Political Police

I usually save my political rantings for my other blog. But this one has got me irked, and since it is more partisan in nature, I will leave my thoughts here rather than vent them in the more public forum that is my City Planner's Blog.

According to the official LDS website:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics.

The Church does not:

• Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms.
• Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes.
• Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes to. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader.

The Church does:

• Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections.
• Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters.
• Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church.
• Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

Elected officials who are Latter-day Saints make their own decisions and may not necessarily be in agreement with one another or even with a publicly stated Church position. While the Church may communicate its views to them, as it may to any other elected official, it recognizes that these officials still must make their own choices based on their best judgment and with consideration of the constituencies whom they were elected to represent.

I don't understand why it is (and maybe someone can explain this to me) that there is a pervasive feeling among members of the Church that there is only one party, and it is the Republican Party, for church members. I have even had someone say that they would question seriously the credentials and testimony of anyone who is not a Republican. I am NOT a Republican. Nor am I a Democrat. I am liberal in some of my thinking, and in other ways I am very conservative, almost libertarian. I dislike government involvement in many aspects of my life, but things that pertain to universal governance, including transportation, commerce, etc, must be regulated for the benefit of all. This involves some intrusion on my personal freedoms.

As soon as someone thinks I am a democrat or republican, they think things about me that may not be true. I am unique. I think. I feel. I am independent and complex. And I am open to change my ideas based on new and pertinent information. I despise the thought "I have already made up my mind - don't confuse me with the facts" which seems so pervasive...

I want to know what others think. I want my mind to be filled with as much knowledge as possible so that when it comes time for me to make my decisions I can do it from a position of power instead of from a position of reliance and submission. I want to use that knowledge and power to expand others. In working together on our problems, we can reach for places and things that we have never had before.

So I am a DemoPublican. Or a Republicrat. Or better yet, I am Bill. Just Bill. Talk to me. I want to know what you think and why.