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I am simply stating a fact.
Republicans don't believe in democracy
I'm definitely not one who is given to hyperbole. So when I suggest in my title that "Republicans don't believe in democracy," I'm not trying to stretch the truth or hype up a rage. I'm simply stating a fact.
I don't know when this distaste for democracy started - perhaps it goes all the way back to our founding when only white male landowners were given the right to vote. We know that this "conservative" position has been held at different times in our country's history by different parties. But its clear from the recent fights over voter suppression in the last election that it is now firmly encamped in the Republican Party.
But in some ways the Republican distaste for democracy goes even deeper than the franchise. I suspect the beginnings of those elements started with the cold war when government itself was defined as "big brother" rather than a democracy in which citizenship was the expectation.
If you want to see how that plays out today, take a look at how Dinesh D'Souza describes it in this clip in reference to Obamacare. And yes, I know that D'Souza has been disgraced recently. This discussion seems to have happened just days before that story broke. And so there is significant irony in hearing him - of all people - talk about morality.
But all that aside, I think he perfectly captures the current Republican view of our government. And it bears absolutely NO resemblance to a democracy.
I'm definitely not one who is given to hyperbole. So when I suggest in my title that "Republicans don't believe in democracy," I'm not trying to stretch the truth or hype up a rage. I'm simply stating a fact.
I don't know when this distaste for democracy started - perhaps it goes all the way back to our founding when only white male landowners were given the right to vote. We know that this "conservative" position has been held at different times in our country's history by different parties. But its clear from the recent fights over voter suppression in the last election that it is now firmly encamped in the Republican Party.
But in some ways the Republican distaste for democracy goes even deeper than the franchise. I suspect the beginnings of those elements started with the cold war when government itself was defined as "big brother" rather than a democracy in which citizenship was the expectation.
If you want to see how that plays out today, take a look at how Dinesh D'Souza describes it in this clip in reference to Obamacare. And yes, I know that D'Souza has been disgraced recently. This discussion seems to have happened just days before that story broke. And so there is significant irony in hearing him - of all people - talk about morality.
But all that aside, I think he perfectly captures the current Republican view of our government. And it bears absolutely NO resemblance to a democracy.
Snip>
As we argue different policies with Republicans, I think this is the deep subtext that creates the divisions between us. Its important that we challenge this kind of thinking and call it out.
That's what President Obama had in mind when he focused his speech at the Democratic Convention on citizenship.
We honor the strivers, the dreamers, the risk- takers, the entrepreneurs who have always been the driving force behind our free enterprise system, the greatest engine of growth and prosperity that the world's ever known.
But we also believe in something called citizenship — citizenship, a word at the very heart of our founding, a word at the very essence of our democracy, the idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations...
We, the people — recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which asks only, what's in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense.
As citizens, we understand that America is not about what can be done for us. It's about what can be done by us, together through the hard and frustrating but necessary work of self-government. That's what we believe
That's what President Obama had in mind when he focused his speech at the Democratic Convention on citizenship.
We honor the strivers, the dreamers, the risk- takers, the entrepreneurs who have always been the driving force behind our free enterprise system, the greatest engine of growth and prosperity that the world's ever known.
But we also believe in something called citizenship — citizenship, a word at the very heart of our founding, a word at the very essence of our democracy, the idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations...
We, the people — recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which asks only, what's in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense.
As citizens, we understand that America is not about what can be done for us. It's about what can be done by us, together through the hard and frustrating but necessary work of self-government. That's what we believe
Wow D'Souza and Shermer really are funny guys...at least they think so.Watch the video at link if you can stomach it!
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2012/12/republicans-dont-believe-in-democracy.html