My thoughts on why, as an Independent, I often agree with the Republican party but won't vote for them. If you're interested:
I am:
Anti union when it is forced upon people (the courts can now handle abuses without unions)
For deregulation (by definition means no bailout when corps abuse and consumers buy beyond their means.)
For school vouchers (let schools compete and bad ones fail)
For less government (by definition means no intervention in abortion or gay rights - let your God punish if he sees fit)
For conservation of nature. This was a platform issue for the original Republican party.
I could go on. Those are all from the Republican platform, and they are important to me. Still, it is the big choices that the current GOP has made in the last 8 years that have 'terrorised' my country's moral, reputation (I travel) and are arguably responsible for our new economic situation. Yes, Democrats have their unfortunate issues but their effect pales to the scale of Republican damage done.
The new GOP has taken advantage of the country's fears (cowards) to swing way too far off to the right and at least in part, has done it for money. Supplying ground troops is big business for industries chosen for the task (the conflict can be handled from the air). Middle East tension is good for oil company profit.
Environmentally (my issue), there is a formidable list of legislation the new GOP has pushed through which benefit pro-pollution industries and hurt our children. If I didn't travel so much I might not know about our lower international standing. Other countries used to look to us for example, now they just feel bad for us. I feel bad for us.
Because I'm looking at the bigger picture, the Republican party can expect me to stay away for a while (and continue, on occasion, to slam their more unfortunate policies in my monthly column that reaches 50k+ people).
We would all be better off if we lived: country first, profit second.
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