Obviously, I’m not republican. The why of that is not very complicated. I think everyone deserves freedom, respect, and equal opportunity to succeed. And I believe in a strong safety net for the less fortunate among us. Kinda basic isn’t it? Not hard to understand. Unless you are republican. I don’t mean that as an insult. Just as a simple fact.
Freedom to a republican means their right to force us into or away from different things. But the drive is always to force their thoughts and morals over those of everyone else. Consider abortion for example. I believe it should be the woman’s choice. And that is the most free option. A woman can choose to have an abortion. Another can choose to have a baby. Both get what they want. No one is forced into either decision. America. Freedom. But not so with republicans. Because they are against abortion, they create laws that say you can’t get one. Some so draconian that you can be forced to have the baby of your rapist. Or be forced to near death before one becomes available.
How about government safety nets for the poorest among us? What kind of society are we if we don’t help others maintain their human dignity when they fall on tough times? In Republican states they take away SNAP programs or greatly reduce them. Republican states also take away free lunch or breakfast programs at schools which are provided to the students whose parents make far less than average. Wondering if starving produces greater intellect? I’m thinking no here. Republicans in those states say it’s too expensive to provide these safety nets. I ask how it becomes too expensive to allow others to live. And I believe it’s more morally expensive for the rest of us to let them starve. It poisons the blood of our society (I’ve heard that phrase used against immigrants by republicans) to allow these sins to accumulate. Jesus was all about helping the poor. It’s hard to find a republican politician with those same thoughts.
Republican use of Christianity is a perfect example of their way of action. They are pushing the church into schools, in many republican states schools have to display the 10 commandments, and priests into counselor and teaching positions at those schools. I don’t deny them their religion. I’m not a church goer myself. But I support their right to be religious if they choose. Again, that freedom thing. That American thing. You get your religion. And I get to choose a different religion or no religion at all. No one is forced into a decision. Unless you are a republican. Then it is your holy duty to indoctrinate all who are not of your faith. To force others to see and hear your religion in places where it is not practiced. Like a school. That’s not an American way of thought.
While I’m on the subject of schools, there’s currently a lot of noise from republicans banning or burning books. We have to believe the freedom option here is to allow books we disagree with to exist and be available for reading. If you don’t want to read it, don’t read it. If you do, read it. Again, no one is forced into any decision. Unless you are republican. Then you scramble about madly banning or burning any book you believe offends your morality or feelings. You deliberately make a book hard to get.
Finally, republicans have problems even just accepting folks for what they are. Gays? Sorry, you can’t marry. You’re evil and godless. Queer? We have the right to refuse you service in public settings simply because we don’t like your life style. Transexual? Oh Jesus, don’t even go there. We are going to deny you any medical treatment for that condition. Because you are immoral. I believe human decency requires us to accept others as they are.
I’m not a republican. And I fully intend to register that fact in the upcoming elections. :-)