Today the House of Representatives passed a stimulus package to help stave off the collapse of the US economy. The entire contingent of Congressional Republicans claimed to be standing on principle as they voted against the bill.
Imagine that it is Sunday morning and we are all on a ship in the open ocean. There is a great tempest upon us. The planking of our vessel is opening and the sea is rushing in. The captain orders all hands on deck to man the pumps. Half the crew announces that, being principled Christians, they cannot work on Sundays.
With only half the crew at the pumps, the battle against the sea is lost. Our ship founders and sinks. Crew and passengers alike are plunged into the deep dark sea, never to be heard from again.
I suppose the principled among the crew would reconvene in Neptune’s chamber to condemn the Captain and unprincipled crew for doing their best to save the ship.
