Why I'm Liberal, and Still a Democrat

You know, now that I think about it, there is never a true separation of church and state. All legislation is written by people who believe in a 'something' or a 'nothing.' And the agnostic or atheistic politicians do have to take into account the way their opinions will effect all the people--ideally. I'd be just as distressed if a member of congress were trying to pass legislation that banned all forms of religious worship as I am about Rick Santorum's religious fascism.

I think the thing that continues to amaze me most are the Santorums of the political world. Now, unless there's a version of the bible none of the rest of us has been privy to, Santorum's interpretation, especially of the new testament, is almost impossible to understand. In the bible I've read Jesus didn't ask people if they really tried to pull themselves up by their bootstraps before he helped them. He didn't interview them to determine whether or not they were lazy before he helped them. He didn't take countless applications requesting assistance from applicants unable to work, then make them wait while He made a determination as to their worthiness. He advised all the people not to throw stones at each other because we've all been guilty of some wrong-doing at one time or another. He advised us to "go, and sin no more," knowing full-well most of us are incapable of living out our lives without slipping at some point. He told us God forgives all, and that we the people are instructed to do the same; which, as we all know isn't easy at times. I'll be the first to admit, there are days when I look at the people holding signs on the street corners asking for cash assistance when I judge them harshly. Those are usually the days when I'm in a rotten mood, or I have to do something I really don't want to do. On a "good" day, I pray for them, smile at them, and yes, sometimes give them money if I have it to spare.

The thing that bothers me about so many Republicans these days on the topic of charity is that they just don't seem to believe all societies have always and may always harbor citizens who truly cannot take care of themselves. I know there are people, some I know personally, whose full-time "job" seems to be not having a job and figuring out ways to take advantage of friends, family and "the system." But we can't turn our backs on everyone in need because some of them might be conning us. I believe that in every society the fortunate should help the less-fortunate. And if the fortunate are smart, a large part of that help should come in the form of handing the less-fortunate the best opportunity for education, unless the fortunate are planning to go out themselves and fix our infrastructure. And one does not need to be highly educated in order to work at jobs societies cannot operate without, but those jobs should pay a living wage. When I was growing up in the 50's the garbage collectors, as we called them, owned homes, cars and could support more than 1.5 children.

Those are some of the reasons I'm liberal, but the reason I said I'm still a Democrat is that I'm no longer blindly loyal to the party. Corporate greed has infiltrated both parties. It would be incredibly time-consuming to examine every last politician and his voting record, so I remain a Democratic voter as I consider the Dems the lesser of the two evils. I admire many past and present Democrats, but some these days are bought and paid for by corporate interests as surely as many Republicans. But if Eisenhower were alive and the country could run the way it was run during his administration, I'd probably vote for a Republican for the first time in my life. I was raised in a Democratic environment. My family had its share of Republicans, but usually their logic for switching parties was flawed. For instance, I had an uncle who hated JFK because it was said JFK's father was a crook. And there was no arguing with my uncle. Apparently he believed the sins of the father should be visited on the son, forget all the good changes brought about by Kennedy and Johnson.

My friend Doug on facebook posted the following from an anonymous contributor and it pretty much sums up, in a sarcastic way, the reasons I'm still a Democrat these days:

Fifteen Reasons Why I Vote for Republicans
-by a Proud Republican

1. I voted Republican because you can blame problems on poor people instead of the rich ones who actually run things.

2. I voted Republican because firefighters and teachers are
scum-sucking leaches, but the oil companies raking in record profits NEED those hundreds of millions in taxpayer subsidies.

3. I voted Republican because I believe companies like my cable TV provider, insurance company and credit card company could do a better job running the country than the government, no matter how much they screw me over.

4. I voted Republican because I don’t trust the government, although I favored the government spying on my health/financial records and tapping my phone when Bush was in office to keep us safe from "terrists."

5. I voted Republican because I don't really care whether terrorists, murderers and drug dealers own guns or not.

6. I voted Republican because I believe climate change doesn't
exist; if I can't see it with my own two eyes, it doesn't exist--like
gravity.

7. I voted Republican because I hate women having abortions, but
once the baby is born and dies from a preventable illness, that's okay.

8. I voted Republican because I believe in laying off workers to
boost profits; then I get to complain about lazy unemployed people.

9. I voted Republican because I understand capitalism. Demand
doesn’t increase jobs…ensuring corporations pay no taxes and cutting healthcare and education does.

10. I voted Republican because I care about the deficit and support cutting services that I really need. But extra tax cuts for the super rich who actually caused the deficit should be extended indefinitely.

11. I voted Republican because I believe in never having to solve
any problems in the government and I insist government is the problem anyway.

12. I voted Republican because I hate activist judges, unless they
are conservative (Yes, corporations should get to spend unlimited money in elections).

13. I voted Republican because spite and fear is better than hope and change.

14. I voted Republican because I agree that life begins at the moment of conception and ends at birth, and that women are incapable of making their own reproductive choices.

15. I voted Republican because B. Hussein Obama is a secret Kenyan born Muslim- negro-far-left-wing-extremist-liberal-socialist with a dark evil secret agenda to destroy America, take my guns, ammunition and freedom, and turn them all over to Islamic extremists and homosexuals who will rob, rape and murder me, my wife, my girlfriends, and my children, and force the abortion of my unborn children.

-a Proud Republican

You know the thing I hate most about many politicians? They so willingly tell lies in order to be elected. It's too bad our government has to become this corrupt before all the people begin to take notice.