Anyone else disturbed at the increasing national trend, going on some 30 years now, of eliminating competition in the market place? This is NOT how we made the 5,000 Year Leap in society.

One box store and one on-line store overwhelmingly dominating retail; a tiny handful of communications giants; half a dozen networks; half a dozen newspaper conglomerates with no journalism views or skills allowed; cars that must meet strict federal mpg guidelines that insure a one-design system (car shows 50 years from now are gonna suck); one national health care system with little to no competition to control products and prices (see Epi-Pen); look-a-like chain stores across the country, eliminating the small business owner.

This is what this election is all about. A new World Order where we are told where to buy, what to read, what to believe, where to go get ourselves healed. This, is nonsense. This, is not the pursuit of Happiness. This is not freedom.

Not voting, is simply not an option. You're not "showing" anybody anything by not voting, other than you are a moronic and irresponsible citizen. Few people like the candidates we are stuck with. That does NOT absolve us of our principal duty as citizens. Section 60 in Arlington, and cemeteries around the country are full of young men and women would love the opportunity to vote. I know that my vote will probably cancel someone else's for the other candidate. I have resigned myself to the non-option of having to live with one of these two disgusting human beings in the WH come Jan. But vote I must. We must. And I will. We all need to. 1968 remains the only year that at least 60% of us did so. And that, is pathetic.

If you and I approved mortgages for un-qualified applicants, we'd of been fired, or sent to jail.

If you or I refused to pay our taxes, we'd of been fined, or sent to jail.

If you or I had created false bank accounts for real customers without their knowledge, we'd of been fired, fined, or sent to jail. 

If you or I failed to properly handle classified material of any level, we would have gone directly to jail, for years.

After the mortgage banking fraud, only one guy out of thousands was left holding the bag, and went to jail. Meanwhile, thousands lost their jobs, homes, and life savings. 

Fortune 500 and other companies across America have inverted themselves to register and bank overseas, abdicating their tax responsibilities to the nation and to the communities in which they live and depend upon tax-funded operations. 

Slithery Clinton is walking free after an alleged FBI investigationt that we now know was fraudlent from day one.

The upcoming election is, more blatantly than ever before, about the ongoing battle between rich and poor, the haves vs the have-nots. Those with power willing to abuse for personal interest, at the expense of the majority of the citizens of this once great country. Nation in Distress indeed.

Enron and Worldcom Frauds = I believe three execs went to jail, while thousands lost their jobs, homes, life savings.

Mortgage banking Fraud = crashed the world economy, cost people their homes, jobs, savings. One guy, left holding the bag, went to jail.

Fortune 500 companies = either inverted, or banking off shore to avoid their share of taxes. Govt goes nothing, burden added to few members of lower and middle classes that still have jobs.

Wall St. stocks have never been higher = not reflective of real world. Slithery's fans want her in to keep the ride going.

Wells Fargo Bank, as CORPORATE POLICY, creates millions of false accounts using their own customers. CEO stammers before Congress, finally resigned yesterday, forfeited $42m in stock. While he has no golden parachute, he also has NO LEGAL CHARGES pending, and "at $134 million, the 63-year-old's retirement fund will pull in $3.6 million a year if he bases his planning on living to age 100 before investment income or inflation are taken into account."

"Besides whatever retirement benefits he has accumulated over the years at the helm of Wynn Resorts, founding CEO Stephen Wynn would get a payout of $358.1 million if his board terminates him without cause or a change of control, such as in a merger, according to filing checked in August.

David Simon of real-estate firm Simon Property Group stands to walk with $302.4 million and Leslie Moonves of CBS would get $225.3 million.

Some cash in. When Viacom gave the boot to CEO Philippe Dauman, he stood to make $84 million on the way out, according to executive pay tracking firm Equilar.

If Yahoo succeeds in selling its core assets to Verizon, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer stands to get about $50 million as part of her package."

Justice Dept allegedly investigates Slithery for any illegal activities in regards to handling of classified materials, finds she lied, BRINGS NO CHARGES.

Congress robs Social Security fund, involuntaryily contributed to and built by, American workers. No relief in sight.

Presidents overextend Executive Order powers, thus circumventing Congress and the whole point of having three balancing branches of govt.

Monopoly laws are ignored.

De-regulation has left us with one govt-run passenger railroad without competition, and four U.S. airlines carrying 80% of all air traffic, thus controlling what they have to give as customer service.

And THIS, then, is what the coming election is all about. Do we as American voters and citizens, continue to allow the status quo to continue, to allow our system of govt to be trampled over by the rich and haughty, who were RAISED to believe the rules don't apply to them? Or do we put into the WH a guy, who for all his flaws, remains an unknown quantity who says he will turn things around?

Granted, there's no great choice between the two. But, based upon the behavior of Big Business, Big Oil, Big Pharmaceutical, Big Banking, Wall St., and the failure of any part of our govt to reign any of them in, for at least 40 years, I think the choice is clear.

Seems to me that the only folks up in arms over Mr. Trump's comments recorded 11 years ago, are the talking heads who need new fodder to chew on. No one else, including the populace, seems all that upset over his remarks. Men will be men. And, people change over time. Women talk about men in the same way.

I liked retired CBS respected newsman Bill Schaeffer's (sp) comments Sunday night, post-debate: "that debate resembled a banana republic...." I'm paraphrasing here. What an ad hominem debacle and disgrace on both sides. I don't believe the issues facing us were discussed at all.

What we have is the Perfect Political Storm, constructed by both major political parties nominating as their candidates, the two worst possible people to ever be considered for the most important job in the world. Neither candidate has the class, character, or integrity the office demands and should receive.

Slithery has all the national and international experience, but is a liar, a cheat, a thief, a disengenuous speaker who will say and do anything to get back to the WH. Her denigrating and disgusting treatment of staff wherever she has hung her purse is well-known. Trump is right in that she is a hypocrite. Her husband is itching to return as well. They are two of the most disgusting American citizens we have put in the international limelight since Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.

Mr. Trump can't get out of his own way. He clearly believes since he can run a boardroom, that he can run a country. Good grief. However, Slithery is a known quantity of the most disgusting. Trump is the unknown and despite his too-plain talk, at least offers some hope of turning our country away from Big Business, Big Oil, Big Pharmacy, and Wall St.  It is thought he will bring hope and economic stability to We the Deplorables, er, People, and restore the disappearing middle class, the backbone as always, of our once-functioning society.

I will be forced to vote on Election Day, only to cancel out a vote for the other person. That is NOT how our system of representation and election is supposed to work. 

In reply to MSNBC artilce 5 Oct 2016 about 38,901 of Muslim immigrants allowed to enter the U.S. so far in 2016:

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It's an organized terror group under the cover of a religion. It's been in hateful existence since the 7th century.

Our leaders of both parties had better wake up to the truth of this cult. They have not ever hidden their true goal: world domination and worship of Allah and following the strictest tenets. These people are nuts. They are deadly. They are dedicated to violence. They strike out from their terror cells every now and then, and we all act surprised: "It's a nice community. We never thought it could happen here."  

I am tired of hearing that. The list of Muslim attacks in America, and around the world, is more than long enough to tell everyone these people are nothing more than terrorists.

Since for centuries they have made their mission clear, they should not be admitted to this country. There is a wonderful greeting inscribed at the base of our Lady with the Lamp. It simply does not apply to these terrorist killers born with tunnel-vision hate in their hearts. They are not welcome here, nor in most countries.

I could care less if they are fleeing war-torn areas, if women and children are involved. It's all smoke and mirrors. They will use, and believe in, any method, fear, intimidation, lying, acting, to get implanted and eventually pull off their plan of killing any and all who disagree with them.

They are the entire world's latest curse, in a long line of such activities. It is past time to snuff them out, as an entire people. 

Known vs The Unknown:  a borrowed FB post:  Oct 1, 2016.

(I did not write this, but I like it).
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I have been asked "the question" so many times regarding Trump or Hillary. By way of background, I have followed every national convention—Republican and Democrat—from the time I was age 9, and have attended most of the GOP Conventions from 1984 to the present. I have watched the news virtually every day from the age of 8. I have never seen anything like what we are observing.

In spite of the unprecedented nature of this election cycle, I will attempt to respond to "the question." I am not demanding that anyone else share my view. But I was asked. Here is my best attempt to answer as I am able to see things at this time:

1.   The Democratic and Republican party platforms are as different as night and day, in my opinion, as far apart as evil vs. good. The 51-page Democratic platform is the most leftist ever. (I don't care for the "right vs. left" nomenclature. I am far more concerned with "right vs. wrong.") The Democratic platform contains many points which are anti-biblical. (Time does not permit me here to identify what is meant by "anti-biblical," which is covered in my new book Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today's Tough Issues.) It is thoroughly socialistic (a socialist is a communist without a gun). The 54-page GOP platform is one of the strongest GOP platforms ever. A biblically alert person could be comfortable with almost all of it. Party platforms are a big issue to me. Although some "blow off" party platforms, I do not. Nor do many people up and down the ballot who are running for office. This is a serious and very important item. I have a hard copy of both platforms in front of me now. Most people have never checked out what the party platforms say. They should. If a person is not drawn to the "top-of-the-ballot" candidate, they ought to at least consider voting for the candidate attached to the best party platform.

2.   Analogy #1: Both candidates are flawed. We all know that. But permit me an analogy: As a pastor, I would rather deal with a church attendee who is blatant and brash in his sinning than one who is devious, lying, cunning and deceptive. Both are problematic, but one is easier to deal with than the other. If I were a pastor bringing correction to a parishioner, I would prefer dealing with a "Trump-type" any day over a "Hillary-type." The chances of making progress with the "Trump-type" are many times greater than the "Hillary-type."

3.   Analogy #2: When my (late) wife's remarkable and much loved oncologist said, "Don't take Carol to that alternative (non FDA approved) treatment." I asked, "Why not?" He said, "The unknown." I said, "Doctor, your 'known' is much worse than the alternative treatment's 'unknown.'" I took her to that alternative treatment. One year later that same oncologist went to the alternative treatment doctor to see how it was that Carol had improved so much. While this alternative treatment did not ultimately save her life, it likely stretched two to three years of life to six years of life—by the admission of another one of her brilliant young oncologists who later said, "Without any medical training or scientific fact, you have put together a protocol of treatment that has moved her into the top fraction of 1 percent of survival rates of all patients with Carol's particular cancer. Application of the analogy: Hillary's "known" is considerably worse—many times over—than Trump's "unknown."

4.   Trump has lots of sins in his past (actually, we all do), and—in the present—says things he should not say. I make no attempt to defend any of the things he has said. There is no need to rehearse the wrong things he has said. We know what they are. He should not have thought or said them. But there is no need to rehash them here. So we won't. But let's turn to the other candidate. Although America has had some scandal-ridden candidates in its history, we have never seen any one major party candidate more constantly scandalous as Hillary (along with her husband). She seems to exceed all previous boundaries for wrongdoing. The scandals just don't stop. In the same way we did not take time to list all of Trump's misstatements, neither will we here rehash the seemingly continuous string of horrific scandals of the Clintons.

5.   Trump is slowly being surrounded by increasingly good people. From time to time, I receive encouraging calls regarding this. Can these good people impact Trump? We will see. In contrast, I see no reason for any encouragement regarding the people who surround Hillary.

6.   Trump is right on approximately 75 percent of the issues. I wish it was 100 percent. It is not. I am in hopes that those beginning to surround him can help him connect the dots on more issues. Hillary is wrong on 100 percent of the issues.

7.   This next issue might be one of the most important, but I suspect few will understand its significance. Trump opposes globalism. Hillary thrives on it. Globalism is far more than "geographical" or "eliminating national borders and boundaries." It is spiritual and demonic at its core. Few—very few—understand this. This is quite likely one of the main reasons why Trump is hated. Do your homework on this one. Think "principalities and powers." Serious. Extremely serious.

8.   Not voting is not a viable option, contrary to what the "purists" claim. It is not my intention to begin a war of the issue. I know that some radically disagree with this. My view? They have the right to be wrong.

9.   Voting for a third party candidate is—regardless of what is said—a complete "throw-away." No third party candidate will be elected, or even come remotely close to being elected. And yes, that matters to me. And for the record, the Libertarian ticket—Johnson and Weld—is nearly as bad on many issues as Hillary. When I listen to them, I am stunned people of their ability have ever made it to elective office.

10.   Trump has moved pro-life. Hillary is pro-baby killing, and prides herself on that, and honors the organization—Planned Parenthood—that actually traffics human parts from dead babies whom they have killed. This is below anything we have seen since Nazi Germany. The gall of Hillary! The Clintons have evaded justice for decades and likely will continue to. But they will someday stand before the Great White Throne. They will have to give account of their support of the ripping babies to shreds in the womb. For the record, those who vote for those who support the genocide of pre-borns will also have to give an account.

11.   Trump wants to defend the nation (which is the purpose of government). Hillary has a horrific track record as Secretary of State, and due to hundreds of millions of dollars given to her and her husband's foundation, she is beholden to those who want us dead.

12.   Hillary claims "everything is fine" in America. This defies every single fact, but facts have never been an interest of Hillary's. Trump understands that it is 11:59 p.m. on the "cultural clock." America is near the end—morally, economically, militarily and, sadly, spiritually. There are very clear identifiable indicators—measurable ones—that America is no longer the world's leading power. That day is over. Hillary will hasten the final destruction. Trump could either slow that down—or possibly, with God's help—reverse it. Maybe.

13.   Trump will address the massive government spending. Hillary will expand it above the existing unsustainable debt the U.S. currently is carrying (almost $20 trillion plus unfunded liabilities to Social Security, etc).

14.   Trump will expose—and I pray, bring down—"the systemic evil" (crony, deceitful, misuse of capitalism) that reigns among many high-dollar lobbyists. Hillary thrives because of them.

15.   Trump will stop the massive overreach of government. Hillary will extend it.

16.   Freedoms come in "threes." Political freedom, economic freedom and religious liberty coexist together. Take one away and the other two will eventually disappear. One cannot exist without the other two. The genius of America is that it had all three, until recently. Trump fully grasps the loss of religious liberty. I have heard him speak on it in person on several occasions. He knows that economic and political freedoms are evaporating. He will reverse that. Hillary will decimate all three.

17.   Every rational person knows the Supreme Court appointments are paramount. Trump has listed 11 superb potential nominees. Hillary's appointments would snuff out the tiny vestige of the three freedoms that are left (mentioned in the statement above).

18.   I make no excuse for wrongdoing or wrongful, hurtful words from either candidate. Candidly, I want King Jesus. He rules in my heart. And yours too, I suspect. And I want Him to rule here—now. But that day is not fully manifested—yet. In the meantime, we prayerfully, carefully navigate this challenging election season, with great concern that above all, we honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in every arena of our lives, including the voting booth. That is my hope. I believe it is yours as well. 

Editor's Note: Dr. Garlow has written a follow-up article about President Obama's shaky relationship with Israel. You can find that story here.

Dr. Jim Garlow is pastor of Skyline Church in the San Diego, CA area