I first have to begin with why I’m not a Republican. By all reason, I should be. My entire family is Republican from deep in the heart of Texas for four generations. I don’t hate Republicans and have voted Republican in the past (which, in hindsight, I have come to regret.) I think there are a lot of things that the Republicans get right: reward should be tied to work; punishment should be tied to the crime; there should be real consequences for bad behavior and a real line between right and wrong; patriotism is important - but more in the vain of "ask not what you can do for your country" rather than "we’re #1".
That said, there are many reasons that I can’t consider myself a Republican. The Republican Party has changed so much in the past 50 years. It no longer holds to the progressive ideals of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt – if only it did. The Republican Party has become power entrenched and establishment oriented. That is not to say that the Democratic Party has never been there. And, I hope I don’t offend any die-hard Hillary supporters, but I might not be the strong Democrat I currently am if she were leading the ticket simply because of her political power entrenchment from the other side. I always retain my right to be an independent. I might have still voted for her (probably would have) but not with the same drive and conviction that fuels my support of Barack Obama.
The economic philosophies of the Republican Party since Ronald Reagan are another sticking point for me. The idea that people will ignore self-interest and selflessly pass their wealth downward is absurd, naïve and goes against human nature. Greed is real and it exists even (especially?) at the top pinnacles of our society. Trickle-down supply side economics have proved to be a miserable failure. Deregulated industries and laissez faire, buyer beware, your on your own, there’s a sucker born everyday capitalism is not good for our country. I’m not against capitalism – just unregulated capitalism. Capitalism requires regulation to encourage fairness and a level playing field in order to promote healthy competition. The drumbeat for unregulated industry and markets is greatly out of step with the small business engine of our economy because that environment only encourages market cannibalism as the bigger companies eat up the smaller independently owned ones.
The Republican Party has begun to represent more and more the radical Christian fundamentalism that has risen over the past few decades in this country. In fact, they almost seem to have geared themselves to repel all others, even moderate Christians and moderate Republicans. And with this election, it appears that the push into the radical is going even further. This has led to an all out war on anyone with differing, views or cultural backgrounds – a dangerous position for a "melting pot" country. "Wedge" and "moral" issues have become a tool of the Republican Party while major moral questions are left ignored such as the morality of preemptive war, homelessness, poverty, veterans left to suffer and fend for themselves, etc. This radical push has also led to a drive toward anti-intellectualism in order to reconcile irreconcilable ideas.
But all of that tells you why I’m not a Republican. But why do I consider myself (currently at least) a Democrat?
I believe in community. I believe in country. I believe in society pooling its resources to create a better environment for everyone and for the protection of all – not just corporate heads and "masters of the Universe." I believe in citizens’ rights and human rights. I believe that everyone should participate in self-governance and take his or her civic responsibilities seriously. I believe in the patriotism of service, responsibility, contribution and commitment. I believe in the patriotism of contribution over consumption. I believe in the morality that doesn’t allow or condone the mass slaughter of innocent men, women and children, not even under the cloak of "collateral damage". I believe in the morality that doesn’t promote the existence of unwanted, under cared for, and abused children in exchange for the false morality of denying contraception and abortion. I believe in education, reason and critical thought. I believe in the equality that allows everyone access to his or her own health, freedom and welfare. I believe in the Constitution, not as a static tome, but as a living and evolving ideal. I believe in honoring commitments made. I believe in diplomacy and peace. I believe in an America, and American politics, that seek to unite us with each other and the world rather than acting to drive us all apart. I believe in accountability no matter the party affiliation.
These beliefs don’t always align me with the Democratic Party but they come much closer. And I will continue to fight for these ideals no matter which party is in power or stands against them. Currently, these beliefs certainly seem to run counter to the current memes of the Republican Party. They seem, however, to echo in the speeches, writings and conversations of Barack Obama. I’m not naive enough to believe that electing Obama as President of the United States of America will magically solve all of our woes – in fact, our job will have just begun. But electing Obama is a definite benefit in the advancement of my beliefs.
I have cross posted this at the South Denton County Democrats website: SoDeCo.org