Some unfortunate soul drew the task of having to lob me a phone call this evening for the Republican Party of Texas and attempt to solicit funds. Apparently he was looking to renew my membership at a rate of $45, which is funny, because I don't recall ever having secured a membership before. This guy goes into one heck of a diatribe about how terrible Democrats are, and how the only force on this planet that can stop them from the complete destruction of the human species is the Republican Party. Once he had finished, I let him know that I regretted to inform him that I had no intention of cutting a check to any Republican organization any time in the near future, and my purpose was two fold.
First of all, my main focus was going to be on individual local races, which is completely understandable and appreciated by the RPT. The second reason was not quite as welcomed by the young gentleman on the other end of the line. I had to explain to him that I was done with the two party system, and in particular the left/right paradigm.
Here's the deal.
I am sick and tired of being lied to. I am done with believing that Republicans mean what they say, any more than the Democrats do.
Think about some of the big political topics of the last couple of years:
Financial responsibility? You're kidding, right? After George W. Bush? Are you insane?
States rights? Uh, yeah, OK....When is this Republican-heavy State that believes so strongly in States rights going to actually have a State Legislature that can pass a resolution stating such? I sat right there in my Republican County Convention in 2010 and watched Geanie Morrison keep her seat when we voted on that plank of our platform. When is the State of Texas going to kick the BATFE out? Oh, that's right...Obamacare is the ONLY legislation that is unConstitutional. Try that on the idiots that believe it.
Or shall we talk about some old political hot topics that just never seem to go away?
Maybe, oh, I don't know....abortion? OK, that works. The Republicans always claim to be steadfastly opposed to abortion, right? If that is the case, then someone will have to explain to me why, for the six years starting in 2001, they did nothing about it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Republicans have the Presidency, the House, the Senate, and seven of the nine Supreme Court justices? Oh, I must be missing something....I guess only immigration laws can be challenged by States. Silly me.
Family values? Do we really even need to go there?
So basically what I told this poor guy is that the RPT needs to get their collective "you know what" together before they will ever see another dime from me. Call me irrational, but I am tired of being made a fool of.
The analogy I finally left the fellow with was that giving money to one party or another was akin to thanking one neighbor for not stealing near as much from me as another neighbor. They both steal from me, but the one who does it the least deserves my respect and thanks?
No thanks! Feel free to lose my number.
13 comments:
I feel compelled to comment on this, however, it would only lead you to to do a big ol'smackdown on my Dems (and I know they deserve it...), so I won't.
I hope you understand.
But thanks for pointing out the 'we're going to scare the everliving bejesus out of you until you give us money' fundraising method the republicans use.
8^)
Aww, come on Edith Ann, you know me better than that.
What I think we ALL need to realize is that our differences are actually very small, and that both sides are playing us against one another to their benefit. Instead of Us v. Us, it needs to be Us v. Them. The government is crushing a once free population, and we need to find common ground.
As much as I know about Ron
Paul, I still don't know how he is able to get 70% of this County's vote. The shakers within the Republican Party can't stand him. If you were to poll the Victoria County GOP Executive Committee, he could not get 50%, against nearly any opponent.
But somehow, Democrats find enough value in the man to vote for him every two years.
I agree, if they held a gun to all of our heads and polled us (that kind of serious polling), I do believe we would find that there are very few differences. Me? I am a 'lesser of two evils' kind of voter.
And I do think we should do away with political parties. Continue to hold elections, but the top voter in a category wins. In the case of a tie, it's time for rock, paper, scissors. This is not a hard concept.
Just think--all these guys wouold spend all their money and we'd get that nasty business out of the way.
It's how we elected the mayor...
**top vote getter**
I think you got it right the first time, EA, "Top voter". Could a top voter live outside a higher socio-economic neighborhood? Could a "top voter" be anything but "white"? Could that "top member" not be a member of the Victoria Republican Women's Club"?
I did get that same phone call from the Texas Republicans. I did donate some pesos last July after the election of the newest TRP Chair. Any one would have been better than Binkhiser and Armstrong. But unlike you Matt, they started me off at $65. Bigger supporter of Republicans I am. They received the same funding as you though. Told the little girl to call back in 2012.
Have you ever wondered why the Republican volunteers are not out asking for handouts? Why must it always be telemarketers? What does that say about my fellow Republicans? Apathetic, perhaps?
Just a reminder. "We" did not elect the Mayor. Don't you remember? I'm one of those County scumbags.
We, the voters of Vitoria City.
I voted for the barrista.
I really admire this blog.
Matt Ocker
I am sick and tired too and I am Democrat. Lets take the federal budget for example. 536 (inculding the Vice President) fools can not come together and cut 15-30% of the budget.
It's refreshing to read an honest and direct opinion about a political party without the spin and hyperbole. Im not a fan of labels and the ease with which we throw them about at each other. I've no doubt that ideologically I fit most of what is termed liberal these days but I see the world and it's inhabitants as free thinking, individuals who have 6+ billion differing shades of opinion. It is a shame the two main parties, the media another large mechanisms of society cannot do the same.
Kyle,
I completely agree on the idea of individualism. This is just a shot in the dark, but are you by chance a fan of Ayn Rand?
"Otherwise, we may some day find ourselves with a nominally conservative government that has lost all hold on Conservative principles and merely
dispenses the collectivist panacea in somewhat milder doses than those of its Socialist opponents."
“CONSERVATISM,” BY CHRISTOPHER DAWSON, 1932
Sounds like not much has changed.
Good call Jared!
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