As you may have noticed, I don't really join in on much of the political talk on here.  While it's true that right now I'd rather be informed on Dynamics, Thermodynamics, and my other engineering classes, I like to know my opinions in politics as well.  The only problem is that I can never find anyone in politics who shares my opinion, so I'm left clueless as to who I should vote for because they all seem like lying scoundrels to me.  I found that I voted for Bush because I felt Kerry was worse, but I really didn't want to vote for Bush.  In local elections I always know my stance on how to vote for the propositions, but never for the people. 

Politics is always about "the issues".  I seem to have a different way to look at the issues than most people.  My theory is "All you need is love".  I know, John Lennon isn't the greatest role model, but I feel that that statement is something everyone has heard, and that it reiterates the two greatest Commandments as outlined by Christ Himself: Love the Lord thy God, and love thy neighbor as thyself.  Really, if you have that true, Christlike love, most of the "issues" disappear. 

Abortion:  would we need to worry about it at all if young men and women really understood that true romantic love occurs best in the realms of marriage?

Welfare:  It's ok to help those who need help, but the best way to help them is to teach them how to help themselves.  There are dire circumstances where people need money, but if that is only the start of where we help them, as opposed to the only way we help them, it won't do any good at all.

Homosexuality:  It's ok to love people of your own gender.  We just need to understand the difference between romantic love, and regular love.  I've loved my roommates in the past, but that love is nothing compared to the love I share with my fiance.  In understanding God's love for us and understanding that he created us perfectly, with perfect love, and that the closest we can come to God is through eternal marriage, homosexuality isn't such a temptation.

Gun Control:  I am terrified of guns because I am very accident prone.  They can be very harmful weapons.  That doesn't mean I'm scared if my grandfather has a gun though, because he loves everyone and has no desire to hurt anyone unless they would be endangering the life of someone else.  I'm only scared of the people who have guns that don't care about the well-being of others.  There's no way to pass a law against that though.

Social Security:  I guess I just figure I'll be paying it but may never see that money again.  It's nice to think that after giving so much of your time and life working to help the society succeed that you won't be in financial distress when the time comes that you can't work anymore and have medical expenses that reduce your life's savings.  It's also nice to think that eventually you can have a break in life and do the things that you've always wanted to do.  I guess I'll just get a really good savings plan and make do with what I've got.

Euthenasia:  Don't keep me alive if I'm not living.  Let me move on in my progression.

Illegal Immigration:  They aren't here legally, and they know that.  Part of the immigration process should include classes on how America runs with an understanding that we respect one another.  I live in an area that is run by illegals in some cases.  I see immigrant families on the buses, and in the stores (you can tell because they might be wearing everything they own in July in Arizona).  It's really hard for me to respect them as people when they don't treat me as a person, and when they expect their rights to exceed mine.  They come into this country expecting pure freedom, including freedom from consequence of wrong choices, and in many cases not even knowing what wrong choices are anymore.  The worst part is that they are here for a better life, but aren't willing to work for it in many cases.  I understand that there are some good people who come here, and that they do work hard.  But so many people, immigrant and not, expect the perfect life to fall right into their hands.  It doesn't work like that.  Hard work should pay off, and especially children need to be taught that.  So why not work to come to this country legally?  It will pay off way more in the long run, and can really give you and your children a better life because you understand that working for something in the right way pays off.

I guess in all of my experience in reading the Constitution has taught me that it was based on principles of respect, taking care of people, and love.  If you keep that in mind, there really are no questions about what certain parts mean.  Especially when you take into mind that those men were divinely inspired and that this nation is really the best around.  There's still much room for improvement, but I just get depressed when all I look at is the bad in life.  President Hinckley is optomistic about the growth of the church, and sure we know that the bad are going to get worse, but the good are also going to get better, and I almost wonder if by showing a little more love to those so prone to be bad would help them more than coming up with worse punishments.  Being punished does nothing if they don't understand that they can grow through them. 

I have strong opinions, I just don't know how to fit them into politics because I'm usually not on the pro or anti side.  I always seem to fall in between or have a better alternative idea.  The worst part is that when I talk to conservatives, they will point out the issues that will make me want to vote like they do, but the same things happens when I talk to liberals.  Neither side points out for themselves what I am against if I vote for them, but the other side sure does a good job at doing that.  "If you vote for so and so you are voting to kill babies"  "If you vote for so and so you are voting to kill our soldiers"  "If you vote for so and so you are voting away our rights granted through the Constitution"  "If you vote for so and so say goodbye to your grandparents"  "If you vote for so and so, you won't have a clue what to expect because he keeps changing his mind".  I keep changing my mind to.  There's nothign wrong if one day you like peach jelly when you have always preferred strawberry jam.  But if one day you support Gay marriage when you have always been against it, that's a bit disconcerting.

I guess I'm just confused.  I like to be informed, but I also don't like it when all of politics point out only the negatives or only the positives.  To me it just seems like a bunch of contention and debating than caring for the people.  I guess I just don't know, and I know you guys at least share some of the same views as I do, so maybe you can help me a little.