In process of doing my "day job" I interviewed an individual (who will remain nameless) and asked him what he thought of Joseph Smith's platform when he ran for president. This individual is a Mormon enthusiast/apologist but is not a member himself. He has read and reviewed over 500 books on LDS doctrine, history and even a few LDS fiction stories. Some consider his opinion to hold considerable value.When Joseph Smith ran for president in 1844 he published a pamphlet or tract called "Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States". Many have not read this tract today but it was widely circulated in his day by newspapers and by the council of 50 (missionaries called to proselyte Joseph for President). (Views .pdf available here) This gentleman's response when asked about this tract was that the writings are very different than what many might expect. He concluded that the pamphlet "represents a liberal view on government that many Mormons would not be willing to accept today."
Perhaps this is nothing people will comment on, but I wanted to get the pamphlet out there for people to read and to become familiar with. Few documents exist where prophets or apostles make commentary on political principles and topics of proper governance. By no means do I consider this doctrine, but something worth the read for those who are LDS and politically minded. Then make up your mind, was Joseph Smith a liberal, a libertarian, or somewhere in between?
All I can say is Joseph Smith knew how to point out a man's faults. I bet when Van Buren and Clay read the replies to their letters they would have liked to sign a national extermination order for Joseph if it could make those letters disappear forever.
ReplyDeleteWhere's the liberalism? I consider myself a member of the American Independent party and voted for Alan Keyes in the '08 election. I found nothing objectionable or liberal about the piece. It should convict to the core both democrats and republicans to their corruption and greed. It should also convict them for their contentions and facilitation of the same wicked behaviors. I don't think Joseph Smith would adhere to any particular political party today, I think he would head an Independent voice that is both progressive in terms of charity but conservative in terms of individual industry and responsibility. By the way, to throw a bone to political party members of the past, it was the Republicans that freed the slaves. Furthermore the political platform and policies of the Democrats of JFK's era were about as conservative as today's Republicans. Not to be redundant but in saying today's Republicans are slightly more liberal than "yesterday's" Democrats, today's Dems are more in line with Cold War Communist Russia.
ReplyDeleteI believe that part of the document that speaks more to liberalism of today is the national bank stuff, the release of prisoners or amnesty for certain crimes and his very progressive voice at the time with respect to the freedom of the slaves.
ReplyDeleteThere is however a great deal to speak to the opposite which to me supports the idea of no right, and no left. In a way I wouldn't even call it middle of the road because that somehow implies a rationalized or compromised version of one side rather than presenting ideas without reference to conservative or liberal ideals. What he presents is just what it is.
I can say that I am in favor of his idea to reduce the size of congress by two thirds and that they should all take a significant pay cut. In this respect he very much leans towards libertarianism.
Political parties are cyclical in what they believe. Joseph Smith stood for certain principles that seem to still have relevance in principle and has done so without regard to political party.