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Friday, March 4, 2016

Donald Trump As An Omen

I believe there is a coming political shift. Perhaps it has already arrived, and we just don't know it yet.
The conservative faction of American politics hasn't always been populated by those who were more religious. Case in point: up until the early 20th Century, the Republican Party was seen as a very progressive party, and largely the more religious populations of America were members of the Democratic Party.
Particularly after the Civil war and for a period of about 50 years thereafter, the Republican party came into disfavor with the religious majority of Americans due to the prevalent greed demonstrated by the party leaders.
So in the early 20th Century a push was exerted to court religious Americans, largely because the majority of Americans were very religious.
As the current generational swing continues to transition a majority of Americans from the Baby Boomer's to the Gen X's/Y's/and Millennials, there is an overwhelming swell of anti-religion rhetoric that comes with that swing and is growing more popular by the day.
With that anti-religious rhetoric has come also a more tolerant view on social issues, that currently tend to be opposed by the institutionalized religions of our day.
The Republican Party, being a secular organization, is unconsciously, slowly, quietly releasing its religious moorings due to the unfavorability of religion among the generations that are arriving/arrived to the age of voting accountability, and their social preferences.
This is most readily seen in the popularity of Donald Trump, as a candidate. Although the Republican Party Leaders, largely oppose Donald Trump, his popularity brings to the table a need for a very frank discussion regarding the identity of the Republican Party going forward.
Although Donald Trump has given a token lip service to court those who tend to be more religious, his focus has largely been to the Joe-Six-Pack/Bar-going-Americans; who in their own personal lives give mainly lip service to religion and that only as a label and not as a way of life.
Whether those who are religious recognize it or not, the day is coming when they will find themselves disenfranchised as a unified force. I believe this has largely come/will come because of our refusal to be a unified force. (see D&C 38:27)
As a result of this all being an involuntary/unconscious act, I predict that the Republican Party has arrived at a point where for a unspecified time they are going to become largely irrelevant in American Politics. This will continue until the party leaders wake-up and decide to reinvent the party after the image of Donald Trump's candidacy.
Another alternative (and in my opinion, the only good alternative) would be to repent and be one. However, I don't get the feeling that we (those who feel more religious inclinations in our personal lives) have many who are interested in that notion. It is apparent if to no one else but myself, that we are much more interested in hearing how we are chosen, noble and righteous. Therefore, it is my opinion that politicians -like Ted Cruz- would be wise to listen to and confer with those who are willing to extend any assistance they can give, from those whom they have traditionally opposed: such as Caitlyn Jenner. That is, if they insist on continuing to refuse to repent, and if they want to stay relevant in the political realm.

1 comment:

Mel said...

Good read!