When I Was Young, I Was A Democrat…
Posted on June 9, 2007
Filed Under Politics |
My first college roommate probably wouldn’t recognize me today. I am not the person I was then. At that time I was a very left wing liberal democrat. My first opportunity to vote in a Presidential election was in 1980 and I voted for Carter. Yes, the man I now consider to safely be one of the worst Presidents in the history of this country got my vote for reelection in 1980.
But, something happened to me during college. I began to understand the difference between individualism and collectivism. I began to understand the history of this country and the people who built it. The stark difference between the continual pessimism of the Carter and Reagan administrations had a great deal to do with pushing me on that way. I started to understand government isn’t the solution, more often than not it is the problem.
By the time I graduated, I was clearly a Republican in mind and action. My only major difference with them was on their stand on abortion. I don’t know when life begins, but sentience does not start at conception. And to me, sentience is the test. I know that is different than what is argued in public and I also know that it is impossible to know when sentience begins, which is why I essentially sit on the sidelines. I wish every child was wanted. I wish, rather than aborting, the mothers would put the children up for adoption. But, I do not have the right to presume control over a woman’s life or what she does with her body.
Since the end of the Reagan administration, I have grown more and more disillusioned with my chosen party. Don’t get me wrong, I still consider them the lesser of the two evils presented but the gap is narrowing every day.
There are simple ways to look at it. The Democrats always to look to raising taxes to cover shortfalls in revenue. The Republicans always look to an expanding economy to cover shortfalls. But neither of them look at spending less.
I guess we can’t blame the general public for being in debt up to their eyeballs, they are just following the government’s lead.
Now, we come to what is probably the greatest threat to the existence of our Great Republic we have ever faced - illegal immigration. And on this one issue, the type of issue government exists to handle, both parties are failing miserably.
Yes, I know the arguments. What about the 20 million illegal immigrants here now? What do we do with them?
Sorry, that is the wrong question at the moment. The question of the moment is and should be - How do we keep that number from growing?
Secure the border first, then we can figure out how to assimilate or expel the current invaders. We start by not accommodating them. Eliminate ESOL programs in the schools, conduct government business only in the predominate language of the USA, meaning English. Punish employers who hire illegals. Punish landlords who knowingly rent to illegals. Prohibit banks and financial institutions from opening accounts for illegals. Prohibit the transmission of money by services like Western Union by illegals. Eliminate all but emergency social services to illegals.
And for God sake, call them what they are - illegal aliens. They broke the law, it doesn’t matter if they are living “peacefully” here now. They are criminals and if we don’t treat them as such we are doing a disservice to every immigrant who ever came here legally and assimilated into the American culture.
We are a nation of immigrants and that is a major source of our strength, but, we are not a nation of illegal immigrants.
The long and short is, I have grown disillusioned with both parties.
This country is at a cross road and we are lacking any kind of substantive leadership from any party on the political stage.
It is entirely possible I, and many like me, will sit on the sidelines during the next election cycle because at the moment, you could lump all of the republicans and democrats running for the Presidency together. There just isn’t that much difference between them.
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I am a “conservative” Democrat. Or, perhaps I should say that I am a “liberal” Republican. Pretty similiar…..
It’s funny to read your blog because I and hubby relate so much of your political thoughts.
We wish that every child are wanted as well. Unfortunately, we fail miserably to protect each and every child in every sense of the word.
For example, a woman was raped. A child was conceived. Did you know that there is no law protecting the mother or child from the father (rapist) taking custody of the child? Yes, a rapist has the right to seek custody of the child and the victim can not stop it. Yes, there has been cases where the rapist has actually succeeded to getting custody of children. Get this—in many cases, the word “rape” was not allowed in court because it’s irrelevant to custody hearing.
Can you imagine being told you were not a product of out of love but by violence? Can you imagine how it would greatly affect rest of your life?
We are not a believer of abortion as part of birth control method hence we are pro-choice. We must protect women as well as fetus from highly potentially harmful life by giving victims the choice of aborting or not.
Regarding Carter–I did vote for him. In spite of trials and errors, I believe he did the best he could as well as honest as he possibly be.
Regarding Reagan–I’m rolling my eyes on this character. Sorry, I grew up in California and I recall Reagan as our governor. Let’s just say that, back in those governor days, he wasn’t well respected due to….*sighs*…that’s for another day, another subject.
Illegal Aliens—-I really can not add more than what you’ve stated Tim.
Well, maybe one thing—I often wonder when, not if, someone is going to file a lawsuit somewhere in USA for language discrimination.
In other words, why is it mandatory requirement (ie schools, for example) to speak Spanish as second language and not mandatory for other languages? Methinks everyone that reads this will get the drift…..