Voices of Reason
Welcome to the inaugural blog of the nonpartisan Mormon. I
hope that my voice can contribute to the civil discourse that seems to be so
sorely lacking in today’s political environment. Perhaps a bit about myself; I have
been teaching social policy at Utah Valley University for the past 8 years and
I am a relatively active (I attend church each week, have a calling, attend the
temple, etc.) member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints. I want
to take a moment to reiterate that “The Church does not endorse, promote or
oppose political parties, candidates or platforms” and that the LDS church
recognizes that “principles compatible with the gospel may be found in various
political parties, and members should seek candidates who best embody those
principles.” (mormonnewsroom.org).
My primary goal in writing this
blog is to identify, acknowledge, and promote a reasonable political conversation
that recognizes positive contributions from all sides of the political
spectrum. Each year I have students engage in an exercise that requires them to
identify themselves within the current political spectrum, and while there are
always those outliers that have more pronounced ideological beliefs, the
majority, by far, identify much more as “centrist”. While I have not conducted
a systematic study of the subject, my anecdotal experiment coincides with
national data in that 63% of Americans identify as moderate (American National
Election Studies, 2015) However, this same study did show a slight increase in
polarized views as well, i.e. extremely liberal or extremely conservative in
the past 40 years, and overall the country has become more conservative within
the same time period with a 100% increase over 40 years, from 11% to 22% (http://www.electionstudies.org/nesguide/toptable/tab3_1.htm).
Despite the fact that the country is becoming more conservative, the majority
of Americans remain moderate or do not think about political alignment.
I believe that remaining aloof
from party affiliations is a good thing for republican politics (yes we live in
a republic) because it allows for more independent thought and, more
importantly, independent behavior from elected officials. I have felt discouraged
in recent years that too often people have voted party above principle, this was
particularly true during the 2016 elections when the political pettiness was
particularly pugnacious. I think the words of George Washington in his final
address as president were prophetically apropos when he cautioned:
“I have already intimated to you
the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding
of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive
view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the
spirit of party generally. This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our
nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists
under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or
repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest
rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.
The alternate domination of one
faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party
dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most
horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to
a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result
gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute
power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing
faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this
disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public
liberty (for the full address here is the link: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp).
The factions that have emerged as the Democratic
and Republican parties have become too engrossed in maintaining power, rather
than maintaining the liberties of the very people they proclaim to serve. This,
in combination with collusions among other powerbrokers (a topic for future
discussion), has brought us closer to despotism as Washington forewarned.
My primary hope in writing this blog, aside from
the hope that others will actually read it, is to promote a meaningful medium
that will foster understanding and respect for the entire political spectrum. I
want to discuss ideas from across the spectrum, from libertarianism to
socialism, big government to big business, prochoice to prolife, or religious
freedom to secularism. I do not expect everyone to agree with everything, nor
should they, but we need to be respectful of others’ opinions and values in
order to seek understanding and remember that this nation was built upon
principles of compromise and mutual respect. Until we are able to appreciate
our differences we will continue to struggle in our ability to come together
within our shared humanity as one nation. Peace
