http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/UploadedPDF/411742_updated_candidates_summary.pdf

And as the number crunch, McCain’s tax code revisions “…would cut taxes by almost $7 trillion over the ten-year budget period and cut taxes to their lowest level in 50 years.” I’m all for fiscal conservatism but just can’t figure how McCain thinks he’s going to butcher government revenue to 1958 levels amidst the largest deficit ever known to man while funding a 100+ year occupation of Iraq. Whoops!!! I meant victory plan in Iraq.

You are right. I enjoy much less conservative dogma living where I do but have many relations to Utah and both my family and wife’s family live there.

Thanks for socializing with this Mormon Kyle.

Nate

You also won’t get any arguement from me regarding the Republican lemmings in church. I think Ann Coulter is just as bad as Alan Colmes. As a fiscal conservative (like you didn’t guess that), I have no party. I’m supprised, though, that in Seattle you find this to be a big problem. It certainly is not the case in Bellevue. Even the summer security system sales associates visiting from Utah don’t talk like that. Then again, I don’t socialize with Mormons. They annoy me.

Constructing a façade of political righteousness around religion is what many conservative republicans have done for years. You’re right that it’s wrong. I’m not advocating that.

HBJ is right. The Jeremy #20’s of the church deserve more charitable ears from their brethren and the Thomas Parkin #12’s shouldn’t have to couch belief in terms of devils advocacy to be considered in a crowd of saints.

Perhaps when we have a voluntary funding system for
Schools
Citizen care
Information systems
Transportation systems
Judicial system
Utilities
and other basic services, I will be more willing to humor your comment about taxes being “compelled contributions through threat of imprisonment.” With that in place, I’d love to discuss the unconstitutional war mongering, immoral corporate subsidies, Paris Hilton tax breaks, and many other ways conservatives express their values and compel the hard earned tax dollars of my children’s children… beyond threat of imprisonment… because we’ve legalized torture chambers in the name of patriotism! How screwed up was that!?!

Taxation is a true principle and we know that as Mormons. Noah went wrong by glutting himself on the monies of the people and not providing the necessary services he was obligated to provide (for a likening to our day see bumbled Katrina relief, diseased peppers in your salad, and rogue security forces killing innocents without accountability).

You don’t follow me if you think I’m just out here advocating redistribution of wealth to, of all people, Mormons.

I’m saying for Mormons to be true to the faith in the last days, we need to take a hard long look at who we are and how we treat others with our political choices. Maybe then we will realize our best choices are not all packaged in flag red.

It’s typical for even mild progressive Mormon expressions to be quickly dismissed by members as hobbyist, overbearing, or unrighteous. Yet I sense no hesitation for members to pontificate endlessly about the righteous God given values America was founded on and how the priesthood will hold the constitution together when it’s in shreds. How do I get in on that action? Wouldn’t a greater awareness of what the constitution means to the people better prep us for the day were are called to hold it together?

Duh, I just disagree. I don’t believe that greater empathy and responsibility is fostered by government compelled contributions through threat of imprisonment. I believe that it is my responsibility to administer, heal, give and serve, not the governments. I believe the Jesus asked the rich young man to sell all he had and give it to the poor, but that Jesus did not force him to. We rejected that way of living in our pre-mortal existence.

I agree that the culture in many poverty stricken communities contributes immensely to crime. I just disagree that redistribution of wealth will actually eliminate poverty, or increase opportunity and responsibility.

I disagree with the idea that many people dismiss righteous values simply because they are liberal, conservative, libertarian or whatever. It only seems that way because most people are one or two issue voters, and extremists tend to be the most vocal.

Most of all, I disagree that anyone’s political values should be construed as righteous, whether conservative or liberal. Except mine.

Freedom, Responsibility, Integrity and Security. These aren’t just words that W gets to hand to the press after he’s invaded. They have meaning and application for us all. It’s past time that we as Mormons re-associate ourselves with them.

Here are two of my favorite progressive values to illustrate the point.

Equality – Mormons are fanatical about self reliance but don’t simply direct folks to there boot straps. God instituted the bishops store house and commanded us to strive toward becoming a Zion people. We practiced one of the most radical communal living arrangements of this countries great history!!! If we are really living our religion today, we still are pretty radical! We believe “to whom much is given much is required.” Historically and often in our congregations we request more funding, time and talent from members that have then members that don’t. Admittedly we hold to my favorite flat tax of tithing BUT Christ taught his kingdom would have a different type of equality so charitable that it might put a few of us off (see Matt 20 http://scriptures.lds.org/en/matt/20).

So what are the values we are being taught? Are these cold hearted laze fare free market principles? Are our systems cold and highly unaccountable? No. We foster greater empathy and responsibility while teaching Gods equality.

Security – Conservative thought tells us to build enough cells to lock up the criminals and de-incentive crime with greater punishments… problem solved. Progressive thought advocates lowering poverty, increasing opportunity and responsibly addressing systemic causes to crime. I can almost hear the Pharisees saying “What manner of politics is this that dares heal, forgive sins, and send ‘em packing with a go forth and sin no more.”

We should be about administering not judging, healing not warring, giving not hording… wait for it… serving not buying our brothers and sisters.

Of course I’m really going over the top to make a point. Do you get it? Values are what this whole thing is about and we have become too quick as a people to dismiss righteous values simply because they are liberal, progressive, conservative, libertarian or whatever. We’re really missing out by not having the open conversation.

Before finding this blog I simply subsisted on the occasional “edgy” elder’s quorum meeting. Thanks BCC!!!