How to Survive the 2016 Presidential Election

Let me begin by explaining my perspective.  Even if you disagree with my positions, I hope you find value in my suggestions for dealing with this election.

For those who know me, it is no secret that I am politically conservative.  I have supported Republicans in elections since I have been eligible to vote.  The principles of limited government as defined by the Constitution and the Federalist Papers have resonated with me the more I have studied them.  Though they predated me, conservatives such as Davy Crockett and Calvin Coolidge have inspired me.  While Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush were not perfect leaders, I supported much of what they did.

I did not support John McCain in the primaries of 2008, but I voted for him in opposition to Barack Obama.  I did not support Mitt Romney in the primaries of 2012, but I voted for him with similar opposition in the November election.

Then came 2016.

Early in the race, I recall being frustrated with people who were already saying there were no candidates they wanted to support.  If you believed everything Barack Obama said about himself, you could support Hillary.  If you wanted to ignore every failure of socialism hoping that this time it would be different, you could support Bernie Sanders.  If you wanted someone outside of politics to make a difference, Ben Carson fit the description.  If you wanted someone who had political experience and constitutional principles, Ted Cruz was the man.  If you wanted a compromiser who could relate to younger voters, Marco Rubio was viable.  If you wanted an establishment Republican, there was Jeb Bush.  Finally, if you wanted to flip people off, there was Donald Trump.

Through a series of events I am not sure I understand yet, the two parties lifted up Trump and Clinton as the nominees.

Any frustrations I had with people who said there were no good choices disappeared.  On the one hand, Hillary Clinton has been tied to pay-for-play corruption in the State Department.  She has obfuscated and lied about things even when she did not need to (such as her pneumonia episode).  Even Democrats who supported socialist Bernie Sanders recognized her corruption in the primary process.  For non-democrats, Clinton represents every flaw that accompanies big-government politics.  On the other hand, Donald Trump is a crude individual who has used personal attacks and media manipulation to propel himself.  He and his campaign promoted insane conspiracies that Ted Cruz's father might have been involved in the JFK assassination, and unnecessarily shameful attacks about Cruz's wife.  His record with infidelity and morality directly conflicts with the standards that Republicans have typically tried to espouse.  Even worse, his ideas for policy are all based on large government solutions including large tariffs, undefinable immigration changes that may or may not include a wall, and confusing foreign policy positions that have difficulty differentiating between friends and foes.  Essentially, Americans are being given the choice between two Democrats... two unlikable Democrats.

Third party candidates have risen to try to position themselves as viable alternatives.  Of course, Jill Stein of the Green Party is even further to the left of the major party nominees, but Gary Johnson has, in an attempt to court disenfranchised voters, put himself in roughly the same position as Trump and Clinton in terms of policy.  He praised a lot of the Bernie Sanders strategy, and is left of Clinton on immigration.  His foreign policy understanding is famously lacking, and his major priority is the legalization of drugs.  Essentially, the major third party candidates have offered us two more Democrats from which to choose.

This, among other precedent, has led many people to conclude that the best thing they can do with their vote is to oppose one of the two major political candidates.  The media is all over the Trump tapes (that reveal nothing new; Donald Trump has always been a crude man) to encourage people to prevent Trump from becoming President.  Conservative sites have a target-rich environment to show Hillary's record of corruption (that also reveal nothing new; Hillary Clinton has always been a corrupt manipulator) that they use to encourage people to prevent Hillary from becoming President.

I completely understand wanting to prevent either one of these people from becoming President.  Frankly, I understand wanting to prevent some of the third party candidates from becoming President as well.

That having been said, let me suggest the following:

1. Don't make excuses for any candidate.  I know that Hillary Clinton will cause awful harm as President of the United States.  That doesn't excuse Donald Trump's awful behavior.  Additionally, I know that Donald Trump is unlikely to keep any of the promises he has made, and would be a disaster for America.  That doesn't mean Hillary's dishonesty and criminal activity was OK.  Acknowledge the imperfections that each person has.

2. People who have opposing political views are not incompetent racist traitor bigot liars (necessarily).  Of course it is possible to find Trump supporters that are hateful lunatics, and Hillary supporters that actually hate America, but it is likely more productive to talk about ideas, principles, and values rather than slinging disrespect.  If you have to become an awful person to show that someone else is an awful person, then what have you really accomplished?

3. The Government is incapable of solving most of our problems.  Having voted for or against a candidate does not absolve an individual of personal responsibility.  You must still help other people.  You must still be decent and law-abiding.  You must still work hard.  You must still try to better yourself.  Ultimately, the most significant sources of improving people (and in turn, society) are Jesus Christ, and strong families (in that order).  The most important education, the preservation of values, the way people of different races, genders, and backgrounds can improve interactions... all of these things are best improved by fathers and mothers who love one another and their children.  Religious institutions that promote faith and family, as well as charity, honesty, respect, virtue, and forgiveness support families in these efforts.  These elements will do the most to solve the problems our society faces.

4. Don't let political frustration discourage you.  It is easy to become cynical.  It is easy to avoid participating in elections or political conversations.  Sometimes, it seems justified.  The outlook on the 2016 Presidential Election is not encouraging, regardless of which party wins.  That does not mean that you should stop caring.  That does not mean that your conscience is unimportant.  That does not mean that America is beyond redemption.  This nation has been in precarious situations before, and we have triumphed when enough people did the right thing when it was difficult.

5. In the end, the good guys win.  I don't want to suggest that life will be sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows... There will be perils, disasters, tragedies, and horrors... many of them will be perpetrated by people (2 Timothy 3:1-7).  I do want to suggest that, in the end, God will make everything right.  No one will "get away with" their crimes.  No injustice will go uncorrected.  No wound will remain unhealed.  No hurt will persist.  In the end, good will triumph over evil.  Have faith.  Have confidence.  Even if it doesn't look good right now, Jesus Christ is coming... and he will save us all.

Should I freak out about the election?

Attention liberals: this post is not intended for you.  This post is intended for conservatives that are upset about politics in the United States.  This post may cause you to feel angry, and perhaps develop a desire to argue with me.  I do not want to argue with you, so please feel free to read my other posts, or peruse the internet for pictures of cats, or robots, or robot cats.  By continuing to read this post, you agree that you are conservative... not liberal, not moderate, not "fiscally" conservative, but conservative.

Ok, so for anyone who was unable to discern previously, I consider myself very conservative on the political spectrum.  There are a large number of members of the Mormon church who believe as I do, although the church is politically neutral and there are many good members of the church that lean far to the left.  Since liberals are not reading this post any longer, I have no qualms in declaring that they might be well-meaning, but are completely wrong. 

The past few weeks have been filled with disappointment for conservatives.  There are many of us who believe that President Obama is taking the country in a direction that will weaken the United States defensively and economically.  I watched the internet and television on election night and felt my heart sink when states began turning blue.  I asked myself what was wrong with Americans, and could not help but feel a special disappointment with the state of Ohio.  I had, probably against my better judgment, been following several political conservatives in the media, and told myself that the death threats, slurs, and vile hatred being spewed out against them personally and those that believed in conservatism would be worth it because we would at least be able to put the proverbial brakes on the out-of-control big government mentality that had prevailed during the Obama administration.

Of course, people that were brave enough to declare themselves conservative were lambasted with additional profane and vulgar language after the election in the lowest form of gloating.  (for example: http://twitchy.com/2012/11/07/obama-supporters-serve-up-venomous-revenge-to-actress-stacey-dash-die-come-off-porch-house-slave/ warning: language) 

Writing a few posts on a blog has obviously not made me a target of the crazed haters that occupy the fringes of the left, but the feeling of being gloated over is seen in numerous passive aggressive statements from even well-meaning leftists.  A link that I have seen posted several times is one in which the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints congratulates President Obama on his re-election. (http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/statement-on-election-result)  As a member of the church, this does not surprise me.  The church is politically neutral, and particularly where the opposing candidate was a member, it is appropriate to show that they are not unhappy with the result, and that Romney's candidacy was not (as some may have believed) an attempt to gain political power for the church.  It is positive, concise, and clear.

The issue appears when liberals use this and other messages to congratulate the President on his re-election.  They are frequently accompanied with statements exhorting conservatives not to "freak out" or expressing a desire to "work together" and "move forward."

Statements such as these come off to conservatives like this:
You should be happy about the results of the election because I am happy about them.
Or
You shouldn't freak out about the election, because my candidate won.

Of course, as a conservative, I believe that leftists would post far fewer of these "work together" and "don't freak out" nuggets of advice had Romney won the election.

In truth, conservatives such as us do have a few reasons to freak out... and no gloating liberal or progressive wearing moderate clothing is going to convince us otherwise.  Below are legitimate reasons to feel discouraged:

1. Obama's statement about "flexibility" after the election - (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/26/us-nuclear-summit-obama-medvedev-idUSBRE82P0JI20120326) - The idea that Obama was moving to the center only temporarily in order to win votes is not baseless.  There were a number of promises that Obama made before his first term that he did not keep.  Now that there is no re-election about which to worry, how far left can he go?
2. The Supreme Court - Should there be any retirements or vacancies in the Supreme Court, Obama will appoint another subscriber to the "living" constitutional theory that believes pushing progressive theories is the unwritten goal of our highest law.
3. Socialist policies - Any one who talks about "fair share" without insisting on a flat rate for all social classes is by definition discriminating against certain social classes.  That is by definition socialist.  Obama has not even made a secret of his plan to make the wealthiest individuals (who are in the best position to hire others or to purchase the most goods and services from those that do) the target of his tax policies.
4. Lack of Defense - The Benghazi incident is consistently dodged by the Obama administration as "being investigated."  Part of the problem though is how a consulate in a notoriously dangerous nation was not watched more carefully and defended more thoroughly.  To the observer, Obama has placed a higher priority on his golfing than the defense of the country, hoping that his friendly demeanor will decrease the hatred of America by our enemies.
5. The Republican Party re-evaluating social conservatism - The party that gave us moderate John McCain in 2008 and moderate Mitt Romney in 2012 has started to wonder if they are too conservative.  The party's defense of traditional marriage and stance for the sanctity of the life of the unborn have spawned leftist campaigns encouraging women to "vote with [their] lady parts." (http://twitchy.com/2012/10/02/for-shame-women-obama-literally-reduced-you-to-sum-of-your-ladyparts-vote-like-lady-parts-depend-on-it/)  For some reason, the GOP thinks if we switch to a libertarian philosophy of fiscal conservatism and social liberalism that we will win, in spite of the fact that moderates have done poorly.  I find this point to be more discouraging than many of the difficulties that are coming or may potentially come out of the Obama administration.  Defending marriage is a noble cause... and so is trying to prevent the exploitation of the unborn.  Forfeiting principles in favor of popularity is the wrong move.  I believe the GOP should return to its conservative base and hold fast to correct principles regardless of whether they are popular or politically correct.
6. The Media - It is absolutely infuriating to see the lack of coverage.  Reporters have, for the most part, bought the "we're investigating it" line from Benghazi without asking for details of the investigation.  When interviewing conservatives, the mainstream media possesses a talent for finding those that are least able to articulate their views, or those from the fringe that could easily be portrayed as racists or undesirable.  Although there are a multitude of liberals that could just as easily make the left look foolish, they are always overlooked by the mainstream media. (http://www.theblaze.com/stories/obama-supporters-celebrate-election-victory-no-more-israel-fk-that-sht-kill-those-mother-fkers/ warning: language)
7. Pot and Gay Marriage as ballot measures - Several states including Colorado had measures regarding gay marriage and the legalization of pot.  The populations of these states apparently felt the small percentage of the population that actually use pot or are gay were among the most important issues.  Is changing the law for these items really that helpful for any state?  Certainly I am among conservatives that feel that the fact these things are even considered debatable issues is a sign indicating the moral decay of society at large. 

Of course the complete list of points is actually much longer, and any of these points could be supplemented with additional details and sources confirming how conservatives actually do have lots of reasons to freak out.

Ultimately though, in spite of the reasons for freaking out, even obnoxious gloating liberals can be right when they advise conservatives to stay calm.  Of course, for different reasons than they think.

Consider how many people freak out because they think that the world will end soon.  There is a wide sense across several religions that seem to perceive that we are living in the latter days, or the end times.  Though many religions have a similar perception, Christianity emphasizes the importance of the latter days through prophets and scriptures.  Christianity also emphasizes the terrible tribulation that accompanies the approach of Christ's second coming.

Below is a list of reasons that people could use to freak out that the world is ending:
1. Wars and rumors of war - Matthew 24:6
2. Earthquakes in diverse places - Matthew 24:7
3. Famine and pestilence - Matthew 24:7
4. False prophets - Matthew 24:11
5. Apathy and hatred - Matthew 24:10,12
6. Widespread pride and selfishness - 2 Timothy 3:2
7. Those that do good are despised - 2 Timothy 3:3

Essentially, all of these perils are being seen presently.  The calamities that prophets both ancient and modern have foretold are unfolding before our eyes.  Certainly this list is not comprehensive either, and details and sources could supplement any of these points.

Fortunately, I am not aware of any gloating liberals telling people not to freak out over these things; in fact, leftists are notorious for freaking out over wars, famines, earthquakes, and apathy (though typically only apathy toward spotted owls or 'climate change').

In the case of the signs of our times, it is Jesus Christ himself that tells us not to be troubled:
"...see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass..." (Matthew 24:6)

Jesus Christ is the master of not freaking out.  Even before he was brutally tortured and killed, he gave comfort to his apostles:
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27, emphasis added)

While the gloating leftist stirs hearts to anger, the conservative that remembers Christ can have comfort in calamity.  In fact, the essence of conservatism should exude confidence. 
- A conservative does not need to freak out that injustice exists; we can have confidence that if we work hard, a source higher than the government will ensure that malevolence is punished and benevolence is rewarded. 
- A conservative does not need to freak out that some people have more money than others; we can work hard to improve our own circumstances, and give Christian charity to those in need around us.
- A conservative does not need to freak out that a few SUVs on the road will end the world; we can have confidence that Jesus Christ will restore the earth to a paradisiacal glory that has not been known since the days of Eden.
- A conservative does not need to freak out over the election of a President of the United States; as much as we love our country and want it to succeed, ultimately, as conservatives, we are also citizens of a great kingdom with an immortal and omnipotent King that is not subject to elections or the vices inherently present in political office... 

So fellow conservatives, don't freak out.  Think of the reasons we have to be confident.  Ultimately, remember that in the United States of America, we have no man for whom we shout 'God save the King' because the ideal for conservatives, and for all Americans is that God is the King.