So here was an email from a liberal friend:
Dear Wise and Honorable TexasLynn,
Here’s a question I’d like to see you attack/address in your blog:
Let’s say I’m pretty liberal, socially. Don’t care about gays getting married or people smoking weed. Don’t think all illegal immigrants are bad and should be deported; some kind of practical program needs to be implemented.
But at the same time, I don’t really like unions, and think welfare has gotten out of hand. I’d be willing to accept adjustments to Social Security and Medicare (push out qualification age, reduce benefits), but I don’t want either chopped in half or replaced with private accounts. I support some basic safety net. I also support gun ownership, and don’t see a need for increased gun control.
Why should I vote Republican?
OK… fair enough… But the answer to your question depends on the value you place on each issue. Since I know you place social issues above financial (just like I do); the answer is that under the current Republican stances on those issues, you shouldn’t vote for them.
At the same time I must say that I’m not really the person to ask. I don’t consider myself a Republican. I do vote for them out of choosing the lesser evil. But at the same time; I’m one of those who is batteling for the soul (and direction) of the Republican Party and failing that… I’ll abandon them. If I/we are successful; then I doubt you’ll ever want to support them. If I/we fail, then take another look at them.
I will be glad to make an argument aimed at a generic liberal someone as described above. But to do that I have to argue that the liberal must choose to ignore the social issues for now in the interest of saving the nation so that the social issue ever eventually matter. So let me give it a try. 🙂
Overall Why You Should Support the Republican Party Right Now:
The key to my argument is this. You will likely eventually win the social issues despite the current opposition of the Republican Party. But winning on those social issues will only matter if you FIRST save the country from the fiscal collapse being orchestrated and implemented by the Democratic Party. If you don’t choose to do this; then none of the other stuff really matters. Sure gays will be given legal marriage so they can get what? Non-existent federal benefits that don’t exist anymore because of the economic collapse?
So I argue you should set aside your objections to social issues in the immediate and dire interest of the economic survival of the country.
As a collective the Democratic Party does not think there is a spending problem, or a dept problem. The Democratic Party does not think that ANY spending should be curtailed and does not think any reforms of social programs are necessary.
[Side Note: Mary Landrieu (Moron Senator from our neighboring state of Louisiana) very recently said as much. “I am not going to keep cutting the discretionary budget which, by the way, is not out of control despite what you hear on Fox News. It’s mandatory spending that is rising rapidly because the greatest generation that gave us the greatest nation the world has ever heard is dying. And they need hospice care, they need Social Security and they need hospitals.” Of course she used the same old Democratic scare tactic of Republicans out to get old people and Social Security to justify her (and Obamas) continued unfettered spending spree.]
[Chorus:] You know this to be true! And you know that minor tweaks aren’t going to do the job. And you know the Democrats aren’t even willing to do the minor tweaks; much less anything meaningful that will ensure viability. Again I say it’s really too late; BUT say I’m wrong and it isn’t. If this is not addressed eventually (and sooner than you think), if you do not empower those who are part of the solution and not the problem, NO ONE will receive ANY “safety net” program because none of them will exists any longer and all these questions will be moot. It is imperative that this be fixed (preferably yesterday) and the Republicans are the ONLY chance this will happen, EVER!
[Note: As I wrote this post I discovered that this little paragraph needed to be repeated over and over again… like a chorus in a song. So… 🙂 when you see the words Chorus: jump back and re-read the above argument/paragraph. Thank you!]
Now stop! You’re thinking one of two things right now.
1. You’re thinking that TexasLynn is right about the dire straits we find ourselves in.
or
2. You’re thinking that TexasLynn is wrong or exaggerating the situation.
My whole argument is based on you realizing the seriousness of the situation. If you’re not there. If you think we are not on the cusp of national fiscal collapse (I’m talking within the next 2-6 years)… READ NO FURTHER. My argument is completely dependent on that understanding. Eat, drink, be merry, and vote Democrat… and stop right here.
Look… I said, read no further if you chose Option 2… and I mean it…
OK? OK… so let’s look at individual issues…
Individual Issues:
Issue: Gay rights/marriage: Understand that because of the direction of young people and the world, I believe you (the left) will eventually win this battle. I personally think its a moral travesty; but it is the direction things are going. Right now the Republican Party by majority of it’s members are against you. A third are totally with you. A third are totally against you. And a third don’t care, but realize that they can’t afford to lose the social conservatives.
So my argument is don’t worry about this issue. The propaganda in the schools, and TV, and the movies has worked. You’ve got the hearts and minds of the children where you want them. You just need to wait for a few more to reach voting age. Save the country fiscally and then come back to this inevitable victory. If it makes you feel any better join the third of the Republicans that support the issue and try and change the Party from within.
Now I’ll be honest. As a conservative I’ll do my best to turn the tide; and I’ll do so from within the Republican Party. If I fail, I’ll abandon them and you can have the whole Party all to yourself…
Issue: Smoking weed: You’re probably not on as solid ground on this one as gay rights. Republicans see weed as a gateway drug, and weighing the benefits (lack of criminality/medical/”freedom”) vs. the damage (stoned losers and their effect on society and the cost involved); Republicans have done the math and have decided it’s not the way to go. But Really!? Is this that big of an issue when compared to fiscal oblivion? You may get your wish on this one when the economy collapse and we’ve got a lot bigger things to worry about; but I’d recommend saving the nation instead.
Issues: Immigration: The Republican Party is closer to your position than you think on this. You’re description of the Republican stance matches what the misinformation the MSM has pushed with great effect.
Here is a line item list of where I think a majority of Republicans stand:
- It is irrational to believe that we can deport all illegal aliens.
- Step one in
any immigration solution is to secure the border. Until this is done, no reform really matters. This is a major distinction between the Republicans and Democrats. The Democrats have no interest in border security. They view illegal immigration as a gold mine of votes and class warfare.
- Current undocumented people should be registered and processed. Those who work and have contributed to society should be given work visas and a path to citizenship. A path that puts them behind all those who followed the legal process.
- The legal process to becoming a citizen is a bureaucratic nightmare. It must be streamlined and revamped. At the same time we should revamp immigration policy to reflect who we want and who we don’t. I’d say Republicans would emphasize those who would work and integrate into our society.
- As part of the process of registering and processing the undocumented. Those on perpetual welfare and those with any level of criminality of say drunk driving and above should be deported. Another key distinction between Democrats and Republicans. So if you agree with the above; you should have no problem voting Republican.
Issue: Social Safety Net: Republicans would greatly revamp the social safety net if given the opportunity. It is an absolute necessity if the nation is to survive and not go bankrupt.
[Note: I have written extensively on how the social safety net should be revamped and why that is only possible by ripping up the current system by the roots. I decided it will be easier to just quote myself in order to explain the conservative/Republican position and thus why they deserve your support over the Democrats… So here we go…]
From: John Stewart’s 19 Questions on how and why the social safety net should be minimal.
A limited social safety net can enhance freedom; but an unchecked one does (has done) the opposite. Our current unchecked social safety net ensnares generations of people to poverty and dependence. A “plantation” is created to house the ensnared. The masters only require the slaves to empower them with allegiance and votes year after year. THAT system has been working perfectly since LBJ refined and perfected it almost half a century ago.
A limited social safety net would protect citizens from death and extreme hardship; but it would also promote getting off the dole. The main issue in promoting independence is in not providing too much aid as to promote complete dependence and complacency.
Need help with food? Under the social safety net you will not starve. You’ll receive rice, beans and other basics; but you will not just be handed a black check or credit card to buy what you want.
Need help with housing? Under the social safety net you will not die from exposure. But if you’re living off your fellow citizens and have Cable TV and other luxuries, something is wrong.
Living on the social safety net isn’t a right. It is charity. Self-Esteem is not the priority in the slightest. With that in mind, participants may have certain responsibilities while being supported. Among them may (and should) be, no drugs, no alcohol, a work program…
Would being supported by the social safety net be pleasant? No, that’s not its purpose. Its purpose is to support the people until they can make it on their own.
From Pulling the Cart on why the system must be destroyed and rebuilt from scratch
We have millions of children on school lunches; not because that many children were going hungry; but because the government bureaucratic system that doles out the lunches needs to be sure it continues to justify its existence and generate the government jobs. So Schools are ensnared in getting as many kids to sign up with stipends on a per child basis. One of the requirements to qualify? “I just don’t have time to fix a good breakfast every morning.” Donald Trump could answer yes to that…
We have millions more people on food stamps today than four years ago. Like the school lunch program the food stamp bureaucracy must be fed and perpetuated; and more and more dependency is what makes that possible. There is zero, NO, incentive on the individual or the system to eventually move on from food stamps… only to get on and stay on.
We not only have people on these programs for years; we have people on these programs for generations. This fact alone should tell us this isn’t working and it’s time to start from scratch.
We provide hundreds of days in unemployment insurance. This program is slowly transforming into a welfare system. I’ve talked to managers at plants who can tell you to the day certain employees will leave his/her job because that is the day they qualify for unemployment.
And NOW people have learned the next scam of the system… after unemployment insurance runs out don’t just get another job go for retirement through disability. A check for life for nothin’. Again a perfectly good system for a valid cause corrupted by government bureaucracy. Millions of men and women who are perfectly fit to work are now on permanent disability.
The whole government bureaucratic system has evolved to where it seeks out and encourages people to give up and become wards of the state. And once they are part of this system you can depend on each and every one to vote to perpetuate it.
So… with all that said… please refer back to the [Chorus: You know this be true… minor tweaks won’t work… Democrats aren’t willing… really too late… might be wrong… imperative to fix… Republicans only hope.]
Issue: Social Security: This program will never work so long as the money flows through Washington. Washington will steal (has stolen) it and replaced it with IOUs. Washington will use it to run a massive bureaucracy. This has to stop. Social Security as it has evolved is a pyramid scheme that is guaranteed to collapse and likely to bankrupt the nation. It is only a question of when.
I and Republicans agree that the promises to today’s senior citizens must be honored; but a plan must be implemented to migrate from a government system (which by definition will never work) to a private system. ANY other solution that sends the money through Washington will fail by design.
And… [Chorus: You know this be true… minor tweaks won’t work… Democrats aren’t willing… really too late… might be wrong… imperative to fix… Republicans only hope.]
Issue: Medicare: This program should be rolled into the medical side of the social safety net; described above. Like social security Medicare is guaranteed to collapse and likely to bankrupt the nation. It is only a question of when. Re-read my arguments on Social Security… they are the same reasons Medicare is not viable or feasible.
And… [Chorus: You know this be true… minor tweaks won’t work… Democrats aren’t willing… really too late… might be wrong… imperative to fix… Republicans only hope.]
Issue: Unions: Look, Republicans aren’t anti-Union. Created for the right purpose they are a great good for workers, business, and society. Few if any of that definition of Union exists anymore. The unions have evolved into parasites on American business and society. The very idea that someone must join or donate to a Union against their will is ludicrous. Republicans understand his. Democrats may or may not understand it but it doesn’t matter. The Unions are a simple subsidiary of the Party.
Like anything else that has evolved into something this horrible and evil, there is no reforming Unions. You just have to oppose them and start from scratch. Luckily, this is as simple as following the Constitution’s 1st Amendment of freedom of association (and freedom to not associate). It’s called right to work and you simply make it illegal to force someone to join or donate to a union as a condition of employment.
Issue: The Second Amendment: You are closer to the Democratic position than you think. The purpose of the Second Amendment (despite the complete ignorance of politicians, the MSM, and the general public) is to be the final check against an abusive and tyrannical government. The benefits of protection and hunting are secondary benefits. The founding fathers were aware of them… but they were secondary in purpose. That being the case, the access and power of arms the people should have access to is substantial; including assault weapons, large clips, and ammunition.
We have a separate violent culture problem, a moral fabric of the nation problem, and a system that lets nutballs with obvious and dangerous mental health problems run lose problem. Those need to be addressed.
This basic civil right (the 2nd Amendment) will become even more important if you choose not to stop the reckless Democratic fiscal policies. It will be one of the essential tools needed by the people to have any chance of eventually rebuilding from the collapse.
Conclusion:
So that’s it. That’s my argument. Unless you decide to stop the Democratic Party’s irresponsible, and eventually catastrophic fiscal policy; all the liberal social issues that are so important to you, all the safety net issues won’t matter; because our posterity will be concentrating on much more important issues in their lives… literally finding their next meal.
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