The Party of Hate and Fear

The Republican party used to be a respected alternative party. They were the party of fiscal restraint and national security. However the party of Barry Goldwater, let alone the party of Lincoln is gone. Their current issues are the issues of hate and fear. Their issues have moved from traditional conservative values to the issues which appear to be motivated by bigotry and fear.

Now we have the Christian right being pandered to by Republican candidates. We have proposed constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. They think that "don't do it" is all there is to sex education. They are against birth control and at the same time they oppose abortion. If we had more of the former, we would need less of the latter. They shout about family values, but don't promote those things that foster families, like education, health care, etc.

Their issues in the current campaign are tax breaks for the rich, continuing a war that was started under false pretenses, drill baby drill, and continued calls for deregulation. The latter, even when deregulation led us into the current fiscal and economic mess. They continue to add to the deficit and the nation debt at a rate that boggles the mind. They tout free trade, even though many of our industries are no more. They export our jobs and try to force down our wages in the name of free enterprise and the market economy. Who in the Hell do they think will buy their crap that they import from China when the only jobs left are flipping burgers? Our once mighty steel industry is almost gone. Commercial ship building is no more. I say what electronics industry! You can't but a TV that is made in the USA, nor can you buy a pair of shoes or a shirt that is made here. They refuse to reinvest in our infrastructure, so roads, bridges, ports, etc. are crumbling. They refuse to regulate even when it is in the interest of our national security. Examples are the refusal to increase fuel economy standards, they say let the market control it. Well look at the price of oil and fuel earlier this year. Their market economy is pricing us right out of prosperity. So, given that performance, what do they have left? Hate and Fear.