On 07 August 2001 12:27 AM "Sharon L. Buffington"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Do you think Joni and
> her fans are republicans
> or democrats? LOL
I realize you put in LOL, but it's an interesting question. I would guess
that democrats outnumber the republicans - liberals outnumbering
conservatives. Joni seems pretty liberal-minded to me. But being liberal
does not necessarily mean that you can't be republican, too, and there are a
few republicans on our list. One thing I learned during this last election
is that the essential ideas of republicans are smaller government,
decentralization of social programs, less government control, lower taxes,
etc. These things don't seem like such bad things on the surface, and I
could even imagine myself joining up on the basis of these things. Two
things stop me: the conservative religious views of many republicans and
the fact that most wealthy powerful people are republicans. Why do the
wealthy and powerful support this party? Because it helps them to become
more wealthy and more powerful, or at least more easily retain what wealth
and power they have already accumulated. The wealthy republicans seem to
have a stance of "Anyone can make it if they try hard enough" - ignoring
that there is poverty and that opportunities are not equal. They do not
like being taxed and having their tax dollars spent on helping the little
people. The conservative religious element frightens me even more. The
founding fathers separated church and state for a good reason, and the
conservatives would like to change that. This would open the door to
religious/moral persecution and discrimination. Many republicans would
like to disassociate themselves from their conservative religious faction,
but because that group contains so many of their total number, they are
unable to ignore them. I feel more comfortable with a party that cares
about the welfare of the poorest citizens - that feels that there is a moral
obligation to try to create enough for all. If every wealthy republican
would agree to set up at least one non-religious social welfare program in
his/her state, maybe I would consider joining their party.
I hope this won't degenerate into a flame war. I probably have a simplistic
view of these things. Politics is not my favorite issue, but certain things
can get me going. I feel really worried about the current US government and
the effect it will have on US citizens and their environment. Did anyone
else hear that the US has pulled out of the anti-germ-warfare treaty talks?
This has been a seven year process and they were nearing agreement on a
treaty and the US pulled out. Scary!
Marian
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.jmdl.com/guitar/marian/guitar.htm
