Difference between Dems and Reps
I have lived as a democrat in the midst of republicans for most of my life. I grew up in white suburbia, attended private school, and spent 20 years in the military; I now own my own small business and once again live in white suburbia. As a formerly closeted lesbian, I have "passed" as republican on many occasions, so I know the rhetoric--what they tell each other when they think they are with "their kind."
It really comes down to one word--MONEY. Republicans have it, and want to keep it. To them, that means fewer government progams that cost tax dollars. I'm talking about your average, everyday moderate Republican now; not your extremist Rush Limbaugh-type or even your right-wing religious fanatics, but the everyday, working, raising a family, go to church sometimes, law-abiding Republican. There are lots of them, really.
They believe (I'm talking of the ones I know, and I know plenty) in personal responsibility--that you should help people who cannot help themselves, but don't expect them to help people who won't help themselves. And these Republicans see the difference. That's why they'll donate money to Tsunami victims but balk at helping drug addicts.
That's also why there are such mixed emotions about New Orleans. They'll help the ones who had sense to get out, but lost everything. They are not so keen to help the ones who could have gotten out, but didn't. They also think the state of Louisiana should have done more for New Orleans before expecting the rest of the country to bail them out (federal assistance means tax dollars, which means more money out of their pockets.)
They believe the job of the federal government is to provide military to protect us from foreign enemies. That's it. Leave the rest to the state and local governments.
So when an average Republican says no Roe v. Wade, they mean no federal money should be spent on abortions. When they say no equal opportunity or no gay rights, they mean we have enough laws already, don't spend any more money on any more programs.
They are not bad people; they are just selfish. They worked hard for their money (or, in some cases, their parents did) and they really don't want to share, unless they get to choose whom to share with. They think of enforced sharing as socialism, and government-controlled sharing as communism.
Just keep this stuff in mind when you can't believe your own mother voted for George Bush.
It really comes down to one word--MONEY. Republicans have it, and want to keep it. To them, that means fewer government progams that cost tax dollars. I'm talking about your average, everyday moderate Republican now; not your extremist Rush Limbaugh-type or even your right-wing religious fanatics, but the everyday, working, raising a family, go to church sometimes, law-abiding Republican. There are lots of them, really.
They believe (I'm talking of the ones I know, and I know plenty) in personal responsibility--that you should help people who cannot help themselves, but don't expect them to help people who won't help themselves. And these Republicans see the difference. That's why they'll donate money to Tsunami victims but balk at helping drug addicts.
That's also why there are such mixed emotions about New Orleans. They'll help the ones who had sense to get out, but lost everything. They are not so keen to help the ones who could have gotten out, but didn't. They also think the state of Louisiana should have done more for New Orleans before expecting the rest of the country to bail them out (federal assistance means tax dollars, which means more money out of their pockets.)
They believe the job of the federal government is to provide military to protect us from foreign enemies. That's it. Leave the rest to the state and local governments.
So when an average Republican says no Roe v. Wade, they mean no federal money should be spent on abortions. When they say no equal opportunity or no gay rights, they mean we have enough laws already, don't spend any more money on any more programs.
They are not bad people; they are just selfish. They worked hard for their money (or, in some cases, their parents did) and they really don't want to share, unless they get to choose whom to share with. They think of enforced sharing as socialism, and government-controlled sharing as communism.
Just keep this stuff in mind when you can't believe your own mother voted for George Bush.
posted by Cheryl at
11:45 AM
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