Oh, How I HATETH Thee, Republicanism...

...LET ME COUNT THE WAYS!

I dont get it, I really dont understand it. This supposed "split" in terms of the political landscape of our country. Can there really be that many Americans that support Republicans? How is that possible? I could be wrong, but it has to be based on a lack of involvement and awareness of all things political, because Republican views and agendas SURELY dont represent the majority of the country.

One thing that Republicans use to get voters are "wedge" issues. These are those hot button issues that people who are "for" or "against" usually are REALLY REALLY for or against. And this is my biggest problem with political Christians. Because, lets take gay marriage for example... its a subject that has been taboo for a very long time and will probably continue to be. Its an issue, that doesn't affect anyone outside the gay community, however, people choose political affiliations because of it.

My personal view, I'm not in favor of gay marriage... however, thats my personal view, and I do not want to legislate my personal opinion to the country as a whole. This is a libertarian issue to me. I'm personally conservative, but I believe that people have the right to be as socially liberal (and liberated) as they want to be... as long as it doesn't harm their neighbor. And if Adam and Steve want to be together, though I might skip the ceremony... their life doesn't affect me. Now look, lets be reasonable... if an abusive drunk pimp and a drug-addict prostitute can go to a sleazy Elvis "Marriage-n-Go" in Vegas, why can't two men who love each other get married? Not even at the courthouse? The Republicans are suppose to be the party of civil liberties, but only when its convenient it seems. And, remember, the ONLY time civil liberties should be infringed upon, are when they potentially harm the freedom and safety of others.

We have murder rates higher than European nations... why...? Because they have sense enough to have GUN CONTROL. But we'll never have it here. The Republicans even kept the assault rifle ban from being renewed. Its now legal to have an AK-47 in America!!! Lets have even more guns! Yeah! And we wonder why we see these crazy stories on the news. And what is the reason they say gun control is unAmerican? Because of civil liberties? So, its okay to own a weapon that is made for one purpose (to kill, stupid), but its not okay for two people to get married. Yeah... um... I dont get that. Now, again, Im not personally campaigning for gay marriage, but thats my personal opinion... who am I to tell others what to do?

Wedge issues like gay marriage are used as tools to blind people from the truth. You never hear anything about gay marriage... other than... oh... once every 4 years. As if there is this pool of straight men... in hiding... waiting for gay marriage to be legal, so they can divorce their wives and come out of the closet. Because a law banning gay marriage is that ONE thing stopping our society from decaying into utter chaos.

"Dude, I am so dying with this farce. I've been living this lie for 20 years. But there's been only one thing holding me back. There's been one thing stopping me from corrupting myself, and influencing all my male associates. Only one thing keeping me from decaying into a lifestyle of utter DEBAUCHERY. I've been counting the days to gay marriage being legal. Then I'm gonna paint the town PINK and PURPLE, darling!"

This is the type of thing the religious figures who support Republicans say. "Social issues." Gotta save American from those crazy liberals. What exactly are we being saved from? I keep up with politics. Did I sleep in the day the conservatives saved me from the bill to require middle schoolers to read up on the benefits of 'shacking up?'

So, Joe Bloe votes republicans, because he hates gays... but what else is he voting for?

In the constitution, there is a right of the people to "petition their government." That is now interpreted to mean... lobbyists. That is, people who go to government to get things done on behalf of their "group." I wont go into detail about what I think of lobbyists, but there are many different groups who do it. I'll only mention two. Those that represent unions... and those that represent big business. Unions, as in, a large collections of workers, who come together for protection against their employers. Think they aren't needed? Read up on Jimmy Hoffa and what working conditions in this country were like before the Teamsters. Anyway, there are the (afforementioned) Teamsters, and auto unions, and teachers unions... and unions on behalf of many different groups of workers. They represent the ECONOMIC interests of the middle class. And not surprising, all the major workers unions in this country support one political party. Hmmmmm... let me think... Democrats. Now, that would imply, that of the two major parties... the unions of America feel that the Democrats best represent their values... and thus... the values and interests of the working class American. And with big busines being the opposite of a workers unions... who do the big businesses usually support... take your time... you'll figure it out...

If you live in Tennessee... you're 40 years old... you are a manual labor steel worker... and you make $17/hr... I understand that you feel that gays have the cooties... ("cooties? eeeew, yuck!") but... um... how does that really affect you? Here's a secret. Psssst... pssst... dont be shy... come closer... I'll tell you the answer... you ready... (looks both ways before whispering) it doesn't!

And if you've read any of my previous posts... you already know how I feel about the Republicans using FEAR-MONGERING ["the terrorists could hit us again at any moment, be afraid! close your eyes... trust me!"] to further their agenda.

But the guy in Tennessee is voting for a political party which doesn't have his best interest at heart. Certain wedge issues will be brought up when its time for you to vote, but the 4 years in between, the big business lobbyists are putting hundreds of millions of dollars into Congress to further an agenda, and let me tell ya... it aint yours.

If you are rich, I can at least "understand" why you'd vote for Republicans. I'd still think it was immoral, but I could at least see how you see them representing you. But for people who are Christian... the religious guys... Billy Graham, Albert Mohler, Kirbyjon Caldwell, and many others...

Republicans REGULARLY vote against legislation:

that would ensure FREE healthcare for all Americans (health insurance lobbyists)
that would raise the minimum wage to a reasonable rate (big business lobbyists)
that would make cheaper international prescription drugs legal (pharmaceutical lobbyists)
that would regulate businesses that negatively affect the environment (oil lobbyists)

I just can't imagine Jesus saying: "Well, if you had a better job... you'd have health coverage, now wouldn't you, Paco? And what are you complaining about... who can't live off $6/hr anyway? Thats not even the minimum, be thankful to God you're not getting $5.15. Your boss is worth $140K/yr. Bless him like I have, Paco. And drugs from Canada. C'mon... you dont really trust a third world country like Canada to make good drugs do you? You pay 8x their rates because these drugs have been prayed over. Blessed drugs. And the environment... listen Paco... I made the earth in 6 days... surely I can do it again, right? Dont you have faith? See... those Oil Lobbyists... they have faith. You just want to waste. They want to take what I have created, put in on the free market for a substantial profit... and bring a service to you. Besides... they gotta make a living right.. I know about that, right? If it gets too bad, go believe in Word of Faith church, and give the rest of your money to some preacher who has never worked a real job in his life and let him tell you how to get wealth as you give yours to him! Be blessed, Paco. Be blessed"

Now, maybe Billy Graham and Kirbyjon Caldwell can see Jesus saying that... after all, they're pretty wealthy... but, I can't. I dont know if it would be quite like that. I think Jesus would like to see all people with full health coverage. Europeans, South Americans, Canadians... even Cubans... they all have free health insurance. They dont have to worry about hearing things "pre-existing condition" (translation: sorry, you were sick before we met you, we wont be covering that!) or "experimental procedure" (sorry, thats just wishing on a star, you might as well meet us at a pool and we'll give you a nickel, we wont spend our money on that!)

I know the religious hate gay people, but do they hate the rest of us? Because, we'd like a decent wage and full health benefits... if that would be okay? "Can I get some extra fruit-cocktail, please?"

And at the same time, these Republicans give these huge tax breaks for the top 10% of Americans and repeal the estate tax, a tax on dead rich people which brings in billions of dollars in revenue for the country. Its all about rich people:

"We didn't forget about you guys... we're giving everyone a tax break... DURING A WAR... (which has never happened)... for $300 dollars. Yeah! Just imagine its 1903, instead of 2004. You know what you could do with $300 dollars? Oh boy... you could get that... that... small tv, just like you always wanted... the democrats want to take away your small tv. You're not gonna let that happen are ya? No sir... they wanna take from you... we wanna give back to you. Huh... how much... are my friends... going to get... well... $30,000K in tax breaks... but... you still want that tv right? Yeah... sure ya do. Vote for me... I'll get you that tv. God bless you and God bless our troops! We support our troops! Yeah!!!"

Support the troops? What... he can't even get all his medical covered. The VA... the US Dept of Veteran Affairs, recently said that 25% of all homeless people are veterans of some war. 100,000 ex-US soldiers on any given night, and 200,000 at some point each year! The Veterans are putting out those numbers! Do the rich still support the troops? Where does that slogan go then? We support the troops... or we support pushing an agenda?

I've mentioned this before, but George Bush's guy in the administration who was checking the claims of Global Warming.. "global warming needs more study" remember that quote. He was a former Oil Lobbyist! When his past came out... he went back to Oil Lobbying! These guys have everyday lay-people in their party thinking "hmmm... maybe global warming DOES need more study..." and the guy pulling the strings works for an industry that is DIRECTLY affected by ignoring greenhouse emissions.

Lets be honest, when is the last time you woke up in a cold shiver and said...

"Huh... wha... wha... whats happening... whats happening... am I goin' crazy... oh no... no... wha... wha... wait... where am I... oh... it was... all a... a dream... gosh... I was... so scared... for a second... I thought... the ban of gay marriage... had been repealed... whew. Good... now... I can go back to sleep in peace. Thank you, Republicans... for keeping me safe... from gays...




...and terrorists."