Most of the time when people think about the Baby Boom Generation, what comes to mind is sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. This includes a generation that is characterized by pampering, overindulgence, pushing the social limits, liberal attitudes and liberal politics.
However, there is another side to the first cohort of the Boomers; it is “Leave it to Beaver," “Father Knows Best," and “Ozzie and Harriet," the play by the rules group. If we look at the 1978 movie “Animal House”; the characterization of the split in the two groups is clearly personified. The wild side of the Boomers is the Omega Theta Pi House. They are the rule breakers and obsessed with sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. Whereas, the other side of the Boomer coin is represented by the Delta Tau Chi House representing the conventional, play by the rules, unquestioning and aversive to risk.
Of the first two cohort Boomer Presidents; Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, they are more closely related to Omega House. Barack Obama who is technically a Boomer, but a second Cohort, doesn’t fall into either the Omega House or the Delta House; he represents the younger Boomers who were too young to face Vietnam, the social unrest of the Civil Rights Movement and too old to be caught up in the extreme selfishness and materialism of the Gen-Xers.
Mitt Romney is the best representation of the antithesis to a Bill Clinton and George Bush. He grew up in a culture that was based on strict adherence to rules and order. Although his father, George W. Romney, was a self made man requiring a number of risk taking ventures; Mitt was born into a family that had already achieved wealth and prominence. As such, he was sheltered from his family’s lean years and struggles, growing up in an upper class environment. We have to understand that Mitt Romney and his ancestral line are directly linked to the Mormon (LDS) aristocracy through Parley P. Pratt, one of the founders of the Mormon Church and a Church Apostle. This has an important meaning to Mitt Romney and other faithful Mormons.
With his ancestry, he has automatic credibility with members of his church. Mormons, in general, are very concerned about public perception, especially those of the Mormon aristocracy. I surmise that Mitt was carefully taught about his role and expectations. The Mormon Culture, especially during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s were struggling to become considered mainstream and leave behind the reputation of being some kind of aberrant and strange religious group. Therefore, they became obsessed with building and maintaining an image of mediocrity. This also clearly is reflected in Mitt’s personality and public image; one of mediocrity.
Keeping within his culture; Mitt can only be characterized as conventional, fiscally and politically conservative, understated and more comfortable in working behind the scenes rather than in full public view. This is a characteristic that would describe most important Mormon leaders. The Mormon Church is highly organized into a hierarchical pyramid structure. The Church sets the tone and rules from the top for the membership and expects it to be followed. Mitt freely admits in his 65 years that he has never tried alcohol, tobacco, coffee or illicit drugs. This is in keeping with the Church’s “Words of Wisdom”, where such use is strictly prohibited.
Another highly prized value of the Mormon Culture is that of hard work and business success. This has been part of the Church since its founding. The early Church, under Joseph Smith’s leadership, was characterized with banking and land speculation scams, which has been left far behind. Now, the Church is led by successful business leaders, deeply rooted in all aspects of business. This is especially important since the Church manages such large assets. Mitt is a classic example of the Mormon Church leader and I’m sure that once his political career is finished he will be called to join the Twelve Apostles and possibly become the President of the LDS Church.
The political left sees Mitt as someone to lead the Tea Party Conservative Revolution. However, he is anything but a populist fire breathing revolutionary. If you want to understand what kind of conservative he really is, then look to the Mormon Church. Because of his culture he will not be one to go to conservative extremes. He will not push the conservative agenda too far in fear of creating too much social unrest and dissonance, which he is ill equipped to manage. His forte is conformity and not rocking the boat. He will support changes to the abortion laws and restrictions on same sex marriages, which is the Mormon Church’s positions. Other than those two social conservative issues, that will be the extent of his social conservative positions.
The political right is looking for a charismatic leader to lead their revolution. Again, this is not Mitt Romney. He is neither a charismatic nor committed to populist causes. He is a conformist. He will provide only the necessary leadership on the Church supported issues. Going beyond the fairly safe issues will not happen. I think that the right will be as frustrated with Mitt’s slightly right of center performance as the left has been disappointed with Obama’s centrist position.
Romney doesn’t represent the “boogie man” the left fears and he doesn’t represent the long sought messiah of the right. Mitt represents mediocrity at best. His ultimate life goal doesn’t reside in Washington DC, but in Salt Lake City’s Temple Square.
Church members are obligated by the twelfth article of faith to obey the tax laws of the nation where they reside.. Members who disapprove of tax laws may try to have them changed by legislation or constitutional amendment. Members who have well-founded legal objections may challenge tax laws in the courts. Church members who refuse to file a tax return, pay required income taxes, or comply with a final judgment in a tax case are in direct conflict with the law and with the teachings of the Church. Such members may be ineligible for a temple recommend and should not be called to positions of principal responsibility in the Church. Members who are convicted of willfully violating tax laws are subject to Church discipline to the extent warranted by the circumstances.
If you go back to the early days, even Biblical, someone may have "earned" a sheep, cow, a piece of land or any other non-monetary form of payment you want to use. It is then up to the recipient to determine what their increase was and pay an appropriate tithe. What do you consider "unearned", though? You either earn it or you steal it. The government likes to make things complicated with things like death taxes. You could have a family run farm passed down to you and then get socked with a death tax you have to pay which could feasibly require you to sell off farm assets. This wouldn't happen with tithing. The person inheriting the farm would simply continue/begin to pay tithing based on the increase from the farm.
Interesting how you seem to bring Romney's religion to the forefront like this. Were you one of the ones that feared that Kennedy was going to pattern his presidency according to the orders he was going to be getting from the Pope?
You're doing essentially, in a subtle fashion, what has been done to people of your faith and assorted groups labeled as "others" based on race, ethnicity, nationality, economic class and religion over time. I'm afraid you're allowing your fear of those on the right to get the best of you.
Lyle, the oh so progressive one, is the worst offender when it comes to labeling a person in some racist or bigoted way.
One of my points of this piece is that not all Mormons are created equal. There are many different groups in the Mormon community and Mitt Romney represents one and Jon Huntsman represents another. Many of the differences come down to when their ancestors immigrated and the relationship to Brigham Young. Those who were with Joseph Smith and Brigham Young from the founding of the Church definitely have the edge when it comes to status within the Church. If you want to talk about true hatred of the Mormon Church, you need to look to the extreme Christian Right. The evangelicals, Baptist groups, etc are only supporting Romney because they see him as less evil than Barack Obama. The LDS Church has been under constant attack from right wing Christian fundamentalist groups for more than half a century. It's funny how politics makes strange bedfellows.
Lyle is right - the Baptists and other southern evangelicals are constantly attacking the LDS. Hoffa experienced this first hand.
If a conservative were to label some predominantly black affiliated church, group, etc as "mediocre", the limp wrists would blow out their vocal cords with cries of racism, hate, etc. Lyle does it, and of course, it is acceptable. Just like every other instance where the left cries fowl.
Hoffa doesn't see Lyle as trying to silence anyone. If that were his true intention, he'd simply disable the comments on his blog entries, right? To the contrary, I see Lyle as encouraging a vigorous and active debate. While Hoffa will rarely agree with Lyle on the substance of his positions and arguments, Hoffa none-the-less respects Lyle as a person, as should you. I believe that your biggest problem lies in the style of debate that is usually conducted on Patch. But you know what they say about if you can't take the heat.... The objective truth will always reign supreme and carry the day. As to Lyle's point about southern evangelicals and Baptists not liking the LDS very much, that is VERY true. A simple visit to Temple Square in SLC will confirm this to anyone. And yet, I've NEVER seen a group of LDS protesting outside evangelical or Baptist churches, have you? I fail to see where Lyle was intentionally or arbitrarily ripping on the LDS or Romney in this blog. While Hoffa thinks that some of Lyle's views on the LDS are incorrect, ill-informed, and outdated, Hoffa doesn't believe for a second that Lyle meant any disrespect in using the term 'mediocre,' which Hoffa agrees was a very poorly chosen word to describe the image of the members of this faith. Lyle has been resorting to name calling recently, which is uncharacteristic of him. Hoffa has suggested a vacation to the Catskills on many occasions ;-)
3393, it's possible for someone who earned their wealth to be out of touch. Mitt grew up in a privileged environment and so began his career quite a few rungs ahead of the ordinary college grad. When one is immersed in an homogenous environment of any type, leaving that environment for another has to create a culture shock to some degree. Mr. Hoffa, charitable giving levels are an inadequate measure of philanthropy. These dollars certainly represent giving from the heart but also for the tax deduction. One could take the cynical view that Romney is most in need of tax deductions. "Care to try again?" Another t-shirt slogan for the Hoffa attack cannon. Whump! ; )
So what? Ask your friend what he thinks will happen to Mormons when they die and then ask Mormons if they like what he says. I'm sure the feeling is mutual, although in your friend's case he can't claim that his religion did anything about it.
But you don't even know the Paul Ryan budget plan all that well. Your insistence that it expressly contains billions in tax breaks for oil companies and exempts members of Congress, coupled with the FACT that you have no citations to specific parts of the plan that actually support such assertions, is conclusive and objective proof positive of this! Instead of accepting the P2P for what it is, you instead choose to judge it through a bunch of unfounded speculation and biased third party analysis. You have to learn to look at primary sources with unbiased eyes if you ever want to find the truth in anything! Funny that you nail Romney for wanting to hire some former GWB advisers, but have no problem in how Obama did that exact same thing and continues to do so - Ben Bernanke, Tim Geithner, etc. Not very consistent of you Bren! I believe your greatest concern with Mitt Romney has to do with the fact that he represents the 'conservative' side in this election, an ideology that you've come to despise. When are you going to start telling the truth about yourself?
What a load of B.S. This is the most biased, weird, contrived and deliberately misleading evaluations of the Mormon faith and it's followers. it's ironic, mostly in Ruble's closing that he says Romney and his mediocrity don't belong in D.C. (the epitome of mediocrity and underperformance relative to potential), but rather in Temple Square of Salt Lake City.... a gleeming, beautiful, majestic square that is a symbol of a small sect's dedication to greatness, achievement and outward expansion. I don't believe the mormon faith is a biblical one. i have my own reservations about the theological viewpoints and for this election have set them aside for a greater purpose and a greater understanding of good character and better leadership. But when it comes to evaluating the faith, the families and the achievements of a now-large group of Americans I can call them anything BUT mediocre. Lyle Ruble reveals himself again, but took over 1,000 words to arrive at the same, mediocre point.