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Whatever became of compassion?
Nov. 1st, 2004 01:15 amThis will probably shock the hell out of everyone. Not because I'm not a compassionate person, but because I'm not a "feelings" sort of person. But, honestly, I'm not sure you have to be touchy-feely to understand what I need to impart.
What the FUCK is up with this non-charitable attitude I'm getting off so many Repuglicans with this upcoming election, anyway? (To clarify: Repuglicans are this neo-con radical right entitlement class who think the sun rises and sets on George W. Bush, who is about as truly Republican as I am.) Granted, I've never considered true Republicans as a whole on the side of the poor person, but neither did I think them complete asshats with mush for brains and big chunks of ice where their hearts ought to be. But to summarize, I don't consider Bush or his enthusiastic fan club true Republicans, who are much more fiscally conservative and, on the whole, concerned about the welfare of middle-class Americans. Republicans realize much of the country is won or lost, economically, on the backs of this particular *large* class of citizens and their earning/spending habits and ability; hell, middle-class America contains a large number of true Republicans.
I'm so weary of the mantle of "I can afford better than you" and "I'll never be laid as low as THEY are" that defines the Repuglican. It's as if these people have absolutely no compassion for their fellow human being and no understanding of the circumstances that can place a person in a lower financial/economic position in society in a matter of months. There are a lot of hard-working people in our country who can't afford health insurance; there are a lot of employers who either aren't offering it as a benefit any longer, or small business owners who simply can't afford to offer it to their employees (or for themselves, even). There are a lot of unemployed people who can't get on public assistance or qualify for Medicaid; I was told three years ago, bluntly, that if I wanted to qualify, I either needed to get pregnant or already be a mother.
It's the attitude that defines a Repuglican, not their income bracket. FDR was wealthy - his family name and ties made certain he'd never want for any material goods - but he understood not everyone had his advantages, not even when they worked very hard all their lives. Or, perhaps they were ill and couldn't find work or have the energy to do it. This is why he is considered a truly great president: Not that he belonged to one party or the other, but that he was able to look beyond his own circumstances and interests and envision what the country needed to be a better place. I don't see that in our current leadership - neither the intelligence to figure it out, nor the heart to care much about it in the first place.
I don't know if John Kerry will do better. I know two things about him that automatically put him above Bush, in my considered view:
1. He's not an oilman. Elect an oilman, go to war. ALWAYS. Just look at our history.
2. Bush has already had the job for four years and has failed miserably. I don't believe Kerry will do worse or even as badly.
What the FUCK is up with this non-charitable attitude I'm getting off so many Repuglicans with this upcoming election, anyway? (To clarify: Repuglicans are this neo-con radical right entitlement class who think the sun rises and sets on George W. Bush, who is about as truly Republican as I am.) Granted, I've never considered true Republicans as a whole on the side of the poor person, but neither did I think them complete asshats with mush for brains and big chunks of ice where their hearts ought to be. But to summarize, I don't consider Bush or his enthusiastic fan club true Republicans, who are much more fiscally conservative and, on the whole, concerned about the welfare of middle-class Americans. Republicans realize much of the country is won or lost, economically, on the backs of this particular *large* class of citizens and their earning/spending habits and ability; hell, middle-class America contains a large number of true Republicans.
I'm so weary of the mantle of "I can afford better than you" and "I'll never be laid as low as THEY are" that defines the Repuglican. It's as if these people have absolutely no compassion for their fellow human being and no understanding of the circumstances that can place a person in a lower financial/economic position in society in a matter of months. There are a lot of hard-working people in our country who can't afford health insurance; there are a lot of employers who either aren't offering it as a benefit any longer, or small business owners who simply can't afford to offer it to their employees (or for themselves, even). There are a lot of unemployed people who can't get on public assistance or qualify for Medicaid; I was told three years ago, bluntly, that if I wanted to qualify, I either needed to get pregnant or already be a mother.
It's the attitude that defines a Repuglican, not their income bracket. FDR was wealthy - his family name and ties made certain he'd never want for any material goods - but he understood not everyone had his advantages, not even when they worked very hard all their lives. Or, perhaps they were ill and couldn't find work or have the energy to do it. This is why he is considered a truly great president: Not that he belonged to one party or the other, but that he was able to look beyond his own circumstances and interests and envision what the country needed to be a better place. I don't see that in our current leadership - neither the intelligence to figure it out, nor the heart to care much about it in the first place.
I don't know if John Kerry will do better. I know two things about him that automatically put him above Bush, in my considered view:
1. He's not an oilman. Elect an oilman, go to war. ALWAYS. Just look at our history.
2. Bush has already had the job for four years and has failed miserably. I don't believe Kerry will do worse or even as badly.
