I live in a red state. We do have a Dem governor, but I've got George Allen, John Warner, and Jo Ann Davis as my national representation, and it gets worse as it gets more local. I see no hope of ousting them, and from their responses to my letters, I understand my concerns are of no concern to them.
Would becoming a Republican In Name Only and working to make my de facto representation represent me be better than standing on the sidelines with the Democrats?
The Democrats have the more noble causes, and the better ideas for what I truly think needs to be done, but my government is run by these near-criminals who, on hearing Lincoln's "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time," choose options one and two. All they need is a majority; and that, only sometimes, when it counts. Devil take the rest.
What irritates me most about Bush and his republican henchmen is the big 'fuck you' to the people who didn't vote for him. The 50%+1 vote mandate that emboldens them to disenfranchise the 50%-1 minority that didn't win runs counter to the whole notion of rights and good government. I know I am not invited to see this president speak. This idea that politics is a big game where things balance out between two warring, corrupt parties that both have to grab all they can, and rely on the opponents to keep them honest, is a sham. The republicans need internal controls, they need non-koolaid drinkers in the audience.
I can't marginalize myself with the minority Dems here. To speak truth to power, I need to go where the power is.
The question of "who decides?" in my 68% red-voting precinct is answered by the Republicans. If I want to know what is going on, or be a real part of the process, I have to be a part of the Republican process. Perhaps I can help dilute the worst excesses, or at least make them lie to my face.
I don't get to make my first choice, but I can have more of an effect choosing lesser evils in Republican primaries.
Maybe if I bring my bottle of Evian, I won't have to drink the kool-ade.