What is a Republican?
- We don't know
- We are too lazy to comment and share
- Right Wing Nut Job answered it so well that there was no need to elaborate; he said it all.
I honestly think it is a little of all 3. So today, I am posing this question: What is a Republican? What is that actually defines you as a Republican? Or, do you find yourself being a Republican or voting Republican because you are a conservative? Can you be a conservative without being a Republican? Can you be a Republican without being a conservative? Come on folks. I am challenging you to think. Maybe you don't need to think. Maybe you have already asked yourself these questions. If you have, then please share it. If you haven't then let's start the dialogue. We all have a set of values. We all have some sort of compass that we base our life on, and our decisions on. Do I take the job that offers more money, or do I sacrifice the paycheck for less hours and more time with my family? Do I take the job with more hours and less money, because it will lead to the vision for my future? These are choices we face all the time. What defines us? What puts us in the camp we reside in? These are questions that are vital to achieving true victory in our lives. I am posing these questions for a reason. I don't have a degree in psychobabble. I only have experience in making tough decisions that have decided my fate to this day, and guide the journey of my future.
Some of us are experts in the field of what works and what doesn't, probably due to a lot of wrong turns. Some of us keep trying to make good decisions but keep finding ourselves back in the same place. If we cannot answer these questions for ourselves and apply our values to achieving victory in our own lives, we are unequipped to do it for our country. Let's get the ball rolling. Share what you have learned. Ask about what you have not. We can all learn something from each other, but not if we are unwilling to speak up and participate. Don't hide your treasure, don't let your testimony go untold. A testimony is nothing more than a personal experience if it is not shared. What if people never shared their testimonies or thoughts? Where would we find inspiration and guidance? What would we learn other than mathematical equations and conjugating verbs? I think we want more out of life. Am I wrong?
posted by Straight Up with Sherri at
8:52 AM
10 Comments:
Wow, I'm flattered! First, I am not a Republican. Second, I do not really consider myself a Conservative (I am to the right of conservative). Locally, I vote Democrat and am registered as such because of the primary system in Nebraska. The local Republicans just want to take away all of our property and give it to corporations that offer nothing in return but exploitation of the workers (and too many illegal aliens). Except the Sheriff candidate that the Dems always come up with is a fascist. And my sentiments are not unusual .. most local (City & County) officials are Dems except the Sheriff who is always a Repub. The Mayor of Omaha switches to either party but too many start thinking their job is to be King (regardless of party affiliation). They either get recalled or not re-elected. Our State legislature is non-partisan (as is our City Council). Many of the State Senators are actually listed as Independent - I don't think they are, but it's their prerogative to call themselves whatever they want. Our U.S. Senators are
1. Ultra Conservative Democrat (Ben Nelson)
2. Mildly Liberal Republican (Chuck Hagel).
I am a paid member of the Constitution Party. This is not a nation of laws, it is a nation of constitutions. I do not want to maintain the status of our governmental system (as a conservative), I want to restore it to what it should be under the principals of the Constitution. I support the Republican President, Representatives, and Senators because it's the most pragmatic way to fight what I perceive to be the greatest threat to the United States - control of the government by oppressive Socialists and the consequential tyranny. I never met a government, a business, or a school that I liked. I never met a human being that I did not like. Love is the greatest gift of God. In fact, I believe that Love and Life are the same (just as matter/energy, time/gravity).
But I digress; I see the Republican Party as a vehicle to move the economy by way of independent personal action, personal responsiblity, and personal reward. I believe that it represents market economy and supply side social policy drivers. The party endorses the right to succeed and the right to fail. However, the principal flaws that it has violate those exact principals (I will explain if anyone cares).
So, my short answer is this: Republicans care about Love, God, Freedom, and other people. They are willing to share of themselves to help others succeed or fail. They treasure the ideas of others, even when they disagree. Their system is built on rules, not objectives. It's not much, but it's a start.
(* Cyber hugs to Sherri *)
Now, I want to hear other ideas, too. I'm very opinionated, but I am not always correct!
Right Wing Nut Job
By
Anonymous, at 1:30 PM
Hunter .. it's nice to read your comments. I think you have hit on something important in "gainful employment".
There is a need to do something of value, not just to have a job. The word "benevolent" comes to mind when I think of the Democrat Party. Not that it's evil to espouse the virtue, but it's not good to use it as a basis for economic policy. We need to have employment that provides some value. If I am not worth more to my employer (or customers) than they pay me, then I am not a good deal. No one should be given a job, you earn a job. (BTW : I need a job.) Additionally, when we are in a company (whether business, military, or social), we come together for a common purpose. I think that spirit has been lost in corporate America (although it does exist in many small businesses).
RWNJ
By
Anonymous, at 1:50 PM
Okay, we seem to have some nifty (and entertaining) ideas. But is it really "Republican"? There is a problem with specific party affiliation that runs rampant throughout all governance mechanisms, and that is power. Do the platform planks of any election match the values of the members of that party? This is where the national Democrats fail miserably, and the national Republicans are "so-so". Consider the borders as a good example - how many Republicans like the current policies of open borders? Locally, the elections for County Assessors, Clerks, Treasurers, and so on have absolutely nothing in common with the national platforms. As such, I would contend, that there are really many different definitions of Republican (or Democrat, etc.). It really boils down to one's belief in the ability and need of the government to solve our problems, or would we rather the government just stay out of the way? If it is the latter, where do we get the occasional necessary support services? That is where a free supply of religious and civic organizations is required. (The exact organizations that the secularists are trying to destroy!)
RWNJ
By
Anonymous, at 2:15 PM
Hunter:
Interesting perspective on the War of 1812. I had always perceived that to be the real Revolutionary War. Britain never seemed to accept the USA as a sovereign nation after the War of 1776... I think they were preoccupied with France. But the emergence of our Counrty seems concurrent with your explanation of the States Rights issues at the time of the 1812 conflict. The question of sovereignty in fact is a State's issue. That is, the several Staes are sovereign, but is the Federal Government? Therefore, am I truly an American citizen, or rather a citizen of Nebraska?
One other point worth contemplating: many people are familiar with the Federalist Papers, but how many know of the Anti-Federaist Papers. This was a real hot bed of contention during the establishment of our U.S. Constitution on December 15, 1791. But as you say, "Issues Remained."
By
Anonymous, at 3:14 PM
Hunter ... Well said!
RWNJ
Sherri -- I do hope you get more participation. Listening to me ramble can get quite nauseating.
By
Anonymous, at 5:42 PM
Sherri,
Great post, great topic, great responses. RWNJ's thoughtful comment illustrates how inadequate the "liberal=Democrat, conservative=Republican' paradigm really is.
By
Asher Abrams, at 7:19 PM
Thanks Hunter .. What a wonderful summation of the Anti-Federalist point of view! I especially like your consideration of Articles IX & X of the Bill of Rights - the forgotton rights.
Shoshanna -- glad you could join us.
By
Anonymous, at 8:20 PM
I don’t consider myself a Republican though I tend to vote that way more often than not. RWNJ did a great job of explaining what a Conservative and Republican is. But what makes them this way? Why do I vote for more Republicans and Conservatives? I believe it is what Hunter touched on, Christian-Judean ethics and it is what this great nation was based on. The founding fathers believed that only a nation that had Christian-Judean ethics would be able to self-govern.
Love of every life, consideration for others, personal responsibility, charity, compassion, strength to die for what you believe in; these ideals have been ingrained in the fabric of America because of Christian-Judean ethics.
Do not be covetous, envious, do not murder, steal, lie, cheat; these Commandments have been made into laws. But they should be obeyed because it is the right thing to do not because you might get punished.
Not all Conservatives and Republicans are Christians but because I am a Christian I tend to vote that way.
Typical Texan
By
Anonymous, at 12:49 AM
I don’t consider myself a Republican though I tend to vote that way more often than not. RWNJ did a great job of explaining what a Conservative and Republican is. But what makes them this way? Why do I vote for more Republicans and Conservatives? I believe it is what Hunter touched on, Christian-Judean ethics and it is what this great nation was based on. The founding fathers believed that only a nation that had Christian-Judean ethics would be able to self-govern.
Love of every life, consideration for others, personal responsibility, charity, compassion, strength to die for what you believe in; these ideals have been ingrained in the fabric of America because of Christian-Judean ethics.
Do not be covetous, envious, do not murder, steal, lie, cheat; these Commandments have been made into laws. But they should be obeyed because it is the right thing to do not because you might get punished.
Not all Conservatives and Republicans are Christians but because I am a Christian I tend to vote that way.
Typical Texan
By
Anonymous, at 12:52 AM
Sorry, I might have posted twice. It seems like this thing takes a while to post.
Typical Texan
By
Anonymous, at 12:54 AM
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