tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post21882859723952488..comments2023-08-13T05:40:53.959-06:00Comments on The Mormon Left: The Politics of Moral CertaintyJacob S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16519032754947817876noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-7303900142100662872009-02-27T10:58:00.000-07:002009-02-27T10:58:00.000-07:00Iliana - if your kool-aid comment was a Jimmy Jone...Iliana - if your kool-aid comment was a Jimmy Jones reference, then you just jumped a few spots in my book. Excellent reference.<BR/><BR/>Critical thinking, conversation, debate, curiosity, hope, etc. These are the prospects of a better world. We'll keep posting our points of view, and hope others will too.Shawn O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06143174881794845427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-42986433682631398732009-02-27T08:22:00.000-07:002009-02-27T08:22:00.000-07:00My point wasn't that conservatives are unable to t...My point wasn't that conservatives are unable to think critically. My point was that anyone, from anywhere on the ideological spectrum, that sees the world with moral certainty, black and white, is less likely to think critically about the issues. From my experience this is more likely to occur among conservatives, but it is found among plenty of liberals, as well.<BR/><BR/>But what's more, many conservatives count it as a point of pride. Do you remember the 2004 election? John Kerry was absolutely derided for his nuanced answers and positions. The Hannity/Limbaugh/Beck crowd and their millions of constituents called him wishy-washy, flip-flopper, elitist, etc.<BR/><BR/>But I honestly have no doubt that you, Iliana and Kristy, are critical thinkers, and I didn't mean to imply that.Jacob S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16519032754947817876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-32931550160952163442009-02-26T22:02:00.000-07:002009-02-26T22:02:00.000-07:00peter, or his wife of whoever wrote that speaks be...peter, or his wife of whoever wrote that speaks better than me and shares my opinion. librals aren't the only critical thinkers buddy. there sure seem to be a ton of Obama kool-aid drinkers that have missed the boat on thinking critically. I'm glad that when it comes down to it, we all get to make our own discisions on whatever grounds we want. moral, spiritual, logically, or whatever, thank goodness we can decide for ourselves. I like people who stick to their guns when after much thought, it becomes thier moral conscience that drives them.Ilianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07729456460349797315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-46021853562406233512009-02-26T21:19:00.000-07:002009-02-26T21:19:00.000-07:00Just one clarification...all the answers to worldl...Just one clarification...all the answers to worldly problems, I wouldn't dream of implying that the Lord didn't have all the answers.peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08067910269067338674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-71927758190634943582009-02-26T21:12:00.000-07:002009-02-26T21:12:00.000-07:00Come on Jake, I’ve totally had practice with shade...Come on Jake, I’ve totally had practice with shades of gray at church…caffeine, Sabbath day observance, and the right way to conduct an Enrichment meeting. Kristy (Okay, that wasn’t my real response.)<BR/><BR/>However much I want to believe that, as a conservative, you did not just characterize me as being unable to think critically or to understand the nuances of a problem, you did. I know that though we often agree that there are problems that need to be fixed, we do not agree on the possible solutions to those problems. Let me clarify my position on several of the issues you brought up.<BR/><BR/>Gays and lesbians-We shouldn’t deny rights to people, but I reserve the right to believe that homosexuality is not moral. In California gays and lesbians already have the same civil rights that married couples have under the umbrella of civil unions. Prop 8 was intended to normalize homosexuality and give it a moral stamp of approval. Though I know and like several people who are homosexual, I do not believe that homosexuality is moral and do not want to be forced to accept it as such.<BR/><BR/>Welfare and Medicaid- Conservative understanding on these issues is not based on a belief that lazy people don’t deserve help but on self-reliance and responsibility. Both of these programs fill an important role in our society, but they shouldn’t be the end of the road and a way of life, they should be a stop on the way to self-sufficiency. Unfortunately, neither of these programs encourages saving or provides programs and steps for getting off of them. There are many people who honestly need the help that these programs give and I used to think that abuses of the system were not very common. However the last eight months of Peter’s job is revealing that abuse of the system and a sense of entitlement is far more common than I had believed. <BR/><BR/>Illegal Immigration-The individual cases are difficult and tug at the heart strings, but the crux of the problem is that these people entered illegally. They broke the law. I know there are issues dealing with poverty in their home country and children who have been raised here but are still illegal. I want to help them, but we need to either change the law so what they are doing is not illegal or uphold our laws. And I could go on…<BR/><BR/>It is unfortunate that so-called conservative politicians choose to act against what their base would prefer in an attempt to garner power and get re-elected. I’m sure that liberals wish that several top Democratic appointees didn’t seem to be having so much trouble paying those patriotic taxes they love so much. It, also, could easily be said that Democrats have a tendency slide along those “shades of gray” and say whatever is expedient to whatever group they happen to be addressing. But I wouldn’t want to over-generalize.<BR/><BR/>I admit to basing my political opinions and worldview on my moral principles. Is this not what everyone does, whether they are pro-choice or pro-life, big government or small government, Republican or Democrat? Could I not have critically thought through a problem, examined the nuances and decided on an intelligent solution or idea that is identified as conservative? It is fairly egotistical to believe that one political party or ideology has all the answers. I can see the point that you are making about Republicans and admit that some of your points are valid, but don’t miss the beam in your own eye.peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08067910269067338674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-4534005134183878162009-02-25T18:26:00.000-07:002009-02-25T18:26:00.000-07:00Absolutely amazing. As a socially liberal Mormon,...Absolutely amazing. As a socially liberal Mormon, you have summarized the bulk of my annoyance with the Religious...er...Republican party.T.J. Shelbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05838121441358608934noreply@blogger.com