I have some questions for Democrats [View All]

[vcrtime1]

Greetings from the other side,

I just took the politopia.com quiz and came out as Drew Carey.

The questions were somewhat leading, but I would generally describe myself as conservative/libertarian in my views. I actually think I am probably closer to center than this. I am decidedly not liberal.

Many of the positions that Bush claims to have on issues I agree with, but I have not been happy with what he actually does that is inconsistent or completely opposite from these positions. I think many Republicans/conservatives share this view, but we don't often hear about that.

I do sincerely believe Bush is better than Kerry or Gore would have been, but that does not mean I think he is doing a good job, but unfortunately the lesser of two evils. I agree with some of his reasoning for the war in Iraq, and disagree with other aspects of it.

I enjoy much of conservative talk radio, but I do think that Rush and Hannity and others are very strong apologists for Bush and the Republican party in that they do not ever acknowledge mistakes made or things that could have been done better. I don't think this is helpful. I like Boortz, Bush did a good job on this, Bush did a bad job on that, it is common sense to do this, etc. I don't agree with him on everything, but I do think he is more willing to look at an issue and form an opinion without regard to whether it supports Republicans or not.

I personally believe in not having an abortion, but I also believe that if you don't share my views, that is your business, not mine, and it is not my place to tell you that you cannot. So I guess I am pro-choice with "life" being my own choice.

Having said that as a bit of background, I do have some questions for Democrats that I have wanted to know about for a long time.

1. Many Democratic issues appear to have merit, but the way they are presented in such a negative, sneering and in-your-face manner makes them undesirable to me.

My perception of Democrats from the top down, and even as I read this message board, much of what I see consists of bashing and insulting Bush and Republican congressmen and senators and Republicans in general, rather than reasoned discussions of important issues. I know there are people on the right that do this also, but I find that it is far easier to find true discussions of issues on the right (whether correct or incorrect) than there are on the left. When I see left/right interviews on TV news, the people on the Democratic side seem to want to tear down the person on the Republican side rather than debate the issue presented. I don't understand this and it doesn't seem to me to be an effective or persuasive way to get your message out, it usually makes me just want to tune out to the Democratic position and I would guess this would be true of many non-Democrats.

2. Some of the Democratic positions on issues are very extreme to me.

a. For example, I do not want the environment to be destroyed, but I also acknowledge that 100% preservation is not possible in our modern-day society. I see high profile Democrats such as Hollywood stars getting very upset about people driving SUVs, but then I read an article that many of these same people are buying these new "luxury garbage trucks," much larger and heavier and using much more fuel than the biggest SUV. I see Democrats accusing Bush of going to war for oil, but then not wanting him to allow oil drilling in a tiny part of the northernmost part of Alaska, and also not willing to give up their own use of petroleum products.

b. Another example, I believe strongly in helping people who cannot help themselves. I do not believe it is the role of government to do this, but I am willing to let the government help Americans in need, when the need is real. What I do not like is taking my hard-earned money and paying it to someone who is able, but not willing, to work. I do not like paying my money to people who have children they cannot afford, and who have 3, 4, 5 children or more, and continue to get paid more and more for it. I worked hard for that money to support my family, and I do not want to pay that money to someone who is not willing to also work for it for themselves. I don't mind covering a gap, such as when unexpected things happen, or an emergency that could not have been planned for, or even someone who made a mistake and ended up in an unfortunate financial situation, etc., in fact I would gladly pay out of my own pocket as much as I could for anyone in that situation, but I don't understand paying so much of my money on a consistent basis for people who could be at least trying to help themselves but don't.

On the flip side of this issue, I appreciate hard work and achievement, but I do not think it is necessary for people like Garth Brooks or Shaq or Julia Roberts to make tens of millions of dollars at a time, or worse, teenagers like Paris Hilton, the Olsen twins or Jessica Simpson. I don't mind them making a good living, a lot of money, but with all the people in this country who go without necessities such as food, shelter, healthcare, the excess of these people and the foolish ways they spend their money does not seem right to me. I cannot stand seeing Jessica Simpson whining because she can't get a $4,000 purse she had her heart set on. But I don't know what the answer is.

c. A third example, illegal immigration. Why is this even an issue? I don't have any problem with immigration. We have a process set up in our laws to handle this. These laws were originally debated and then passed by congress and signed by the president. I do have a problem with ILLEGAL. Democrats have gone so far as to now call illegal immigrants "undocumented aliens." I just don't understand. The very first thing these people do when they arrive in the U.S. is break the law. It is not legal for them to be here, it is not legal for them to work here. So why are we protecting them and giving them drivers licenses and healthcare and education?

I see two possible solutions here: 1) enforce the immigration laws and allow legal immigrants to stay and send illegal immigrants back to where they came from; or 2) change the immigration laws so that someone from another country can just enter the U.S. and stay and live and work, legally. I don't understand the third option of allowing them to break the law and then benefit from breaking those laws.

Well, that's some of my questions, I have a lot more, but that's a good start, I would be very interested to receive some real responses for consideration and discussion. I hope my writing has been clear. I know there is a lot wrong with the right and I know there is a lot of corruption and hypocrasy, I know that. I don't want people coming back and just pushing that in my face, I would like real answers to my real questions on the Democratic side.

I see our once great country going down the toilet more and more each day, primarily from what I believe to be the influence of Democrats over the past 50 years, much more so during the past 10 years, and I'm sure what you believe to be the influence of Republicans over the same period.

I don't want to hate Democrats, and I don't hate them, though I think Democrats think I hate them just because I am conservative. I just don't understand some of the things in which Democrats believe, and the ways in which they go about trying to get others to agree with them. I think a lot of people like me have the same questions and the same reaction to Democrats. I don't think we are well represented by some of the hate-mongers and the more visible conservatives who promote the "agenda" at all costs, but we are there and we want to know more.

If we could find our common ground and work to make issues there better, then work outward towards our respective left and right views, we would have a better time understanding each other and working together for good, rather than going all the way to our extreme corners and hating each other and getting nothing good done on either side. I would like to give you credit for what you have done well, and I would like the same kind of consideration in return.

Thank you.

Tod