Preaching Esau

As always, the statements on this blog represent the opinions and views of the author (and his intelligent wife), and I am responsible for the content herein. I love my job.

Beware. I'm venting. Consider yourself warned...

I strode out of the voting booth extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate in a process of election and accountability. I knew the issues. I understood the projected outcomes and consequences; I voted according to my understanding of the principles of the constitution and my interpretation of scripture. (1 Samuel 8, Mosiah 29, Alma 60, Helaman, 3 Nephi 1-7, and most importantly Doc. & Cov. 134-which clearly states our Church's stance on the purpose and role of government.) I understand that "[God] holds men accountable for their acts in relation to [government]" based on those scriptural standards. (Not on the media's fear-frenzy or popular trends). This felt good - doing as best as my perspective could comprehend.

I free-fell from this happy zone shortly out of the booth. A woman walked up to me and asked, "do you know anything about the issues on the ballot?" (She probably chose me because I was still in my suit coming home from work.) Shocked that she would come to vote unprepared, I started to do my best to present as fair of a view of the candidates and issues as I could. I went one by one, using what information I could remember from each republican and democrat candidate's website. (Seriously - if you don't understand why we have a two-party system, please learn.) I thought I was doing her a service by trying to give a balanced perspective.

Then I noticed something.

I looked up from my hands (apparently I watch my hands when I'm trying to remember things) to notice her staring at me cock-eyed and flustered.

I paused, and she said something like, "I just wanted to know if I was okay voting for these people..." then she named who she voted for.

She voted without knowing issues, candidates, or even what the proposals were.

I was so upset I could not respond. I took my daughter's hand and she courteously suffered through a tirade on the privilege we enjoy and the responsibilities we have based on our freedoms.

This, along with many conversations with other family and friends, has shocked my system. I have been thoroughly surprised at how ignorant many people are to the issues at hand. People who should know better seem to be either lazy or easily persuaded by hot topics. Like Esau, - who sold his eternal inheritance, priesthood, and birthright for bean soup - many will wake up surprised, depressed, or horrified that they get exactly what they voted for.

Ideally... (no offense intended to the over-programmed-busy-doing-good-individuals out there)

...It is not enough to only pay attention to the circumstance in government for a few weeks prior to an election.

...It is not acceptable to be decieved and buy into hype instead of voting upon eternally established principles.

...It is not okay to participate in politics without an understanding of (1) logical fallacies {or else one will continually be deceived by flawed arguments}. (2) Macro or micro economics {or else the implications of issues and motivations for such are incomprehensible} (3) An ability to understand and read, for oneself, the bills and such so one can see through the hype. Particularly when there are so many free courses on all three of those issues online. I can only assume someone reading this has the internet...

Disagree with my opinions. Vote for people I oppose. That's fine. But do it intelligently.
Agree with my opinions. Vote for the people I choose. That's also fine. But do it intelligently.

Anyway, please forgive me for my potentially-offensive primal rage, poor writing, syntax, and the lack of song matching this post. As I said at the beginning, I'm venting (you were warned).

Time to go watch The Daily Show. Yes, I watch the daily show. If you've read The Art of War you know how important it is to study the strategies and arguments of your opponents. This will either strengthen your own beliefs or demonstrate the flaws in your opinions.

Thinking. Isn't it about time?