Based on the summary here I understand why so many older Americans especially support this party. I can see why they still stand behind it because they have lost track of what it has become polluted with these days.
I dont know how they managed to turn the ideals of personal freedom into ideals of restricting individuals. How is restricting marriage rights to some members of the community allowing for personal freedom? How can anyone with a straight face stand behind laws which oppose discrimination based on sexual orientation AND think people cannot marry based on their sexual orientation? How is this not discriminatory?
How is standing for peace turned into invading Iraq and using 9/11 to justify it?
How is restricting stem cell research following in these ideals?
How is restricting a persons right to die with dignity or to die if they want to allowing a personal freedom?
How is the Patriot Act following the ideals of a small government?
Watching the party misinterpret the constitution and their own principles is like watching a Bible thumper try to justify killing despite the only 10 somewhat clear laws in the Bible specifically forbid it. How do they manage to justify this? I do not recall seeing asterisks in the Bible with exceptions and justifications to those 10 laws. The 10 commandments seemed pretty clear cut, and supposedly DIRECTLY from God. How do people manage?
The following is taken from the 1995 Republican Partys history of the party as presented by the Republican Partys National Committee.
Historically, the party has supported
The abolition of slavery
The right of free speech
Support of womens suffrage
The reduction of the power of Federal government
The reduction of Federal bureaucracy
The return of power to state governments
The support of the idea of the primacy of the individual
To fight for the right of individuals in opposition to large "bloated" government
In 1866, a Republican government passed the 1866 Civil Rights Act a law which restricted the right of states (though this was aimed at the Southern states in particular) to restrict the right of Black Americans to testify in a court of law and to restrict the right of Black Americans to own property
The Republicans proposed the 14th Amendment which became part of the Constitution.
Jeanette Rankin - a Republican - became the first woman to serve in the House of Representatives, for the state of Montana. The Republicans claim that they were the first party to officially push for womens suffrage.
The Republicans claim to be the first party to favor environmental issues when President Nixon pushed for a Clean Air Act which was duly passed by Congress.
The Republicans claim to be the party of tax cuts. The Ford Administration cut taxes significantly while under the Republican president George W Bush, all registered tax payers received a check for $300 in tax rebate in July 2001 as promised by Bush in the run-up to the 2000 election.
Ronald Reagan promised to make federal government smaller known as "New Federalism". Reagan believed that local governments knew what their community wanted more than Washington and he pushed for a development in the powers of local government.
Reagans first term as president saw a marked increase in the number of women in powerful positions Sandra Day OConnor was appointed the first female Supreme Court judge in America while Jean Kirkpatrick was the first female US representative to the United Nations.
In 1993, Hayley Barbour was elected as Chairman of the Republican National Committee. He emphasized
The importance of individual freedom
The importance of personal responsibility
The reduction in the powers of Federal government
This is the republican party oath.
"I believe that the proper function of government is to do for the people those things that have to be done but cannot be done, or cannot be done as well by individuals, and that the most effective government is government closest to the people.
I believe that good government is based on the individual and that each persons ability, dignity, freedom and responsibility must be honored and recognized.
I believe that free enterprise and encouragement of individual initiative and incentive have given this nation an economic system second to none.
I believe that sound money policy should be our goal.
I believe in equal rights and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, age, sex or national origin. I believe that persons with disabilities should be afforded equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunities as well.
I believe we must retain those principles worth retaining, yet always be receptive to new ideas with an outlook broad enough to accommodate thoughtful change and varying points of view.
I believe that Americans value and should preserve their feeling of national strength and pride, and at the same time share with people everywhere a desire for peace and freedom and the extension of human rights throughout the world.
Finally, I believe that the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government."
I tried to find a similar bullet list and information on the Democratic Party to have a side by side comparison but was not able to. I guess politics has always been messy, people have always been out for themselves and their own ideals and agendas and no one wants to be wrong even if they are. I feel really let down by both parties and have registered as a Libertarian. I dont 100% agree with them either though. I do think SOME things do need to be regulated. I do want SOME social programs. I would like to see some form of national health care. I dont know why health insurance became a benefit of employment. Id like to see a split program, with a government funded health care system and a private system for those who care to pay for it. Id like to see the government funded system pay for experimental procedures that conventional insurance does not cover. Certainly these Experimental procedures, done obviously under the strictest of guidelines and full disclosure to the patient and voluntary only yadda yadda, have the potential to benefit the greater good of all citizens and should be funded publicly. You never know when you or someone you love could be faced with some illness or injury.
Anyway, Im off my soapbox. Im probably full of shit too. This list is interesting though.
Oh yeah, and the whole Hillary Clinton video game Bs around GTA San Andreas is fucking STUPID!!! I just got this game and I don't get how killing hookers, and shooting pedestrians and jacking cars is somehow acceptable, but a CLOTHED "sex" scene is worth outcry. What the fuck is WRONG with people?
