Election 2008

This election is making me nervous. I worry that we are going to be a divided nation, regardless of who wins today. I'm reading things like:

• "If 'Osama' gets in with a majority seat of Dems in the senate... we will find our selves in another civil war."
• "When I picture what Satan looks like, all I can imagine is Obama's face in my head. He is the devil in sheep's clothing. What a sadistic man!"
• And what about the text I got (from an unknown number) that told me that the Book of Revelations warns us of an anti-Christ in his 40's who will reign for 48 months... blah blah blah.

Since I couldn't say it any better, I'm going to quote my sister-in-law's brother (Sterling Kellis):

Politics, of course, can be divisive in nature as they are wrought with passion
and fueled by different experiences and education, but I think different political beliefs share a common aim toward a hope for the best possible future and for that reason sharing opinions can also create unity.

I believe socialism and its aim toward a more equal distribution of wealth is well-intended and charitable at heart--as are many who embrace it--but flawed in its roots (its roots being "We, the people"). Ideally, if God governed the earth I believe He would lean towards Zionist/Egalitarian principles of order which closely resemble socialism and even communism (the United Order and The Law of Consecration being examples), but since He does not and men are carnal and sensual and devilish by nature capitalism rears its invisible hand as the next best thing.

James Madison wrote, "If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary." And since neither is true, we make due with what we have and make allowances for our imperfections. Capitalism is just that, an imperfect solution for an imperfect society.

Some day, when more faith can be placed in the government and the governed, socialist practices may help us better become a people of “one heart and one mind with no poor among us (Moses 7:18)”, but an attempt to redistribute wealth-—no matter how altruistic its intent--when riddled with corruption (could) be devastating. Perhaps those who lean towards socialistic principles are simply more optimistic and hopeful of government and human nature than I am. And now, while we are on the verge of becoming an Obama-Nation, hopefully they’re right.

Whatever happens tonight, let's give each other more credit and try to focus on the similiarity of our intentions rather than the different paths we take to get there.