Why Mormons are usually Republicans – 321.5

Before I get to that, I need to make a side note. Remember at the end of July I did a multi-part series reviewing my “romantic” history, and I mentioned one potential problem for me was that I hung out with guys that I didn’t really like in junior high. There were basically four in the group, and we have already reviewed that one is a dirty politician, and tonight on the ten o’ clock news another one is being investigated for showing porn to kids at the camp where he was a counselor, and possibly doing other things.

I am just really upset about this. I guess I am not as surprised as I could be, and maybe he didn’t do it. They are just investigating and everyone is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, which is why I am not writing his name, but it’s just sickening, and there is no satisfaction in having creepy feelings confirmed, and I feel sorry for him but also angry. It should just be a given that there are things that you do not do, especially when children are involved. Anyway, what I really want is for someone to tell me that Joel is doing great, and is a respected member of his community with no criminal convictions, but I don’t know anyone who has stayed in touch with him. It would be nice if one of the four turned out okay.

Okay, I am ready to get back on track.

Church members will know that it is pretty common for Latter-Day Saints to be politically conservative. If you are not in the church, you may still kind of know, but not realize how certain they tend to be that it is the only correct choice. This is strange, because whenever there are elections, church leaders will read a letter reminding members that the church does not endorse any political party or candidate, but they encourage members to be educated on the issues and choose based on that.

Still, there will be members who are shocked if you are politically liberal, because it is evil. I guess when Brother Weed read the letter a few weeks ago, he shared that when he first registered to vote, someone asked him whom he was voting for, and when he answered “Kennedy” he was told that meant he wasn’t a real Mormon. (I can only assume that would have been against Nixon.)

While Latter-Day Saints is a better name for members of the church, I used Mormons in the title because there is the Gospel, and then there is the culture. Believing that you have to be a Republican is a part of the culture, and the culture has its good points and bad points (and weird ones, like green Jell-o salad with carrots), but it is important not to get the two confused.

Generally there are a few specific issues that lead to the political conservatism. My plan is to go over those issues, and then in the next post go over why I am a Democrat anyway.

Abortion is the biggest one of all, as far as I can tell. You created this life, so you have the responsibility not to destroy it, and part of that is Gospel, in terms of what would be sin, though not necessarily for what should be law. Other moral issues may relate, but it is not uncommon to have single-issue voters on this topic, and if that is your single issue, yeah, you will pretty much be veering right politically.

Guns are also a key issue. Believing that there are hard times coming leading up to Christ’s return, many people want to be able to use firearms as protection, and they know the democrats want nothing more than to forcefully take away everyone’s guns, leaving only the criminals armed. In addition, many of heard of a prophecy that at one point the Constitution of the United States will hang by a thread, and that it will need to be saved, and they envision this meaning armed conflict, for which they will need their guns.

Taxes are also an issue, as we already lose some income paying tithing. I know the first date I went on after high school was with a guy who was very anti-tax because of that. His argument was that the British have ninety percent of their income taxed away, so how could they even pay tithing when they only had the ten percent for their own in the first place? (Actually, that date didn’t go very well.) A Republican government will let you keep your money to decide to give it to charity and do venture capital efforts, and you will. Otherwise you’re just Communists.

School choice, with vouchers and charter schools, may also be an issue for some, as there are some strong home-school proponents, but that kind of gets back to the morals issue, so you can be separated from the vermin in public schools and the filth they teach.

I believe those are the basics right there, maybe with some oversimplification. It will get a bit longer next time when I give the rebuttal.