"Why I fled libertarianism — and became a liberal "

Anti-Party said:
http://www.salon.com/2013/12/28/why_i_fled_libertarianism_and_became_a_liberal/

The night before the 2008 Nevada Republican convention, the Ron Paul delegates all met at a Reno high school. Although I’d called myself a libertarian for almost my entire adult life, it was my first exposure to the wider movement.

And boy, was it a circus. Many members of the group were obsessed with the gold standard, the Kennedy assassination and the Fed. Although Libertarians believe government is incompetent, many of them subscribe to the most fringe conspiracy theories imaginable. Airplanes are poisoning America with chemicals (chemtrails) or the moon landings were faked. Nothing was too far out. A great many of them really think that 9-11 was an inside job. Even while basking in the electoral mainstream, the movement was overflowing with obvious hokum.

During the meeting, a Ron Paul staffer, a smart and charismatic young woman, gave a tip to the group for the upcoming convention.

“Dress normal,” she said. “Wear suits, and don’t bring signs or flags. Don’t talk about conspiracy theories. Just fit in.” Her advice was the kind you might hear given to an insane uncle at Thanksgiving.

Then next day, I ran into that same operative at the convention, and I complimented her because Ron Paul delegates were being accepted into the crowd. I added, “We‘re going to win this thing.”

“Bring in the clowns,” she said, and smiled before I lost her in the mass of people.

I will never forget that moment: Bring in the clowns. At the time, I considered myself a thoughtful person, yet I could hardly claim to be one if you judged me by the company I kept. The young lady knew something I had not yet learned: most of our supporters were totally fucking nuts.

I came by my own libertarian sensibilities honestly. I grew up in a mining town that produced gold, silver and copper; but above all, Battle Mountain, Nev. made libertarians. Raised on 40-acre square of brown sage brush and dead earth, we burned our own garbage and fired guns in the back yard.

After leaving my small town upbringing, I learned that libertarians are made for lots of reasons, like reading the bad fiction of Ayn Rand or perhaps the passable writing of Robert Heinlein. In my experience, most seemed to be poor, white and undereducated. They were contortionists, justifying the excesses of the capitalist elite, despite being victims if libertarian politics succeed.

If you think that selfishness and cruelty are fantastic personal traits, you might be a libertarian. In the movement no one will ever call you an asshole, but rather, say you believe in radical individualism.


Yet I don’t want to gloss over the good things about libertarians. They are generally supportive of the gay community, completely behind marijuana legalization and are often against ill-considered foreign wars, but a few good ideas don’t make up for some spectacularly bad ones. Their saving grace is a complete lack of organizational ability, which is why they are always trying to take over the Republican Party, rather than create a party of their own.

The Ron Paul delegates were able to take over the Nevada convention in 2008, howling, screeching and grinding it to a painful halt. I was part of the mob, and once we took over, we were unable to get anything done. The national delegates were appointed in secret later.

The Republican convention didn’t turn me off of libertarians, but I started losing respect for the movement while watching the financial meltdown. Libertarians were (rightly) furious when our government bailed out the banks, but they fought hardest against help for ordinary Americans. They hated unemployment insurance and reduced school lunches. I used to say similar things, but in such a catastrophic recession isn’t the government supposed to help? Isn’t that the lesson of the Great Depression?

Through all the turmoil, the presidential election went ahead. Although I didn’t vote for him, I wept when Barack Obama took the oath of office in early 2009. They were tears of bewilderment, joy, pride and hope, despite the fact that I did everything within my own limited power to keep the moment from ever happening.

From the ashes of the election rose the movement that pushed me from convinced libertarian into bunny-hugging liberal. The Tea Party monster forever tainted the words freedom and libertarian for me. The rise of the Tea Party made me want to puke, and my nausea is now a chronic condition.

There are a lot of libertarians in the Tea Party, but there are also a lot of repugnant, religious nuts and intolerant racists. “Birthers” found a comfy home among 9-11 conspiracy people and other crackpots. After only a few months, I had absolutely no desire to ever be linked to this group of people.

As evidence, I offer the most repugnant example of many complaints. I’ve heard the n-word used in casual conversation from people I would never expect. Some people might not believe it or think I’m playing the race card, but I’m not. I’ve heard the word more than I care to admit and more often in the run-up to the 2012 election. Perhaps because I’m a big, fat and bald white guy with a mean goatee, racists think I’m on board with them. I am not, and I’m ashamed to admit that my cowardice at confronting this ugliness makes me complicit.

During Obama’s first term, I also went to graduate school for creative writing at progressive college, and I settled into my marriage with my wife, a Canadian and “goddamn liberal.” I can’t point to just one thing that pushed me left, but in Obama’s first term I had a change of heart, moving from a lifelong extreme into the bosom of conventional liberalism.

I began to think about real people, like my neighbors and people less lucky than me. Did I want those people to starve to death? I care about children, even poor ones. I love the National Park system. The best parts of the America I love are our communities. My libertarian friends might call me a fucking commie (they have) or a pussy, but extreme selfishness is just so isolating and cruel. Libertarianism is unnatural, and the size of the federal government is almost irrelevant. The real question is: what does society need and how do we pay for it?

A month before the 2012 election, I changed my party affiliation to Democrat. I am a very late bloomer, that it took me so many decades to develop my own values. I was thirty-nine.

I don’t think regular Americans have any idea just how crazy libertarians can be. The only human corollary I can offer is unquestioning religious fervor, and hell yeah, I used to be a true believer. Libertarians think they own the word “freedom,” but it’s a word that often obfuscates more than enlightens. If you believe the Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quote “None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free,” then libertarians live in a prison of their own ideology.
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There's a lot here and much of it deserving of attention but what von Goethe said is applicable to all of us. We all have an ideological position and it is always capable of enslaving us if we stop thinking about things and begin to accept the pat ideological answers to complex issues. It is the thinking through that frees us not the blind acceptance of what others say! And this happens on the right, the far right, the left and the far left. It is important to consider what is going on around us. Lately I have been thinking in a primitive way about how America wound up being a country with a political system mostly based around identity politics such with voting blocs based on such identities as Feminists, African Americans, white mates, Hispanics or Latinos/Latinas and other groups within the body politic, where as in most other countries there is a clear class based political structure in America we don't have that we have this identity crap. And how we got from that to a more broad based workers vs. owners party system is something to behold. I don't have any good answers but I think it is a question worth pondering. It seems like the only classes we have are the rich, the poor, and the middle class, and these have nothing to do with traditional classes, because they are still widely bifurcated internally by questions of identity with makes the organization of these class based groups much harder and much more difficult to negotiate. It also helps the rich who have no problem getting what they want form the government that is there for them while others must appeal through the mass of influence peddlers who surround the elected officials whose most important job is servicing the needs of those who pay for their election campaigns.
 
evince said:
go read the republican platform
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Here it is DUNCE; quite the radical agenda.

Republican Party on Budget & Economy
•Inflation is a hidden regressive tax. (Aug 2012)
•Audit the Federal Reserve; bring more transparency. (Aug 2012)
•Balanced Budget Amendment & super-majority for tax increase. (Aug 2012)
•Shrink the FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (Aug 2012)
•OpEd: Democrats are addicted to spending. (Jan 2012)

Republican Party on Civil Rights
•Constitutionally define marriage as one man & one woman. (Aug 2012)
•The Patriot Act is used to track terrorist activity. (Sep 2004)
•Homosexuality is incompatible with military service. (Sep 2004)
•Support the advancement of women in the military. (Sep 2004)
•States should not recognize gay marriage from other states. (Sep 2004)
•Affirmative Access, without preferences or set-asides. (Sep 2004)
•Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
•Strong support for traditional definition of marriage. (Aug 2000)
•Let Boy Scouts exercise free speech (ok to ban gays). (Aug 2000)
•Women exempt from combat; “candid analysis” of military gays. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Corporations
•FactCheck: Obama didn't say "you didn't build that". (Aug 2012)
•World's highest corporate tax rate cripples job creation. (Aug 2012)

Republican Party on Crime
•Criminals behind bars cannot harm the public. (Aug 2012)
•Support the death penalty. (Sep 2004)
•Best way to deter crime is to enforce existing laws. (Sep 2004)
•More victims rights and harsher penalties for certain crimes. (Aug 2000)
•Death penalty is an effective deterrent. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Drugs
•Jail time and school drug testing deters drug use. (Sep 2004)
•Clinton surrendered Drug War; cry out for drug-free schools. (Aug 2000)
•Aggressively pursue drug kingpins; include death penalty. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Education
•Shift to community colleges and technical institutions. (Aug 2012)
•No federal college loans; just insure private loans. (Aug 2012)
•Promote school choice and home-schooling. (Sep 2004)
•Support voluntary student-initiated prayer in school. (Sep 2004)
•Limit role of federal government in education. (Aug 2000)
•Increase access to higher education with savings accounts. (Aug 2000)
•Strongly support voluntary student-initiated prayer. (Aug 2000)
•Achievement is basis for access to college. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Energy & Oil
•Open ANWR and OCS for oil & gas development. (Aug 2012)
•No Kyoto, no mandatory carbon emissions controls. (Sep 2004)
•Provide tax incentives for energy production. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Environment
•Conservation is a conservative value, but balance economics. (Aug 2012)
•Private property ownership key to environmental agenda. (Sep 2004)
•Cap-and-trade market-based air pollution reductions. (Sep 2004)
•Encourage market-based solutions to environmental problems. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Families & Children
•OpEd: Make common cause with pro-family Hispanics. (Mar 2013)
•Families are the cornerstone of our culture. (Sep 2004)
•Support abstinence and fatherhood. (Aug 2000)
•Reduce child welfare caseloads & encourage adoption. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Foreign Policy
•Transition to a post-Assad Syria and independent Lebanon. (Aug 2012)
•Model foreign aid on Millennium Challenge Corporation. (Aug 2012)
•Castro regime in Cuba is a state-sponsor of terrorism. (Aug 2012)
•Nations that support terrorism are just as guilty. (Sep 2004)
•A global coalition has broken al Qaeda cells. (Sep 2004)
•The Pakistan government working with US to fight terror. (Sep 2004)
•Saudi Arabia has joined the War on Terror. (Sep 2004)
•Iraq is now becoming an example of reform. (Sep 2004)
•Libya’s munitions have been destroyed. (Sep 2004)
•Iraqi government has gained broad international support. (Sep 2004)
•Pursue a comprehensive strategy against WMD proliferation. (Sep 2004)
•Provide new strategies to help poor nations. (Sep 2004)
•Applaud the success in mobilizing international cooperation. (Sep 2004)
•The Broader Middle East Initiative spreads democracy. (Sep 2004)
•Objectives of assistance and the strategies must change. (Sep 2004)
•Look to Latin American countries as key partners. (Aug 2000)
•Strengthen ties to Asia and promote democracy there. (Aug 2000)
•NATO has shared responsibility for peacekeeping. (Aug 2000)
•Help Africa with private sector and charitable investment. (Aug 2000)
•Reform U.N. to end abuse, unfairness, and abortion funding. (Aug 2000)
•Will not allow China to attack Taiwan. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Free Trade
•Restore presidential Trade Promotion Authority. (Aug 2012)
•Countervailing duties against China on intellectual property. (Aug 2012)
•U.S. should position itself to dominate trade. (Aug 2000)
•Promote free trade with America setting the standards. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Government Reform
•Keep Electoral College; no national popular vote. (Aug 2012)
•Repeal McCain-Feingold; no contribution limits. (Aug 2012)
•Require photo ID to fight voter fraud. (Aug 2012)
•No statehood for the District of Columbia. (Aug 2012)
•Stop activist judges from banning Pledge & Ten Commandments. (Sep 2004)
•Reduce inefficient government, reward results. (Aug 2000)
•Reform politics to encourage participation. (Aug 2000)
•Federal government should not interfere with states’ rights. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Gun Control
•Right to obtain and store ammunition without registration. (Aug 2012)
•Open more public land to hunting. (Sep 2004)
•No frivolous gun lawsuits, no gun licensing. (Sep 2004)
•Will protect right to bear arms. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Health Care
•Repeal ObamaCare; it is an attack on our Constitution. (Aug 2012)
•ABC for AIDS: Abstinence, Be faithful, Change behavior. (Sep 2004)
•Ethical research yes; embryo cells no; cloning no. (Sep 2004)
•No assisted suicide. (Sep 2004)
•Government-run universal health care leads to inefficiencies. (Sep 2004)
•A reformed Medicare will give seniors choice, flexibility. (Aug 2000)
•Give individuals tools to manage their own health needs. (Aug 2000)
•Allow customization of insurance, support health centers. (Aug 2000)
•Lawyers should not hold physicians hostage. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Homeland Security
•No aerial surveillance over US soil. (Aug 2012)
•Privatize the TSA and end frisking. (Aug 2012)
•Respond to proliferation of transnational terrorism. (Aug 2012)
•National Military Strategy to deter rogue aggression. (Aug 2012)
•Few Republicans prefer diplomacy to military action. (Sep 2006)
•Bush has kept the charge to protect our country. (Sep 2004)
•Bush has implemented biodefense measures. (Sep 2004)
•Keep our homeland safe by taking action on multiple fronts. (Sep 2004)
•Break down the wall between intelligence and law enforcement. (Sep 2004)
•Bush and Congress have been careful to protect liberties. (Sep 2004)
•Keep our homeland safe by taking action on multiple fronts. (Sep 2004)
•Establish minimum safety requirements at chemical plants. (Sep 2004)
•Greatly increase the federal bioterrorism budget. (Sep 2004)
•Recapitalize and enlarge the Coast Guard’s fleet. (Sep 2004)
•Support to create a National Intelligence Director position. (Sep 2004)
•Establish a National Counterterrorism Center. (Sep 2004)
•Provided Arm Forces better pay, treatment, and training. (Sep 2004)
•Cover all basic housing costs for average service members. (Sep 2004)
•Increased funding for VA health care. (Sep 2004)
•Equip our nation to fight 21st Century adversaries. (Sep 2004)
•Provide $10 billion to defend from ballistic missiles. (Sep 2004)
•Affirm traditional military culture&rebuild morale (no gays). (Aug 2000)
•U.S. needs comprehensive missile defense system. (Aug 2000)
•Eliminate as many nuclear weapons as possible. (Aug 2000)
•Restore health of defense industry; peace thru strength. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Immigration
•OpEd: GOP ignores fact of increasing ethnic minorities. (Mar 2013)
•Make E-verify mandatory nationwide. (Aug 2012)
•Use biometric data to better track foreign travelers. (Sep 2004)
•Only legal immigrants, through tightly controlled borders. (Sep 2004)
•Amnesty encourages illegal immigration. (Sep 2004)
•Reform & toughen immigration system to emphasize family. (Aug 2000)
•Focus immigration on needed skills. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Jobs
•Support employee ownership over union elites. (Aug 2012)
•The best jobs program is economic growth. (Aug 2012)
•Recognize that people depend on land for livelihood. (Aug 2000)
•Small business deserves better treatment from government. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Principles & Values
•OpEd: GOP has proven tone-deaf in courting Hispanic voters. (Mar 2013)
•Support prayer in public schools. (Aug 2012)
•The GOP is the Great Opportunity Party. (Aug 2012)
•1980s: Gained southern Whites plus southern Evangelicals. (Feb 2007)
•Obama: GOP wins elections by vilifying Democrats. (Oct 2006)
•We saw the spirit of courage and optimism on 9/11. (Sep 2004)
•Credo of free market economics & less government. (Oct 2003)
•Bush will nominate conservative judges only. (Aug 2000)
•A distinctly American internationalism for the 21st century. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Social Security
•Give workers control over their retirement investments. (Aug 2012)
•Workers will have choice to invest their payroll taxes. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Tax Reform
•56% oppose raising taxes on earnings over $250,000. (Jan 2012)
•Cut taxes to stimulate economy and help families. (Aug 2000)
•Tax cuts & low interest rates lead to home ownership. (Aug 2000)
•Repeal death tax & give tax break to care for elderly. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Technology
•Infrastructure via civil engineering, not social engineering. (Aug 2012)
•Invest in cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies. (Aug 2012)
•Support do-not-call and do-not-email lists. (Sep 2004)
•Encourage technology with funds for R & D, tax reform. (Aug 2000)
•School, libraries should ban porn from their computers. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on War & Peace
•Prevent Iran from building and possessing nuclear weapons. (Aug 2012)
•Terrorists seek weapons of mass destruction to kill us. (Sep 2004)
•Shrink the space in which the terrorists can operate. (Sep 2004)
•Total and complete destruction of terrorism is needed. (Sep 2004)
•Afghanistan is liberated and the American people are safer. (Sep 2004)
•Saddam had capability to reconstitute his weapons programs. (Sep 2004)
•Promote peace, reduce threat of war, protect Israel. (Aug 2000)
•Contribute in Balkans, but let NATO run it. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Welfare & Poverty
•Religious charities foster benevolence and patriotism. (Aug 2012)
•Move more welfare recipients off the welfare rolls. (Sep 2004)
•Faith-based welfare grants equal with secular groups. (Sep 2004)
•Tax reform will enable more poor to own a home. (Aug 2000)
•Faith-based charities should help end child poverty. (Aug 2000)



http://www.ontheissues.org/Republican_Party.htm
 
cawacko said:
Who has ever said a constitutional republic doesn't include elections?
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As a mater of fact many of the founders didn't want elections and feared the power of the people. Many of them felt that in a country with elections that eventually the poor would outnumber and attack the rich though the machinations of government and eventually strip the rich of their wealth and redistribute it to the poor through the use of government functions. That is why in the original Constitution the only popularly elected officials in the whole government were the House members, and even that was suspect. It is also why the government functionaries were originally certified by the Senate and the Senators, instead of the House, who were not popularly elected until 1913 when the XVII Amendment was ratified. Of course, the founders didn't understand then the full power of propaganda and how way it would be to convince poor people that the best thing to do was believe that government was a bad way to get things done and that the best thing for them was to vote for lower taxes on the rich and smaller government. Even as it was, in fact, government and the constitution that made the rich rich and the same government which made the poor poor! But some people are really gullible and want to be loved by those who sign their paycheck so much that they will even believe and propagate lies if it will make those who they consider their rich betters like them for their devotion to their causes. If people stop believing that government is bad and that government can in fact make things better by leveling inequality and making people just a little bit better off and more equally remunerated for their work then perhaps we will see some substantive changes but as long as the wealthy have the run of the camp e are not going see any thing except greater and greater inequality.
 
SmarterthanYou said:
complete bullshit, but drink it up like the other glasses of koolaid.
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You are an example yourself, totally self a absorbed and cruel in your attitude towards others, deal with it. It is exactly the impression you give on here. You would shoot first and question later with no regards for others.
 
Truth Detector said:
Here it is DUNCE; quite the radical agenda.

Republican Party on Budget & Economy
•Inflation is a hidden regressive tax. (Aug 2012)
•Audit the Federal Reserve; bring more transparency. (Aug 2012)
•Balanced Budget Amendment & super-majority for tax increase. (Aug 2012)
•Shrink the FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (Aug 2012)
•OpEd: Democrats are addicted to spending. (Jan 2012)

Republican Party on Civil Rights
•Constitutionally define marriage as one man & one woman. (Aug 2012)
•The Patriot Act is used to track terrorist activity. (Sep 2004)
•Homosexuality is incompatible with military service. (Sep 2004)
•Support the advancement of women in the military. (Sep 2004)
•States should not recognize gay marriage from other states. (Sep 2004)
•Affirmative Access, without preferences or set-asides. (Sep 2004)
•Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
•Strong support for traditional definition of marriage. (Aug 2000)
•Let Boy Scouts exercise free speech (ok to ban gays). (Aug 2000)
•Women exempt from combat; “candid analysis” of military gays. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Corporations
•FactCheck: Obama didn't say "you didn't build that". (Aug 2012)
•World's highest corporate tax rate cripples job creation. (Aug 2012)

Republican Party on Crime
•Criminals behind bars cannot harm the public. (Aug 2012)
•Support the death penalty. (Sep 2004)
•Best way to deter crime is to enforce existing laws. (Sep 2004)
•More victims rights and harsher penalties for certain crimes. (Aug 2000)
•Death penalty is an effective deterrent. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Drugs
•Jail time and school drug testing deters drug use. (Sep 2004)
•Clinton surrendered Drug War; cry out for drug-free schools. (Aug 2000)
•Aggressively pursue drug kingpins; include death penalty. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Education
•Shift to community colleges and technical institutions. (Aug 2012)
•No federal college loans; just insure private loans. (Aug 2012)
•Promote school choice and home-schooling. (Sep 2004)
•Support voluntary student-initiated prayer in school. (Sep 2004)
•Limit role of federal government in education. (Aug 2000)
•Increase access to higher education with savings accounts. (Aug 2000)
•Strongly support voluntary student-initiated prayer. (Aug 2000)
•Achievement is basis for access to college. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Energy & Oil
•Open ANWR and OCS for oil & gas development. (Aug 2012)
•No Kyoto, no mandatory carbon emissions controls. (Sep 2004)
•Provide tax incentives for energy production. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Environment
•Conservation is a conservative value, but balance economics. (Aug 2012)
•Private property ownership key to environmental agenda. (Sep 2004)
•Cap-and-trade market-based air pollution reductions. (Sep 2004)
•Encourage market-based solutions to environmental problems. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Families & Children
•OpEd: Make common cause with pro-family Hispanics. (Mar 2013)
•Families are the cornerstone of our culture. (Sep 2004)
•Support abstinence and fatherhood. (Aug 2000)
•Reduce child welfare caseloads & encourage adoption. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Foreign Policy
•Transition to a post-Assad Syria and independent Lebanon. (Aug 2012)
•Model foreign aid on Millennium Challenge Corporation. (Aug 2012)
•Castro regime in Cuba is a state-sponsor of terrorism. (Aug 2012)
•Nations that support terrorism are just as guilty. (Sep 2004)
•A global coalition has broken al Qaeda cells. (Sep 2004)
•The Pakistan government working with US to fight terror. (Sep 2004)
•Saudi Arabia has joined the War on Terror. (Sep 2004)
•Iraq is now becoming an example of reform. (Sep 2004)
•Libya’s munitions have been destroyed. (Sep 2004)
•Iraqi government has gained broad international support. (Sep 2004)
•Pursue a comprehensive strategy against WMD proliferation. (Sep 2004)
•Provide new strategies to help poor nations. (Sep 2004)
•Applaud the success in mobilizing international cooperation. (Sep 2004)
•The Broader Middle East Initiative spreads democracy. (Sep 2004)
•Objectives of assistance and the strategies must change. (Sep 2004)
•Look to Latin American countries as key partners. (Aug 2000)
•Strengthen ties to Asia and promote democracy there. (Aug 2000)
•NATO has shared responsibility for peacekeeping. (Aug 2000)
•Help Africa with private sector and charitable investment. (Aug 2000)
•Reform U.N. to end abuse, unfairness, and abortion funding. (Aug 2000)
•Will not allow China to attack Taiwan. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Free Trade
•Restore presidential Trade Promotion Authority. (Aug 2012)
•Countervailing duties against China on intellectual property. (Aug 2012)
•U.S. should position itself to dominate trade. (Aug 2000)
•Promote free trade with America setting the standards. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Government Reform
•Keep Electoral College; no national popular vote. (Aug 2012)
•Repeal McCain-Feingold; no contribution limits. (Aug 2012)
•Require photo ID to fight voter fraud. (Aug 2012)
•No statehood for the District of Columbia. (Aug 2012)
•Stop activist judges from banning Pledge & Ten Commandments. (Sep 2004)
•Reduce inefficient government, reward results. (Aug 2000)
•Reform politics to encourage participation. (Aug 2000)
•Federal government should not interfere with states’ rights. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Gun Control
•Right to obtain and store ammunition without registration. (Aug 2012)
•Open more public land to hunting. (Sep 2004)
•No frivolous gun lawsuits, no gun licensing. (Sep 2004)
•Will protect right to bear arms. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Health Care
•Repeal ObamaCare; it is an attack on our Constitution. (Aug 2012)
•ABC for AIDS: Abstinence, Be faithful, Change behavior. (Sep 2004)
•Ethical research yes; embryo cells no; cloning no. (Sep 2004)
•No assisted suicide. (Sep 2004)
•Government-run universal health care leads to inefficiencies. (Sep 2004)
•A reformed Medicare will give seniors choice, flexibility. (Aug 2000)
•Give individuals tools to manage their own health needs. (Aug 2000)
•Allow customization of insurance, support health centers. (Aug 2000)
•Lawyers should not hold physicians hostage. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Homeland Security
•No aerial surveillance over US soil. (Aug 2012)
•Privatize the TSA and end frisking. (Aug 2012)
•Respond to proliferation of transnational terrorism. (Aug 2012)
•National Military Strategy to deter rogue aggression. (Aug 2012)
•Few Republicans prefer diplomacy to military action. (Sep 2006)
•Bush has kept the charge to protect our country. (Sep 2004)
•Bush has implemented biodefense measures. (Sep 2004)
•Keep our homeland safe by taking action on multiple fronts. (Sep 2004)
•Break down the wall between intelligence and law enforcement. (Sep 2004)
•Bush and Congress have been careful to protect liberties. (Sep 2004)
•Keep our homeland safe by taking action on multiple fronts. (Sep 2004)
•Establish minimum safety requirements at chemical plants. (Sep 2004)
•Greatly increase the federal bioterrorism budget. (Sep 2004)
•Recapitalize and enlarge the Coast Guard’s fleet. (Sep 2004)
•Support to create a National Intelligence Director position. (Sep 2004)
•Establish a National Counterterrorism Center. (Sep 2004)
•Provided Arm Forces better pay, treatment, and training. (Sep 2004)
•Cover all basic housing costs for average service members. (Sep 2004)
•Increased funding for VA health care. (Sep 2004)
•Equip our nation to fight 21st Century adversaries. (Sep 2004)
•Provide $10 billion to defend from ballistic missiles. (Sep 2004)
•Affirm traditional military culture&rebuild morale (no gays). (Aug 2000)
•U.S. needs comprehensive missile defense system. (Aug 2000)
•Eliminate as many nuclear weapons as possible. (Aug 2000)
•Restore health of defense industry; peace thru strength. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Immigration
•OpEd: GOP ignores fact of increasing ethnic minorities. (Mar 2013)
•Make E-verify mandatory nationwide. (Aug 2012)
•Use biometric data to better track foreign travelers. (Sep 2004)
•Only legal immigrants, through tightly controlled borders. (Sep 2004)
•Amnesty encourages illegal immigration. (Sep 2004)
•Reform & toughen immigration system to emphasize family. (Aug 2000)
•Focus immigration on needed skills. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Jobs
•Support employee ownership over union elites. (Aug 2012)
•The best jobs program is economic growth. (Aug 2012)
•Recognize that people depend on land for livelihood. (Aug 2000)
•Small business deserves better treatment from government. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Principles & Values
•OpEd: GOP has proven tone-deaf in courting Hispanic voters. (Mar 2013)
•Support prayer in public schools. (Aug 2012)
•The GOP is the Great Opportunity Party. (Aug 2012)
•1980s: Gained southern Whites plus southern Evangelicals. (Feb 2007)
•Obama: GOP wins elections by vilifying Democrats. (Oct 2006)
•We saw the spirit of courage and optimism on 9/11. (Sep 2004)
•Credo of free market economics & less government. (Oct 2003)
•Bush will nominate conservative judges only. (Aug 2000)
•A distinctly American internationalism for the 21st century. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Social Security
•Give workers control over their retirement investments. (Aug 2012)
•Workers will have choice to invest their payroll taxes. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Tax Reform
•56% oppose raising taxes on earnings over $250,000. (Jan 2012)
•Cut taxes to stimulate economy and help families. (Aug 2000)
•Tax cuts & low interest rates lead to home ownership. (Aug 2000)
•Repeal death tax & give tax break to care for elderly. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Technology
•Infrastructure via civil engineering, not social engineering. (Aug 2012)
•Invest in cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies. (Aug 2012)
•Support do-not-call and do-not-email lists. (Sep 2004)
•Encourage technology with funds for R & D, tax reform. (Aug 2000)
•School, libraries should ban porn from their computers. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on War & Peace
•Prevent Iran from building and possessing nuclear weapons. (Aug 2012)
•Terrorists seek weapons of mass destruction to kill us. (Sep 2004)
•Shrink the space in which the terrorists can operate. (Sep 2004)
•Total and complete destruction of terrorism is needed. (Sep 2004)
•Afghanistan is liberated and the American people are safer. (Sep 2004)
•Saddam had capability to reconstitute his weapons programs. (Sep 2004)
•Promote peace, reduce threat of war, protect Israel. (Aug 2000)
•Contribute in Balkans, but let NATO run it. (Aug 2000)

Republican Party on Welfare & Poverty
•Religious charities foster benevolence and patriotism. (Aug 2012)
•Move more welfare recipients off the welfare rolls. (Sep 2004)
•Faith-based welfare grants equal with secular groups. (Sep 2004)
•Tax reform will enable more poor to own a home. (Aug 2000)
•Faith-based charities should help end child poverty. (Aug 2000)



http://www.ontheissues.org/Republican_Party.htm
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Who wrote this bullshit: That's right the Republican party and what is it? Nothing but radically tested bullshit designed to convince everyone who reads it that the Republicans Party is the party of sane and effective government. Does the party institute any of these things besides lower taxes and employ corporate lobbyists at the highest levels of government when elected and can run things? No, it doesn't! Is this mostly then just pablum for the masses? Yes indeed it is!

So what is all this for then. Just carefully constructed propaganda for those still naive enough to believe that the Republican Party wants them to work for free and die before the need any benefits or anything form those who they serve their whole life.
 
SmarterthanYou said:
because, unlike you, I do not surrender my freedom to totalitarians.
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Yes, you do, everyday or you would be in jail for breaking the law! You also pay income and property taxes! You believe yourself different from the rest of us but you are just as much a sheep! Lol
 
evince said:
Instead you cheat in elections


then when the FACTS prove you do you pretend the facts are not real.


you cheat and lie.


your traitors
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Here is some FACTS for you desh, the REAL THING....then stfu and shove off...

8 Democrats Arrested and/or Convicted of Voter Fraud

http://nationwidegazette.com/8-democrats-arrested-for-voter-fraud/
---------------------------------
12 charged with voter fraud in Georgia election

http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/24/12-charged-with-voter-fraud-in-georgia-election/
--------------------------------
Democratic officials arrested for voter fraud in Indiana
Names, signatures faked in Indiana to put Obama, Clinton on primary ballot
http://video.foxnews.com/v/2498961563001/democratic-officials-arrested-for-voter-fraud-in-indiana/
-------------------------------
Fort Worth woman arrested in voter fraud case
By Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX) August 22, 2013
http://www.gopusa.com/news/2013/08/22/fort-worth-woman-arrested-in-voter-fraud-case/
-------------------------------
7 Democrats Arrested in New York for actual Voter Fraud via Absentee Ballots
Democrats arrested, charged and 4 plead guilty to actual voter fraud in New York via absentee ballots!
------------------------------
NAACP Executive Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Voting for Obama 10 Times in 2008
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.crafts.metalworking/B8Xe0hnJ-YI
 
SmarterthanYou said:
I see you're still a doofus with dreams of revisionist history.
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Unfortunately evince is not completely accurate, Republicans and big business do believe in government, look how government grew under Reagan and Bush, but she is a lot more accurate than you are!
 
Rana said:
You are an example yourself, totally self a absorbed and cruel in your attitude towards others, deal with it. It is exactly the impression you give on here. You would shoot first and question later with no regards for others.
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Hi, not sure we've met before. my name is STY. feel free to read through my historical posts to get a better understanding of who I am before making such lame accusations.
 
SmarterthanYou said:
Hi, not sure we've met before. my name is STY. feel free to read through my historical posts to get a better understanding of who I am before making such lame accusations.
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I'd say Rana nailed it pretty accurately, and I have read far too many of your posts and can say that with some authority. In addition, Rana has been here a lot longer than I have, indeed years longer, so I wouldn't chastise her for any failings in reading comprehension if I were you. Your comment may indeed be nothing but projection on your part and it is you who does not know her, and not the reverse. And anyone who has the moniker SmarterthanYou is already making gross and unsupported assumptions about everyone who comes here and from what I have read you have little basis for doing so!
 
Rana said:
Yes, you do, everyday or you would be in jail for breaking the law! You also pay income and property taxes! You believe yourself different from the rest of us but you are just as much a sheep! Lol
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first, taxes are not unconstitutional, so half your statement is pure crap.

second, I break the law everyday in the name of freedom and i'm not in jail. so the other half of your statement is also pure crap. I AM different from you because I don't swallow the koolaid like you liberals and conservatives.
 
Dantès said:
I'd say Rana nailed it pretty accurately, and I have read far too many of your posts and can say that with some authority. In addition, Rana has been here a lot longer than I have, indeed years longer, so I wouldn't chastise her for any failings in reading comprehension if I were you. Your comment may indeed be nothing but projection on your part and it is you who does not know her, and not the reverse. And anyone who has the moniker SmarterthanYou is already making gross and unsupported assumptions about everyone who comes here and from what I have read you have little basis for doing so!
Click to expand...

I've been here two years longer than her and five years more than you. you're making bullshit assumptions on facts not in evidence, therefore you're basically full of shit.
 
Dantès said:
I will wait patiently for you to substantiate that claim with some evidence, but I fear like the people Casablanca I will wait and wait and wait and wait...!
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when you can climb out of your kneejerk liberal craptastic ideology, read my history. you'll see that I, as a Libertarian, am for freedom, not government control. unlike the libs and conservatives who prefer big government.
 
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