The News Leader – www.newsleader.com – Staunton, Va.
Vote Democratic, even if RepublicanMany people in this area think they are Republicans, because that’s the way it’s been for years and the lies and twisted rhetoric of the Republicans sound convincing. Now, before the election, is a perfect time to take stock. Valley citizens might be surprised to learn they have more in common with the Democratic Party than they realized!
If you favor fiscal responsibility, vote Democratic. Under President Clinton, the federal budget was balanced; under President Bush, we are experiencing deficits that threaten to derail the economy and jeopardize our well-being. Democrats don’t love taxes any more than Republicans, but we do believe that it is critical to balance the budget and invest in essential services to assure an equitable future for all.
Absolutely, if you favor higher taxes, and bigger government vote Democratic (or Republican, they both do the same thing in this area. With Dems you pay now, with Reps you pay later). Someone needs to step in and say “I want to cut down the size of government to balance the budget, not raise taxes or run a deficit”
If you favor national security, vote Democratic. Republicans would have you believe that Democrats are weak on national security, but that is not true. Most Democrats believe security resources can be used more effectively. We are wasting lives and money in Iraq; that must change. But America must also remain strong, we must stay vigilant against terrorism; we must restore our international relations with our allies. After 9/11 we had an opportunity to unite the world against terrorism; instead, our arrogance has inspired new generations of terrorists who will threaten world peace for decades, if not centuries.
I don’t know about the factual basis of that last statement. In any case, whatever your opinion is on if we should have gone into Iraq, we are there, and we need to leave the country in a state where they won’t be a threat to us in the future.
If you favor personal responsibility, vote Democratic. Legislating behavior doesn’t work. We are all motivated by personal interest – Republicans understand this better than anyone – and resent when someone else’s views are imposed on us.
Now, I am with the democrats on this social responsibilty thing. We don’t need to be legislating any more morality to people (that’s not to say we can’t, because we do). As long as what you’re doing isn’t hurting anyone else, go for it.
What we ought to address is poverty. There is a shocking income disparity in this country, with many millions of people living in deplorable circumstances. Before we tell people what they can or cannot do with their own bodies, we ought to ensure that there is opportunity for the poor to participate in the economy. Right now, thanks to Republican policies, our economic system is pushing more and more women and children into hunger and despair. That’s just wrong.
If you favor freedom of speech, vote Democratic. If you favor civil rights and fairness, vote Democratic. If you favor better health care and education for all citizens – not just a privileged few – vote Democratic. The list goes on, and the conclusion is clear. Support Jim Webb and the Democratic Party on Nov. 7.
And here we go. This country was founded on equal opportunity, not equal results. This is what the Democrats seem to consistantly get wrong. I’m all for everyone having equal opportunity, but when you have that, you will not get equal results. In order to get equal results (nobody poor, nobody hungry, everybody has a house, etc,. etc.) you have to create unequal opportunity. You have to move to communism, from each according to abilty, to each according to need, and that is anathema to what this country was founded upon. If you want to piss away your life and do nothing, you’re going to end up living in the gutter and being hungry, but you should have equal opportunity to make something of your life, not have everything handed to you.
[...] See, I told you we could legislate morality. Here in Virginia we just did. Someone please tell me how allowing two people to marry, whatever their sex is, affects your relationship with the person whom you chose to marry? This legislation goes beyond just not recognizing a marriage between two people of the same sex though: This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage. [...]