Lost without a party…

I am aggravated with politics! I didn’t think that was possible…I love politics. But I’m having difficulties choosing a Presidential candidate this time around…or even a party affiliation. Let me explain…

I have always considered myself a Conservative. And previously, I was ok with the fact that though we don’t take the same road, in more cases than not, I arrive at the same destination as other Conservatives. (For example, I don’t like welfare; but I don’t like welfare because I see it perpetuating cyclic, generational dependency upon the government. Other Conservatives don’t like welfare because they’re condescending, selfish assholes who just don’t give a damn about other people. Different paths, same conclusion). So even though I don’t like the current crop of Republican politicians, I’ve generally given them my support. However, the Conservative responses to recent news points of discussions have led me to a place where I don’t feel comfortable being identified with them anymore.

After Colin Powell’s group, America’s Promise Alliance released a report stating that 17 of the 50 largest cities have abysmal and shocking high school drop out rates Rush Limbaugh concluded that inner city schools fail because those cities are run by liberals. There is so much here that’s just stupid!

1. The report states that nation-wide drop out rates are typically 15% higher in urban areas than in suburban areas. This means that it doesn’t matter whether the local government is liberal or conservative, urban schools have higher drop out rates. It happens everywhere, not just where liberals are in charge.

2. If anything, the conclusion should be that neither liberals nor conservatives give a DAMN about inner city schools or inner city kids. Since these inner city schools are predominantly black and/or Hispanic, then the conclusion should be that liberals and conservatives alike either don’t like minorities (racism) or they don’t like poor people (classism). There is NO WAY to draw the conclusion that Rush draws.

3. To attempt to politicize a crisis in our schools shows not only an incredible amount of ignorance, but also a complete lack of compassion or caring.

If this is how conservatives feel…that educational failure is an issue of politics, then how can I be affiliated with this group of people?

Then, after Pastor Jeremiah Wright made multiple controversial statements, Conservatives like Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Pat Buchanan and, of course, Rush Limbaugh all had negative things to say. It’s usually unwise to open your mouth when you don’t know what you’re talking about!

1. Jeremiah Wright’s comments come directly out of the black church experience of Liberation Theology. Wiki says, “Liberation theology focuses on Jesus Christ as not only the Redeemer but also the Liberator of the oppressed. It emphasizes the Christian mission to bring justice to the poor and oppressed, particularly through political activism.” This political activism is not affiliated with any particular political party. It simply uses politics as the vehicle of change…the means to the elimination of oppression. And with the exception of Malcolm X, nearly every civil rights leader of the past grew up and came into prominence because they practiced Liberation Theology. It is NOT anti-American. It’s not even anti-white people. It’s anti-oppression!

2. It is a fallacy to link your faith with your politics. I meet so many Conservatives who believe that because they vote Republican and believe in family values that this automatically makes them a Christian. If you want to get technical, New Testament Christianity is more like Communism than Capitalism. A political overview of the Bible shows ancient Israel under a Theocracy, followed by a Monarchy. And the New Testament Church practiced Communism. Acts 4:32-37 details how people in the church sold property and gave the proceeds to the Apostles who, essentially engaged in wealth redistribution. And while it was not required of the congregation to sell their properties and give the money to the Apostles for mass redistribution, check out what happened to Ananias and Sapphira when they lied about it (Acts 5:1-11). Capitalism has its roots in greed. The capitalistic economy essentially says, “I’m greedy! I want I want I want! In order to get what I want, I probably need to start a business. I’m not going to start a business with the specific goal of helping people. I’m going into business to make money for myself. I’m probably going to end up helping people because I need to hire people to get the work done. But my end goal is to satisfy my greed!” This is incredibly simplistic, I know, but it makes the point. But don’t get me wrong, I LOVE capitalism…just don’t get it twisted…it is diametrically opposed to the tenants of Christianity! And just because Jeremiah Wright was Barack’s pastor doesn’t make him his political advisor. Barack’s faith does NOT have to be linked to his politics. If that were the case, then every Christian should be a Communist.

3. As I stated in a previous rant, I have a real problem with people calling the ‘man of GOD’ names like idiot, anti-American or moron. I disagree with some of the more inflammatory remarks that he made also, but don’t call a preacher a moron!

This type of “talking out the side of your neck without knowing what the hell you’re talking about” is reflective of a mean spirit. If Conservatives hate those who practice the political activism of Liberation Theology and feel comfortable with bad mouthing clergy, again I ask how can I affiliate myself with them???

Conservative Republicans come across as rich snobs who feel no relationship to their fellow man unless that fellow man talks, dresses, thinks and votes as they do. They don’t promote a melting pot concept of America but rather complete conformity. And worse, many of them have crossed over from Conservative to NeoCon! And while I do believe that English should be the required national language of the USA, and I do believe in limited government and I really believe in low taxes, I actually DO give a damn about the poor. I do think that something should be done to help the poor and to fix the schools…I just don’t think that it’s the role of the Federal Government. But I can’t get with the Republicans mean spirited asses…not anymore…

But I can’t join the very left leaning Democratic party either. I recently listened to a video podcast called TheFrankFactor. The episode that I saw was called Liberalism 101 in which he defines social liberalism as essentially a political philosophy based upon reason, tolerance and economic equality. He went on to explain that pure liberalism tolerates, even embraces what I would consider to be morally reprehensible behavior, governmental redistribution of wealth (see, I told you not to mix your faith with your politics) and progressive taxation. They believe that it is the government’s job to ensure that schools, libraries, housing for the homeless, health care and the “living wage” are protected and funded. And though he didn't go into it, Liberals also promote class envy (getting poor and middle-class people to hate the rich) and "over the top" environmental policies. I can’t get with any of that!!! But at least they sound compassionate. They at least SEEM to give a damn even though they don’t (see my bullet above about inner city drop out rates).

I’m really beginning to feel at home with the Libertarians. A quick pass through Wikipedia reveals: Libertarianism is a broad collection of political philosophies possessing the common themes of limited government and strong individual liberty. Libertarianism's ideals, although often varied in detail, typically center on policies in favor of extensive personal liberties (e.g., freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to bear arms, freedom of and from religion, freedom of press, freedom of ownership), rejecting compulsory socialism and communism in favor of allowing private property (whether being held on an individual basis or in collective by a group of individuals), promoting personal responsibility and private charity in opposition to welfare statism. Hey, I’m all for that!!! But wait, who was the last Libertarian President? When was the last time a libertarian was even seriously considered (and don’t say Ron Paul ‘cause he ran as a Republican).

So here’s my dilemma: I can be affiliated with the pompous, arrogant, condescending Conservative Republicans who don’t give a damn about the poor…

…or…

I can throw my hat in with Liberal Democrats who think that we should tax the hell out of everyone so that government can PROMISE to take care of us all from cradle to grave, even though they know that they can’t…and oh, by the way, they can express themselves sexually in any way that they choose and be tolerated…so I can kick it with an over taxed, over sexed pedophile who hugs trees and hates anyone making over $100,000 year…

…or…

I can make my party affiliation with a group of people who seem to think the way I do but who have never been or never will be politically viable…

What a predicament! I love politics but I am presently without a party…This is some bullshit!

…Just my thoughts…err ranting for today…