As the election approaches, many of us are wondering ‘What's STILL wrong with the Republican party?' We are living in a time of ever-evolving technology and knowledge, making it necessary for political parties to be up to date with current issues. The Republican Party is holding America back with old-fashioned ideas and unprogressive mindsets.
Now more than ever, the evidence of the dangers of global warming is overwhelming and increasingly validated with new scientific research. Instead of trying to improve the environment and regulate new laws in order to protect the Earth for our children, the Republicans are still not convinced that our wasteful ways need to be changed before it's too late. The Republicans strongly oppose mandatory carbon emission controls, because they believe such controls could possibly harm economic growth and destroy American jobs. In reality, carbon emission controls would stabilize greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, which would slow down the process of global warming. We understand the importance of the economy, but new jobs will be created through the implementation of renewable energy. The energy policy that the Republicans support is based solely on the production of oil and other non-renewable resources. While the Democrats argue for an energy policy to better the environment and the planet, the Republicans are only motivated by the status quo. New energy policies that would lead America to not be dependent on Middle Eastern countries for oil, would help us get ahead in the 21st century, and be a more self sufficient country.
Republicans are incredibly supportive and defensive of their rights as Americans. An increasingly hot topic is their support of the right to bear arms. Another hot topic, and one Republicans disagree with, is abortion. It makes no sense that they would be in support of bearing arms, and at the same time want to prevent a woman from having ultimate jurisdiction over her body. In most cases, Republicans are completely against government regulation of any kind (including business and gun control). However, they are willing to be hypocritical—they believe in the government regulating (preventing) abortions of any kind (even those needed because of rape or other unfortunate circumstances). The Republicans do not want the government to have complete control over their country, yet they support the government controlling women's bodies. Abortion is an important issue that often characterizes one's political party. While the Republicans pride themselves on being against regulations, one of the main focuses of their party is using government regulation to prevent women from being able to have abortions.
The Republicans are also against national healthcare. Healthcare should be something available to all Americans, and it is incomprehensible as to why the Republicans are trying to prevent a favorable and necessary regulation for the American people. Other leading countries, like those in the European Union, have higher healthcare standards with a regulated healthcare system, while the United States seems to be falling behind. How are we, as a country, supposed to gain global respect if we do not seem to have enough respect for ourselves to offer nationwide healthcare.
Throughout history, the Republican Party has been behind on civil rights. During the 1960s, the Democrats were the main supports of the civil rights movement (as they still are today, even with changing issues). Today, one of the most pressing issues of civil rights involves the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act supports minor (if any) restrictions on the government's ability to use records (such as phone conversations or emails) to discover links to terrorism. Although protecting our country is a main concern, especially after the 9/11 attacks, the abuse of this law is invasive and a violation of personal privacy.
Another civil rights issue involves homosexuality. The ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy is an outdated idea that the Republicans still cling to. It should not matter whether or not a man or woman is homosexual, if they are willing to fight for our country and the American people. Homosexuals in the military are willing to fight for the freedom of the American people abroad, but are not given freedom at home. An example of this discrimination is the Republicans determination to prevent same-sex marriage. One the Republicans' main points involves the words of the Bible stating that the idea of marriage is between a man and a woman, but the founding fathers created a State that would keep religion out of government policies.
In conclusion, the Republicans' main faults are their lack of openness and their willingness to keep the status quo. The Democrats have pushed new ideas forward to make the United States a leading and contributing world power, with intelligent and progressive ideas, and it would be a shame to see the Republicans prevent us from a brighter future.
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1 comments
National healthcare........comparing us to the European Union. You're kidding right? Obviously you're not aware of what is going on in European Union countries like Greece and Italy where they have almost cradle to grave entitlements. They're running out of money and expecting the rest of the EU to foot the bill. But that is the appeal being a "progressive" isn't it? Get someone else to pay for your welfare.
Finally with respect to gays. Don't ask don't tell was actually implemented during the Clinton administration and so far Obama and the Dem Congress havn't doen anything to change it. Also there are currently no major national Democrats who have come out in support of gay marriage. So the next time you think the authors of this peice desire to paint Republicans and conservatives as a bunch of hostile homophobes maybe they'd better look at the Democrats and get their facts straight.