...And in This Corner...

It seems as if any political discussion, between people from different political parties, quickly turns into an argument.  If you happen to be neutral, then each side either assumes you agree with them, or labels you as one of the enemy.  Since neither side has any interest in listening to the other side, maybe it would be simpler to just put everyone in boxing gloves and let them duke it out.  Much more entertaining than listening to the same old, tired rhetoric.

Many of my friends and family have chosen to back the Republican Party and about an equal number has chosen the Democrats.  My own political views tend to take some from each party, so in an ideal world, I should have a difficult time making a choice at election time.  However, the Republican Party has made my choice very simple.  Give me a few minutes of your time, and I'll explain.

In 1980 Ronald Reagan, chose to embrace religion in order to win the presidential election.  The Moral Majority played a role in his campaign.  Since that time, the Republican party has worked diligently to turn Fundamentalist Christian doctrine into law.  Many schools shifted from fact based sexual education to an abstinence only curriculum, and the solution to drug abuse was "just say no".  AIDS was ignored for years, because it was considered a "gay disease".  More recently, laws have been proposed, and in some cases passed, to prohibit gay marriage.  The Republicans have also dedicated themselves to a constitutional amendment prohibiting abortion under any circumstance.  There have also been pushes to prohibit the teaching of evolution in public schools.  These are just a few examples that I see as steps in the wrong direction.

Sex.  It's always been around, and will always be around.  Somewhere in their very early teens, most kids suddenly start noticing others in a brand new way.  Given the opportunity, regardless of any sex ed program, they are going to try and find ways to satisfy these new urges.  Knowledge is the best tool you can give them.  The more they understand about their bodies, the better able they will be to make intelligent decisions about sex.  The same is true when it comes to educating children about drugs.  As for evolution, the evidence has gone way beyond proof.  Ignoring facts does not make them go away.

Contrary to the picture pro-life groups keep trying to paint, abortion is not something anyone wants.  Planned Parenthood isn't out soliciting for people to get pregnant so they can perform more abortions.  Just like nobody is out there saying "I hope I get cancer so I can go through chemotherapy".  Outlawing abortion causes more problems than it solves.  For the wealthy, it's easy to take a vacation to Europe to get a legal abortion, while the poor will end up resorting to some back alley clinic.  With proper sex education and easy access to birth control, the number of abortions will decrease, because unplanned/unwanted pregnancies will decrease.

When it comes to gay rights, I believe that everyone should be treated equally by the law.  A person's sexual preference should have nothing to do with how they are treated.  If marriage grants rights to people with regards to property and taxation, then how can it be fair to limit it to only a portion of the population?  I can not accept that my friends and family that are gay should have less rights than I have.

It seems to me that many within the Republican Party want to turn our democracy into a theocracy.  In my opinion, that is one of the worst ideas of all time.  God has never been much good at governing.  He (she, whatever) made the universe, made a man and woman, gave them one rule and then left them to their own devices.  When they broke the rule, he kicked them out and left them to their own devices.  When his chosen people were slaves, he rained death and destruction on Egypt, busted them out and left them to their own devices.  Finally, he gave them 10 laws, pointed them in the right direction, helped them wipe out everyone in their way, and left them to their own devices.  Do you see a theme here?  Making decisions for an entire nation based upon what someone thinks God wants, is a recipe for disaster.

Until the GOP abandons their religious stance for a political stance, I can not, at any time, in good conscience favor one of their candidates over any other candidate.