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DaddySatyr -> RE: The Voice of American Conservatism? (3/3/2012 11:33:00 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam
Winning elections is a simple process. All you have to do is get more people to come into your tent than the other side does.
To do that, you make your tent nice and big and inviting. The Right Wingers have done the opposite. The Republican tent used to be big. As long as you were a moral person who believed in a strong defense and fiscal conservancy, you were welcome.
30 years ago, the tent started to shrink. Worse yet, it started to move. People who had comfortably sat under the R tent for decades found themselves out and exposed because they MOVED THE DAMN TENT. Not only did they move it, they made it really small. Then, when you wanted back in to what you thought was YOUR tent, you find out that they changed the rules for admission.
Disgusted, you walk away. Then, on the horizon, you see a big tent that has D on it. In front of that tent, there's a sign that said "Independents Welcome"
The rest is the history of a party that destroyed itself.
Some of us walked into the tent marked "L" (For Libertarian) as we understand that Rush, at best, is a "useful idiot" for the machine that wants us to think that they're doing something.
I was a volunteer on the first campaign of President Reagan and I voted for him and donated money, the second time (I'm 47 I wasn't old enough to vote for him the first time). I had to think hard before I pulled the lever for King George I but, I held my nose and did it, both times.
Around the time of his first campaign, I began to realize that conservatism wasn't speaking to all my issues.
I had a problem with people being denied the right to marry/sleep with/love whoever they choose to. In fairness, I had a problem with how some of the people fighting for those rights engaged the "enemy" so, I didn't join the fight.
I had a problem with the sneaky, under-handed, empire building that this country was doing through covert (Iran/Contra) and not so covert (Manuel Noriega) operations. In contrast, I had a problem with the people who blamed the military (and even some of the soldiers) so, I didn't join their cause, either.
When President Clinton was elected, I didn't vote for him but I hopes for the best. I had to hold my nose while I pulled the lever for his opponent so, I wasn't all that upset.
The first thing President Clinton did was to establish that at $24,000 per year with a family of 3, I was rich because he raised my taxes, after promising to only raise them on rich people. I'm not sure but, I don't think the party I threw to celebrate my new-found wealth was well attended.
The second thing he did was to alienate a bunch of people when he started talking about "vast right wing conspiracy" and how he was going to eliminate "hate speech" which was defined as anyone that didn't kiss his ass.
It was around this time, in a very serious way that I started realizing that neither of the "Big Two" represented my thoughts and will for this once-great nation so, I started doing some research.
I took stock in myself and I realized that I was socially liberal and fiscally conservative and that I think the Constitution is more holy than the Bible.
I stopped looking at things based upon what "my party" had to say about them and based my views on what I felt in my heart.
Rush limbaugh does not speak for me but, neither do any on the left. I agree with some points with both sides but I will never "toe the party line" ever again because even the Libertarian party hasn't quite gotten it right, yet.
Peace and comfort,
Michael
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