In the first line of her hit song, “Mercedes Benz,” Janis Joplin set the tone for her parody of “wish book” religion. But it is the second stanza that makes the meat of my message. A little name alteration will set the tone here:

Oh Barack, won’t you buy me a color TV?
Dialing for Dollars is trying to find me.
I wait for delivery each day until three.
So Barack, won’t you buy me a color TV?

A valid question being asked is this: Are welfare handouts a key to Obama’s election win?

For the better part of four years, many of my friends have been complaining that Obama was using welfare handouts to solidify his base, gaining power to accomplish his promised “fundamental transformation of America.” Now they believe it was a key to the election. The “Obama Phone” video on YouTube certainly added weight to that perspective.

Still, when I ask the hard question, “Do you think we should slash welfare?” most people agree that welfare needs to be reformed to rid the system of fraud, but we do not wish needful recipients to receive less. However, this is about power, popularity and an important election.

What are others saying? Ann Coulter has written that the monster change in demographics in the past thirty years affected the election. The numbers she shared are astounding. Hispanic populations of several states have increased by manifold proportions. Upwards of 75% of Hispanics voted for Obama in those states. Dr. Robert Owens, wrote a scathing report presenting the evidence of election fraud, also in large proportions, while the MSM has said little about the issue. Also, there are many pundits that have stated point-blank that they did not believe Mitt Romney was the right candidate to win the election.

Though many of those Hispanic voters are Christians, it can be argued that those on the lower end of the economic scale always vote for the most generous candidate, regardless of their ethnicity or religion. For some, a generous government seems more dependable than the private sector. So, it might still be the handout factor, rather than those demographics. It is at least a chicken or egg thing.

It seems to me that we can safely conclude that all of these factors played a part in swinging an election that many thought would be a hands-down win for the moderately conservative Romney against a president with a failed first term record.

The answer to the question I posed is obviously, “yes.” Hand-outs were a key; one of perhaps three critical keys. In the following my focus will remain on the handouts, since I believe they are a better signpost to the root cause that gave us the unwanted result. Bear in mind that in no way am I attacking the idea of welfare or the people who have a valid need to receive it.

The MSM ate Romney’s lunch over the 47% statement. The strongest argument was that many of the 47% were working people. That may be true, but my guess is that many of those work part-time and do not work more hours, or an extra part-time job, because they would lose the welfare benefits they now have. Some of us have a problem with that idea. It just lends credence to the possibility that there are able bodied folks who could support themselves if self-support were their goal.

What they are doing is not welfare fraud. They are legally qualified to receive benefits. But, perhaps they could lift themselves out of welfare with more effort and choose instead to “protect” their benefits. That is a bitter pill for some to swallow. Many middle income couples have to work long hours, sometimes holding down two jobs each. Often, their kids over sixteen have to work part-time jobs. That is how many achieved middle income status and it is what they must to do to maintain.

Many of those who believe “freedom is not free” understand that it is not just our military that keeps us free. One of the strengths of our economy, in the past, was our outstanding productivity. Not all of our productivity comes from technology. There still has to be motivated workers. Let us be honest; hard work is a prime ingredient of success. Economic success keeps us on the freedom train and makes a strong military possible.

People who are able and work hard enjoy many benefits:

1) Peace of mind.

2) Pride in self and sense of fulfillment.

3) The joy and honor of contribution to a cause.

4) Pride in country and national freedom.

5) Individual economic freedom; buying power.

People who are able-bodied and choose not to work hard surrender all those benefits. The affect on their conscience often adds to their misery. The side-effects at the emotional level can be really painful for some.

When people know what is good and do not do it, the root cause becomes clear: America is in a spiritual/moral dilemma. The secular humanism that has taken over our institutions and its accompanying slide into socialism has achieved its goal. It has infected a plurality of the American people. Some have placed God on a high shelf in a dark, forgotten utility closet.

“Wish book religion” and secularism will not work. We must sincerely approach the Lord with contrite hearts and pray for a national revival. “Lord, send a revival, and let it begin in me.”

Recently, I was expounding the turn-around mantra to a friend. “Cut spending, raise revenue, strengthen the military, etc.” Finally he interrupted me. “George, you must be kidding, we are past that point. It would take a miracle to fix it now.”

His statement stunned me back on track. “You are right,” I said. “We do need conservative policies, but first we need a miracle; a miracle of revival. It has happened before and God is still in the miracle business.”

The Scriptures present many examples. God offers Himself as the solution when the people are suffering from their own sin, or perhaps there has been a draught, or enemies have surrounded us. He promises healing when we follow His commands. A popular example is in Second Chronicles 7:14:

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Revivals have come from believing on that one verse.

It seems to be that time for America. If you are tired of politics and politicians producing a lot of heat but not much light, turn to The Light of the World (John 8:12) and help your family, friends, and neighbors do the same.