The Lesser of Two Evils...

Over the past couple of months I have received a barrage of e-mails, phone calls, and fliers urgently proclaiming that the upcoming election is the most important one in recorded history. They all have this basic message in common, "If the liberals win the upcoming election, America as we have known it will no longer exist."   My question when I hear something like this is, "So how will it be any different if a Republican wins?"  Don't get me wrong, I have been a "faithful Republican" all my life.  I have never not voted Republican.  I had these feelings of "gloom and doom" eight years ago when George Bush ran against Bill Clinton.  I remember anxiously staying up all night on election night waiting to see the final results, feeling certain that if Bill Clinton won we would be ushering in the Second Coming.  However, over the past few years I have begun to realize that the Republican agenda is not that different from that of the Democrats.  If you look at the outcomes the results are typically the same, no matter who is in office.  What we end up with from either party is more government "programs",  with a bigger National debt as a result, and more government control of our lives.  We can see that thanks to President Bush things are just as bad as they would have been with Clinton, if not a little worse. He has single-handedly taken away more freedoms from the American People than any President before him, violated the constitution over and over again, and left us with a country that is teetering on the edge of collapse.  In regards to this election, and many before this, I have heard a number of people express the sentiment that although John McCain isn't the ideal choice for President, in this case "you have to vote for the lesser of two evils."  My contention is, the lesser of two evils is still evil.  This is the President of the United States we are talking about.  This is supposed to be the most venerated secular position known to man. To think of settling for "the lesser of two evils" in choosing who should hold this high office should be reprehensible.  In fact, there is a scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants that addresses this way of thinking.  D&C 98:9-10 "Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn. Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil."

President Ezra Taft Benson expounded on this scripture saying, "Now that is a commandment to his Church and to his Saints. To me it means that we have a responsibility as Latter-day Saints to use our influence so honest men and wise men and good men will be elected to public office in the community, in the county, in the state, and in the nation. To me this commandment of God is just as binding upon the Latter-day Saints as is the law of tithing, or the Word of Wisdom, or any other commandment which the God of heaven has given us.

As I read that for the first time some years ago I thought, "What an indictment of corrupt would-be political leaders in many parts of the world—demagogues who deal in half-truths, innuendos, and falsehoods! Here the God of heaven has pointed out the type of men he wants elected to public office among his people." It is not enough, my brethren and sisters, just to stand on the sidelines and criticize what is taking place, and to point the finger of scorn at some political leader. It is our job, our duty, and our responsibility to take an active interest in these matters, and carry out the admonition and the commandment which God has given us to see to it that men of character—good men, as measured by the standards of the gospel—are elected to public office." ("Our Duty as Citizens" 920, 922)

This is a sobering thought.  We can't afford to compromise.  There is too much at stake.  I contend that whether you vote for John McCain or Barack Obama, the results will be pretty much the same.  Neither of them are committed to, or have a history of upholding the divinely inspired Constitution of our country.  Both of them will continue to squander the resources that we have been blessed with.  Neither of them will do anything to restore the freedoms that have been taken from us, and both will likely continue to take them away in the name of "the greater good".   That is why I am looking elsewhere when I cast my vote next month.  I will be voting for the only man running who is committed to God, the Constitution, and Freedom.  For the first time in my life I will be voting my principles rather than my party.  I will be voting for Chuck Baldwin. I have heard the argument that if you don't vote for one of "the two parties"  you are throwing your vote away.  I maintain that any vote that is not in keeping with your principles is a wasted vote.  In the words of John Quincy Adams, "Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." 

Most Americans will admit that we need a change, yet we keep looking to the same sources for that change.  It is time to look somewhere else.  To again quote President Benson, "Not cheap politicians but statesmen are needed today. Not opportunists but men and women of principle must be demanded by the people. In this time of great stress and danger we must place [in office] only those dedicated to the preservation of our Constitution, our American Republic, and responsible freedom under God. "Oh, God, give us men with a mandate higher than the ballot box."  This was never more true than it is today.  It is my prayer that we might use wisdom as we vote and that we might find and elect men of wisdom to lead this great nation that it might remain great.