Sound Off... 01.11.06: Liberal Republican
Posted by Shane Viars on 01.11.2006
One is a social view; one is a political view. What's so hard to understand?
After an absence last week from the world of 411, I am back again in the world of Politics with yet another edition of Sound Off.
Two weeks ago, I received a few e-mails asking me just what I meant in calling myself a "liberal republican," and so I plan on taking this week to explain just what I mean, and how it is possible.
I attend a community college, which means that the people there are typically democratic. Living in a suburb of Detroit, it is easy to see why. I have to walk past students with fliers proclaiming "Impeach Cheney!" and "Bush Is A Liar!" and other things of the sort. However, after getting to know me, most people are shocked to discover that I am a republican.
"But Shane," they'll say, "you don't think gay people shouldn't be allowed to get married, do you?" And of course, when I hear this, I myself am shocked.
Let me begin the great bulk of this column by saying this; my political view is republican, but I am socially liberal.
Let's begin with the obvious; I understand that more often than not, the media portrays republicans as very uptight conservatives. However, there are a great many moderate and liberal republicans who view society as something that needs to be equal in rights. I am all for gay marriage. Who is anyone to say that two people who are in love cannot get married? This is one of the bigger issues that I find myself defending.
Contrast this with the idea that all republicans are huge believers in Christianity who think homosexuality is some sort of disease. It isn't. However, a great many democrats also oppose gay marriage. John Kerry may have supported "civil unions," but he too was opposed to calling it marriage.
I, however, do think that this country needs to do away with several things; Welfare, Affirmative Action and any sort of proposal of universal health care or the draft.
As a republican, I firmly believe in individuals being placed in high regard due to their work, and not any other outside circumstances. I understand that welfare can help people, but the fact that children are born into poverty just so that a mother can get an extra sixty dollars a month sickens me. Taxes go to these people who don't really bother to get a job. I once had a guy come into the store I work, not even ask if we were hiring, but simply ask us to sign a paper saying he tried getting a job from us. In order to stay on unemployment and welfare. I do not think it fair to the hard working middle-class Americans who have to have their pay going towards someone who doesn't want to work as hard. Democrats were in a fit not too long ago because Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm approved a bill that limits welfare to 4 years in the state of Michigan. She finally does something right (trust me; she cut education funding. Who in their right mind cuts funding from EDUCATION? Now MY tuition rates are higher)
And in the same vein, I feel as if Affirmative Action is not allowing the best and brightest to shine. And by no means am I racist, but I feel as if Affirmative Action itself is being racist, because it takes a look at students and says "Hey, you couldn't quite make it on your own, but since we need 8% of our students to me this ethnic minority, welcome aboard!" I would much rather have a doctor perform surgery on me who did the hard work to get into a great medical school, instead of someone who only got in with mediocre grades.
The abolition of universal health care is an issue that was hotly debated in my ethics class last semester. The plus side is this; healthcare for everyone. However, in most cases, you do not get to pick your own doctor. Doctor's will then feel that since they wouldn't get as much money as they did before, their true work isn't needed (this is a sad case, but yes, some professionals not in their profession for the right reasons may think this way). Anything your first doctor said would be set in stone.
And of course, any sort of draft ever discussed should be abolished. Interestingly enough, the last time a draft bill was proposed, it was proposed and backed by democrats. Representative Charles Rangel and Senator Fritz Hollings.
When presented with that lovely bit of information, I see most of the "democrats," that I know turn a pale shade of blue. You see, an overwhelming majority of the people under the age of twenty that I see, who call themselves democrats, only do so because of a few reasons; A) It is what everyone else is doing. B) They listened to Michael Moore/some other celebrity boasting about it. Or C) They were incorrectly told "facts," about republicans or democrats.
As far as A goes; It is true. I've asked people to name me one democrat in office outside of their home state, and a great many have been unable to. And while republicans are not proud of all of our own (see; Delay, Tom. Abramoff, Jack) we also feature some of the more well-liked politicians in history (Lincoln, Abraham; Reagan, Ronald). Oh, that guy who everyone loved during the 9-11 Attacks, (No, not our President who had a 90% approval rating) but former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, was also a republican.
When it comes to B; Well, on a personal level, I hate Michael Moore. He's a windbag who fabricates facts in his documentaries ( The Slate's In-Depth Report On Inconsistencies in Fahreinheit 9/11 ). He claims to be an independent, but in 1992, registered to vote as a democrat. He tries to say that he is independent, and that he just wants to show the evil lies of the U.S., but the man is so biased that it stinks. And heck, if Ray Bradbury thinks the man is swine, that's good enough for me.
In regards to option C; I had to do a project for my sociology class last semester, in which we'd interview someone about if they were to be drafted. I asked several people that I knew how they felt about the draft, and they all believed it to be the idea of the republicans to reinstate the draft. Upon telling them it was in reality, the democrats who wanted to reinstate the draft, conversations fell silent. In the democratically favored media, nobody is calling it down the middle (and yes, even Fox News is leaning to the right, whereas other cable news channels are clearly democratically biased. Nobody presents an unbiased voice these days).
Now, it would be unfair for me to bash democrats, although I have not exactly done any bashing of them. There are flaws in the republican political system, and I am man enough to admit that. Errors have occurred. The FEMA fiasco is sickening. And as much as I think war is a necessity in some situations, we need a real long-term plan for the situation in the Middle East.
Oh yeah, and I think George Bush is a moron.
*SQUEAL!* Pop the brakes! Did he just say that?
Yes. The man looks like an ape, has that laugh every time that he does something foolish, and cannot pronounce the most basic of words. I think he does a good job based on the information that he is given, but I think that he isn't exactly the most intelligent president that we've ever had, and he is making republicans look bad in the process. He is turning away young voters, because the youth of America will swallow any "cool," or "flashy," propaganda from non-republicans, and jump on the bandwagon without even investigating the facts themselves.
In summation, calling myself a liberal republican separates my social views from my political views. I feel comfortable in doing so, because not only am I an avid watcher of all of the cable news networks, but I engage myself in intelligent debate with those who do not agree with my views. I do not reject any democratic point of view with the argument "I'm a republican, and you're wrong," like so many self-proclaimed democrats that I have seen running around my campus do. I am always trying to learn more about how the world works, and am welcome to any criticism. After all, it's not a point unless it can stand up to criticism. So with that, I extend and invitation to all those who disagree with me in any point, to e-mail me and tell me why. And, in closing, I leave you with the Republican Oath, posted on the GOP Website in June of 2004…
I'm a Republican Because...
I BELIEVE the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person's dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.
I BELIEVE in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, sex, age or disability.
I BELIEVE free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.
I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.
I BELIEVE the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations and that the best government is that which governs least.
I BELIEVE the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people.
I BELIEVE Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.
I BELIEVE Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world.
FINALLY, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.
STAY CURRENT