Talking politics
I have maintained for many years that I don’t “talk” politics. I have been very quiet publicly about my views and my engagement in political water cooler discussions has been minimal. However, this year I find myself “speaking up” more often.
Tonight I read an email from my dad. I had seen this circulating during the 2004 elections, as well, but it stirred up some thoughts. I’m going to share the email text first. I will then “state my opinion.”
The email
Father/Daughter Talk
A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words redistribution of wealth.
She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.
One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school.
Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn’t even have time for a boyfriend, and didn’t really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.
Her father listened and then asked, ‘How is your friend Audrey doing?’ She replied, ‘Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She’s always invited to all the parties and lots of times she doesn’t even show up for classes because she’s too hung over.’
Her father then asked his daughter,’Why don’t you go to the Dean’s office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.’
The daughter, visibly shocked by her father’s suggestion, angrily fired back, ‘That’s a crazy idea, and how would that be fair! I’ve worked really hard for my grades! I’ve invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!’
The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently ‘Welcome to the Republican party.’
If anyone has a better explanation of the difference between Republicans and Democrats, I’m all ears.
Rich’s stance
And then you could be like the Libertarian party (of which I am)…
Let me do my thing and let me earn my way — and get the hell out of the way. I don’t need your limitations and I don’t want your hand outs. I don’t want YOU to tell me where I can shop, what doctors I can see, what car I should drive, or how much I need to provide others. If I feel they need something — and have the means to provide it (and want to) I will.
I don’t need or want you to watch out for “my” safety by listening to my phone calls, watching my online activities, or judging my buying habits as something that might be harmful to others.
Don’t push your beliefs on me. If I want to own a gun, I will. If I don’t, I won’t. If I want to be gay, whatever. If I don’t care for it and don’t believe in it, I’ll keep my opinion to myself. If you are gay, don’t expect me to give you something extra to reward you. I won’t judge you, but I won’t help you along either. Nobody gives me a prize because I chose to have sex with my wife (or not).
Don’t tell me what religion is “right” or tell me that I shouldn’t be so religious.
For the most part… I just want you to let me be who I am and do what I can to support my family. I should have the liberty to do so.
Our founding fathers said,
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
I think it is time for people to stop their whining about “who’s going to win” and start looking at the people that don’t care if they win or not… other than to make some drastic changes to the system that we have so greatly broken. It is the RIGHT of the people to ALTER or ABOLISH faulty government. Government that becomes destructive. Haven’t the elephants and the donkeys trampled and shit upon us enough already?
“Libertarianism is unquestionably the American message because libertarianism is the only political message that empowers the American people by giving them more control over their lives and their wallets,”
says Libertarian Party spokesperson Andrew Davis.
For more about the Libertarian view, visit www.LP.org
Oh, if you couldn’t guess, I’m voting for Bob Barr/Wayne Allen Root and the Libertarian way in the coming election. Even if I have to write in my vote on my state’s illegal and unconstitutional ballot.
What do you think? I would love to hear your views and WHY they are important to you.
Cheers,
Rich
