Episode 78: The Party Decides, Rating the presidential candidates, The Republican National Convention, The church builds affordable housing in Hawaii

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The Thought Provoker:

Sam is up first this week. The party decides.  

Next up, Shawn.  Watching all of our political leaders over the past few weeks has caused me to reflect on what are the right reasons for choosing a leader.  We’ve talked in past episodes about choosing leaders based on their righteousness or based on who will uphold and defend righteous principles like the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life. I’ve developed a formula for myself on how to choose a leader and I want you both to apply the formula to your chosen leaders (Matt: Biden and Kamala, Sam: Trump). Rate from 1-10 these categories:

1. Altruism  (is their motive selfish and Corrupt or pure for the general welfare) 
2. Morality 
3. Policy
4. Strength/leadership

Finally, Matt. The Republican National Convention was an opportunity for the GOP to showoff for the American public. It is a four day infomercial carried on every major television network. Based on the speakers I saw, here is my perception of the current Republican Party. Sarah Huckabee Sanders playing the victim accusing the left of attacking her because she is a mother, Peter Navarro attacking the justice system right as he was released from prison, A warning for viewers about explicit content as Kid Rock took the stage,  and other B-list celebrities who promote criminal activity and the Slut Walk. It seems clear to me that Republicans are no longer the party of Reagan. What happened to family values, pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, and holding criminals accountable for their crimes? Sam, the values you promote on the podcast were nowhere to be found at the RNC, are you ready to switch parties?

The Big Question: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is creating beachfront rentals for local working individuals and families with smaller households on the beach near BYU-Hawaii. Normally, a landowner would turn such rare open shoreline into luxury homes or high-end vacation rentals for the wealthy rather than rental dwellings priced for firefighters and teachers. Rental housing is the best way to increase a sustainable housing supply in Lā‘ie that most working people can afford over the long term. Given the current market prices for beachfront land, selling these homes would likely price out many local working individuals and fami