U.S. needs principled citizens in politics

Recently, party caucuses were held in Utah where delegates were chosen for the state and county conventions. I am a county delegate and acknowledge that the process can be manipulating and fanciful.

We must squarely face the fact that in materialistic and sensational America, campaigns can be bought. When it comes to the party conventions, are we caught up in the bells and whistles, the T-shirts and trinkets? Do we worry more about the candidate who is Mr. Personality or Miss America instead of the one who is sound and principled in good government? Can we have genuine conventions free of political clutter and avoid conventions that resemble a secondhand county carnival?

The political arena does, at times, warrant a circus tent. So how do we keep the political process pure and simple?

George Washington set a perfect example. Can you imagine a president in today's world having unlimited terms in office? What would become of the executive branch of government? The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution solidifies good American politics and should be seriously considered in other elected offices. Those seeking public office must be just as excited about leaving office as they were running for office.

Term limits is not a worn-out college class debate. Unfortunately, it is a debate that incumbents and career politicians dismiss under the guise of "more to do," "positions of power and prominence would be lost" and so on. Political jargon is seasonal. Let us honestly admit that the pay is good, the titles are appealing and the benefits unrestrained. Given that, would we not all become susceptible to flattery and vanity?

The political process can be perplexing, but this is to be expected when government is too pervasive. It is difficult as a person, as a county and state delegate, to wisely choose principled men and women when so much is done to get your attention with superficial schemes. Although America has betrayed the once great practice and theme of the "Great American Melting Pot" for the divisive doctrine of diversity, I believe sound government can prevail. It will take men and women, both elected and not, to seriously size up the functions of the current bureaucracy and purposes of government and reel it back to unity and personal initiative.

America is good. People in this blessed land are generous and kind. We at times seem to be distracted and selfish for materialistic gain and positions of prominence, but deep down we want to help our family and our neighbors. We know that social issues destructive to mankind can only be fixed by mankind, not government. Government should honor the agency of man, not force him to compliance.

Before disembarking on sacred soil, Plymouth colonizers began the Mayflower Compact with these words: "In the name of God, Amen." They agreed to "covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation . . . which we promise all due submission and obedience."

The political process can become pure and simple when we, too, "combine ourselves into a civil body politic." It can be pure and simple when we take care of one another and lift each other. Purity and simplicity shall reign in our political system when we submit and obey divine principles.

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Ryan Jenkins is principal of the Kaysville South Junior High Seminary.