..they weren't so damn hypocritical and selective with their principles.
Since that's not enough for a diary entry, I'll make some specific examples. Inspired by Math4Barack's diary here.
I'm not the most progressive individual in this country, and I have a decidedly "American" nationview. Every time something with the Dems angers me or a blog on Kos makes me roll my eyes, my mind wanders...then I take one look at the GOP today and quickly quell the crazy thoughts encroaching onto my reasonable brain.
I could be a Republican if:
- Individual freedom ALSO applied to women in regards to reasonable birth-control choices, recreational non-psychotic drug users, and homosexuals who sought a legal, recognized spousal relationship.
- Being pro-business did not include the "at any cost to persons and taxpayers".
- Freedom of religion meant politicans did not use religious mores in their political speeches or votes, but rather what is Constitutional and the desire of their constituents.
- The loudest and most radical of the party didn't tend to be made up of literally ignorant, racist, bigoted evangelical Christians.
- The most temperate, intelligent leaders of the party weren't drowned out by the popularity of the least-intelligent, loudest, most radical politicians associated with the GOP. Give me a marxist or moonbat hippie any day.
- Taxes made sense at some point. "We can't raise taxes now, the economy stinks!" they yell. While they may be correct and I'm skeptical about what government spending and re-distribution of wealth can do for re-establishing a long-term healthy economy, I sure think that higher taxes makes sense when we things are going well. Call it saving for a rainy day and keeping the bubbles small.
/rant