Will I be ridden out of Utah county by an angry mob with torches and pitchforks if I write a blog post containing my true feelings about the Republican National Convention?

I hate politics. I tend to mistrust the motives of pretty much anyone who would want to be president. I'm neither a Democrat or a Republican, and honestly, that is because both parties have ideas with which I fundamentally disagree. When I both search my soul and apply all of my critical thinking skills (which, I freely admit are not stellar, but it's what I got) to the communication on both sides of the political divide, I find myself deeply uneasy. I may have mentioned this before. I preface what I'm about to write with this because I don't want anyone to assume that because I'm criticizing the Republican National Convention, I am casting my lot with the Democrats. I have no doubt I'll have some problems with their pep rally in Charlotte, as well. I just wanted to air out the discomfort I felt this week.

I only watched Ann Romney's speech. I did read Mitt's speech after the fact, and was disappointed. He made a lot of promises (some of which I didn't like at all--his stance on energy concerns me) but not a lot of ideas on how he would accomplish them. That's a problem, I think. He also insinuated that because I have spent my career in public education and a municipal library I am unfit for government. My experience in small business, the realm that apparently is more important than any other human pursuit (except maybe parenthood--gee, I'm SOL on that one too. Do I even have a right to exist?), was demoralizing. Greed and status was the motivating factor in everything my employers did, and I withered while I worked there. Many small businesses do wonderful, productive things for our society. Others don't. Private v. public does not equal good v. evil, and the fact that current Republicans are unable to have a more nuanced conversation about it is more than a little disappointing.

I watched so little of the RNC because I didn't have all that much time to devote to something I find so pointless, especially since every one of Utah's electoral votes will always go to whomever the Republican nominee is. I'd much rather devote my political attention to local government, where it might actually matter. But I made a point of listening to Ann Romney. I didn't love Mrs. Romney's speech. Pretty much everyone I know will disown me for admitting that, but it's absolutely the truth. The part that bothered me the most(at least the one I'm willing to write about publicly) was this: She said "Mitt doesn't like to talk about how he has helped others because he sees it as a privilege, not a political talking point." That sentence stopped me in my tracks. 'Dear Sister Romney,' I thought, 'he may not like to make his service and generosity a political talking point, but you just did.' I don't doubt that Mitt Romney has helped people, and served and given of his abundance. But you don't get to have it both ways. It was a boast, and a boast used strategically to boost a political career. Do it or don't, I don't care. But call a spade a spade.

Here's the other thing, and I might just be infected by "class warfare" that the Republicans like to accuse their opponents of fomenting, but every time it comes up how generous the Romneys are, I can't help but think of the New Testament, in Luke, when Christ explains to his disciples how He interprets the scene they are watching at the temple:

1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. (Luke 21, KJV)

It just comes to mind over and over again during this entire campaign, on both sides of the aisle.

And don't even get me started on Paul Ryan. I don't care how smart your are or how knowledgeable about the budget. Anyone who has ever listed Ayn Rand as a serious philosophical influence is dangerous.

Ugh. I may be writing another critical post soon decrying the Democrats. I may not, though, but only because I don't know if my heart can take it anymore. Today was a bad day in my personal life, and I'm tempted to just dig a hole and pull the dirt over me for good. And the wider world--at least the political one--well, I hold out little hope there for increasing peace and happiness. Here I am again: All that's left for me is on my knees, pleading for something that may not even be within my grasp in this mortal spere.

My mission president's favorite hymn was "Come O Thou King of Kings." I didn't get it then. I do now.

Hope your week was better than mine. Peace.