So, I just want to put it out there - I'm not a Republican. I'm not a Democrat either, for what it's worth. I wouldn't even say I'm an Independent, cuz I really don't care about Ralph Nader or Bob Barr or Ron Paul. "I yam what I yam," as Popeye would say, and I think my views on politics are rather unorthodox and unpopular. Mostly, I hate politics. But somehow I got drawn into the election this year. And with this newfound interest, I actually have things to say.
I hate the 2 party system. All the stereotyping, name-calling, scapegoating - it's like junior high all over again. There are the cool kids. Here, the Democrats. Then, there are the uncool kids. Obviously the Republicans. And sure, the uncool kids aren't popular for a reason. They have some crazy ideas, they can be a little confrontational, and they have some unpopular opinions. But the cool kids make fun of all of that. Which would be fine if they were good-natured about it, but they obviously say things to be mean. But God forbid anyone say anything untoward about them.
Let me get out of the metaphor and just say what I mean. Democrats are kinda shitty, as a party. Republicans can certainly be shitty too, and a lot of their ideas are backwards and ignorant and sometimes shady. And they're open about it too. They don't want gay people to marry, and they do want to stay in the Iraq War, and they do a very poor job of hiding the fact that they don't tell the American people all that they should know. But Democrats would have you believe they're better than that. Democrats would have you believe that their politics are not politics at all. Democrats are never shady or ignorant or closed-minded. They're liberals! Anything goes with these people! Rights for everybody! Except if you disagree on anything they believe in. Then your right to speak your mind is forfeit. Because you think that abortion is barbaric and free trade is wonderful and guns are kinda cool. Because you think any of those things, your right to tell people freely what you believe in is negated, and you are branded as an idiotic hick from an inbred family. Or a multi-million dollar business mogul. Whichever.
It angers me that a party so bent on "equality for all" and "rights for all" can be so hypocritical about the first and foremost tenet of our democracy - Freedom of Speech. People of all ages are afraid - afraid! - to say that they are Republicans around friends and coworkers, because they don't want to be shunned for their beliefs. A girl on Craftster.org made a tasteful pro-McCain T-shirt, and the moderators had to delete comments on her post because too many people were telling her what a horrible person she was for voting Republican. Meanwhile, several Obama-related crafts went unscathed throughout the forums. How is that right? How is that liberal? How is that not shady and ignorant and closed-minded?
And I found the most unbelievable proof of Democratic Party shittiness today. I was researching the candidates this evening and found out that John McCain has an adopted Bangladeshi daughter, Bridget. Intrigued, I went searching for more information, because I had never heard this brought up in the 2008 campaign. Turns out, in 1993, Cindy McCain encountered 10 month-old Bridget at Mother Theresa's orphanage in Bangladesh. Bridget had a severe cleft palate, which made it extremely difficult for her to eat. Cindy McCain brought her back to the United States under a medical Visa, so she could get surgery. When she showed the baby to John McCain, she announced that Bridget was their new daughter. She was adopted, and has been an integral part of their family since.
So, where's the shittiness, you ask? Well, I was reading about this in an article, and there were user comments at the bottom, which I read. Republican responses were supportive, of course, and some of the Democratic responses were respectful, but noted that it didn't change their opinion of John McCain as a presidential candidate, which is fine. What really outraged me were the numerous Democratic responses that said things like "This is just a feel-good story to make John McCain's poll numbers go up. They probably didn't even want the girl. Who knows how this girl is actually being treated! She could be chained to a bed in the basement for all we know! Once Obama is in office, she will get so many more rights as the nation becomes more multicultural." Excuse me, what?! First of all, are these people really suggesting that the McCains adopted Bridget in 1993 in a proactive effort to boost his future campaign 16 years later? Seriously? What kind of idiotic idea is that? Secondly, why would anyone assume that this girl is being abused, much less so drastically? Just because McCain is a Republican, suddenly he's a monster? Thirdly, she's the daughter of a well-respected Senator. She's got plenty of rights and privileges. Barack Obama is not going to change that. I am so completely appalled by the comments I read in this article! How is saying those things any worse than anything any Republican has ever said? Not only is all of that completely ignorant and utterly closed-minded and absolutely backwards. It goes WAY beyond shady. It's ethically atrocious. Democrats should be ashamed to be remotely associated with people like that. It's unbelievable, and a little sickening, in fact.
I believe in a lot of things, some of which can be attributed to Democratic ideals, some to Republican ones. I believe in giving same-sex couples the right to marry, but I also believe abortion is wrong except in the cases of rape, incest, or threat to the mother's life. I believe too much regulation of business is bad for economic growth, but also that some level of regulation is necessary to avoid monopolies and exploitation of employees. I'm for protecting the environment and finding alternative sources of energy, but I'm also for finding sources of oil closer to home so we don't have to rely on foreign oil. I think we should have given greater attention to the war in Afghanistan, but that because we are already in Iraq, we should make sure the government is stable before withdrawing completely. I'm for stem-cell research, better funding for education, affordable health care, and higher taxes for those earning more than $250k. I have a lot of "Democratic" beliefs. But I am not a Democrat, and - until the attitude of the party changes - I refuse to call myself one.
I once told a Democrat that my parents are Republicans. "And you allow that sort of thing?" he responded, with a smile on his face but a slight sneer in his voice. I was so taken aback by his response that I did not answer him, and the conversation continued. If I could, I'd tell him now: Yes, I allow that sort of thing. In fact, I encourage it. My parents have the right as Americans to believe whatever the hell they want. And that is truly liberal.
1 comment:
Here here!
Something else I've been noticing is that democrats on the television don't give republicans equal chance to defend their stances, and when the republicans do talk, often times they're interrupted. Also, in the case of CNN, the one very right leaning show they do have, the host is so right, he’s almost a cartoon character, which really only serves to make republicans look dumb, or to not be taken seriously.
And as republican as Fox is, you can tell it’s all a show for ratings. When this 700 billion dollar bill was being sold to Americans, both CNN and Fox jumped on the bandwagon, despite the fact that most republicans hated the plan, and even many democrats. But those people weren’t given equal opportunity to speak ‘til after the bill passed. Now the news is trying to play to the outraged viewer by covering the different ridiculous aspects of the bill, and is finally interviewing financial experts and professors who also think the 700 billion dollars wasn’t a necessity.
Seriously, our news has been hijacked by the government, and by the idea of getting ratings. It’s a shame when you can’t trust your government, or your media. Who actually is on our side?
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