Colorado City election anything but democratic
 
In Our View
The Spectrum
 
EDITORIAL

They called it an election, but in realistic terms, it was anything but.

The recent Colorado City primary election for city council was a sham and the truest example of the reasons behind the constitutional separation of church and state.

Most frequently, this constitutional separation is cited in arguments made against prayer in school, the posting of the Ten Commandments on a courthouse wall or other religious expression by a government entity.

It's been some time, however, since the influence of a church, in this case the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has been brought to question.

Christian fundamentalist Pat Robertson's ecclesiastical run for the White House stirred deep religious and anti-religious fervor. Roman Catholic John Fitzgerald Kennedy's successful 1960 bid for the White House was also viewed suspiciously by those who feared he would become a papist puppet. That's a major reason why Kennedy so narrowly defeated Richard Nixon.

The Colorado City situation, however, poses more danger to the residents of a small town that finds itself under the thumb of church control.

The FLDS church controls most of the property in Colorado City through the United Effort Plan, a church-controlled trust. The unspoken rule? Break from the church or question authorities and you will be booted from the community, your wives and children will be taken from you and placed with other men and your future, at least in Colorado City, is over.

That's why it is not surprising that Donald Richter received 95.4 percent of the vote, Edson Jessop received 93.9 percent and Richard Allred pulled an astounding 97.2 percent.

Resident Kevin Barlow replied "absolutely not" when asked if residents voted under duress.

But, the fact is, vote results like this indicate a likelihood of a repressive community where although residents may be legally allowed to challenge the existing authority, they could risk everything if they don't fall in line.

Faith is one thing, fanaticism -- especially under the threat of ostracism and eviction -- is another, especially when it manifests itself as an insult to the democratic process.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published Sunday, March 14, 2004
 
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