Goodbye, Republican Party! I am a fan of the Republican Party. “So what” you may ask, but then consider that I am a liberal Democrat and current president of the Malibu Democratic Club. I believe that vigorous, respectful debate between opposing views leads to better government and a better American society. All views, including my own progressive positions, should be tested against thoughtful argument. Some would say this is naive and ignores the reality of getting and keeping political power. This cynical view rejects the results of the American Revolution, which sought to give power to “We the people…”, and provided for freedom of speech, press and peaceable assembly.
The current Administration is less Republican and more an authoritarian, militaristic movement seeking to replace the structured, balanced process provided by the Constitution with a dominant elite. This is being engineered through suppression of debate and dissent, and using exaggerated fear, flag-waving and narrowly defining patriotism. This revolutionary shift from the Republican Party of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Robert Taft, Eisenhower and, to some degree, even Ronald Reagan, would cause them great shame. Besides international militarism the Bush Administration seems to have adopted domestically the views of the far-right legal eminence, Robert Bork, who proclaimed ” I want to relitigate the entire 20th century.”
Are voting rights for women and minorities, food, drug and worker protections, insured bank accounts, pension protection, homeownership loan programs, Social Security, Medicare and other people friendly government actions the targets of this power-hungry and authoritarian Administration?
To those who claim to be Republicans, are you really willing to support the divisive and dangerous goals your new “Party” is pursuing? Think about it.
Ralph Erickson