By Christy Barritt

Parties Unite in Dissatisfaction with Government

The latest Gallup annual governance survey shows that a majority of both Republicans and Democrats are unhappy with the federal government and the way it’s handling business in Washington.

According to the poll, 65 percent of Democrats and 92 percent of Republicans are unhappy with the government.

Also reported from the poll was that 82 percent of Americans disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job, 69 percent have little or no confidence in the legislative branch of government, and 57 percent have little or no confidence that the federal government can solve domestic problems.

Also noteworthy from the survey was that most Americans believe the federal government wastes 51 cents of every dollar.

The poll was based on telephone interviews of 1,012 random adults living in all 50 U.S. states.

Brain May Decline as Early as 45

A new study from England suggests that the brain’s abilities to reason, comprehend, and remember may start to worsen as early as age 45.

The study was published in the British Medical Journal. They stated in their press release, “The brain’s capacity for memory, reasoning, and comprehension skills (cognitive function) can start to deteriorate from age 45. Previous research suggests that cognitive decline does not begin before the age of 60, but this view is not universally accepted.”

Researchers said in the study that healthy lifestyle and cardiovascular health may stave off the effects of brain aging.

Supreme Court Unanimous in Church’s Religious Liberty

In what many are touting as a landmark victory for churches across the country, the Supreme Court voted unanimously that churches are to retain the right to determine who qualifies as a “minister.”

The case, Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commiss-ion, involved a disgruntled former employee of a Lutheran school.

At work in the case is what’s called “ministerial exception,” which allows religious institutions the freedom to select ministry employees without government intrusion under the First Amendment.

Commenting on the idea of revoking ministerial exception, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, “Such action interferes with the internal governance of the church, depriving the church of control over the selection of those who will personify its beliefs. By imposing an unwanted minister, the state infringes the Free Exercise Clause, which protects a religious group’s right to shape its own faith and mission through its appointments.”

Texas Sonogram Law Upheld

A Texas law that requires abortionists to show women sonograms of their preborn babies, to make the baby’s heartbeat audible, and to explain what happens to the baby during an abortion was upheld by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

The sonograms will be required at least 24 hours before performing abortions.

The law had been blocked by abortion advocacy groups since August. They argued that the law violated their First Amendment Rights. However, the panel found that the law didn’t violate any constitutional protections, and that doctors were required to impart information, but not impose ideology.

Women will be required to sign a form that notes they’ve been given all the information.

 Christy Barritt is an award-winning author, freelance writer, and speaker living in Chesapeake, Virginia. She and her husband Scott have two sons. 
www.christybarritt.com