I am a Republican because...

[GloriaInEleusis]

So many people seem to have a interpretation of Republicans that is no to me at all what we stand for. So, I'm copying this here in hopes that it might educate a few people.

I am a Republican Because...

I BELIEVE the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person's dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.

I BELIEVE in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, sex, age or disability.

I BELIEVE free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.

I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.

I BELIEVE the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations and that the best government is that which governs least.

I BELIEVE the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people.

I BELIEVE Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.

I BELIEVE Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world.

FINALLY, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.

Communism is not great in theory.

That's not really how I'ddefine it. You work hard, state keeps everything is more like it. And people with lots of potential to contribute to society with have no incentive to do so.

Nope, not my idea of a good idea.

How do this:

I BELIEVE the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person's dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.

square with this:

I BELIEVE the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations and that the best government is that which governs least.

if private organisations/indiviuals choose not to help and still want this:

I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.

lol at the communism argument. Eleusis, you make the republican party sound like a load of kids arguing over who had what toys first. oh no, hand on a minute, they are a load of spoilt kids...

GloriaInElsusis..I've always wanted to ask a current Republican how does that 'less government' thing equate with you all wanting to get into people's bedrooms (with the hatred of gays) and into women's bodies (by being pro life)? Even to save the life of a mother?

Also, what's fair game for the govt. in your mind? Every Republican has a different
intrepretation of this. My uncle says he's the only true Repub around, and he's against public schools in the US. Are you? Also, he thinks there should't be police, fire or public services? He thinks the kooks that need mental care should just be shot if they can't get themselves sorted. Agree with that?

BTW,he's a great uncle and we manage to not discuss politics or religion. Yes, somehow we do this..I must add that he's over 80 and lives on a large ranch in the West....so yes he does pay a lot of taxes he doesn't need.

A lot of my elderly family members think they shouldn't pay school taxes anymore since they don't have young children anymore. (Interesting they didn't think this when they DID have young children.)

Eleusis, are you living in the UK or the US? Where from in the US? I'm glad you are a fellow American (assuming you are) because it would be hard for you to live in many places around the world.

Also, if the govt. developed a cure for cancer and you had cancer, you'd pass..right? Don't want that govt. increasing taxes you know....Heck, why is the govt. doing in the medical field anyway.

Let's end the CDC...if a new disease breaks out, you'd sort it yourself, right?

Folks, what Eleusis and others like her think is the only govt. programs that are necessary are those for national defence....all others should be ended.

Let's end the Consumer Product Safety Commission....let the kids eat lead in their toys....oh wait, the CPSC is already a joke.

USDA.tainted meat and recalls...no problem...it's the people's stupid fault they ate that meat anyway.....

You seem to be confusing Republicans and Liberatarians. Thats what your Dad is even if he doesn't know it.

are Republicans not libertarian then? they don't believe in smaller government, lower taxes etc etc?

Yes of course but not to that extreme.

Ahh, I logged on thinking it was an anti monarchist thread, but then realised it was American politics.

ExpatinEngland, could you please let me decide what I wish to say and think. You have made numerous untrue accusations about how I think and what I really meant.

Now if there on sure thing about me, it is that I say what I mean. I dod do sugar coating (often).

I am American. I am from Chicago. I live in greater London.

I am pro-choice. I have no problem with gay rights. I think we should have a medical system that is reasonably accessible to most (if not all). I do not think it should be run by the government because they screw up most things they are allowed to be in charge of.

Paula is right. Your dad believes in no government, which if different from limited government. Some functions need to be performed by the government and I happen to believe that education is one of them.

I BELIEVE Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world.

as long as there is some financial gain

I BELIEVE free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.

does this really equate with americas poor, ill, uneducated?

there is this hand on heart land of the free heart wrenching hallmark shit spouted at every opportunity its almost indoctrine. America IS good...you are poor becuase you didn't work hard enough ..metality

its all about self - self self - i'm alrgght jack

dont tax us - cos you will spend it on services for poor people

now you two republicans both seem to accuse everyone else of not reading the right things, and yet you both read expat's post so scantily that you read "uncle" as "dad". funny that.

oops. Paula did it first. It's her fault.

Yes my fault, sorry

i do feel that americans get damned if they take an isolationist view of involvement in the outside world, and damned if they take an interventionist view. But to me eleusis, an isolationist view makes much more sense for Republicans, in terms of the other parts of your first post. can you explain more about why you feel an interventionist view is best (as in 'working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world')?

I do think that the United States has always benefited from an Isolationist stance. Vietnam and Iraq have been disasters. Korea wasn't all that great either.

This is hilarious. When are you Americans going to realize that you only have two freakishly similar political parties to choose from?

Looking at your little list, one would think Democrats don't believe in "equal rights", "equal justice", and all the rest.

WHere do you stand on the Neo-Cons?

"I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn."

LOL LOL LOL

Didn't Clinton manage to balance the budget in 94 or 95 and the first thing the next Republican President do in his first term in office was blow it to smithereens on an unwinnable war?

"I BELIEVE the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person's dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored."

so they pass the Patriot Act which in effect revokes most of these.

Tell this to the black people of New Orleans who would love to move back home but are effectively being prevented from doing so because it will be the wrong colour for the Brave New World being built down there.

"I BELIEVE Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world."

Well the Iranians are glad about this one and just escaped by the skin of their teeth, unlike their neighbours in Iraq. Esp. fortuitous since they weren't building a bomb just like how their unlucky neighbours were 14 minutes from blowing up London or whatever the ridiculous claim was.

"Didn't Clinton manage to balance the budget in 94 or 95 and the first thing the next Republican President do in his first term in office was blow it to smithereens on an unwinnable war?"

WITH tax cuts.

Thanks for those of you who noticed they confused 'dad' with uncle'...My dad was always a Democrat...read the other thread where I get really into why he was a Democrat..I'll have to ask Uncle Jerry what he thinks of being called a Liberaterian...he is a Republican because he doesn't think everybody is in the same position a HE IS. He's a Republican because he thinks other people do need some of govt. You people are typical Repubs..think you know what is best for everybody.

CotezAzur...don't label all of us as "Americans"...I think you are right...there's not a big difference between most moderate Americans, but there's a BIG difference between the fundamentalists and the rest of the US. The fundamentalists hijacked the Republican party and ruined it.

Also, thought it was interesting when they referred to my "Dad" in the present tense...he's been dead since 1992...miss him terribly..he wouldn't recognize this country if he were still alive.

Thanks for all the comments from you all about the "I BELIEVE Americans value...'''I'm American and embarrassed when some Americans act like the US is the World. It isn't.