From: mike@gordian.com (Michael A. Thomas)
Subject: Re: Okay, what makes a Gay or Lesbian turn Republican?
Organization: Gordian; Costa Mesa, CA
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 19:01:05 GMT

In article <1992Nov8.044956.10805@wam.umd.edu>, lovegod@wam.umd.edu (Donald Andrew Agarrat) writes:
> In article <1992Nov7.200749.19424@gordian.com> mike@gordian.com  
> (Michael A. Thomas) writes:
> }   Republicans:
> }   1) less government, but not sure why
> 
> Less government equals more control to a limited amount of  
> people ...

  Eh?

> }   2) government with the greatest good in mind 
> 
> The greatest good for who?  American aristocracy?

  Generally, for both parties, this is from Mill's _On Liberty_,
in that the reason for capitalism is for the good of the collective.
In practice neither party can deliver on this since it is not
the basis of capitalism. Instead, political pull is the basis
of determining the "greater good". Both parties practice this,
although their constituencies are somewhat different (but not
very).

> }   3) government should stay out of peoples lives
> 
> Oh yeah, they've been really doing that.  By the way, did anyone  
> see that cartoon by Camper on Traditional Family Values?  Very  
> funny ...

  I said that there are contradictions within the party, right?
This wing of the party, exemplified by the Goldwater republicans,
are very much out of favor these days though.

> }   4) government should intervene to save us from ourselves
> 
> Gee thanks ... No wonder I felt so safe and warm - I had George  
> and Dan protecting me ...

  The save us from ourselves folks are epidemic in both parties.
With the republicans, this is the religious right and god sez so
laws. With the democrats it is liberal do-gooder type people who
give us helmet laws and sunny-side-up laws. 
  Both are just different sides of the same coin. With the republicans
it is God which justifies this meddling, for the democrats it's
"social conscience". Meddling is meddling no matter what your reason
is though.

> The GOP really made Gay Republicans look stupid.

  Well, I have to say that I don't stomach to apologize 
for their reprehensible attitudes. However, the only way
the republicans are going to change is to:

  1) Lose elections where their attitude is a plausible
     reason why.
  2) Work within the party to change it when #1 happens
     (as is what can happen today).

Personally, I wish the republicans would explode into the
various ideologies they represent rather than trying to be
one large coalition of neo-fascists to libertarians.
 
> I don't think hard-core capitalists who look down or or ignore  
> the general public that puts the money into their pockets should  
> have their very own political party.

  Oh? What is to prevent them? In anycase, if you think that the
republicans are "hard core capitalists" you only serve to show how
ignorant you are of what capitalism is.

> Why does it seem like most Republicans are:
>      pro-life?

   I'm not certain this was really an issue until Reagan got
in power. There is a *very* vocal part of them (the religious
right) that are pro-life. As with things like the WOD, it is
difficult for the moderates to engage the shrill irrationality
of their likes, and is easier to just be silent (this is not
excuse making, it is merely an observation).

>      well-off?

   I'm sure, just like the gay people make $55k statistic, there
a lot of republicans who would like to know when they can start
being more well-off just from joining.

>      White?

   Actually, I think this is very true of both parties. What I
suspect you mean is !Black. FYI, the repubicans are very actively
recruiting in the asian american communities (with a good deal of
success) since they are typically "conservative". If one could
characterize the republicans with one word it would be "suburban".

>      against REAL EFFECTIVE civil rights for minorites?

  What might those be? Extortion?

>      more worried defense programs than education?

  This is true, but we did have this little threat called the
Cold War. There was (and still is in a different way) a good
deal of reason to be concerned about the Soviets. A mutually
incinerated earth is not conducive to education either.
      
> We are people.  Shouldn't our gov't cater more towards the  
> people of its country rather than its business?

  The government shouldn't be "catering" to either. No favors.
No payoffs. No bribes.
-- 

		Michael Thomas	(mike@gordian.com)
	"I don't think Bambi Eyes will get you that flame thrower..."  
		-- Hobbes to Calvin
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