"Never talk religion or politics"

Hey all, this is Jonny. This post is a little long, however, I feel the subject is very important.

The title of this post is an interesting phrase that I hear often at work. It is wise in business to never talk politics or religion as one can easily be offended and let personal opinions affect the business relationships. However, these two topics are of greatest importance and I'd like to take a moment to share.

This life is but a moment in eternity. It is part of a great plan that has always existed and always will exist. Knowledge of who we are, where we come from, and where we're going is essential to our happiness and progression. All the doctrines of the gospel teach use the attributes we must obtain to gain exaltation, how to do it, and how to take advantage of the Savior's atonement to overcome our failings.

Until ~8 months ago, I had little idea of the importance of politics in our lives. I have always been "Republican" (even though I always registered as an Independent), but never really knew what that meant. All I knew was that the Republican party aligned more with my values, therefore, to me, it was good.

I have also always felt inadequate in discussing politics with others. I felt like one needed a PhD in political science to be able to be fluent in political lingo and understand the debated policies. Boy, was I wrong! What I have learned about politics is that the underlying principles of the proper role of gov't align with the eternal principles of the gospel and the plan of salvation!

(Wow, two exclamation points in that paragraph, yeah, I think I'll leave them in.)

Reading a big long post about politics may seem quite boring, so I'll try to organize it a bit, I hope you're still reading...

What I have learned. (this took a lot of "unlearning" of previous notions)

1. We are endowed with certain unalienable rights from our Creator including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Right life, great, I get that one. Liberty? Well that is freedom or freedom to choose, or in other words AGENCY. Eternal principle, right? Absolutely. I'll talk more to this later, it's huge!

2. Right to pursue happiness.

This doesn't mean we have the right to happiness. We don't have the right to food, shelter, or health care. We have the right to pursue it. We are not born equal beyond the fact that we are equally given the same rights. I may be born with certain skills or affluence while another has a different talent or ability. But we are all free to pursue happiness.

3. We have no right to another person's life, liberty or property

You have a rich neighbor who has 5 automobiles. You also have a poor neighbor with a large family who is need of transportation to be able to commute to work. Would you personally go take of the rich neighbor's cars and give it to the poor neighbor? No way. Why? A 5yr old knows the answer... because that would be stealing.

So, instead you call up your senator and tell him of the situation and how unfair it is. You then convince him to pass a law that takes a car from the rich man and gives it to the poor. Is this not stealing? Indeed it is. Not only has the rich neighbor now lost some of his property, but also his ability to fight for it.

The whole big debate about health care really comes down to this principle: we do not have the right to someone else's labor.

3.1 We have the right to be charitable

We can and should help our fellow man. But taking from one and giving to another by force is NOT charity. Often pro-redistributionists take the moral high ground that they just want to be charitable. I must assume they are being sincere, but I also sincerely know that doing so is violating the natural laws given to man.

4. Liberty to choose good or evil as long as it doesn't infringe on the natural rights of others.

Like I said earlier this is HUGE, and took a lot of unlearning on my part. Remember that the plan of our Heavenly Father was to grant unto men their agency. Lucifer's plan was to take that agency away and force men to do good.

I believe that Republicans align more with this principle, but not completely. They love the right to own a gun, freedom of speech, religion, etc. People have the right to choose for themselves. People may be misinformed and make mistakes, but that is their right... they have the right to choose.

Now, let's apply that principle to a law common in most states: the seat belt law. Should it be the role of gov't to force us to be safe? Here is my thinking a year ago, "Well, I think it is a good law b/c it keeps dumb/misinformed people safe." Here is the question to ask... does someone's action of not wearing a selt-belt infringe on the rights of others? If not, then what right to we have to force someone to do good.

Think of alcohol consumption. I believe that no one should consume alcohol and would try to help someone to choose not to. But should I use the heavy hand of gov't to force someone to do what I think to be right? NO! What if the person drinking alcohol gets behind the wheel? Well, now he is infringing on the rights of others and that should be illegal.

4.1 Do not confuse government with society

If we allow people to choose evil, it will make our society more evil and dangerous. Yes, that is true. And we knew that was true when we chose agency in the preexistence. It is against God's law to force someone to do good, and we shouldn't use gov't to do exactly that.

It is up to us to declare truth & encourage our fellow man to choose good, but not force. Remember whose plan that was.

5. Free Market Economics

"We are all Keynesians now." - Richard Nixon. Keynesian theory is that the government and central bank (The Federal Reserve or "Fed") can pull certain levers to drive and control the economy. Whereas free market economics allows the natural laws of supply and demand run the show.

In 1999 there was a huge internet stock bubble and when it popped we entered a recession. The recession wasn't the problem, it is the cure. However, no president wants a recession to happen under their watch, and Bush was no exception. He worked with Fed Chair Greenspan to artificially lower interest rates which in turn makes money very easy to borrow. So during our "recession" we had record home and auto sales. A recession induces saving and producing, but instead we were borrowing and consuming. We didn't take the needed medicine, and then in 2008 the crash came.

What is the gov't doing now? The same old thing. We need to take the medicine and suffer, rather than push off the inevitable and make it much much worse.

6 Foreign Policy

This I'll keep short. Basically, we should not be in the business of nation building, policing the world, or forcing our goodness on other countries. We should defend our country and preach freedom through example. We need to be the light on the hill.

I believe our current policy will change soon anyway, for as all large empires end not by conquest, but by bankruptcy. We simply can't afford to have troops and bases in 700 bases in 135 countries around the world.

Man, I have so much more to say but I don't plan on any more posts of politics on this blog, but I've created another blog (thenoblefree.blogspot.com) where I'll have an outlet.

For those of you who read this entire post, I really appreciate it. For me, I feel like these truths are so simple and so true that it's like preaching the gospel. I also feel that when I have learned these truths I am obligated to share them with others (once warned, warn your neighbor).

I have many books and articles I can recommend to anyone who is interested in learning more.