The Future of the Republican Party

With the election over, the Republican party has taken a big hit. The legislative and executive branches are taken over by democrats and minorities all around the country have finally learned how to make their voice be heard. It’s been said that there have always been more democrats than republicans in the nation, except among likely voters. After this election though, elections will never be the same. The Democrats have learned how to mobilize their base.

But it isn’t all doom and gloom for the Republicans. The future has actually never been brighter. What we saw with the passing of propositions 2, 8, & 102 is that citizens of the America are still socially conservative…. ESPECIALLY the minorities. In overwhelming number, minorities came out and essentially turned the tide on almost all of those votes.

So why did the Republicans lose so much ground then?

Well I could go on a spiel on how they didn’t nominate Romney, when his strength was social conservatism and the economy and they only have themselves to blame for that. The Republicans lost though because of what they have come to symbolize… an evangelical elite (So elite that they rejected a socially conservative Romney who had the same values that they had) ….values that supports evangelicals and economic policies that support Anglo Americans. They have come to symbolize a shrinking small town America, and have ignored growing inner city America. If they don’t change this, the party will be replaced within a decade. The problem is to choose what they are going to change.

Last night on CNN, it was said by an analyst that Republicans will continue to lose unless they become more socially moderate. They said that the traditional values that Republicans support are becoming less and less popular. However, as seen in the former propositions, that is not true. The problem is that the elite that the Republicans support with their economic policies are becoming more socially liberal while the minorities that they alienate with those policies are socially conservative.

So the question is, what will be changed? Will they change their economic policies and keep their social standards or will they change their social standards to keep their economic policies? In other words will they support more liberal moral standards to keep the elite on their side or will they keep their moral standards and open up more opportunities to minorities?

Now those of you who know me, know that I believe that an individual can vote for economics if its the hot topic of the time, even if the candidate does not share their same moral values as the candidate. People have to vote for what results would best benefit their families. However, a party is different, they are not voting for results, they are trying to attract popularity. They are trying to be a symbol to what voters can be attracted to. So Republicans must choose whether to keep their integrity morally or whether they will succumb to the “root of all evil.”

Basically will republicans put money over morality, or morality over money?

Proposition 8 and African-Americans

I am Mormon. Throughout this whole campaign, my church has been under fire for once having been oppressed by the government, and now supporting an amendment that would allegedly oppress another group of people with the passing of prop 8. We have been called hate filled, bigots, religious zealots…. whatever you can think of.

It’s true we have been oppressed, the most oppressed religion ever to step foot on this nation. For more than 40 years the church was driven from their homes by citizens and denied protection from the government. Laws were passed to revoke property rights, and Van Buren sent a militia to “put the church in order.” Up until the 1970s it was legal to shoot a Mormon in Missouri without any repercussions if they were in the state. And even in this presidential election of 2008 (can you believe it? 2008…. you would have thought we had progressed) Mitt Romney was drilled while running for President for being part of a cult and non-Christian organization.

However, there was another formally oppressed group of people that actually turned the tide on this vote- Afrcian Americans. How grateful I am for their religious roots and their moral souls. According to polls, 70% of them supported this measure, 20% more than any other ethnic group. This is how a highly liberal state supported such a measure.

Now what I am waiting for are the articles and ads on how African Americans should be ashamed of themselves for being formerly oppressed and now oppressing another group of people. I shouldn’t hold my breath too long though, because if someone in the media touched that, that would be considered “racism and bigotry”. However, if it’s against a religious organization, especially the Mormons, it’s the “separation of church and state.”

Am I calling for the discrimination of African-Americans for their support? Of course not. I love them and am grateful for their support.

I’m just calling for the eradication of politically correct garbage.

Please Stand Up

“All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing”- we’ve all heard the adage. In days past evil has been easy to classify. The pilgrims classified it as religious oppression. The north classified it as the racist south. The allies classified it as the Third Reich. However nowadays that classification is lost. Who are you to say I am evil? Who are you to say I am wrong? Who are you to say what is true? Evil is hidden through moral relativity.

That aside, there is something stronger than this evil- love for our families, the fundamental unit of society. In times past and present, men and women do almost anything, even to the laying down of their own lives, to protect their families. Nations have been created, laws have been made, and wars have been fought to protect them. There is a natural instinct inside human beings to love and protect their blood, even though all do not follow said instinct. The question is then, why in the world is not everything being done by men and women across the nation today to protect this institution? Why are we letting the fundamental unit of society die to divorce, political correctness, and moral relativity? Where is that carnal instinct to sniff out and rip apart any sort of group or association dedicated to something that will further degrade the family unit?

Why are good men doing nothing?

Luckily I have had the best of both worlds. I grew up in a somewhat strong family. I had the support of a mother and father. I know the great blessing that comes from it. However, I have also seen the effects of those who have had their families ripped apart. I grew up in an inner city area, populated mostly by broken families. I have seen firsthand the effects caused by this among my very own friends, and have secretly hurt inside for them. This experience has given me a deep appreciation for family and a compassion for those who are without.

A professor of politics from Princeton University spoke for us here at BYU today and spoke on the philosophy of law. He said that philosophers all down the ages have always lobbied for limited government, to give the people more freedom. This was the reason for democracy to be created, to give the power to the people and allow them to decide what they wanted to do with it. However this type of government relies heavily on the family unit. If the family unit is strong, this government will stay strong, because the family is the best department of health, education, and security that citizens can have. However this type of government weakens as this fundamental unit deteriorates. This can be seen with rising crime rates and poor socioeconomic statuses of our inner city cultures. In these places the government must step in and make up what the family is lacking. This is why Democrats lobby for bigger government, more bureaucracies, and enhanced programs to help out these broken families and give them more opportunities- a philosophy with which this conservative does not disagree. All people should have opportunity.

What I do disagree with is those people who further degrade this unit. THIS IS THE EVIL. The evil of our day is anything that will further destroy the family unit. Proponents of abortion and same-sex marriage, moral relativists, supporters of free speech that want to push the limits on moral values, extreme political correctness, and last but definetly not least, all those who will not take responsibility for their families- whether they chose to start those families or not. This is what must be fought against. The community has a right and responsibility to set a standard. Everyone wants to talk about rights, but shuns the word responsibility. The pair come hand and hand. If anyone has the freedom to speak about rights without responsibilities, it is the children that have the right to grow up in a culture supported by a loving mother and father who are dedicated to the family unit and will defend it at all costs.

In other words, the right to good men who will do something.

God Blessed Texas

Texas pride is probably one of the most common things that one will find when talking to someone from Texas. And after living out of the state for approximately three years now, I’ve come to see that it is also one of the most unattractive things to those who are not from there. I’m sure all of you have heard that we can fly our flag as high as the American flag, that our capitol building is bigger than the one in D.C., and you probably know more about our state bird, state flower and state reptile than your own. But let me tell you why I love Texas.

I love Texas for its patriotism. I’m from the military based town of San Antonio. You can find American flags almost everywhere you go. We love our country and state.

I love Texas for its people. They are friendly. They let you in while your driving. They will give you correct directions. They will offer you great bar-b-q.

But most importantly, I love Texas for its independence. In our schools we have to say our state pledge after the American pledge. When I was in school it would read, “Honor the Texas flag, I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one and indivisible.” However after my two year LDS church mission to New York City i returned to find that it had been changed. It now reads “Honor the Texas flag, I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, and indivisible.” In a time where there is a fight to take God out of things, we put him in. Recently at my hometown high school football game, instead of a moment of silence, the student body chaplain actually gave a prayer. There was a standing ovation for about a minute. I love Texas, because they know by what power America stays in business. It’s no wonder why on most of the top ten best cities to live in financially in America, three or four of them are from Texas. In the midst of a financial crisis, we know what power to rely on. Texas stands firmly in its principles.

In short, “Texas, our Texas, all hail the mighty state.”

Call to Californians

Senator Biden was right. In the last and only vice presidential debate, Biden said that this is the most important vote that this generation could make. This is the most important vote that this generation can make, not so much for the presidential election, but for something else that has a lot more riding on it. That is Proposition 8 in California.

As important as a presidential election is, i don’t really feel that an administration can really make that much noise. Some Democrats say that voting for John McCain could ruin this country permanently. Some Republicans say that voting for Barack Obama would lead us down the path of radicalism. I personally believe that if the American People stay active in the political system constantly, and not only on November 4th once every four years, then they only have themselves to blame for the downfall of this nation. The power in the American Political System comes from the people.

That being said, the California Supreme Court rejected the voice of the majority of Californian residents (61% of them) in May of 2008 by overturning Proposition 22- an initiative banning same-sex couples to wed. Since then, same-sex couples have had the opportunity to wed contrary to what the people of California decided. This move is in direct opposition to the principles of democracy- the voice of the people had spoken and it was overturned by the judiciary system. Luckily on the ballot this year is proposition 8, an initiative to ultimately ban gay marriage by adding it as an amendment to the California State Constitution. Those who vote affirmatively will be able to preserve the moral culture of America for this and following generations.

Now the argument is made that this proposition is combining religious views and state laws, the combination thereof being in direct opposition to the separation of church and state. Those who make this argument obviously live in the wrong country. The founders of this nation based it upon judeo-christian principles, which principles are found in the pledge of allegiance and our own currency that states “in God we trust.” Being that religion is also a set of beliefs, it can be said of proponents for same sex marriage that they are imposing their religion on the state- the religion of no religion, or the belief that same sex marriage is ok. Everyone who votes is combining church and states since their set of beliefs, or their religion, is what they make their votes on.

Another argument is that religious people are the only ones that support traditional marriage. Not allowing same sex couples to wed is combining church and state by removing the rights of those who are gay. However this argument is faulty. Traditional Marriage is not only supported by those who are religious, but by human anatomy itself, anatomy which is given to us through the laws of nature- laws which some people believe were handed down to us through evolution. Thomas Jefferson stated “A free people [claim] their rights as derived from the laws of nature” (italics added). Thus removal of same-sex couples rights to marry is not something revoked by religion, but rather revoked by evolution.

Californians, this is the most important vote in your life, I don’t care who you vote for in the presidency, both candidates are able and capable, as long as you stay active in the political system. However, vote yes to proposition 8. The moral fabric of America, and the very laws of nature depend on it.