As we gather steam heading into another election both parties say is “the most important election of our lifetimes,’’ my personal preference would be to pay as little attention as possible to the old men at the top, because they will be out of here in four years no matter who is elected in 2024. We have to think past that, into a wide open future for America. We can talk all we want about Biden v. Trump, but they are only temporary standard-bearers for differing belief systems.
I left the Democratic party fifteen years ago, because it felt like a closed door system into which my individualistic beliefs didn’t fit. Although I’m a social justice warrior (or is it a worrier), I am also a lifelong business owner and I know damn well that every entity has to have a budget, and that endless spending doesn’t serve us well. I also hold a rather complicated view of healthcare: I think it’s the one utility that shouldn’t be part of the free market. Viewing healthcare as a utility would change huge parts of the country’s economy and the family’s budget. It would alter the regulatory framework as well.
But I digress.
When I left the Democrats, I examined whether I wanted to be a Republican. All my life I had worked alongside Republicans on projects where we had common goals. Why didn’t I just join that party? After all, it represented my business interests.
The Republican Party emphasizes the importance of liberty and constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. It includes a strong commitment to individual rights and a focus on limiting government intervention to protect these freedoms. I can get down with that.
A central part of the Republican platform is stimulating economic growth for all Americans. This involves policies aimed at enhancing the business environment, creating jobs, and ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are accessible to all citizens. Indeed, both parties are committed to jobs and economic growth. We are a country of workers who see our lives through an economic lens.
Republicans aim to preserve American values and traditions, which includes a respect for the country's historical legacy and a commitment to maintaining its cultural heritage. Ahh, here we part ways if what Republicans mean is a white country in which only men vote:-) Nothing wrong with tradition, but…
Ensuring the integrity of elections is a priority. This encompasses efforts to secure electoral processes and safeguard them against fraud, thereby reinforcing the democratic framework of the United States. Sure, but I take this for granted.
The Republican platform prioritizes national security, focusing on protecting the country's borders, strengthening the military, and ensuring that the United States maintains a position of strength in international affairs. I have no argument with this, either.
No, my differences with the Republican Party have little to do with its positions on issues. It’s something much more subtle.
I am a trusting person, and I try to meet the world with love, rather than fear. This quality of mine has led me to a life of adventure and excitement. I like to focus on the future, and look forward to it with excitement.
Therefore I can’t become a Republican, because I want to stay the way I am. I have no wish to go back to the days when Americans kept slaves, wouldn’t let women vote or hold office, and confined indigenous people to reservations. I want science. I want technology. I want cures for cancer and other diseases we’re studying.
The Republicans, especially right now, seem to have a fearful vibe. Frankly, I don’t understand it. What if we focused on the future, and what CAN be done? Why are we so afraid of strangers? Why do we think everyone is a rapist or a child molester or a fraudster? What a way to see the world.
We would never have grown the country if everyone who was already here sat on their front porches, rifle in hand, watching the horizon for potential threats.
Anyway, it’s not issues or candidates that divide me from Republicans: it is hope and optimism. And yes, I will vote for any candidate who is willing to work toward a brighter future.
I think maybe in the concentration camps they coexisted? I have the same worries you do.
Yes, but these two differing belief systems may not be able to co exist which can result in conflict that could destroy us as a nation.