Well folks we are down to the wire here. The race is close…polls are favoring Kerry for the win…but we all know how reliable polls are. Even so here is a link if one is interested in seeing just how close it has become.
http://www.slate.com/Default.aspx?id=2108751&
I have been following this whole process rather closely and in doing so have came to the conclusion that there is a lot of hate going on. Bush supporters hate Kerry supporters and vise versa. In the midst of all this hate the two parties have resorted to bashing and insulting one another in ways far surpassing past campaigns. Now, everyone is aware of the two parties, Dems and Repubes, but do we really understand what the two parties actually stand for? I mean … does one actually know the definition of democrat and republican? I was thinking this as I was listening to some asshole on one of those crossfire shows this last week. If one has been watching these programs and one wasn’t educated they would be falsely led into believing that for example, a liberal or someone who follows a liberal policy would be considered to be anti-American. Now… how I wonder, can someone who believes that everyone should have the same rights and freedoms, as everyone be anti-American? If one doesn’t believe in war does that also mean you that you also hate your country? Well… if you listen to the conservative views that is exactly what they want you to believe. Or if you listen to the liberals you might be led to believe that conservatives are war mongering, greedy, racist mosters.
So I went in search of the true definition of the parties. I decided to share the following info:
Democrat =an advocate of democracy.
Republican = Favoring a republic as the best form of government.
At the beginning of our beginning when we were starting our new nation we were adopting what would be today’s government and political system. Unless you are a Native American you immigrated to this great country and thus our fore fathers adopted our political system from European systems of government. Unlike Europe, America in the process of enacting a Constitution had developed political beliefs that included economic individualism and the limitation of government power. This was incorporated into the Constitution. This did not follow the beliefs underlying European conservatism but was in fact closer to European liberalism. The American beliefs accepted the concepts of a free market and the personal acquisition of property by individuals. Individual freedoms and property rights were representative of attendant moral, religious, political, and civil rights. As the provisions of the Constitution decreed, the federal government was limited to acting in those areas wherein the states themselves did not have that ability, in inter-state matters and in foreign relations. Great importance was placed on separation of powers, judicial review, and states' rights as opposed to federal power. This then became the foundation of American conservatism. Entering into the 20th century Americans generally accepted these principles that were to carry the conservative label.
However, there was a political movement evolving that could now be endowed with the new label of liberalism, American style, that had beliefs that government should be more involved in social issues and in controlling the free market. Since the economy had become more complex as it expanded, these liberal elements began to support the idea that the government could best promote the interests of its citizens by regulating the economy and having government provide for the welfare of its citizenry. In addition they wanted government to correct economic deficiencies they believed to be caused by unregulated capitalism. They supported progressive taxation, antitrust laws, a minimum wage, social security, public education, safety and health regulations, consumer protection and environmental preservation laws. Some of them became socialists, although not necessarily openly supporting Marxism and communism.
Conservatism -this term conveys the following:
1. A free market and the personal acquisition of property by individuals
2. Individual freedoms and property rights are representative of attendant moral, religious, political, and civil rights.
3. In accordance with the Constitution, the federal government is limited to acting in those areas wherein the states themselves do not have that ability, in inter-state matters and in foreign relations.
4. There is great importance placed on separation of powers, judicial review, and states' rights as opposed to federal power.
Simplified Definition: An ideal conservative believes in the importance of the individual person, including the fetus, and the family structure and that it is the responsibility for the individuals within each family to do as much as they can for themselves before asking for assistance. When assistance is needed the progressive route taken is community, city, county, state and federal, in that order, with the federal government the avenue of last resort. A conservative believes in the least government possible.
Liberalism – this term conveys the following:
1. Government should correct economic deficiencies caused by an unregulated free market economy
2. Government should provide social welfare
3. It is right for government to impose progressive income taxation
4. Government should impose a minimum wage
5. The social security system should remain a system where those working support those who are receiving social security payments
6. Government should support only public education forcibly paid for by taxpayers even though some object to some of the subject matter and the manner in which it is taught.
7. Government should impose stringent safety and health regulations.
8. Government should impose stringent consumer protection and environmental preservation laws.
Simplified definition: An ideal liberal takes the completely opposite position to an ideal conservative, vying for a socialistic form of government working from the top down wherein the freedom of the individual is compromised for the supposed good of the collective group.
Please note that these definitions do not include side issues such as abortion, gun control, immigration, campaign reform etc. Conservatives and liberals may have similar positions without compromising their respective ideal ideology.
In summation, the fundamental difference between a liberal and conservative is whether an individual is allowed the freedom, with attendant responsibility, to freely function in society – or – whether an individual’s interests are subservient to the collective interest of the members of society. One must either be one or the other because once the collective interest takes precedence an individual’s freedom is compromised, and then it just becomes a matter of degree as to the extent. A liberal who compromises his ideal ideology may consider himself a moderate liberal but is still a liberal. It is difficult for a conservative to be a moderate conservative because any compromise involves usurping individual freedom and attendant personal responsibility and this would then tend to define him as a moderate liberal.
Now, are you liberal or conservative?
And whether you choose either or, does it make you less or more American than anyone else? If you believe so, then why? Or for that matter, how could you possibly come to that conclusion?
These are the questions I have been asking myself for the past few months. Watching and reading the opposing sides tear each other apart as they differ on everything under the sun.
Now I myself do not agree with many of the republican views, but just becos they may have a difference of opinion or they may have a different set of ideal doesn’t mean I feel they are any less of an American than mylsef.... or are un-American. I do not HATE them.... but if you listen to the CNN and FOX, anchors you will find out fast enough that this is in fact the way people are treating each other.
From Ann Coulter to Michael Moore.... the 2 parties have chosen their megaphones to tell the masses how evil and ignorant the other sides are.
This is when I ask myslef...cant we all just get along.....?
Or be like Lennon and just IMAGINE?
the answer
HELL NO!!
Hate in politics has turned into big business...and sadly.... it has made the the brightest part of a newscast the gloomy weather report.
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