REPUBLICANS I am troubled by the influence of Republican ideology in our society. Do you know what the real difference is between Republicans and Democrats? Republicans are self centered, Democrats more socially oriented. I've often said that, if Jesus were here today, and given the choice between being a Democrat or a Republican, he would unquestionably opt for the Democratic party. Why? Just consider a couple of things he said (trust me, there are many more):
Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (Luke 6:20)
But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation. (Luke 6:24)
Can you imagine a Republican sympathizing with something like this (let alone saying it)? Not likely. They actually favor the wealthy. Which puts them in a position that is diametrically opposed to that of Jesus, who, hello! is the cornerstone of Christianity. How a professing Christian could know this and still support Republican candidates is completely beyond me. In the essay Christians and Republicans I mentioned the Christian stance on abortion as a possible reason. There is also their obsessive preoccupaton with homosexuality and gay marriage. If these issues are the primary source of their motivation for aligning themselves with the Republican platform, they could not be more misguided. A person's sexual preference is their own business (between them and God you might say). Don't get me wrong. I am not a homosexual myself, nor do I in any way condone or sympathize with their choices, but, as I mentioned in the very first essay I posted to this site (Gay Marriage 4/18/04), they're not hurting anyone but themselves - if that. Show me the damages. If you can't, then shut the hell up about it. It's none of your business. There is no way that such a purely personal sentiment should be used as a yardstick for deciding who to vote for. The very idea that someone would do so is not only absurd, but a little scary. It is your business, however, to be concerned about the condition of the marketplace, not to mention the resources we all ultimately depend upon. That's what we should be concerned about, not whether our next door neighbor might prefer same-gender sex. Get a grip! Republicans care nothing about people, in the plural sense (except for meddling in their personal lives). They are instead the champions of individual excellence. If you have a particular talent or skill and successfully market it and become wealthy the Republicans will unabashedly praise you. They encourage individual initiative and effort. Now, to be sure, there is nothing wrong with individual achievement. It's just that the Republicans seem to favor it to the exclusion of the greater social dynamic that is always operating in the background, and which, if you take a close look at it (which Republicans seem loath to do) is serving as the very foundation of that achievement, indeed of all achievement, individual or group. It doesn't take a whole lot of complicated thinking to figure this out. No matter who you are, however successful or how much of a genius, or even how lucky, your roots are undeniably traceable to a group, your family, who also came from a group, the larger family we commonly refer to as Society. If you listen to Republicans you get the impression that Society is a burden, something to be dealt with or manipulated, yet (ironically), at the same time, a vast sea of opportunity for individual success, an accomplishment (for them) requiring little if any return to that community which made the success possible in the first place. The return I refer to is of course taxes, which are, simply put, a way of giving something back to the culture that gave you your very life, without which you could never make an effort to succeed, let alone do it. Republicans, in short, want to take but not give; they want to rape the planet and take whatever resources they can get their hands on so long as it increases their personal wealth. They are essentially irresponsible stewards of the resources. They want to take them but not take care of them. It'll Put the Fear of God in You, Boy
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