Not to belabor the point too much, but please remember that you are calling out LDS members who are US citizens to participate in primaries, etc., not *all* LDS members.
We non-US citizens LDS members have similar requirements to participate in our own countries' election processes when the time comes, but for now, we non-US citizens LDS members can only sit and watch the events unfold in the US....
luluMarch 7, 2016
Twenty-five years ago, if someone had told me that one day "The Donald" would be running for the Republican nomination--and might just win it--I would have been incredulous. Then I would have thought, "How screwed-up would our country be that millions would look to Donald Trump for salvation?" The answer (obviously) is: pretty screwed-up. When he announced his intentions last year, the GOP didn't take him seriously, but they aren't laughing now; they're panicking. They can't believe this is happening, that so many people are gravitating to this guy. Well, believe it! Mitt should have spoken up 4 years ago in 2012; more people would have listened. They're not listening now. I wonder if he spoke from the heart or as the voice of the Republican party, because the GOP will fight Trump tooth & nail. I--foolishly--voted for Obama both times, until I finally saw the light in late 2013. No way am I voting for a Democrat, but I--like so many others--have had it with the Republicans, with all their empty promises. A few years ago the GOP establishment said they would fight Obamacare, fight illegal immigration, cut spending. Once re-elected they turned right around & did the opposite. They're too cowardly to stand up to the arrogant bully in the WH. Politicians are elected to serve the public, yet they end up serving everyone BUT the public. The GOP is a mess, and can hardly produce a viable Republican nominee, which created a vacuum that Trump filled. He's an opportunist; he saw an opportunity & grabbed it. Who can blame him? By supporting Trump, the American people are sending a message to the Republicans that the Republicans don't want to hear. I'm not a Trump fan, I'll vote for Cruz (who I'm not crazy about either). Trump may not get the nomination, it's too soon to tell. If he doesn't, I don't put it past him to run on the Independent ticket, which might split the Republican voters, resulting in a Democrat victory (heaven help us!). Or--and this is a possibility--Obama will find a way to delay the 2016 election. Either way, 2016 is shaping up to be a pivotal year.
CourtenayMarch 3, 2016
This is a great list. We also need to remember that our prophets have warned us to not choose "the-lesser-of-two-evils" but to support candidates who are moral and bound by the Constitution. Even if a candidate agrees with me on an issue, if the candidate doesn't defer to the Constitution on the issue, then he wouldn't pass the litmus test.
BU52March 3, 2016
While Madison and his founder buddies created people proof institutions, when the checkers of each branch become increasingly corrupt it is just a matter of time before the institutions crash down around us. If our choice is between 2 criminals and con artists, and the Congress is inhabited by get rich quick goons whose only concern is getting re-elected so they can keep up the game, then maybe the chicken-little syndrome in well founded.
I agree that we should stay involved and work for the best, but I think we better prepare for the worst, our pride is following the pattern outlined for us.
David HallMarch 3, 2016
There is a tendency today for people to put way too much emphasis on the stated positions of the candidates. We know it is a common practice for candidates to take positions for the purpose of getting elected and then morph once they're in office. It happens in both parties. For that reason, I much prefer the Lord's standard for judging candidates from D&C 98:10 -
"Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil."
When you truly follow political affairs BETWEEN elections and you delve deeply using trustworthy sources for your information, this "honest, wise, and good" standard severely winnows the field and makes the final choice actually quite easy.
Mark StoddardMarch 2, 2016
For those wanting to know why I didn't include this or that issue, note that I said it was up to you to supply the issues that mattered to you. This is your decision afterall.
matthewMarch 2, 2016
While I agree with the premise of the article, that we should all be involved a whole lot more than we have been, the supposition proposed that this is no different than the age old attacks of jefferson and adams is more that a little disingenuous. The attacks of todays political party are based, not on opinion or supposition but on real events and patterns that have real implications. This time around people are really mad and the rhetoric in some quarters is very violent and pose real threats to our liberty. It is a fool that doesn't take a person at their words...Hope and Change is a good example and look where we have come from that. While people should be involved in the process, that same process also involves the write in, or the right to sit it out. It's just as valid as a vote. As an american who has heard all the sides, should certain parties become the nominee for the parties, I will not put my name on their election to the presidency. It's one thing to say" I didn't vote for "x", but when "y" is just as bad, there is no out.
Take people at their word for what they say. if you do, the choice for a person who matches your values will become clear.
LauraMarch 2, 2016
The spreadsheet is great! Especially for the intangibles.
I also highly recommend the website www.isidewith.com. It has a quiz that asks you what you think about issues (and how important any given issue is) and compares that to each candidate then gives you a % agreement. You can also get into the finer points of your (dis)agreement with each candidate.
RobertMarch 2, 2016
Where on your list is quality of likely Supreme Court nominations? Isn't that an extremely important consideration?
Ed JesseeMarch 2, 2016
Thoughtful article that brings a rational, systematic process to picking a candidate. . . As the author suggests, weights assigned to various issue areas and character attributes can make major differences; similarly, items included (or excluded) may dramatically skew the resulting point totals for each candidate. For example, Democrat concerns over increasing income disparity, the concentration of corporate/financial power and campaign finance reform are conspicuously absent -- suggesting that, despite the author's attempt at neutrality, the issues list -- at least -- leans toward GOP voters. And, what about entitlements? That said, I applaud the central message that citizens (including Church members) who do not actively participate in the political process are a big part of what is wrong with the current state of our democracy.
HMCMarch 2, 2016
Thank you for a more sanguine, rational approach to our political choices. It seems to me that in the heat of the moment it is easier to be anti-Trump or anti-Hillary or anti-Bernie (etc.) rather than to stand faithful and true. Consider President Kimball's bicentennial message:
“When threatened, we become anti-enemy instead of pro-kingdom of God ... thus ... perverting the Savior’s teaching:
'Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
‘That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:44–45.)
“Our assignment is affirmative: to forsake the things of the world as ends in themselves; to leave off idolatry and press forward in faith; to carry the gospel to our enemies, that they might no longer be our enemies.
“Herein lies the only true happiness, and therefore we invite and welcome all men, everywhere, to join in this work. For those who are determined to serve the Lord at all costs, this is the way to eternal life. All else is but a means to that end.”
—Spencer W. Kimball, “The False Gods We Worship,” Ensign, June, 1976
RobynMarch 2, 2016
Thanks so much for the cool head and your checklist. I will definitely and seriously use it.
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TMMarch 8, 2016
Not to belabor the point too much, but please remember that you are calling out LDS members who are US citizens to participate in primaries, etc., not *all* LDS members. We non-US citizens LDS members have similar requirements to participate in our own countries' election processes when the time comes, but for now, we non-US citizens LDS members can only sit and watch the events unfold in the US....
luluMarch 7, 2016
Twenty-five years ago, if someone had told me that one day "The Donald" would be running for the Republican nomination--and might just win it--I would have been incredulous. Then I would have thought, "How screwed-up would our country be that millions would look to Donald Trump for salvation?" The answer (obviously) is: pretty screwed-up. When he announced his intentions last year, the GOP didn't take him seriously, but they aren't laughing now; they're panicking. They can't believe this is happening, that so many people are gravitating to this guy. Well, believe it! Mitt should have spoken up 4 years ago in 2012; more people would have listened. They're not listening now. I wonder if he spoke from the heart or as the voice of the Republican party, because the GOP will fight Trump tooth & nail. I--foolishly--voted for Obama both times, until I finally saw the light in late 2013. No way am I voting for a Democrat, but I--like so many others--have had it with the Republicans, with all their empty promises. A few years ago the GOP establishment said they would fight Obamacare, fight illegal immigration, cut spending. Once re-elected they turned right around & did the opposite. They're too cowardly to stand up to the arrogant bully in the WH. Politicians are elected to serve the public, yet they end up serving everyone BUT the public. The GOP is a mess, and can hardly produce a viable Republican nominee, which created a vacuum that Trump filled. He's an opportunist; he saw an opportunity & grabbed it. Who can blame him? By supporting Trump, the American people are sending a message to the Republicans that the Republicans don't want to hear. I'm not a Trump fan, I'll vote for Cruz (who I'm not crazy about either). Trump may not get the nomination, it's too soon to tell. If he doesn't, I don't put it past him to run on the Independent ticket, which might split the Republican voters, resulting in a Democrat victory (heaven help us!). Or--and this is a possibility--Obama will find a way to delay the 2016 election. Either way, 2016 is shaping up to be a pivotal year.
CourtenayMarch 3, 2016
This is a great list. We also need to remember that our prophets have warned us to not choose "the-lesser-of-two-evils" but to support candidates who are moral and bound by the Constitution. Even if a candidate agrees with me on an issue, if the candidate doesn't defer to the Constitution on the issue, then he wouldn't pass the litmus test.
BU52March 3, 2016
While Madison and his founder buddies created people proof institutions, when the checkers of each branch become increasingly corrupt it is just a matter of time before the institutions crash down around us. If our choice is between 2 criminals and con artists, and the Congress is inhabited by get rich quick goons whose only concern is getting re-elected so they can keep up the game, then maybe the chicken-little syndrome in well founded. I agree that we should stay involved and work for the best, but I think we better prepare for the worst, our pride is following the pattern outlined for us.
David HallMarch 3, 2016
There is a tendency today for people to put way too much emphasis on the stated positions of the candidates. We know it is a common practice for candidates to take positions for the purpose of getting elected and then morph once they're in office. It happens in both parties. For that reason, I much prefer the Lord's standard for judging candidates from D&C 98:10 - "Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil." When you truly follow political affairs BETWEEN elections and you delve deeply using trustworthy sources for your information, this "honest, wise, and good" standard severely winnows the field and makes the final choice actually quite easy.
Mark StoddardMarch 2, 2016
For those wanting to know why I didn't include this or that issue, note that I said it was up to you to supply the issues that mattered to you. This is your decision afterall.
matthewMarch 2, 2016
While I agree with the premise of the article, that we should all be involved a whole lot more than we have been, the supposition proposed that this is no different than the age old attacks of jefferson and adams is more that a little disingenuous. The attacks of todays political party are based, not on opinion or supposition but on real events and patterns that have real implications. This time around people are really mad and the rhetoric in some quarters is very violent and pose real threats to our liberty. It is a fool that doesn't take a person at their words...Hope and Change is a good example and look where we have come from that. While people should be involved in the process, that same process also involves the write in, or the right to sit it out. It's just as valid as a vote. As an american who has heard all the sides, should certain parties become the nominee for the parties, I will not put my name on their election to the presidency. It's one thing to say" I didn't vote for "x", but when "y" is just as bad, there is no out. Take people at their word for what they say. if you do, the choice for a person who matches your values will become clear.
LauraMarch 2, 2016
The spreadsheet is great! Especially for the intangibles. I also highly recommend the website www.isidewith.com. It has a quiz that asks you what you think about issues (and how important any given issue is) and compares that to each candidate then gives you a % agreement. You can also get into the finer points of your (dis)agreement with each candidate.
RobertMarch 2, 2016
Where on your list is quality of likely Supreme Court nominations? Isn't that an extremely important consideration?
Ed JesseeMarch 2, 2016
Thoughtful article that brings a rational, systematic process to picking a candidate. . . As the author suggests, weights assigned to various issue areas and character attributes can make major differences; similarly, items included (or excluded) may dramatically skew the resulting point totals for each candidate. For example, Democrat concerns over increasing income disparity, the concentration of corporate/financial power and campaign finance reform are conspicuously absent -- suggesting that, despite the author's attempt at neutrality, the issues list -- at least -- leans toward GOP voters. And, what about entitlements? That said, I applaud the central message that citizens (including Church members) who do not actively participate in the political process are a big part of what is wrong with the current state of our democracy.
HMCMarch 2, 2016
Thank you for a more sanguine, rational approach to our political choices. It seems to me that in the heat of the moment it is easier to be anti-Trump or anti-Hillary or anti-Bernie (etc.) rather than to stand faithful and true. Consider President Kimball's bicentennial message: “When threatened, we become anti-enemy instead of pro-kingdom of God ... thus ... perverting the Savior’s teaching: 'Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ‘That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:44–45.) “Our assignment is affirmative: to forsake the things of the world as ends in themselves; to leave off idolatry and press forward in faith; to carry the gospel to our enemies, that they might no longer be our enemies. “Herein lies the only true happiness, and therefore we invite and welcome all men, everywhere, to join in this work. For those who are determined to serve the Lord at all costs, this is the way to eternal life. All else is but a means to that end.” —Spencer W. Kimball, “The False Gods We Worship,” Ensign, June, 1976
RobynMarch 2, 2016
Thanks so much for the cool head and your checklist. I will definitely and seriously use it.
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