I’m getting old. How do I know? Because I follow politics...and I like it. I’ve been following the Presidential campaigns in varying degrees since the primary season started heating up last year. And yes, sometimes it makes me feel old, boring and even a little too serious for an almost 29-year-old kid. Still, I’ve come to terms with my recent place in the ever-rotating circle of life. So what if I’m getting old, following politics, both current and historical, makes me feel like an American, and makes me proud of the democracy to which I belong.
For those of you who don’t share my affinity for policy debates and mindless slander, I feel your pain. I’m guessing that you don’t like politics not because you don’t care about America, but because you’re tired of the fact that there’s too much mindless slander and not enough policy debate, or because you feel overwhelmed by all the “smarty pants” who’s political conversations are way over your head. Believe me, I’ve been there, I know how you feel.
And yet, politics, especially national politics, is too important to ignore. Tired of donating your arm and your leg every time you stop at the gas pump? Been watching the price of bread go up for months and wondering when it’s gonna stop? Your favorite day of the year April 15th? Well, to a certain degree, that’s politics. Don’t like it? Now’s the time to do something about it.
So, I’ve decided to write a series of short and, hopefully, easy-to-understand articles describing what’s going on with the current Presidential campaign. Pretentious? I hope not. In fact, quite the contrary. Despite what my mother might say, deep down I’m just an average American trying to have a happy and healthy life and provide for my wife and (someday) kids. That sounds like most of us. But I’m thinking that since I happen to be abnormal enough to enjoy wading through all the political mumbo jumbo I’ll wade through it for you and present it in a way that normal Americans can stand reading.
3 comments:
can't wait to start the debate. I look forward to every post, and aren't you lucky... i have no old jokes of you. Let it begin.
Great stuff Jed. I appreciate an intelligent discussion. As you know, I'm a Mormon living in Idaho. This means that everyone assumes I'm of a Republican mind. It also means that most of my friends are of a Republican mind. Many are shocked and/or dismayed when they learn that I am of a Democratic mind. They ask me questions like "how can you vote for someone who turn our economy into socialism?" or "how can you vote for someone who will make gay marriage legal?" It's been my experience so far this election season that political debates quickly turn into ugly discussions centered around character assassination. Because I'm in the ideological minority I get ganged up on and usually end up feeling like the character assassinations are pointed at me. Believe me, I've tried to bring these discussions back around to real issues like taxes and health care, but they always find their way back to issues like patriotism and religion and morals.
The article on the rational voter hit home hard. I've tried to get many of my friends to open their minds and really consider the issues and facts but they won't do it. They insist on believing that Senator Obama is not a patriot because he doesn't wear a flag lapel pin and goes to a controversial church.
I know I'm ideologically arrogant to a point, I think I'm right in my opinions. But I try to be thoughtful about these things. And I know we'd be better off in this country if voters used their brain more and their emotions less (and stopped listening to radical right wing bull crap talk radio).
So after much frustration and consternation, I'm out. I'm done watching TV, listening to the radio, etc. I've made my decision and now I'm going to go back to basics and say my prayers and save my hope for the King of Kings who actually can bring real change.
PS - My personal opinion is that if the Savior were a voter, He'd vote for the guy who plans to give more money to the poor.
Amen to what Matt said. And in support of his PS...
Alma 1:30 And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.
Luke 18:22-25 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
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