOP Taliban has it's leader in the House. Someone should ask him why he hamstrings Ukraine in it's fight against godless communism.
Mike Johnson invoked God in a GOP presentation on keeping the majority. It didn’t land well.
The speaker delivered a presentation that, while ostensibly about holding the majority this fall, took a notably moral turn, according to two people in the room.
OLIVIA BEAVERS
02/21/2024, 11:58AM ET
Speaker Mike Johnson delivered a presentation at a weekend GOP retreat that — although it was billed as a map to keeping the House majority — took on a surprisingly religious tone, according to two people in the room.
Johnson’s private remarks to a small group of Republican lawmakers at Miami’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel over the weekend alarmed both people, who addressed the speech on condition of anonymity. Rather than outlining a specific plan to hold and grow the majority, these people said, Johnson effectively delivered a sermon.
The Louisiana Republican showed slides to the members of his Elected Leadership Committee (ELC) team in a bid to tout the party’s prospects of hanging onto its two-seat majority in November. Johnson, a devout Christian, attempted to rally the group by discussing moral decline in America — focusing on declining church membership and the nation’s shrinking religious identity, according to both people in the room.
The speaker contended that when one doesn’t have God in their life, the government or “state” will become their guide, referring back to Bible verses, both people said. They added that the approach fell flat among some in the room.
“I’m not at church,” one of the people said, describing Johnson’s presentation as “horrible.”
“I think what he was trying to do, but failed on the execution of it, was try to bring us together,” that person said. “The sermon was so long he couldn't bring it back to make the point.”
A third person in the room who is close to Johnson said that the speaker dipped into historical and religious points for perhaps a third of his presentation, arguing that the party needed to save the country. That person, who spoke on condition of anonymity about the private gathering, said Johnson also talked about polling on the border, how President Joe Biden compares to Donald Trump on various issues and the House GOP’s core message.
The weekend retreat also featured notable tension between GOP conference leaders and Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.), who argued in Miami that Johnson needs to lead Republicans in the direction that is favored by conservatives.
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) pushed back, questioning if Good — who had voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy — would let Johnson lead or if he would block him whenever he disagreed with the GOP leader’s approach, according to all three people who addressed the speaker’s presentation. Conservatives have blocked legislation from being considered on the floor several times this term.
Johnson’s office declined to comment.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/02...t-00142436
Is this a false choice? 'When one doesn’t have God in their life, the government or “state” will become their guide.'
Whether the statement "when one doesn't have God in their life, the government or 'state' will become their guide" is a false choice depends on several factors and individual perspectives. Here are some points to consider:
False Choice Arguments:
Oversimplification: This statement presents a binary choice between two options, God or the state, ignoring the vast spectrum of potential sources of guidance and meaning in life. Individuals can find purpose and direction from personal values, relationships, philosophy, science, art, and other sources.
Individual vs. Collective: The statement focuses on individual guidance without acknowledging the complex interplay between individual choices and societal structures, including government and laws. Governments exist to establish order and uphold certain values, not necessarily to replace individual guides.
Religious Diversity: The statement assumes a universal experience of "God" that doesn't reflect the diversity of religious beliefs and practices, including non-theistic traditions.
Alternative Perspectives:
Coexistence: Individuals can draw guidance from multiple sources, including God, the government, personal values, and other influences, without one necessarily replacing the other.
Government as Framework: Governments can provide a framework for ethical behavior and social order, but individuals still have agency and responsibility to make their own choices within that framework.
Focus on Individual Values: Ultimately, individuals determine their own sources of meaning and guidance, regardless of their religious beliefs or relationship with the state.
Conclusion:
Whether the statement is a false choice depends on how you define "guide" and how much weight you place on individual agency vs. external influences. It is important to acknowledge the complexity of the issue and consider the various perspectives involved.
The speaker contended that when one doesn’t have God in their life, the government or “state” will become their guide,......
False choice. AI response to the question I posed equivocates in its answer which begins with 'depends', confirms that it IS a false choice, and ends with 'depends'. AI as squish?
What ISN'T equivocating is to state that Johnson is a wannabe theocrat who routinely blurs the line between church and state by always choosing church over state. The GOP Taliban has it's leader in the House. Someone should ask him why he hamstrings Ukraine in it's fight against godless communism.
Mike Johnson invoked God in a GOP presentation on keeping the majority. It didn’t land well.
The speaker delivered a presentation that, while ostensibly about holding the majority this fall, took a notably moral turn, according to two people in the room.
OLIVIA BEAVERS
02/21/2024, 11:58AM ET
Speaker Mike Johnson delivered a presentation at a weekend GOP retreat that — although it was billed as a map to keeping the House majority — took on a surprisingly religious tone, according to two people in the room.
Johnson’s private remarks to a small group of Republican lawmakers at Miami’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel over the weekend alarmed both people, who addressed the speech on condition of anonymity. Rather than outlining a specific plan to hold and grow the majority, these people said, Johnson effectively delivered a sermon.
The Louisiana Republican showed slides to the members of his Elected Leadership Committee (ELC) team in a bid to tout the party’s prospects of hanging onto its two-seat majority in November. Johnson, a devout Christian, attempted to rally the group by discussing moral decline in America — focusing on declining church membership and the nation’s shrinking religious identity, according to both people in the room.
The speaker contended that when one doesn’t have God in their life, the government or “state” will become their guide, referring back to Bible verses, both people said. They added that the approach fell flat among some in the room.
“I’m not at church,” one of the people said, describing Johnson’s presentation as “horrible.”
“I think what he was trying to do, but failed on the execution of it, was try to bring us together,” that person said. “The sermon was so long he couldn't bring it back to make the point.”
A third person in the room who is close to Johnson said that the speaker dipped into historical and religious points for perhaps a third of his presentation, arguing that the party needed to save the country. That person, who spoke on condition of anonymity about the private gathering, said Johnson also talked about polling on the border, how President Joe Biden compares to Donald Trump on various issues and the House GOP’s core message.
The weekend retreat also featured notable tension between GOP conference leaders and Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.), who argued in Miami that Johnson needs to lead Republicans in the direction that is favored by conservatives.
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) pushed back, questioning if Good — who had voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy — would let Johnson lead or if he would block him whenever he disagreed with the GOP leader’s approach, according to all three people who addressed the speaker’s presentation. Conservatives have blocked legislation from being considered on the floor several times this term.
Johnson’s office declined to comment.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/02...t-00142436
Is this a false choice? 'When one doesn’t have God in their life, the government or “state” will become their guide.'
Whether the statement "when one doesn't have God in their life, the government or 'state' will become their guide" is a false choice depends on several factors and individual perspectives. Here are some points to consider:
False Choice Arguments:
Oversimplification: This statement presents a binary choice between two options, God or the state, ignoring the vast spectrum of potential sources of guidance and meaning in life. Individuals can find purpose and direction from personal values, relationships, philosophy, science, art, and other sources.
Individual vs. Collective: The statement focuses on individual guidance without acknowledging the complex interplay between individual choices and societal structures, including government and laws. Governments exist to establish order and uphold certain values, not necessarily to replace individual guides.
Religious Diversity: The statement assumes a universal experience of "God" that doesn't reflect the diversity of religious beliefs and practices, including non-theistic traditions.
Alternative Perspectives:
Coexistence: Individuals can draw guidance from multiple sources, including God, the government, personal values, and other influences, without one necessarily replacing the other.
Government as Framework: Governments can provide a framework for ethical behavior and social order, but individuals still have agency and responsibility to make their own choices within that framework.
Focus on Individual Values: Ultimately, individuals determine their own sources of meaning and guidance, regardless of their religious beliefs or relationship with the state.
Conclusion:
Whether the statement is a false choice depends on how you define "guide" and how much weight you place on individual agency vs. external influences. It is important to acknowledge the complexity of the issue and consider the various perspectives involved.
