2 Cents

Firstly, my hands are shaking and my heart is pounding, and I have that familiar sick sensation which usually accompanies all discourse on controversial topics which we all hold personally: religion and politics.  Today, I'm presenting my opinions on the latter.  As usual, any negative or hurtful comments will be promptly removed.
   I was recently asked which one (party) I support and why.  The short answer (and the non-politician answer) is that I am a card carrying Republican.  However, we usually dismiss one's political affiliations as soon as they're stated.  This is especially true if one holds to their stereotype (I'm a Republican from Idaho/Utah.  When most people hear this, they roll their eyes and discount my opinions because they assume I must have reached my conclusions without serious thought, and therefore, am a lemming.  I assure you this is simply not the case).
   As a child, I recall hearing about politics ONCE.  In my whole life, I never heard passionate discourse or debate on political issues.  The one time I did, it was a joke told by mom to my dad in a knock-knock capacity.  Not exactly enough for a child to lean on. As I moved from a small town to a large city with an enormous high school, I abandoned my "childish" (my word choice back in the day) pursuits such as sports and friends and devoted my energy and time to academics.  My hard work was rewarded with good grades and a fairly smarter reputation.  I was drunk on being seen as educated and informed and it was in High School, where I developed my first love of politics and foreign affairs.  One day, as we were waiting for class to begin, I was listening to a discussion being made by my classmates regarding political parties.  They noticed me and asked to which party it was I belonged. I remember as if it were yesterday.  The panic rose in me and all I could remember about parties was: Democrats=big government and Republican=small government.  With a dry mouth and racing heart, I answered: "I'm....a....(heavy pause).......liberal... Republican...?"  I quickly looked from one face to another to see if I'd answered correctly.  The boys scoffed and said, "A liberal Republican? That's almost as bad as a moderate Democrat" and they dismissed me with turned backs.  I was crushed and  I felt so humiliated because I'd provided the "wrong answer".  My response?  When I turned 18, I registered as a Democrat!  I would've died than be viewed as uneducated, uninformed: a lemming.  I noticed a trend that the majority of my smart classmates were hailed for thinking "outside the box" (the box being a heavily Republican State).  It was automatically assumed that if you went against the average, you were necessarily more enlightened.  I was so proud of myself.  I wanted to be enlightened.  I wanted to be smart, educated, and popular.  Later in the year, I recall asking my mother, for the first time in my life, what her political beliefs were.  When she responded, "I'm a Republican" I remember feeling extreme pity for my mom.  Didn't she know how unpopular it was to be associated with that party?!
   High School ended.  I went on to College and pursued a degree in History and Political Science at (then) Utah Valley State College (UVSC).  Even though it was a Utah school, it was still a college education, and therefore the teaching staff was dominated by proud Democrats and even prouder Liberals.  It was in this atmosphere and in-depth analysis of the Constitution, the role of government, and History, that I quickly had a real education.  It was with a rude awakening that I realized the party I had blindly followed, did not jive with my personal beliefs in the slightest.
   My best professors, the ones I learned the most from, and the ones that made me the most self-aware, were the professors who, on principle, would not disclose their own political beliefs.  They played devil's advocate time and again when the class ever leaned towards one party or another during discussion or debate.  This was my real education!  To this day, I still do not know what their own political beliefs are.  They were that good.  At this point, you're probably wondering why then, I didn't choose to be "Independent".  That is because, another Professor, whom I greatly admire, and has since passed away, gave (sadly) realistic advice.  It was in Economics and the discussion had once again been brought to politics.  He said, "The Party system in America is broken.  The Party system in America needs to be abandoned.  BUT.  The reality of America, is that nothing would get done in modern politics, without Political parties.  My advice?  Don't throw away your voice by being 'independent'.  Affix yourself to a party, and vote with your head and your heart."
   As I left my education to serve a mission for my church, I knew that I was a Conservative.  I now tell people: "I'm a Conservative first, and a Republican second".  What I mean by that, is the Republican party has (and I'm sure will only continue to do so) abandon those Conservative beliefs which I hold as closely and personally as I do my religion.  The party may retreat from Conservative principles.  I will not.
   I do vote with my head and my heart.  My voting record will show that I have not voted strictly for Republican candidates.  I have voted Democrats and Libertarians into office, as well as candidates from the Constitutional Party.  This is because people are human, parties are corrupt, and issues are important.  Who people are, matters.  Greatly.  I recently received my absentee ballot for Ohio, and it took me more than an hour to complete. I wanted to inform and educate myself as to issues, people and beliefs as much as I could with the resources I had.  I believe it is the civic duty and honor, for every American of voting age, to not only vote, but to go the polls informed and enlightened.  One should never find themselves in the booth come  election day, saying "Eeney, meeney, miney moe" about the names in front of them.  One should never simply vote for everyone with a (D) or (R) next to their names.
   I know it will be unpopular with many and is extremely politically incorrect, but I include God in my decisions as to who will represent me.  I believe that God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Therefore, His ways are consistent and unwavering from one day to the next.  If something is right today, it'll be right tomorrow.  Truth is truth, and does not (nor cannot) change.  I also believe He knows the real beliefs behind the names on the paper in front of me.  I do my research on issues and candidates, make my decision, and then take it to the Lord in prayer.  One of the greatest tragedies about a party system, is that too many times, we are forced to choose (literally) between two wrongs.  Countless times, have I made a decision and felt wrong about it.  But, when I go to pray about the other candidate, I feel equally as wrong.  This breaks my heart every time!  I felt this about both candidates in the last Presidential election...
   By that same logic, I (obviously) felt the same way about President Obama in this election.  However, when I prayed about Governor Romney, I felt at peace.  Needless to say, Mitt Romney received my vote.  Some critics tell me, that it is only because we share the same religion.  That is simply not the case.  There are other Politicians that share my Religion but not my political beliefs.  That is the difference.  I also believe that it is better to have a man of God and of faith making decisions for us, as opposed to men of men.
   One of the most enlightening and articulate speeches about the proper role and function of Government came from Dwight D. Eisenhower's Secretary of Agriculture: Ezra Taft Benson.  He gave a speech entitled The Proper Role of Government,  I agree with absolutely everything stated in this speech.  It is exactly how I view the role of Government in society.  I believe that the most effective government should happen on an escalating scale (such as look first to your community.  If your community cannot help, look to your County. If your County cannot help, look to your State.  If your State cannot help, look to the Federal Government). The Federal Government has become the first resort, rather than the last.  Why is this a problem, you may be asking?  Because we do not use a machete for surgery, but rather a scalpel.  A machete is a very useful tool and has its proper place and purpose in life, however, it is inherently incapable of performing finely detailed work.  America is simply too large and filled with too many to meet the needs and demands of all her citizens.  However, we are a nation made of communities, counties and States.  This is where problem solving, charity, relief and work should begin, not in some remote place where the demands far outweigh the help.  If you need a cup of sugar, do you go to your neighbor, or do you drive across town and ask a stranger?  While at the Grocery Store, who automatically goes to the checkout with the longest line?  NOBODY!!  It is only natural to enter the shortest line for assistance.  Why then do people think that the Federal Government should handle so much for so many, when they are not designed, nor were ever designed, to do so?  We should never forget, that it was the States who formed the Federal Government, not the Federal Government who formed the States.
   I'd like to leave you with a quote from one of History's greatest (and in my opinion, most under appreciated) men.  John Adams said, “There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.”  It breaks my heart to see so much hate, animosity and anger being directed to our fellow brothers and sisters regarding their own personal political beliefs.  It seems as though there are some who purposely hang around those with a differing opinion simply to belittle one another in their comments.  I see this rampant on both sides of the political aisle.  I believe that contention is of the Devil.  He loves to stir up the hearts of man towards anger, regardless of whether or not our initial cause was right or wrong.  I would implore everyone, to examine their hearts before leaving a comment directed at/to someone else.  If its hateful, and hurtful, simply walk away.  If needed, divorce yourself from those who repeatedly work to stir up your heart towards anger.  I have had to do this in my personal life, and although hard, I feel more peace and happiness in my home which spreads to my children, my husband, and to those I encounter.  If we seek to do good, be good, and spread happiness and hope, we will see the world around us becoming a better place. It starts with you.