mormonsandscience

Thanks for posting that. That is really spooky. The cult-of-personality associated with Obama is the saddest thing I've witnessed in our government in my 50+ years.

The current version of the bill has been stripped of the section outlining a mandatory service requirement, which, for the present, keeps Americorps as a "voluntary" program (even though the "volunteers" will be paid). However, that "section could be restored during the Senate-House conference committee meeting. A new, separate bill containing that language has since been introduced in the House."

(see http://is.gd/p6h6/SanFranciscoExaminer)

Latter-day Saints should be fighting tooth-and-nail against any mandatory service because such a requirement could majorly hinder the Church's God-given mission to preach the Gospel. We've already suffered through the only-one-elder-from-each-ward compromise that the Draft Board and Church reached during war years decades ago, and a mandatory service requirement for Americorps might include similar limitations on youth who desire to give full-time missionary service.

As Christ taught in 3 Nephi 21, the Church's missionary work is a primary reason for the USA's existence (see v. 2-4). Not that we would expect the US president to consciously help the Church, but his policies could soon deeply challenge the Church. We are tempted to give Obama the benefit of the doubt because he seems to have good intentions, but, as we all know, the road to you-know-where is paved with good intentions.

Jared*,

I don't need to provide web links because all the supporting information I post is based on sound research and legitimate sources, not chain mail garbage. You are free to research the facts if you like (e.g., statements by congress) and if they are wrong, let me know. As for the Sieg Heil bit, that is merely personal opinion based on sound facts that I have collected.

As for Mr. Hatch, I hope the Utah electorate does to him what they did to Chris Cannon - kick him out on his butt. Anyone who dreams up the DREAM act legislation is out of touch with Utah voters. Utah needs new blood in the senate.

"I don't need to provide web links"

Well, it's up to you. But providing references is a basic part of scholarship, and is doubly important in the internet age, if you wish to be taken seriously. Just a suggestion.

My point is that references/links allow readers to judge your credibility in conveying and analyzing information, or to evaluate the sources of your information. (Given that on the internet anybody can write anything, I would think that the value of this would be clear.) They are also a courtesy in that they help people quickly find more information on the issue.

LCruz,

I believe that George Bush is one of the worst presidents this country has ever had. He rushed into Iraq, screwed up the occupation of Iraq, and abandoned fiscal conservatism the day he took the oath. He must assume much of the blame for out current situation.

A major difference between governmental socialism and gospel socialism is that the government compels you to give, and the gospel asks you to give. The former is stealing; the latter is acting with compassion.

My guess is the "socialist" don't see Obama as a socialist because he is not socialist enough. IMO, anyone who is for socialized medicine, government run businesses, Americorps, and spreading the wealth is more socialist than not.

Hey Jack,

Mormons and Science is still listed at LDSBlogs under the "science" category.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers!

Hi Jason!

Yes, Ezra Taft Benson and a few other general authorities from his generation, when the cold war was in full force, seemed to realize better than we do the dangers of rampant socialism and communism. I feel that the goals of mankind's socialism is antithetical to the goals of the gospel.

Doc,

You're right. I am not in the Obamanation fan club.

Yes, this blog is about science, which is why I wrote a post about political science. The idea that science is limited to traditional experiments in controlled settings is, IMO, a narrow view of scientific activity.

If you have opposing voices among general authorities then please share them; that is what this blog is about.

Bertrand Russell was a farce. I've read several of his works and was unimpressed by his inability to critically analyze his own ideas. As a philosopher, he was mediocre at best.

Example of Russell's brilliant philosophical work: "The [Christian] church's conception of righteousness is socially undesirable in various ways - first and foremost in its depreciation of intelligence and science. The defect is inherited from the Gospels. Christ tells us to become as little children, but little children cannot understand differential calculus, or the principles of currency, or the modern methods of combating disease."

I completely agree with Brigham Young's quote that imagined danger causes trouble. (Thank you for bringing that to the table.) Nothing I wrote in this post is imagined. It contains personal opinion founded on factual information. Obama's socialist leanings are a reality.

Ciao!

Dave, allow me to say what comes to mind when I read 'Doc's' comments...

I believe that despite what threats may lie further down the path of socialism, there is no need to be irrational or ugly. Furthermore, I do not think we are dealing with a mere "imagined danger", but a very real one.

Might I suggest Doc pick up a copy of the Book of Mormon and explore the themes therein related to secret combinations (that now seek to overthrow the freedom of all nations), the promise/curse of those living in the Americas contingent upon adherence to righteous principles, and the way that Satan/the devil functions.

The reality is that the fight for mankind's agency/freedom began in the pre-existence and still rages on today. There is no need to fear, but there IS a need to remain vigilant. Because socialist policies are reminiscent of Satan's methodologies (being good through force), vigilance demands our care and attention as we approach them.

The bottome line is that, according to Joseph Smith, one day the Constitution will hang by a thread. It seems Doc would call the American founders ugly irrationals because they included the 2nd Amendment. I do not believe the right to bear arms was born of fear, but of vigilance.

Forgive if I can't view democratic, moderate, weak socialism as a secret combination, as the <a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=ea469d9ff732f110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1">translator of the book</a> advocated for a much stronger presidency, and National bank, and other "socialist" policies in his own presidential campaign.
Could it be that corporations grinding the face of the poor, organized crime, gangs, etc. are at least as likely candidates for secret combinations as "socialists" of all shades?