Recently I've been cheating on the Kossacks community and been "blogging" behind your backs with two guys I teach with. One is ULTRA-conservative, but an extremely nice and bright guy nonetheless. The other guy is one of the smartest guys I've ever met, but he's completely down on the whole political process--saying that Democrats are a bunch of pussies (apologies to the politically correct among us). He asked me to explain why I'm a Democrat. This is what I came up with off the top of my head.
More below the fold:
Reasons why I'm a Democrat (in no particular order)
* Affordable health care for EVERYONE:
The U.S. and South Africa are the ONLY two industrialized countries that don't have nationalized health care. The U.S. spends more $ per capita than any other country on health care. That's counting the 46 million Americans that don't even have health insurance and put off necessary maintenance until it's too late.
Hillary was called every name in the book for even broaching the subject, but has anything changed since the early 1990's with regard to health care? Actually, something has changed. Things have gotten even worse. We need to invest in the health of our citizens if we want to remain the world's superpower. It's as simple as that.
By the way, a nationalized health care system would create millions of well-paying jobs, too.
* Education:
Which party has ALWAYS been there for public education? Is it a perfect system? Obviously not, but how do we have the world's best doctors, the best legal system, the best military, the best entertainment system, the best pharmaceutical system, the best computer technology system, etc... if our public schools are as bad as the wing-nuts would lead you to believe? Surely, all of those important jobs aren't being filled (and refilled) only by private and charter school graduates, Catholic school girls, or illegal immigrants, are they?
Also, how are college entrance scores at all-time highs, how does America have the second highest college graduation rate in the world (behind only Japan), and how do we keep refilling the jobs necessary to maintain the world's strongest economy if our public education system sucks? It doesn't suck, and Democrats want to make it even better. (As opposed to dismantling it)
Nobody wants to simply throw more money at education and think that everything is magically going to be saved. But, by privatizing the system, what Republicans want to do, we are going to create an even bigger gap between the have's and the have-not's. Fund smaller classrooms, research-based policies, and teacher-training in the amounts it needs to be in order to be successful (up to interpretation) and you'll see positive results. Oh yea, and I don't have a problem with measuring our success through annual testing, but how it's currently conducted is a joke.
This reminds me of the old saying: "Spend a little now, or a lot later." To me, that distinguishes the two parties on many issues--especially education.
* Opportunities for all Americans:
Just last week Congress finally managed to squeeze through some budget cuts for the first time in 5 years. Did they cut back on the most bloated of all government spending--military spending, corporate giveaways, the new prescription drug program, welfare programs, etc? No, they cut loans for college students. How in the hell do we profess to be the land of opportunity if our young people (middle and lower classes mostly) can't afford to go to college? Or, if they are lucky enough, they are saddled with thousands of dollars of debt when they get out?
* Equality for all American citizens:
I know that may sound foreign and naive to most people, but we actually believe in the Golden Rule. Treat others how you would want to be treated. Yes, that means gay people, too. The ACLU gets ripped up and down but I didn't hear any Righties bitching when they defended Druggie Rush's right to doctor/client confidentiality. Or, how about the ACLU always defending the rights of the KKK to put up Christmas displays. You either believe civil rights should be extended to everyone, or you don't. Democrats believe we all benefit when people are treated equally.
I already know the comeback. "What about affirmative action?" We fucked over a lot of people for a long time. After all, it's only been 40 years since black people had real equal rights. The faster we work towards equality for all Americans, the faster we can do away with affirmative action. But, I think you'd be less than genuine if you said that inner-city kids are given the same educational opportunities as everyone else. That's why I am a big supporter of programs that give minorities a chance to get into college. With jobs, I'm less in favor of A.A.
* Favor increased wages for the lower and middle class workers and small business owners over big business:
How is it wrong to advocate an increase in the minimum wage? I want people that do what they are supposed to do--work hard, stay out of trouble, raise your kids the right way--to be able to pay their bills at the end of the month. A person earning minimum wage can't do any of those things right now. So, they end up sucking off of the government tit for the rest of their life. It amazes me that Republicans don't see the irony in this.
Also, quit rewarding companies that ship well-paying jobs overseas. It's their prerogative to do so, but it doesn't mean we have to be complicit in the process. Give government incentives to those companies that actually CREATE NEW JOBS--like many small businesses are doing. Stop the corporate giveaways to companies threatening to leave Cincinnati, the state of Ohio, or the U.S. Good riddance to those Benedict Arnolds. We'll see you down in the Grand Caymans. But, don't come a-calling when another Katrina hits.
* The Environment:
We are the laughingstock of the world when we have a president that says things like: "Global warming hasn't been proven..." What? Even if it has been exaggerated, what's the alternative? To treat the environment even worse than we currently are? Democrats have always supported limiting pollution, cleaner drinking water, more green space. We need to be the ones finding the next energy source. I finally think some Conservatives are starting to realize the importance of a clean environment. When there aren't any clean lakes and rivers to fish anymore, they'll really be pissed. After all, they're not ALL NASCAR fans.
* Separation of Church and State:
Government policies should be guided by science and by experts on prevailing subjects--not by people that believe the earth is only 20,000 years old. Believe it or not, many Conservative Christians think dinosaurs and people roamed the earth at about the same time. Also, they think the Grand Canyon took only years to develop. Why should their "Creationalists" bullshit be taught in our public schools like it's on par with evolution? Quit relying on blind faith to make government decisions. Remember, this is a president that said: "The jury is still out on this whole evolution thing." Um, no, it's not.
Pray as much as you want in your home or church, recite the 10 Commandments after dinner, knock yourself out thumping a Bible over your head, but keep that stuff out of my government. This government was created by people that came here for religious freedom. Can we please have some? We should all strive to be better people, but that doesn't have to mean we all worship in the same manner.
* The Right to Privacy:
If the Terri Schiavo debacle didn't teach us anything about the blatant hypocrisy of the Republican party, then nothing will. Democrats think private decisions should be just that--private! End of life issues, abortion, bedroom decisions, drug use, etc... should be left up to the person, his family, and, his God. What is so hard to comprehend about that? If what you do doesn't harm another human being (I recognize this can be disputed w/ regard to abortion) then what's the problem? Keep your morality off of my body!
* Any fucking "Social Issue" you can think of:
Abortion, affirmative action, gay marriage, regulation of the media, drug laws, social security, you name it. I'll make a more compelling case than any right-wing wacko. And even if I can't, I'll just fake it.
ISSUES THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH THE DEMOCRATS:
* Illegal immigration:
Neither party wants to do shit about it. Why can't we create another Ellis Island or three along the Mexican border? I think illegals provide important services (especially for the rich) and that overall, they are good for our country. But, the current system has no oversight at all. Terrorists, murderers, AIDS victims, you name it, are likely coming into the country as we speak. We have to get a handle on it. Lock down the border using the military. After all, we already have over 30,000 troops on the border--of South Korea! Why can't we use them for our own protection?
* Comprehensive Energy Policy:
If I was running for national office it would be my number one issue. Currently, it's another pariah that nobody is willing to touch for fear of the oil companies' wrath. We already have the technology to get double the MPG we're currently realizing. If we do, we reduce our dependence on the Middle East by a huge amount. It ain't rocket science--until we become less dependant on them for oil, they have the ability to destroy our economy. That's not an overstatement, either. Act now, because this isn't a problem that can be solved in a matter of a few short years. This is a much more pressing need than S.S. reform--which is completely solvent for at least another 30 years without even touching it.
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I agree that Democrats need to quit being a bunch of pussies. That's why Howard Dean (even with all of his gaffes) is a breath of fresh air. Looking back, I wish I wouldn't have been snuckered into believing the media's "he's not electable" mantra. Even if that had been the case, we would have been able to draw many huge distinctions that Kerry was unable or unwilling to articulate.
From now on I will only support candidates that speak like regular people. Paul Hackett is a great example of a Democrat that I can get excited about. We have ceded too many issues (and states) to the Rethugs and there is no reason to be bashful about what we believe in. Most people still identify with the Democrats more than they do with the fat-cat Republicans. The latest scandal involving Jack the "Rip us off" is just further evidence that Republicans have become so out of touch with their traditional values. Now, if Democrats could just articulate ours a little bit better, we'd all be much better off.