If I could be a Republican, I could know that everything is ok

The polarization is getting worse and worse.   It’s really kind of scary – not so much as to what may happen economically or regarding foreign policy, but rather the way in which people are treating each other is troubling.   When did the divide get so huge?   I have both dear friends and family who consider themselves Republican – and for good reason. The Republican values they hold are sensible and reasonable – at least in my humble opinion, as I hold many of the same values.  

I think a small Federal Government would be great.  It has always seemed to me that the most effective Government is the Government that is close to home.   Our local governments should have the most effect on our daily lives.  

I think free enterprise has been essential in making the U.S. the country where dreams can truly come true.   The idea of entrepreneurship is fantastic and should be recognized and celebrated.  We've had 2 Presidents in the last 20 years that have come from meager beginnings.  They've truly been a grand example of the American Dream. 

I like the idea of low taxes.  If I work hard and earn money then I shouldn't have to give a bunch of it away to the government. 

I believe in a strong military.  Let’s face it, there have been, and still are those in the world who would trample those weaker in order to build their own kingdom if the rest of the world let them.   “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing” (Edmund Burke).

I believe in the concept of compassionate conservatism.  I like the idea of hand up over a hand out.  I believe that people tend to live up to the expectations that people have for them, and if we don’t expect people to care for themselves they probably won’t.  And who better then to take care of those in need than their neighbors, family relatives, fellow church members and the community in which they live.    

I agree that federal regulation is not the answer for everything.   Of course guns are a tool.   They are used by people and the people are obviously responsible for own actions.  I believe we have a responsibility value our freedoms and police ourselves. 

Can anyone really argue against such principles?   It’s no wonder, really, that the people I know to be wonderful, loving, smart and compassionate people would align themselves with such principles.  

And of course, this is the party of Lincoln, the first Republican President.  Talk about governing at a time of such internal conflict.  And he was hero to the African American and all environmentalists.  He deeded Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove to California for public enjoyment and recreation. He then established Yellowstone as the first National Park.   

As president, Theodore Roosevelt (Republican)  established 155 national forests, two-thirds of the present system, five national parks, 18 national monuments and 55 bird and game preserves, the cornerstones of our national wildlife refuge system.

It was President Nixon (Republican) who established the Environmental Protection Agency and signed the Clean Air Act.

President Eisenhower (Republican) led the Republicans with their 1956 Republican Platform that  called for expansion of Social Security, broadened unemployment insurance, and better health protection for all of our people. It called for voting rights--full voting civil rights for D.C.  It called for expanding the minimum wage to cover more workers. It called for improved job safety for workers, and equal pay for workers regardless of sex. The following quotes are directly from Pres. Eisenhower.

 

"Workers have a right to organize into unions and to bargain collectively with their employers. And a strong, free labor movement is an invigorating and necessary part of our industrial society."

"Only a fool would try to deprive working men and women of their right to join the union of their choice."

"Should any political party attempt to abolish Social Security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things, but their number is negligible and"--and the president says-  they are stupid."

Oh yes, if only I could be a Republican, I would then know that everything would be ok.  But I can’t be a Republican, because the Republican principles of old are not the Republican principles of today.  And, those principles which are still central to the Republican party, such as small federal government and minimal regulation and personal responsibility just are unfortunately no longer relevant in today’s world.  In short, a small federal government that depends on the personal responsibility of the individual people to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, just doesn't work anymore. 

The problem is, we the people – as individuals seem to have lost our way.  Too many, especially the wealthy and powerful, have just become too greedy and self-centered.

Many in our society are no longer willing to take care their own – not their neighbors, not even their family members.

We clearly do not police ourselves. Way too often the thinking is, if nobody knows I did it, I didn't do it. 

We can’t get paid enough. Is there really an individual who believes they have earned $6000 per hour?  (average S&P 500 CEO pay).  Even JP Morgan, one of the most influential bankers ever, believed that the highest paid employee should be paid no more than 20 times the lowest paid employee of a company.

To many, the concept of Social Justice is seen as evil.  The idea of equality and fairness has given way to an economic evolution of survival of the fittest. 

By whatever means, people will forward their agenda, regardless of whether that means suppressing the vote or unfairly and unreasonably redistricting the representative districts, or buying influence with legislatures.   

What used to be considered as employee exploitation is now considered good business practices.  

Essential services and resources, such as healthcare and energy, are no longer priced based on cost plus a reasonable profit.  They are priced on “what the market will bear”, regardless of the consumers who no longer are able to receive these lifesaving services and resources.   

Today it’s about winning, or worse, it’s about protecting what’s “ours”.  The idea that we should be grateful for what we have been given and generous with what have is old fashioned. 

Being civil and polite with those we disagree with is considered weak.   Being sensitive and careful to not offend is mocked as being “politically correct”, which is now a terrible thing to be.   .   

Our communities have expanded to the point where it’s hard to even define what we mean by a community anymore. 

Our democracy is now a Plutocracy. 

To make matters worse, what use to be party that simply held differing views, but still put the needs of the country first, has now been hi-jacked by some folks that seem willing to put their own agenda before the health of the nation.  Much of the rhetoric is simply meant to misrepresent and mean-spirited.  This group who has so much control just does not represent anything that I believe.

I don’t think Pres Obama is out to hurt the nation or is the anti-christ.

I don’t think Pres Obama is Muslim who is secretly trying to bring Sharia law to the U.S. 

I have no issues with Michelle Obama and can’t even imagine how someone could feel good about slamming her.  I've heard way too many times “I hate Michelle Obama”.

(Nothing has been done to deserve such hatefulness.  An election was won.  It happens every 4 years.) 

I do not believe that the unemployed are simply lazy and wanting a hand out.  

I do not believe that Pres Obama wants to take away everyone’s guns.

I do not believe that everyone that works for the government is receiving welfare.

I do not believe that Social and Economic Justice are code words for communism. 

I do not want the country to fail under Pres Obama’s leadership. 

  

I don’t think mainstream Republicans believe these things either, but to hear the most vocal within the Republican Party speak, you wouldn't know it, and the mainstream Republicans aren't speaking up against such visceral positions.    

It’s hard for me to come to grips with this.  I would much prefer to see things differently.  I can understand why good, decent people don’t see it the way I see it.   I didn't like it when people would make personal derogatory remarks about Mitt Romney.  I appreciated much of what Mitt Romney stood for.  This was a man who freely gave millions of dollars each year to charity.   He didn't have to do that.   The thing is, I think he assumed that all of his peers were as generous with their wealth and actually cared about the welfare of others.  And though I don’t think he intended to offend the “47%”, it was clear he really didn't understand who these people are.   He was clearly out of touch.  Why wouldn't he be? There is huge chasm between the life he lives and the life that most of us live.     

When I consider most of the Republicans I know, I realize that if all Republicans lived the values that these friends of mine live, those good old fashioned Republican principles would work really well.

Trickle-down economics would work.  The money really would trickle down to employees.   Employees would make a living wage for good hard work.  A good portion of profits really would be reinvested and create jobs.  Success wouldn't just be measured on how much money is made, but people would take pride in what they produced. 

Churches and communities would once again concern themselves with taking care of those in need, rather than pushing political agendas.  

The government would recognize their responsibility to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

To watch what is happening in Washington D.C. is difficult for me.   I want to believe that majority of those who serve our Country as the peoples representatives truly want to serve with integrity and are committed to the welfare of all of the people of this nation.  Likewise, it’s hard for me to accept the widening chasm between so many good people that I know and respect.   It’s hard for me to know that the Party of Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower has moved so far away from the historical platform.

Small government, free enterprise, lower taxes, personal responsibility, compassionate conservatism - who can really object to such principles on their face value.  It is too bad that somewhere along the way, we the people, have rejected the values that make such principles serve the interest of all the people.