#3, man. "Real American" is a phrase I'd be happy to never, ever heard again. I'm also extremely tired of hearing the phrase "average American" unless it is being used in something featuring genuine statistics.
@Sandicomm: Yes, yes please. Though the Dems have the opposite problem. They're too busy pandering to the people who are obviously on the other side of the aisle and ignoring those in their actual base, and unfortunately, unlike conservatives/moderates, us hardcore liberals have nowhere else to go. (And we're equally sick of being taken for granted.)
I'm so sick of this appeasement on women's rights and gay rights I'm honestly thinking of voting third-party next election.
David Frum of the American Enterprise Institute wrote a really interesting letter, saying that conservatives need to start targeting the up and coming elite: young female college graduates. I personally don't see how that could really work, because women tend to want services that conservatives are congenitally opposed to, but hey, it could happen. For anyone interested, the letter is here: [www.claremont.org]
@Sandicomm: I'm not really sure what specific services you are talking about, but I will say that I don't think women are necessarily more inclined to favor social programs. I think the main problem for women with the Republican party is the fact that they don't consider us to be full human beings, deserving of respect and dignity, or as having inalienable rights too.
@Blueberry26: Reproductive rights and childcare, actually, are major concerns for women voters. So, those kinds of social programs, along with general healthcare, are things women favor because in a lot of ways women (especially single moms) are hit hardest when we dial back on social programs.
One of the ways the current GOP shows its lack of female friendly policy is there continued extreme stance on abortion, birth control, and equal pay.
I'm still holding out hope for a strong third party that combines fiscal conservatism and real support for reproductive and gay rights. Until the Republicans banish the openly sexist and homophobic members of the party, I couldn't even consider supporting them.
@keep-the-bling-away-from-the-babies...: Same here. I can't figure out if I should stick with Meghan McCain and her vision of a better, newer Republican party, or put all my support towards a third party.
I often wonder, since neither party actually resembles what they apparently stand for at this point...what my political leaning really is. I would say liberal, but that really depends. I'm socially liberal, and I do think the government should be providing things like heathcare. But I don't want it anywhere near my personal life and I'm not a "big government" fan unless we're talking about the necessary checks and balances because, sadly, things like corporations don't just up and become ethical.
The Dem's irritate me because they seem like reactionary, limp, noodles. The Repub's have been spouting socially conservative rhetoric for so long I'm not sure what they actually stand for. Because less government they are not, unless it's some newfangled version that means "fuck you if you're poor, non-white, not male, not heterosexual, and not able-bodied." Ye olde "pick yourself up by your bootstraps" is really nice in theory, if the playing field was actually level. But it's not so that just makes no sense as policy. Especially when there's absolutely no reason NOT to be more ethical and compassionate in our policies from the ground up.
At the same time, I am not a fan of the way that many liberal policies, in an attempt to help, end up trying to "do things for your own good" that aren't really what's required. Like, oh, say, music or video game censorship. And being so PC you miss the entire point. Or being just as in bed with Big Corporate as everyone else, just slightly different lobbies.
I feel like both parties are on their own tracks to nowhere. One of them has devolved into the Hate Train, and the other is the We Don't Know How To Get There From Here Train.
good on you for actually delving into this, latoya. the problem with your list though, is that is makes sense and employs logic, so i doubt the GOP could actually make any use of it.
i doubt there is anything, or series of things that could earn the GOP my respect or support. short of, perhaps, democrats doing some seriously wack shit.
@pantsless economist...access RESTORED: most definitely. divide and conquer- i hate to sound all conspiracy theorist, but the entire government, left and right, is no long FOR the PEOPLE, BY the PEOPLE. it's more like for the private interests, by the puppets on strings.
i side left because i genuinely hate the general racism and xenophobia that the right exudes, but all in all i wish there was a way for us to be more united on some issues, instead of fighting each other tooth and nail about them, which is usually caused by mis-information- on both sides.
@pantsless economist...access RESTORED: You know, I understand that argument, but it's one of those things where I often think, "it sucks, but I'm not sure anything else is much better." Multiparty systems still have to build coalitions to get majorities, and that still means making deals with parts of your ruling majority to get them to join you (not unlike what the Dems keep having to do with Blue Dogs). A bigger problem is that it is far too easy for the crazies within each party to get elected. It benefits them to appeal to the crazies in their district so they can win a primary, because most districts are just designed to elect a member of one specific party.
Which is all to say: I've come to the conclusion that gerrymandering and purposefully non-competitive districts are the roof of a lot of the problems in the US. And I am bitter that my home district has been represented by a worthless crazypants Republican my entire life.
How to save the Republican Party in Three Easy Steps:
1. Everyone wants money, and the Republicans know how to make it and grow it. Be the party of "Everyone can make money," not just "We protect the rich."
2. Embrace the less-government stance across the board: no moral legislation regarding abortion, no uneven legislation preventing gay marriage, no legislation preventing labor unions from forming. Stand behind things like the Bill of Rights.
3. Appeal to minority and women's interests, understand the power of new media.
So simple, and yet so difficult because then they would be Democrats.
"Guess what - young black people are dying to leave the Democrats! We are ready to go! ...After all, it gets really easy to be taken advantage of if a political party thinks your constituency is on lock.
THANK YOU! As much as I love our current president I'm mildly annoyed that I was forced to support a political party that doesn't really represent my views just because the one that does has completely dropped the ball.
On #2 Thank you Latoya! I always get a little annoyed when people assume the masses don't understand something. 1) People aren't stupid. and 2) Reaganomics is the easiest thing in the world to understand because it's based on econ 101 graphs, the stupid laffer curve, and a 2 word mantra: "cut taxes."
Edited by pantsless economist...access RESTORED at 10/02/09 3:07 PM
pantsless economist...access RESTORED was starred
pantsless economist...access RESTORED was unstarred
10/02/09
10/02/09
10/02/09
10/02/09
10/02/09
I'm so sick of this appeasement on women's rights and gay rights I'm honestly thinking of voting third-party next election.
10/02/09
10/02/09
10/02/09
10/02/09
One of the ways the current GOP shows its lack of female friendly policy is there continued extreme stance on abortion, birth control, and equal pay.
10/02/09
10/02/09
10/02/09
Which one is less of a lost cause?
10/02/09
The Dem's irritate me because they seem like reactionary, limp, noodles. The Repub's have been spouting socially conservative rhetoric for so long I'm not sure what they actually stand for. Because less government they are not, unless it's some newfangled version that means "fuck you if you're poor, non-white, not male, not heterosexual, and not able-bodied." Ye olde "pick yourself up by your bootstraps" is really nice in theory, if the playing field was actually level. But it's not so that just makes no sense as policy. Especially when there's absolutely no reason NOT to be more ethical and compassionate in our policies from the ground up.
At the same time, I am not a fan of the way that many liberal policies, in an attempt to help, end up trying to "do things for your own good" that aren't really what's required. Like, oh, say, music or video game censorship. And being so PC you miss the entire point. Or being just as in bed with Big Corporate as everyone else, just slightly different lobbies.
I feel like both parties are on their own tracks to nowhere. One of them has devolved into the Hate Train, and the other is the We Don't Know How To Get There From Here Train.
10/02/09
10/02/09
i doubt there is anything, or series of things that could earn the GOP my respect or support. short of, perhaps, democrats doing some seriously wack shit.
10/02/09
10/02/09
10/02/09
I, too, view myself as liberal - but I will not view myself as a Democrat.
10/02/09
i side left because i genuinely hate the general racism and xenophobia that the right exudes, but all in all i wish there was a way for us to be more united on some issues, instead of fighting each other tooth and nail about them, which is usually caused by mis-information- on both sides.
10/02/09
Which is all to say: I've come to the conclusion that gerrymandering and purposefully non-competitive districts are the roof of a lot of the problems in the US. And I am bitter that my home district has been represented by a worthless crazypants Republican my entire life.
10/02/09
10/02/09
1. Everyone wants money, and the Republicans know how to make it and grow it. Be the party of "Everyone can make money," not just "We protect the rich."
2. Embrace the less-government stance across the board: no moral legislation regarding abortion, no uneven legislation preventing gay marriage, no legislation preventing labor unions from forming. Stand behind things like the Bill of Rights.
3. Appeal to minority and women's interests, understand the power of new media.
So simple, and yet so difficult because then they would be Democrats.
10/02/09
TRY CAPS LOCK
10/02/09
10/02/09
10/02/09
THANK YOU! As much as I love our current president I'm mildly annoyed that I was forced to support a political party that doesn't really represent my views just because the one that does has completely dropped the ball.
10/02/09
10/02/09
10/02/09
10/02/09