April 8, 2011

Back to the news

First, let me thank everyone for their kind thoughts and words about our losing Streak. It has been a very difficult week and we are still processing all of this. I will write more about my friend over the next days.

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But back to the news. A few stories caught my eye (as I was trying to distract my mind) that I thought illustrate why I am not a Republican and why I have lost respect for that party. First, this poll that shows that Republicans are less interested in compromise and are even fine with a government shutdown if they don't get exactly what they want. Never mind that actual real live people will struggle to make their rent and pay their bills. Never mind that school kids will flock to the Smithsonian only to find the doors shut. What only matters to these Republicans is getting their way, and only their way.

That is not democracy. Democracy is the art of compromise and the recognition that you won't always get what you want. I don't find Republicans to be serious about anything other than getting their own way.

Second, this story on Republicans in Mississippi where nearly half of the GOP still thinks that inter-racial marriage should be illegal. So much for small government, I guess. But also, this highlights the huge amount of racism that the Republican party curries, but doesn't want to acknowledge. The conservatism of the Tea Party and so many on the far right is the old conservatism of the South. It is a conservatism of white supremacy and racial divide. And yes, I realize this is Mississippi. I get that. But jokes aside, this should be something that mainstream and adult Republicans decry immediately. But they won't. Because those racists are important parts of their base.

4 comments:

Noah said...

I know I shouldn't be surprised...but I am surprised. Those who would ban interracial marriage outnumber those who wouldn't by 6%. Worse, though, is the unwritten issue where 14% of Mississippians are *undecided* on the issue!!

I will wait for the inevitable troll to show up and explain why this discrimination is allowed in the bible.

Bob said...

I think if the undecideds in the poll made up their mind, one could pretty easily say that a majority of Republican voters in Mississippi think interacial marriage should be illegal.

I am guessing they would think my family should be illegal too, since both my kids are black. My wife never understands why I refuse to drive through most of the south. I think i will print out this poll.

Monk-in-Training said...

I grew up with those explantions from the Bible, and hopefully we won't see them again, here. They were an incorrect understanding of the Scriptures then and they still are.

steves said...

Count me as surprised, though I shouldn't be. The US Supreme Court had to step in and nullify laws banning interracial marriage in most places. The polling firm that did this survey is affiliated with the Democratic party, but they seem to have a good reputation.

I wouldn't say GOPers in all states owe an explanation, but the ones in Mississippi sure do.