When people start talking about politics around me, I tend to get a little, well, worked up. I follow politics closely (usually to the detriment of my blood pressure), but I’ve taken to largely keeping my mouth shut — under almost any circumstance.
Every once in a while, I’ll get drawn in to a conversation or debate and I always — always, I say — regret it. I say something stupid or divisive, and end up sounding like some sort of crazy polemic talk radio host (insert your favorite left or right polemicist here).
So here’s the grinding part of this diatribe, and the part that will likely get me in the most trouble. I’m a faithful LDS mother who cares about the environment. I care about issues of poverty, I care about free trade. I care about my right to have the opportunity to succeed. I worry about a welfare state. I believe that immigrants are children of God, not political fodder. I feel conflicted about Iraq. I love Jeffrey Sachs’ work. I fret over uninsured children, but cringe at government heavy-handedness.
I share this not to start a debate, but to pose a question to you. Do you feel comfortably at home with your political party? Would you, given the opportunity, attend your party’s convention with the gusto and fervor I see on the news coverage? Am I the one just being wishy-washy? I don’t feel right enough about any of it to wear a t-shirt, button, hat, or protest sign informing passersby of my opinion. It’s just too easy to see the other side. It’s too easy to understand where compassion and pragmatism meet, where free-love and discipline intersect, where grab-your-own-bootstraps and let-me-help-you-get-there both have a seat at the table. Where does all the fervor come from? How does anyone really know their position is right enough to start painting your face and screaming at a National Convention?
Let’s reason together here, friends. Both major political parties in the United States have a lot wrong with them. I wonder if the Lord would prefer me to vote one way and look past/ignore social and moral issues, or vote another way and look past/ignore greed and corruption issues.
When we are counseled to choose righteous leaders (and really, do we even really need to be told that’s a good idea?), it is incumbent upon us to be informed and choose wisely. How do you navigate this process? How do you sell yourself on a candidate? A party? I am just so precisely in the middle of the road that I cannot move for fear of falling off the road entirely.
So, can we still be friends?
i’ve decided to vote for an independent party this year, as i’m not comfortable voting for either of the two major parties. some would say that is throwing away your vote but i disagree. i’ll know that i exercised my right to vote and i did it in the way i felt most comfortable doing it.
During the “Nader Trader” debates a few years ago, I heard someone say something that has been helpful to me: “Voting is not a test of your ideological purity.” Like most political activity, voting involves compromise and negotiation. Trying to find a perfectly righteous candidate or party is an exercise in futility; you do the best you can to have some influence and make sure the candidate agrees with you about the issues you think are most important.
Amen, to this author. (Justine?) What I am surprised about is that every election year, the First Presidency sends out a letter to be read at the pulpit stating that the church is NEUTRAL. That they don’t endorse any candidate or party, but they encourage the members to become familiar with the issues and vote accordingly. And then, I spend the rest of the year, sifting through email forwards from family and friends who are “members” trying to use church doctrine to back up their opinion/convince me as to how one candidate is clearly ‘of the devil’ and the other one could be translated today. All while The Church claims neutrality.
Okay, I’m being a little bit facetious here. But, it’s kind of maddening to me. There is plenty of good, “doctrinal” issues about each platform. And also plenty of less than virtuous things about each party. I feel that the *responsible* citizen and *responsible* member of the church, will take time to study the issues, consider what the Brethren have counseled us, pray about our families and the future we want for them and make a decision based upon what is best at that time.
But that’s just my approach to politics. I love your middle of the road analogy. I too see good things in both parties and so I’m so middle, I too fear falling off.
Justine, you have described exactly how I feel about politics. I refuse to claim political affilation because I can’t possibly identify with either major party (or with any smaller parties either). The more I think and ponder about it, the more confused I get. Every single presidential election I find myself stewing over who to vote for up until literally the second I am in the voting booth. It always feels like voting for the lesser of two evils, and I can always find good reasons why either candidate should or should not be in office.
Though I have to say that with the announcement of Sarah Palin as a running mate yesterday, I feel an excitement and happiness about the election that I haven’t felt in years. It’s a cautious excitement, because I don’t know enough about her. But even though I might not see eye to eye on every issue, at last it is someone who seems most similar to me in lifestyle (mother, conservative moral values). I feel like maybe this will be someone I can vote for instead of just against. But there are still two months till election day, so maybe my enthusiasm about it will be short-lived? It’s just refreshing to actually feel this good about something/someone in politics for a change.
(I hope I’m not out-of-line mentioning a specific candidate.)
So well-put, Justine!
I’ve thought very similarly as I’ve watched the crowds surrounding each of the candidates.It reminds me of footage of a Beatles Concert or when people start speaking in tongues and passing out listening to a really great sermon (hope that doesn’t get me into trouble). I have never had that much passion for politics!
I like someone who has a plan, not just a mouth. If neither candidate appeals to me….I either vote for lesser of the two evils or the one with the best hair or kindest face (now, THAT’s going to get me in trouble!)
I wonder if the Lord would prefer me to vote one way and look past/ignore social and moral issues, or vote another way and look past/ignore greed and corruption issues.
I don’t know how you wouldn’t have to overlook ALL of these issues in almost every candidate/party.
Politics are fascinating to me, and I love “discussing,” but sometimes I think of calling a moratorium, because it is all-to-easy to drown in contention. (not that I’m so against contention, you know, it just doesn’t seem very productive).
oh, you guys make my heart soar. I was starting to feel totally alone in my conflicted and tortured feelings. And eljee, you’re totally ok…
Justine will you please come over and talk politics with us?
I just read this aloud to my husband and he is still going on and on about how right you are. We too find ourselves in the middle of so many issues and see both sides of national problems.
I think the conventions and the party hardliners are driven by fierce ambition and a NEED for power.
And eljee, I agree with you that Sarah Palin’s nomination is refreshing and exciting!
Nope, you’re not alone. I’m all over the place with my opinions.
Here’s my hard part: I wanted to vote in the Republican Primary (I’m a Romney, fan, I’ll admit it), and so I registered Republican. As a Republican in CA, I was okay with my party. But as a Republican in UT, I’m not okay and am tempted to register as a Democrat.
But only for local elections.
See, national and local are different for me. The local politicians seem more in touch with what the local people need (go figure), whereas the national politicians seem to be following a messy guideline as to what they should believe in.
I’ve always been a moderate. I like moderation. I hate abortion, but I see the folly in overturning RvW. I hate gun control, but I see the need to keep it in check. I love the environment, but I’m against massive legislation to force people to love the environment. I hate illegal immigration, but I want families to stay together.
See the problem?
But I’ll admit it. Until Sarah Palin was put in, I was having a hard time deciding which “lesser of the two evils” I should vote for. And now I think I may stay Republican through November. We shall see…we shall see…
Me, too, Justine. I follow politics very closely, but talking about it can be so difficult. My husband happened to mention at Scout camp that he was considering voting for Obama and the first response was “You’re just kidding, right?” (My husband’s a kidder, so there’s that. But they really, truly thought he was kidding.) After going on to explain himself, a long debate apparently ensued–and it wasn’t rancorous, but it was tense–and when he called me the next morning he (jokingly) mentioned that we might have to move :-). Everything’s okay, but now one really over-zealous guy in the ward keeps sending my husband these ridiculously slanderous and fear-filled email forwards about how Obama is going to turn the U.S. into a communist country. Even some racist stuff. My husband had to finally tell him to please stop, but the whole experience has been jarring.
The funny part is, I, too am an Independent and have voted for both Republicans and Democrats. But for the first time in a very long time, I’m actually excited about a candidate (Obama)–excited enough that a part of me would love to have a bumper sticker or a lawn sign. But I think too many of my Utah neighbors would see that as intentionally provocative. Like I’m trying to fight with Republicans or prove how “different” I am from the rest of my Mormon friends. And that’s not it at all. It’s just for the first time, really, in my adult life there’s a presidential candidate I find inspiring. But even a bumper sticker can be fraught with all sorts of peril.
Politics. Sticky stuff.
Oh, I do share many of these same thoughts and feelings. Fortunately, in the state of Montana, I don’t have to register with any specific party. In the primary, I can only vote the ballot of one party, but I can choose without having to be registered with the party. And in the final election, I can vote all over the ballot, as long as I only vote for one candidate for each office. I have also switched to voting entirely absentee, which means I get to spend as much time as I want staring at the ballot on my desk before I decide.
I totally agree with Justine and Elgee. I too am very in the middle. Some issues I agree more with one party and some issues I agree more with the other party. So, who on earth do I vote for? No one ever represents everything that is important to me. So, I have to decide which issues are MOST important and go from there. It gets depressing though always picking the lesser of two evils.
Depressing is a good word. I recognize the folly of hoping one single candidate will match my opinions perfectly, but c’mon guys, can’t you get at least a little closer!?
Michelle, I’d love to get together…(ps — congrats on the formalization…cute pics!)
Angela, we should talk more. I wish I could feel passionately. Can you convince me?
And CatherineWO, I love absentee, too. But Utah pushes pretty hard to make us declare sides.
Cheryl, I can really relate to your thoughts. I tend to vote Democrat in local/state elections here in Utah. Even if I’m not terribly familiar with the candidate, I think we just need to mix it up a bit and not have one party running the state. But in national elections, I usually end up voting Republican if there is nothing extremely compelling to tell me to do otherwise. And it’s because the local/state democrats here are more moderate, but the national ones are usually very liberal.
I liked Romney too, but was so turned off at the idea of having to register Republican to vote in the primary. I knew he would win here anyway, and since the Democrats has an open primary, I voted for Obama, partly to keep Hilary Clinton out.
I like Obama a lot as a person. He does seem to be the more appealing of the candidates, until I hear that he is one of the most liberal senators in Washington. I have liberal leanings in some areas, but enough to vote for someone who is considered extremely liberal? Not so sure.
I had always liked and voted for McCain in past primaries, but something about him this election year turned me off, and once again, it became an issue of the “lesser of two evils”. I have always liked that McCain and his wife had adopted children. I like that he’s more moderate. I hear Palin is very conservative, and I was a bit turned off to read in the paper this morning that she’s a long-time member of the NRA. So my little bubble from my earlier post was burst a bit. But I can imagine Alaska being a big hunting state. I’m still liking much about her.
Too bad there can’t ever be a completely perfect candidate!
I am wishy washy, too. I would never feel comfortable and energetic at either party’s convention.No time for more.
No Justine, you are not alone. I consider myself a moderate and I see both sides to so many issues. (I resent being called a fencesitter–I’m not!) I like to vote with both my heart and my brain.
But I find myself quite disillusioned over politics. A couple of years ago I had a candidate stand on my front lawn and promise he supported my fight and would vote against a proposal I have been lobbying against for years.
Within less than a year he was the deciding “Yes” vote that turned the legislation I opposed into law. (Needless to say, I am actively campaigning for his opponent this election.)
I long for the day when I can actually vote for someone rather than simply against the candidate I oppose the most. I do feel passionately about issues but I haven’t felt passionately about a candidate in a very long time.
This year, I felt like it was going to be a case of voting against a candidate.
My problem with talking about politics is that people can get so adamant and not look at your viewpoint with respect.
For example, in the never-ending debate about medical coverage, I have personal experience with both our country’s health care system and a socialized medicine. But when trying to discuss it with people, a lot of people refuse to even listen when I try to bring up points about both systems. There are those on both sides of the issue who refuse to believe there is anything faulty with the U.S. health care system and those who think socialized health care will be the savior of our country. I see both points, but I would love to share my perspective about both. And that usually turns into a coversation stopper.
Maybe its my delivery???
Justine - you took the words (and thoughts) right out of my mouth.
I never talk about politics. I have learned the hard way not to. My siblings run the gamut of the most liberal to the most conservative and it is NOT fun to be around when any of them start up.
I do find it funny when people assume they know where I stand. I just keep my mouth shut.
Let’s just say, I’m very conflicted. And no, I don’t understand the passion I see at the conventions - odd. I also don’t get putting signs on the lawn, or putting bumper stickers on a perfectly nice car. Aren’t you just asking for trouble?
I’m in the same boat. I vote for the candidate the I hope will do the least damage to the constitution and then they get in office and BAM it all goes to pot. What really irks me is that I see people at these conventions go crazy like one guy, or woman, can fix all these problems for them. People seem to forget that our government is supposed to have specific powers for specific branches, to keep any one branch from getting too powerful. Even our government has forgotten this. Presidents think they can control the economy, or start wars whenever they want to, but it’s the Legislature that has the power of the purse and the power to declare war. Judges think they can strike down laws that an overwhelming voice of the people have voted for, just because those laws uphold traditional values. My mom always shakes her head and says, “it won’t get better until Christ comes again.” To me, that’s a real depressing thought.
I was just thinking about what my mom says when things get heated: “Bring it on!” She just feels like the more things seem to fall apart, the closer we are to the Second Coming. Hmm…
That’s why you guys should have more than two major political parties down there! You may not find the party that you can put your whole self into supporting but at least you would have a few more choices…
I could never vote for someone that favors abortion. period. It has practically eliminated an entire party in my opinion.
Without carefully reading all the comments here, I just have to put my two cents in for Sarah Palin. I’m not really excited to vote for McCain but I am pscyhed to vote for Palin. If she gets to be VP, she might someday get to be P, and I like her. Five kids (one with down syndrome)!
I just blogged about politics, and right after I did, I thought, OH CRAP, WHY DID I BLOG ABOUT POLITICS? I’m all worried that half of my readers hate me now, which is kind of ridiculous, but just shows you how very little political courage I have. The couple of slightly critical comments I received made me retreat to my bed with a cold compress.
Love this post!!!
I’m very politically moderate and like others mentioned here, tend to vote Democrat local, Republican federal. The last two presidential elections I’ve voted 3rd party, just to send a message of some type.
I think when people talk of ‘the lesser of two evils’ I assume they mean they vote Republican (if they’re LDS). Am I wrong in that assumption? It’s hard in many places to be an LDS Democrat and not have LDS people look at you askance.
My husband isn’t LDS and he is a Democrat. He and my older daughter watched the much of the D. Convention. I figure if he raises them to be staunch democrats and I raise them as faithful LDS they’ll either be nicely balanced or mightily conflicted.
My husband and I just had a similar discussion today. He is very conservative and I’m more moderate. For me, the problem is the two-party system which sets up such a false dichotomy. Can’t I be pro-life AND in favor of gay marriage rights? Can’t I support withdrawal from Iraq AND less overall taxation? So many issues that aren’t even related get lumped together within each of the parties’ platforms.
I think it’s all a bunch of crazy beauraucracy. I don’t feel like my choice for president really makes all that much difference. My tax situation might change by a few hundred dollars, but thats about it. i feel like Washington is so removed from my reality.
I actually vote for a lot of people based on who has a better name. Like if it’s someone named Mandy vs. someone named Robert, I’ll pick Mandy because her name sounds cheerful and spunky (at least spunkier than a Robert.) It’s all very scientific.
You are not alone.
The Republican frenzy in Utah County drives me crazy (and I’m not one to make negative comments about Utah County, because I really do love it here).
I went to the delegate thingy and was befuddled at how TIGHTLY people held to the Republican party’s platform, as though it is gospel. I was tempted to try to be a delegate, just to stir things up a bit and say,
“Hey folks, why don’t we just talk about ISSUES — like actually THINK about them rather than let the party do the thinking for us??????” Drove me nutsoid.
Not long ago, a FP letter was read that said there are good principles in BOTH parties. There is no right answer, no right side. Anyone who says otherwise seems to me to not really be seeing how complex the issues really are. And obviously didn’t listen to that letter.
When I get riled up about the frustration of the two-party system, dh reminds me that it can actually be good because in a sense, it often forces candidates to come closer to center than they might otherwise.
But I still wish we could deal with ISSUES and actually THINK as a country about what is going on, rather than people being so worried about their ‘platforms.’
But as a voter, I feel like all I have is the media to help me sort through it all. Lovely situation to be in. And yet, I feel it’s so important for me to have my voice be heard, if for no other reason than to keep ME plugged in. Passiveness can only make it worse, no?
I totally agree with you.
I grew up in New England with parents who were both converts to the church and had very different political opinions, so I have never felt strongly tied to any particular party and I tend to vote all over the ballot. After I moved out west 15 years ago, I really struggled with the “assumption” at church that all active Mormons are Republicans, and I cringe every time someone makes a thinly veiled comment to that effect in Gospel Doctrine.
I have found that most people I have talked to are actually quite moderate in their political opinions, even if they don’t tend to vote that way. I feel that our two-party system is really starting to do us a disservice as a country, because the parties have become so diametrically opposed in their ideologies that it is hard for a moderate candidate to get the party nomination, but then so many of us who would have voted for a moderate candidate are only left with the choice of voting for one extreme or the other.
My dad used to say that anyone who isn’t a liberal when they are young doesn’t have a heart, and anyone who isn’t a conservative when they are old doesn’t have a brain. Personally, I’d rather have both.
I agree with you too, Justine. I didn’t really self-identify until I was almost 30 (as a Democrat, but sort of a socially conservative, fiscally liberal kind of Democrat), and I still don’t feel entirely at home in my party. My dh self-identifies as a Republican (a socially liberal, fiscally conservative Republican) so we’re all a mishmash and cancel each other out entirely. So no yard signs or bumper stickers for us. We just fight it out while curled up on the couch together and sigh and groan loudly while listening to the other person’s convention on tv. I think that we’re both basically moderates who like to talk tough.
Gina, I can vote for someone who is “pro-choice” if they will be in a political position that doesn’t have any bearing on the matter. (If they’ll be appointing Supreme Court judges, then not so much.)
I agree (with Justine, etc.) that it’s strange which issues have been lumped together in certain parties, and it can lead to the voting-Democrat-locally voting-Republican-federally compromise (which is one I’ve used) or other compromises. For example, it’s always seemed strange to me that the party that endorses policies that have allowed the mass slaughter of fetuses (according to sources I just Googled, we’re now at about 42 to 46 *million* abortions worldwide per year) also unilaterally opposes the death penalty.
For this particular presidential election, I haven’t had a hard time deciding who to vote for, since it’s been fairly obvious who comes closest to matching my opinions on the issues that do matter most to me. But it’s still frustrating that my candidate of choice for the major issues is very far off my preferences in some of my slightly-less-important issues.
boy do I feel the same way. It’s just too hard to have a cut and dried position on either side. I feel left on some issues and right on others! And some issues I feel like I can stand on both sides!!! It’s so hard for me. And no, I wouldn’t be comfortable at a convention. No. I’m wondering too what others who feel this same way do, so I’ll be checking out comments here. It’s a really good question.
Oh, I appreciate this post. I have always known that I am a moderate (how can either part have all the right answers???/), but have ultimately always voted Republican (parents are smart and conservative, in-laws are smart and conservative, husband is smart and conservative) until now. My heart isn’t leaning that way this time. After watching the Democratic National Convention, I felt moved. Really uplifted, inspired and excited. It makes me angry when those feelings are belittled as a naive response to a charlatan politician. I didn’t think “our kind” were prone to discount the direction our feelings led us.
Now, I feel like I’ve been made a target at family gatherings with everyone wanting to know how I feel about this and about that when it comes to Democrats. But, I’m not a Democrat! But I’m definitely not a Sean Hannity/Rush Limbaugh dittohead either.
I feel very conflicted right now. I wish I had a safe place where I could talk about it too.
Wow. What a great post and how interesting to read some of these comments.
I too have resisted registering with a party. I don’t like the idea of being put into one of the many boxes that seem so rigid and restrictive [yes, there are "3rd Parties" out there... and I am constantly looking for one I can get on board with, to no avail].
Personally, I am struggling right now to avoid becoming jaded and cynical. My favorite populist turned out to be an adulterer [though not my first choice for the Dem nominee] and my candidate did not make win their party nomination. I too am excited about Gov. Palin, but only about as excited as I was about Rep. Pelosi. The VP is largely figurative, but still she is a mother of 5 and doing it all while her kids are young [the news of her oldest' teenage pregnancy is another layer, though, and I haven't decided about how I feel about that. I've only heard the sound bite version of that story so far, so the jury is still out for me]. I still don’t know who I will be voting for in November. I will be studying up until then.
I think that some of the language used above is terribly interesting! Sounds like many are afraid to voice support for the democratic party… It made me reflect as that party often provides the candidates that I support. I too am cautious when expressing my opinions. I have lived outside of Utah, and considered myself a moderate… but since moving to SLC, many people look at me like I am a communist [which is maddening, to say the least].
I guess I just try to voice my opinion when it is socially responsible, stick to plain old boring news to stay informed [no inflammatory cable news or AM radio programs - that's good for the blood pressure Justine!], and work hard to vote my conscience.
We talk about politics all the time at our house. Our adult children range from “green” to quite conservative (one is even running for office as, thankfully a MODERATE Republican). So it is interesting. Over my adult life I have been Republican, Democrat and Mugwump–mostly musgwump these days. However last June I had an epiphany of sorts. (This would only work in Utah, however.) I felt strongly about the Primary race for state treasurer, but to vote I would have to declare myself a Republican. I bit the bullet and did so (most distasteful). I even said right at the polling place as I filled out the paperwork, “im going to be a Republican for the next 20 minutes.” The Republican poll watcher (why do you need Republican poll watchers in Utah?) looked most disapprovingly at me. I really intended to get unregistered as quickly as possible and then found I needed to wait at least a month. During that month I realized if I stayed registered as a Republican I could vote in ANY party primary I wanted with no further hassel. So I am a nominal Republican (and can truthfully say so to all those folk who take strong exception to my stands on many issues). But I have also called to get a Jim Matheson(D)sign for my yard. Love it!