I have hesitated about writing this, because of what the reaction of the naysayers will be, but here goes.....................
I am friends with several of the New Order Amish, the ones that drive the fast tractors on the roads, one of the more modern groups of Amish/Mennonites. One of them is my farrier, and we have had some good discussions about what they believe. His group does not vote, as they believe in staying out of what they see as confrontations. He told me that some people have compared them to communists because of what they believe, and that they are socialists in that they do not believe it is fair for one person to have more than another. He says that leads to someone thinking they are better than someone else, and flaunting their wealth. When they have people in their church that do that, the Bishops and Deacons will pay that person a visit and have a talk with them. In extreme measures, a person can be kicked out of the church because of it. Also, if a person is having trouble with their business, the church will appoint members to step in and take over the business and try to make it solvent again. I know of several cases myself where that has happened.
I have some Mennonite neighbors who are registered to vote, and do so. They are Democrats, and vote that way. I have asked them why, and they told me that the Democrats believed more along the same lines as they do. When I asked about abortion, and if they believed in aborting babies, they did not answer, and instead pointed out that the Republicans believed in war and the Democrats did not.
So, politically, they are more in line with the Democrats, yet their supporters here continue to tell us how wonderful they are.
