VOTE NOT WIN NOT
The State of Utah Politics
By Ken Bingham, Citizen Journalist 10-20-05
There is no place in the country, politically or socially, like the State of Utah. It is unique in the sense that no other place holds a dichotomy of faith and secularism that often are at odds with one another. In most areas of the country, politics is merely an argument with Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives but, in Utah, religion is added to the mix--that changes the dynamic considerably.
We consider Utah to be a conservative state. However, Salt Lake City elected and re-elected one of the most liberal mayors in the nation. Salt Lake has become a liberal city and it is precisely because of the divide between LDS conservatives and non-LDS liberals.
There are those who have said that before moving to Utah they considered themselves conservative, but when they came to Utah they became liberals. Many who lean toward liberalism will come to Salt Lake and, because of the perceived conservative climate of the state, will become super-liberals--as if their ideology was put through a magnifying glass. For example, other states also have strict liquor laws (some have more restrictions than Utah’s). Those who may not have been concerned over the laws in other states will come here and resent ours because they feel it is “Mormon-imposed."
On the other side of the coin, the LDS population doesn't want to be seen as flexing their political muscle too much as too not offend those of other faiths (or no faith at all). There are many LDS who would consider themselves conservatives but, to avoid appearing overbearing or too “Molly Mormon,� will either bow out of the political process or vote for less conservative candidates in order to accommodate the non-LDS population. This is especially prevalent in Salt Lake City, where pollster Dan Jones reported that if more LDS--especially women--voted in the last mayoral election, Rocky Anderson would not have been re-elected.
Utah is a Republican state but ironically, because of this dichotomy, it is becoming more and more liberal. Not that liberals are a majority, but because conservatives have been intimidated or lulled into silence.
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Comments
Social intimidation is a great tactic used by all sides of the political spectrum. While most of us encourage everyone legally eligible to vote to get out and do it, there are many who make it a point to try to intimidate others out of the ballot box completely.
I guess the logic is, "one less vote for the oposition = one less cancelled out vote for my side."
The only wasted vote is the one not cast!!!
I have my concerns about illegal immigration too, from both philosophical and pragmatic perspectives. But frankly, comparing illegal immigrants to wild dogs makes you look foolish and destroys the good will opponents of illegal immigration need if they are to engage the ambivalent.
I too am Mormon, and though we may not like people flauting the laws of the land, that does not give us license to abandon the gospel requirements for love, compassion, and forgiveness. To make such comparisons and to denigrate some of God's children in this way is (in my opinion) a greater sin than immigrating illegally.
We ought to avoid perpetuating the impression that Salt Lake City is a place where Mormons will always line up as a block against non-Mormons on every political and social issue. (My intense disagreement with Claudia Miller, along with Nathan Johnson's, shows that the LDS community is not ideologically homogeneous.) Of course there are liberal Mormons in Salt Lake. There are also conservative non-Mormons in Salt Lake. And of course it is possible for even conservative Mormons to find commonality with their neighbors of other faiths (or no faith). Mormons should not foreclose this possibility with oil and water imagery (words like "divide" and "dichotomy"). If Mormons in Salt Lake quiet their political voices, perhaps it is not so much out of intimidation as a sensitivity to the frustration non-LDS people must feel at having their voices negated by a religious majority. Especially in Utah, LDS people must always be reaching out, not promoting more effective use of a power that bespeaks only our numbers, not the strength of our ideals.
You think Utah conservatives are afraid of voting so they don't offend the liberal, possibly non-LDS voters? Puh-leez. It just that more conservatives that are not LDS do NOT want LDS representation, and Salt Lake City has the most non-LDS citizens than any other area in the whole state.
Do you know what it's like to be a voter in Garfield County? There is no opposition party...you have no choices, only the choice between Mormon repub A and Mormon repub B. So, you have to register as a republican in Garfield County to participate in most elections, unless they're national. Oh...wait. I think that's what you are actually advocating in your bizarre and weak editorial, that Utah would be better with ONE party so these wacky liberals won't get elected. Be grateful that at least you have a choice between parties in Salt Lake County. The rest of us out here in the boonies don't have that luxury.
You also need to realize that Salt Lake City is the most normal place in the whole state; the rest of us out here are used to the LDS cabal that controls city councils, county commissioner's seats, and state representatives. If you REALLY want a more conservative mayor, just move out of Salt Lake County. You'll get your wish and see exactly what living in a one-party theocracy is like.
A Rural Utah Resident
Perhaps you should adopt the "Enos plan." Like the prophet Enos, you and I can both a)repent and pray for the remission of our own sins b)work and pray for the salvation of others. Enos prayed for his enemies the Lamanites, and perhaps you too could pray for those you see as "enemies."
Yes, they broke the law. I really agree that they should not be here. My personal policy preferences would surely be deemed too harsh by many, but thinking and attacking others as being inferior to us, is clearly the opposite of Christ-like. Perhaps a re-reading of King Benjamin's sermon is in order.
We are trying to address the problem. We are raising money to support political candidates who will crack down on illegal aliens, not only in Utah but throughout the USA. So far we have raised $47,589.00. The vast majority of that was donated by just two families in our group, but everyone is giving what they can. The illegal alien invasion must be stopped through political action, hence that is the route we are pursuing.