I Don’t Know But I Do Care:
Where Do I Fall On The Political Spectrum?
William M. Skidmore
Senior Project Paper
March 7, 2008
Introduction:
What am I doing?
There is a common misconception that politics is split between two parties: Republican And Democrat. The problem is I know that I don’t fall into either of those two parties respectively; I do have some Democratic beliefs, as well as some strongly Republican views, but no one party encompasses all of my political opinions. I am a firm believer that the right to vote is in fact not a right but a privilege, a privilege that I believe everyone has and should choose to exercise. Therefore I won’t throw my vote out for a party I don’t truly believe will represent me in office.
So it begins, what party should I affiliate myself with? What are their recognized positions? Who are the people that affiliate with that party? Why did they choose that party? This is my search, in no way am I trying to tell anyone how to vote, because soon you will see that one of my main views, is more of a request to be left alone, and in return I won’t mess with you.
I was raised in a more conservative house, with a high sense of patriotism, a firm monetary belief in tax cuts, and a discipline to not waste hard earned money on unnecessary objects, like junk food, and welfare. And truthfully I was a complete follower, unquestioning and uncaring. I was unknowledgeable about a lot of things, but I still followed blindly. It took my republican grandmother coming to live with us that awakened me to see that I don’t completely agree with the “right” party on some key issues I follow. My grandmother was not always a far right wing conservative. When she was younger, and raising my dad, she was a democrat. But something changed because she is now conservative. Why?
In my search for representation I don’t want to base my entire decision on the acts of my grandmother, so I decided to use some of my key views, abortion, gun control, and free education through college, to test the individual parties platforms. So with some minor digging I was able to find the party platform for the Conservative, Democratic, and Libertarian Parties. And after that it was easy to find their points on my key issues.
Chapter 1:
The Republican Party:
No Heart, All Head? None Smart, All Dead?
“Show me a young Conservative and I'll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I'll show you someone with no brains.”
- Winston Churchill ( 1.Avaren 2001)
My grandmother grew up as a democrat, but during her early thirties, as she was raising her second baby boy, my father, she started to turn to the conservative party. It was the late 60’s and the Vietnam War was in heat. During this time she worked as a manager for an assisted living nursing home, she claims that her main reason for her turn to conservatism, is in response to unions, and the corrupt system. While in the nursing home one of her patients was an old Mexican lady, an amputee, who only spoke Spanish, who was being assaulted by a large black woman attendant. The patient had to go through the only other Spanish-speaking worker at the home to voice her complaint. So the kitchen worker went to my grandmother and with this news my grandmother fired the black attendant, immediately, that same day there was a union representative threatening the kitchen worker. When this got to my grandma she went down to talk to the rep.
“I told that rep. ‘What if that was your mother or father?" His reply was they wouldn't dare. Meaning because he was a union representative and therefore had power. I looked him in the eye and told him he was a chicken-shit son of a bitch.’” (Skidmore 2008)
From then on, my grandmother says, she has been republican. But what does that imply? What separates the democrats from the republicans? In my mind there are three important factors, abortion, gun control, and education.
The Republican National Committee’s political platform states that the party does not support abortion. “We say the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed… We oppose using public revenues for abortion and will not fund organizations which advocate it…We salute those who provide alternatives to abortion and offer adoption services… We praise him (President Bush) for signing the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. This important legislation ensures that every infant born alive – including an infant who survives an abortion procedure – is considered a person under federal law… a ban on the inhumane procedure known as partial birth abortion… outlawing partial birth abortion.” (Republican National Committee 2004)
As for my grandmother, her opinion on abortion stands as such, “Against! When is a seed dead? When it is on the dying greenery of a plant? When it is planted in the ground? When put in the fertile soil and properly watered and nourished, it sends out a tiny sprout so is that sprout dead? I think not, it is a viable living thing unless it is never planted nor nourished. He who plants the seed has a responsibility to nourish and care for it as it as a living thing and to pull it out of it's environment is to kill it. To kill a human embryo is murder.” (Skidmore 2008)
“President Bush reminded us that ‘the most basic duty of government is to defend the life of the innocent. Every person, however frail or vulnerable, has a place and a purpose in this world.’” (Republican National Committee 2004)
What most find hypocritical is that the republicans are the pro life choice, but also most support the death sentence, as well as loosened gun control. “… (We) strongly support an individual right to own guns, which is explicitly protected by the Constitution’s Second Amendment… increase access to hunting clinics and safety programs for children and adults… enable law-abiding citizens throughout the country to own firearms in their homes for self-defense… enhance the instant background check system for gun purchases and to ensure that records of lawful transactions are destroyed in a timely manner… We oppose federal licensing of law-abiding gun owners and national gun registration as a violation of the Second Amendment and an invasion of privacy of honest citizens.” (Republican National Committee 2004)
As for my grandmother’s stand on gun control, “The constitution gave us the right to own and bear arms and the reason was that no one except royalty in other countries could. I have the right to protect myself, family and home. There is no royalty in this country including the judges in black robes who would like you to believe they are. They are often poorly educated and just plain stupid in their interpretations of our laws.”
One other major topic I find that needs to be supported is education, from pre-school to grad school. “Every child deserves a first-rate education, because every child holds infinite potential, and we should give them every opportunity to reach it. We believe there is an inseparable link between a vibrant economy and a high- quality education system. We are the Party parents can trust to improve schools and provide opportunity for all children, in every neighborhood, regardless of background or income. We are the party willing to embrace new ideas and put them to the test. Our next mission is to take the reforms that we know are working in elementary schools and apply them up and down the education ladder – starting in early childhood education, so that children enter school ready to learn, and finishing in high school, so that every young adult who graduates has the skills he or she needs to succeed in the 21st century economy… the value of a high school diploma has declined… We recognize that under the American Constitutional system, education is a state, local, and family responsibility, not a federal obligation… the role of the federal government must be limited as we return control to parents, teachers, and local school boards. (We) have provided the largest increase in federal education funding in history and the highest percentage gain since the 1960s… we must improve our high schools so that every graduate is prepared for the rigors of college, for the best jobs of the 21st century economy, or for military service.”
This is great but my main question is about college accessibility. “Republicans are working to ensure that college is affordable and accessible for
America’s low- and middle-income families through increased funding of grants, low- interest student loans, and tax breaks for working families.”
However my grandmother thinks slightly different, “There is and never has been free education in this country! Those who are in this country illegally attending our schools are thieves, stealing what your ancestors worked so hard to build and provide for you. Education was not started by our government but by citizens of communities and especially in rural areas of this country which didn't have much money they could only build one building which was used for the dual purpose of school and church. Two of the elementary school I attended, starting to school in 1941 and leaving elementary in 1948 both held religious services on Sunday and also one had two week Bible school in the summer months which all the children in the area attended. This was not uncommon and many older citizens such as myself from the farmlands remember attending them. Church or Sunday school services were no particular denomination and conducted by an elder man of the community. This continued until about the early 1950's. I lived in Morgan and Layfatte County, Missouri. That is why I say to you judges are poorly educated and lack simple common knowledge of our country but refuse to be informed by the citizenry. They think they are royalty because they are educated at Yale, Harvard, UC Berkley? I think not!
Are the teachers of your school aware that schools were built and paid for by members of the local community and run by a "school board" who hired the teacher and that in fact my mother taught school in Missouri and she had a high school education only. But her books especially math and English looked like 3rd year college now. She received 20 dollars per month and like most teachers offered free room and board with a family of the school board but her father was wealthy enough to provide her with a saddle horse so she rode a horse five miles to and back to teach. Interesting to note that she rode side saddle because a lady did not sit astraddle a horse. Ask your teacher to research what I say and find out and tell you when the schools were taken over by the government and how are they financed! Any adult who tells you education is free is ignorant. Ignorance unfortunately begets ignorance. The teachers who tells you they teach because they love their students is a liar. Ask them if they will teach you without receiving a pay check? The California Teachers Union is supposedly only interested in yours the students best interest. BULL SHIT! That is not why they have a union and they know it as well. Their best interest is what is at issue.”
Chapter 2:
The Libertarian Party:
Some Heart, Some Head? Some Smart, Some Dead?
"... it does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds ...."
Samuel Adams( 2.Avaren 2001)
Greg Davis is an average run of the mill kind of guy, I haven’t known him for long, but seeming as I am going out with his daughter, I know him well enough. In the time that I have known him, however, he’s opened up to me, he is a very open man. In his youth he was a Navy man, until August 2001, when he was forcibly retired, honorably, just one month before he could of collected benefits, but thankfully also one month before September. In a talk with him we got to talking politics, I asked him what party he was with, and his response was simple.
“The one with the hot girl in the little black dress in front of Safeway.” Pause, grinning with a big toothy smile, waiting for the laugh, “But seriously, she was good lookin’ though, it was the Libertarian party. The middle groundish party between right and left.”
Greg, now working at some software company, is a bicycle enthusiast, he goes on hundred mile trips during the weekends, just for fun. He loves to just get out on the road, to be free, doing what he wants. He makes enough to support his family, but he also does a lot of favors and gets a lot of favors in return. But back to the politics, in our talk we got to talk about my three main issues, and like always he gave very simple answers.
On abortion, “Free choice”. I asked if he could elaborate on that any, he just said, “Yep, but I don’t need to.” With that we moved on, but for my research needs I did my digging and found the parties views on the subject.
In their party platform they state, “…abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on both sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration… Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for other people's abortions, nor should any government or individual force a woman to have an abortion… We oppose government actions that either compel or prohibit abortion, sterilization or any other form of birth control…We oppose government laws and policies that restrict the opportunity to choose alternatives to abortion.” (Libertarian National Committee 2008)
Short, sweet, and to the point, I find this party has the simplest of solutions to the complex problems I choose to face it with. Lets take gun control, here is what Greg said, “We have more than enough controls in place. If the wrong type of people want a gun they will find one, so the controls are not working, and just wasting our tax dollars.”
Which sounds surprisingly similar to, “These “gun control” laws are often justified by the mistaken premise that they will lead to a reduction in the level of violence in our society. The Bill of Rights recognizes that an armed citizenry is essential to a free society. We affirm the right to keep and bear arms. We oppose all laws at any level of government restricting, regulating or requiring the ownership, manufacture, transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition. We oppose all laws requiring registration of firearms or ammunition. We support repeal of all gun control laws. We demand the immediate abolition of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. We oppose any government efforts to ban or restrict the use of tear gas, "mace" or other self-protection devices. We further oppose all attempts to ban weapons or ammunition on the grounds that they are risky or unsafe. We favor the repeal of laws banning the concealment of weapons or prohibiting pocket weapons. We also oppose the banning of inexpensive handguns ("Saturday night specials") and semi-automatic or so-called assault weapons and their magazines or feeding devices.” (Libertarian National Committee 2008) Which in some ways also mirrors the republican stand on gun control, but to more of an extreme of getting the government out of the loop completely.
One topic that there is no account for in the libertarian’s party platform is education. Their overall view seems to be to pull government out of every aspect of peoples rights, but that begs the question, is there a right to a proper and affordable, or free, education? According to Greg, “It’s something to look into. My first thought though is would be a good thing.” Even without the libertarians official view on education, I can extrapolate, their view of minimal government, would mean private schools, or a voucher system. Which could work, but what about under privileged homes? Two out of three isn’t bad, but what about the democrats.
Chapter 3:
The Democratic Party:
All Heart, No Head? All Smart, None Dead?
“You know the one thing that's wrong with this country? Everyone gets a chance to have their fair say.”
William Jefferson Clinton ( 4.Avaren 2001)
Here’s an interesting one, Elena Fritchle, Greg’s wife, is a firm believer in the democratic party. She is also a multi-faith minister at the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment where she teaches togetherness and the idea “One god, many names.” Notice the lower case “g” in god. A little different than the republicans spelling, however, Elena’s beliefs are the same. Unlike myself and Greg, she has her own way with words. “In my simple child's mind I thought that all people had to do was to love one another better. I was a deeply devoted Catholic, devoted to God in the form of Jesus. I wanted to teach people about God's love and the love of Jesus. This, I thought could change the world. I still think that teaching the world to love each other is the answer. This is why I am a minister. God is our common ground, common to all beings. We may have many cultural interpretations of God, but the underlying reality is the same. This is why I work for Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, an interfaith center that is heavily involved in world interfaith peace work. ”
Unlike Greg, her story, relative to her political stance, is a little more in-depth, and has a strong connection to her family. “My parents had brought 6 children, ages 3 to 10 to hear him (John F. Kennedy). I was impressed at age 5 how important our political process was to our society… My father was a Republican and my mother was a Democrat. We knew that we would have free choice to choose who we would become. My parents voted for different people and their agendas were not pushed on us children. We were encouraged to think through the issues and form our own opinions. She (Elena’s Mother) was and is a most giving person, being a girl scout leader and children's religious education teacher all of my life. She is a lay minister in the Catholic Church, and at 80 years old, still teaches Sunday school! She is a very loving person and I respect her greatly. I equate democrat with her caring attitudes… My dad was scared of what was occurring. I equate republican with fear and protectionism. My mom had a more open mind. I didn't know which to be. Perhaps fear was useful. But it didn’t feel good… My older sister started working with migrant children, teaching them English. We went to hear Cesar Chavez speak at a local auditorium. It was just my mother, my sister and I… I started working for the Farm Worker’s Union…I got to see them as real people rather than news items… My second sister picketed for 18 year olds to vote. The slogan was “Old enough to fight, old enough to die, old enough to vote.” At the time, you had to be 21, but the Viet Nam war was on and young men, including boys that we knew were being drafted at age 18… My brother, Alan, was trying to get a college deferment… It was a tense time in our family. My brother’s friend, John, couldn’t get into college. He was more of a jock and very athletic. John opted to join the military rather than be drafted. He joined the Air Force and went to Germany.
The Catholic Church went through a huge change in the 60s. It was precipitated by the Second Vatican Counsel in 1965. It allowed the mass to be said in English rather than Latin, and allowed lay leaders. It encouraged priests to be more active in political affairs. Many nuns and priests were speaking out against injustices. Sometimes they went too far and were purged by the Church. Many nuns and priests were lobbying for married clergy. This was not accepted and they left. These excommunicated nuns and priests were another part of the liberal left, fighting for Caesar Chavez, social justice in Central America and against the Viet Nam war. They combined both my love for God and love for social action. I wanted to become a priest, but by 1974 finally realized that the Catholic Church was not going to reform that far. The promised rejuvenation of the Second Vatican Counsel had died, and my faith in the Catholic Church with it. The generation of ex-priests and nuns pointed to the Democratic Party but no further. They dissolved in obscurity.
I had the vote at 18 and choose the Democratic Party. I have never regretted it, though I see many flaws. But to be human is to be flawed. I work towards social justice and world peace through my love of God, and sharing that with children. So many wars have been fought over religion; it is time that our religions become our peace building instrument.” (Fritchle 2008)
She says this is only a fraction of the things that influenced her vote. But when asked about my issues of importance her answers are as interesting and entangled as I would have hoped and expected. Especially on abortion, coming from a spiritual background she does feel for the new life but also feels strongly for the woman’s right to choose.
“Above all else, I believe in the right to choose our own destiny. I don’t think we have the right to control another’s life or life choices. The case of an unwanted pregnancy is a difficult one, one I am grateful I have never faced though I have had friends who did. An unwanted pregnancy can change the whole future of a woman… The decision can only be the woman’s decision. She can base it on many factors such as social support and spiritual convictions, but it must be one she makes for herself, as she will live with the consequences all her life. I have lived through a time when sex was freely given. It was the norm, and at my college, if you didn’t have sex, then you didn’t have a boy friend. At that time girls and boys didn’t relate to each other like they do now. We couldn’t have men friends; we could only have boy friends. It was a very distorted relationship.
It was out of this social structure that the need for abortions became apparent. Abortions had happened to poor women in the 50s and 60s, but it was when the well-to-do white middle class college coeds started having sex in large numbers and got pregnant that the choice of whether to have an abortion and remain in college or leave college and raise a child single handedly and in poverty became an important question for our society. Those who had abortions had to do it illegally, many times losing their lives or their reproductive abilities. A procedure became available that seemed to take the risk of harm away from the mother and allow the coed to continue her education, giving her a future and a possibility for a normal life. It was a tough decision. I know women who have had abortions and women who have given their children up for adoption. In both cases the deep hurt, guilt and shame have colored the rest of their lives. I’ve seen the living children and within them is a deep hurt at being given up, even though they may have found loving homes. Underneath there is a disconnect, a need for healing. I have seen children and mothers reunited and seen healing happen though it may not be complete. I am for healing.
I have wondered at times in my life if I would have an abortion if I needed one.If I had to counsel a young woman, I believe I would have her look at the beauty of new life. My life has not gone the way I planned it, yet I would not change a thing. Bringing an unplanned child into the world and raising the child would be a tremendous growth opportunity.
There are possibilities for life, which I do hold as sacred. If the woman were to choose an abortion, I would not judge her. It is her choice. If we look at the mistakes we make and condemn, then we choose to live in those mistakes. I choose to forgive and to heal and I allow others their choice.” (Fritchle 2008) The Democratic Party puts it a little differently but I support Elena’s argument fully.
“We will defend the dignity of all Americans against those who would undermine it. Because we believe in the privacy and equality of women, we stand proudly for a woman's right to choose, consistent with Roe v. Wade, and regardless of her ability to pay. We stand firmly against Republican efforts to undermine that right. At the same time, we strongly support family planning and adoption incentives. Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.” (Democratic National Committee 2004) Powerful words which I can’ t deny, parallel to the libertarian points of view.
However strong their argument for abortion may be that’s only one defining factor for me. Elena’s views on the matter of gun control are short in comparison to her other answers but still very strong, “Guns such as rifles and pistols that are single fire are fine. I understand their uses for hunting and sportsmanship. I can appreciate people’s desire for protection though I don’t believe a gun is the strongest form of protection. I do not believe that people should have multiple repeating guns. I do believe in registration and checking a person out prior to authorizing a gun. Many people who commit mass murders in one go are mentally ill. I believe in correct diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. There is a lot of work that is needed in this area.”
I am surprised how the democratic party platform is keeping all of their opinions as short as they are, “We will protect Americans' Second Amendment right to own firearms, and we will keep guns out of the hands of criminals and terrorists by fighting gun crime, reauthorizing the assault weapons ban, and closing the gun show loophole, as President Bush proposed and failed to do.”
One more deciding factor, I asked Elena how she felt about free education through college, she agreed it would be nice but unpractical. “Through our Junior College system, college is nearly free for the first two years. The JC’s are an incredible deal. There are also ways to make the last two years nearly free, such as the state colleges. The greatest expense in college is the living expense. Basically, it is up to the parents to support the young adults during this time period, which extends the length of time and cost to the parents in raising the children substantially. I believe it is beneficial to the students to do some work during college. There are studies that show a 10 hour/week job actually increases grades and helps students get through school faster. Giving college absolutely free isn’t being responsible to those who are paying the costs, the parents. Students need to take responsibility for their own education. When we pay for something, we value it more. However, the costs should not be prohibitive leaving students with tens of thousand of dollars in debt.”
And for the last words on this important issue the democrats drive home a great ideal, “…we will make college more affordable, so that more young people get higher education, and more of those who graduate get relief from the crushing burden of debt. We will make student aid faster and simpler to get so students aren't scared off by the complicated process. We will offer generous tax credits to reduce the price of four years of college for all students, including those who pay their own way and can least afford college now. We will strengthen our aid programs for students while eliminating wasteful subsidies for lenders. At a time when all good jobs increasingly depend on advanced skills, we will strengthen technical training for those who do not attend college. Finally, we must place a special emphasis on expanding achievement in math and science. These are subjects where America has always led the world and must continue to lead in the 21st century.” (Democratic National Committee 2004)
Conclusion:
Cast Your Own Vote,
But This Ones Mine.
Occupants of public offices love power and are prone to abuse it.
- George Washington ( 3.Avaren 2001)
It has come down to me now, this paper was meant to research the two major parties as well as another possible political view, only to help me decide where I should stand. In my writing of, or publishing of this paper I don’t want to offend any of the interviewed, especially my Grandmother, whom I do love and respect even though her opinions are a little stronger than mine on many a topic. I wish to thank all those that participated in this paper, and that no matter my choice I respect all of your views as valid points to be considered. Now with these respects and credits over with, it is time for me to cast my vote.
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby carriage. It is my personal opinion that abortion is murder, the only time I am ok with it is in rape cases, and when the baby or mother is in physical or mental harm. But than again who am I, or the government, to say what someone can do with their own life. I disagree with abortion, and I will preach it to anyone who listens, abortion is murder, but its not my choice to make, I have been taught to respect a woman, and with that her right to choose. I choose to abstain, and I urge everyone to follow suit. Why have sex with someone unless you both are willing to support each other, and the baby. No matter the consequences. But again I say that I have no right to control what you choose to do, and I say it should be legal, but it is not the government’s job to regulate or support abortions, except in cases where there is a crime being committed, like rape. In rape cases, if the “mother” is willing to press charges on the “father” than the abortion, if she chooses to have one, should be free.
On abortion my final verdict rules in favor of the Libertarian Party, the government just needs to back out, let the people choose what they believe is right.
Click, Click, BOOM. I am pro gun. I believe that I should be able to buy any gun I wish, but I also believe that not everyone is capable of handling guns or weapons. I believe this vote will be cast towards the right side of the libertarian party, where guns should be just another product. Like Greg said, “if the wrong type of people want a gun they will find one,” so why not counter those people with responsible gun owners who will now how and when it is appropriate to use their weapons. As for Elena’s point of the Mental issues, I do accept the need for ways of identifying and intercepting individuals unsuitable to own weapons.
Finally I have reached the hardest of three questions, education. Free or affordable education through college. I as a high school senior am personally for it, I want to go all the way, but I need a lot of financial aid and its not the easiest of tasks, to fill out all those unnecessary forms. In this topic I completely disagree with the Republican view, the Libertarian view was nonexistent, and finally the Democratic view hit it head on. So it seems the democrats win this round.
For the final tally it is two to the Libertarians, one to the Democrats, and nill to the Republicans. With these views cleared for these three parties, I now have a strong basis on which how/who I will vote for.
And the winner is …
for me to know and you to find out.
Work Sited:
1) Avaren. "Quotes - Winston Churchill." FightTheBias.com. 2001. 29 Feb. 2008
<http://www.fightthebias.com/Quotes/winston_churchill.htm>.
2) Avaren. "Quotes – Samuel Adams." FightTheBias.com. 2001. 29 Feb. 2008
<http://www.fightthebias.com/Quotes/samuel_adams.htm>.
3) Avaren. "Quotes – George Washington." FightTheBias.com. 2001. 29 Feb. 2008
< http://www.fightthebias.com/Quotes/george_washington.htm>.
4) Avaren. "Quotes – Bill Clinton." FightTheBias.com. 2001. 29 Feb. 2008
<http://www.fightthebias.com/Quotes/bill_clinton.htm>.
Libertarian National Committee. "National Platform of the Libertarian Party." Official Website of the Libertarian National Committee. 2008. 28 Feb. 2008 <http://www.lp.org/issues/platform_all.shtml>.
The Democratic National Committee. "The 2004 Democratic Party Platform: Stronger at Home, Respected in the World." The Democratic Party. 2008. 28 Feb. 2008 <http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/09/the_2004_democr.php>.
Republican National Committee. "2004 Republican Party Platform: A Safer World and a More HopefulAmerica." GOP.com. 2008. The Republican National Committee. 28 Feb. 2008
<http://www.rnc.org>. Path: About the GOP; Party Platform.
Fritchle, Elena, Mrs. E-mail interview. 3 Mar. 2008.
Davis, Greg, Mr. E-mail interview. 3 Mar. 2008.
Skidmore, Ruth, Mrs. E-mail interview. 1 Mar. 2008.
Interviews:
Ruth Skidmore:
1) How/ Why did you become a conservative? Where you influenced by a specific someone or a specific view? I became a conservative in the late 1960's early 1970's and it was the Vietnam war and the political climate in California that most influenced me. California liberalism is such a hyprocrisy. They walk, talk, and preach rights but without any responsiblity. ONe organization that influenced me was unions, the leaches who supposedly represent the working man. What an ironic joke that is. Their union reps and management are nothing more than employees of the members of the union, who is their bosses but those members accept no respondibility for the actions or behavior of their employees. Who are they to critize managers and CEO's? JUdge not lest ye also be judged? When my husband was a member of a mechanics union and saw other members stealing from the parts department and tools and reported it to the union he was told to keep his mouth shut to management or he would be black balled, meaning thrown out of the union. As a manager of a nursing home for elderly people I also encountered this same action. A patient, an elderly Mexican lady with a leg amputee was being abused by a black nurses aide on the night shift. She was incontinent and when this nurse had to change her bedding, she would roll her over and slap her hard on her bare buttocks. She only spoke Spainish so she told another Hispanic lady who worked in the kitchen who came directly to my office and reported it. I got a Mexican employee to intreptret for me, spoke to the patient and also her two room mates all who vertified what she said and fired the nurses aide on the spot. She went to the union and they were in the facility before the day was over and went to the kitchen threatening the employee who came to me to report the abuse. I told that rep. "what if that was your mother or father?" HIs reply was they wouldn't dare. Meaning because he was a union represenative and therefore had power. I looked him in the eye and told him he was a chickenshit son of a bitch. A poor little helpless woman, she was about five foot and weighed about 100 lbs. being hit by a woman 5 ft. 9" and weighing 180. I told him, take me on, file a grievance, which they did and which I won because the black nurses aide never showed up for the hearing. YOu see I had put the word out to my staff that if I ever saw her again I was going to kick her ass! The word went out, Skidmore is really pissed and she means it. MY staff knew and respect me because they knew I cared about the patients and that I always tried to be fair to them.
2) About what age did you become conservative? As a young mother in my thities.
3) What are you political views on:
a) Abortion AGainst! When is a seed dead? When it is on the dying greenery of a plant? When it is planted in the ground? When put in the fertile soil and properly watered and nourished, it sends out a tiny sprout so is that sprout dead? I think not, it is a viable living thing unless it is never planted nor nourished. He who plants the seed has a responsible to nourish and care for it as it is a living thing and to pull it out of it's enviorment is to kill it. To kill a human embroyo is murder.
b) Gun control The constitution gave us the right to own and bear arms and the reason was that no one except royalty in other countries could. I have the right to protect myself, family and home. There is no royalty in this country including the judges in black robes who would like you to believe they are. They are often poorly educated and just plain stupid in their intreptations of our laws.
c) Free education through college There is and never has been free education in this country! Those who are in this country illegally attending our schools are thieves, stealing what your ancestors worked so hard to build and provide for you. Education was not started by our government but by citizens of communities and especially in rural areas of this country which didn't have much money they could only build one building which was used for the dual purpose of school and church. Two of the elementary school I attended, starting to school in 1941 and leaving elementary in 1948 both held religious services on Sunday and also one had two week Bible school in the summer months which all the children in the area attended. This was not uncommon and many older citizens such as myself from the farmlands remeber attending them. Church or Sunday school services were no particular denomination and conducted by an elder man of the community. This continued untill about the early 1950's. I lived in MOrgan and Layfatte County, Missouri. That is why I say to you judges are poorly educated and lack simple common knowledge of our country but refuse to be informed by the citizenry. They think they are royalty because they are educated at Yale, Harvard, UC Berkley? I think not!
Are the teachers of your school aware that schools were built and paid for by members of the local community and run by a "school board" who hired the teacher and that in fact my mother taught school in Missouri and she had a high school education only. But her books especially math and English looked like 3rd year college now.
She recieved 20 dollars per month and like most teacherss offered free room and board with a family of the school board but her father was wealthy enough to provide her with a saddle horse so she rode a horse five miles to and back to teach. INteresting to note that she rode side saddle because a lady did not sit astraddle a horse. Ask your teacher to research what I say and find out and tell you when the schools were taken over by the government and how are they financed! Any adult who tells you education is free is ignorant. Igorance unforutnately begets ignorance. The teachers who tells you they teach because they love their students is a liar. Ask them if they will teach you without receiving a pay check? The California Teachers Union is supposedly only interested in yours the students best interest. BULL SHIT! That is not why they have a union and they know it as well. Their best interest is what is at issue.
4) At this point in time what candidate do you most support? Very poor selection of candidates but i think probably Hucklabee the former gov. of Ark.
Greg Davis:
1) How/ Why did you become a libertarian? Where you influenced by a specific someone or a specific view?
It was to different from the norm.
2) About what age did you become libertarian?
I was about 20.
3) What are you political views on:
a) Abortion
Free choice
b) Gun control
We have more than enough controls in place. If the wrong type of people want a gun they will find one, so the controls are not working, and wasting our tax dollars.
c) Free education through college Something to look into. My first though is it a good thing.
4) At this point in time what candidate do you most support?
Ron Paul
Elena Fritchle:
1 & 2) How/ Why did you become a democrat? Were you influenced by a specific someone or a specific view? About what age did you become democrat?
Looking back on my childhood, I realize that I was perhaps more aware of what was happening in the outside world than most children. I remember world events from when I was 5 and 6 years old. I wondered why the world was going through such troubles as the fear of nuclear war, why there was hunger in the world, and what it was that I could do to help. In my simple child's mind I thought that all people had to do was to love one another better. I was a deeply devoted Catholic, devoted to God in the form of Jesus. I wanted to teach people about God's love and the love of Jesus. This, I thought could change the world. I still think that teaching the world to love each other is the answer. This is why I am a minister. God is our common ground, common to all beings. We may have many cultural interpretations of God, but the underlying reality is the same. If we as a world can realize that we are all related and what affects one affects another, understanding our unity, then peace can come from that. This is why I work for Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, an interfaith center that is heavily involved in world interfaith peace work.
Both my parents highly respected John F. Kennedy. He was a hero in our family. We once braved 100+ weather to hear him speak at the ground breaking of the San Luis Reservoir damn south of Gilroy. Several people that day had heat stroke and were taken away in ambulances possibly to die. My parents had brought 6 children, ages 3 to 10 to hear him. I was impressed at age 5 how important our political process was to our society.
My father was a Republican and my mother was a Democrat. We knew that we would have free choice to choose who we would become. My parents voted for different people and their agendas were not pushed on us children. We were encouraged to think through the issues and form our own opinions.
In my family structure, it was my mother who spent 90% of the time with the kids and taught us about nurturing. She was and is a most giving person, being a girl scout leader and children's religious education teacher all of my life. She is a lay minister in the Catholic Church, and at 80 years old, still teaches Sunday school! She is a very loving person and I respect her greatly. I equate democrat with her caring attitudes.
Also, through the 1960s there was great political change. I followed the actions of the Black movement. My dad was scared of what was occurring. I equate republican with fear and protectionism. My mom had a more open mind. I didn't know which to be. Perhaps fear was useful. Maybe I should be afraid of the world and try to protect myself rather than be open and loving towards others. But it didn’t feel good.
I remember watching Bobby Kennedy and pinning all my hopes for a peaceful world on this young man. He was a Democrat. I had great faith in him, his truthfulness and righteousness. He seemed to be able to make hard decisions that were based in deep truths. I was crushed when he died, even though I was only 11. I couldn’t understand why this was happening.
I was peripherally aware of Martin Luther King. There seemed to be some peace in that movement, but the Black Panthers and the fear from the white community, which we were a part of, colored it. I was willing to leave that fight for another.
The women's movement started up. This I could understand. I was an intelligent female with society constantly telling me that boys were smarter and should have all the top positions, which was not the case. I continued to get better grades. I was all for the removing of structures that kept women down. The Republican Party seemed to keep women in traditional roles and allowed them less freedom. Women were to keep the house and children. I wanted to be more than that, to make a difference. The Democrats had more latitude for women rising up. There was no limit. We just needed to work hard to prove ourselves. There was more freedom for women in the Democratic Party.
My older sister started working with migrant children, teaching them English. We went to hear Cesar Chavez speak at a local auditorium. It was just my mother, my sister and I. When I went to college, I started working for the Farm Worker’s Union, picketing stores that were selling grapes and lettuce. I remember going to celebrations with farm workers. It was a great cultural shock, but my heart was open to their difficulties, and I got to see them as real people rather than news items. This whole movement was a Democrat happening. The Republicans were the farm owners, who were polluting the farm workers with pesticides and keeping them in poor living conditions.
My second sister picketed for 18 year olds to vote. The slogan was “Old enough to fight, old enough to die, old enough to vote.” At the time, you had to be 21, but the Viet Nam war was on and young men, including boys that we knew were being drafted at age 18. My older brother was involved in the draft. He and his best friend had to register. Their birthdays were close together. At the time, your draft number was chosen by your birthday. Each year the draft board would pick a date out of a hat and if your birthday was that day, your draft number was 1. You were going to Viet Nam whether you wanted to or not. The next day would be 2, and so on. It was getting close to the time when the date would be chosen. My brother, Alan, was trying to get a college deferment. His grades weren’t the greatest. He was trying to become an architect and it was hard to get into the school. He didn’t make it. My dad had some connections to get Alan into the college of his choice, but as a transportation engineering student rather than an architectural student. This gave him his college deferment. It was a tense time in our family. My brother’s friend, John, couldn’t get into college. He was more of a jock and very athletic. John opted to join the military rather than be drafted. He joined the Air Force and went to Germany. It was lucky that he made that choice. When their numbers were picked, John would have gone to Viet Nam. He was in the single digits. Alan was near the end of the 300s. It was the liberals who were fighting against the war, giving our boys a future that they had some choice in. Even though Kennedy and Johnson were big perpetrators of the war, at the end of the 60s it was the ground swell of liberals who stopped it and stopped the draft. By the time my younger brother had to worry about the draft, there was very little to worry about. He still had to register, but very few were being taken.
The Catholic Church went through a huge change in the 60s. It was precipitated by the Second Vatican Counsel in 1965. It allowed the mass to be said in English rather than Latin, and allowed lay leaders. It encouraged priests to be more active in political affairs. Many nuns and priests were speaking out against injustices. Sometimes they went too far and were purged by the Church. Many nuns and priests were lobbying for married clergy. This was not accepted and they left. These excommunicated nuns and priests were another part of the liberal left, fighting for Caesar Chavez, social justice in Central America and against the Viet Nam war. They combined both my love for God and love for social action. I wanted to become a priest, but by 1974 finally realized that the Catholic Church was not going to reform that far. The promised rejuvenation of the Second Vatican Counsel had died, and my faith in the Catholic Church with it. The generation of ex-priests and nuns pointed to the Democratic Party but no further. They dissolved in obscurity.
I believe that it was a combination of all the above that allowed me to choose the Democratic Party. Most of my siblings are democrats. We have a very liberal viewpoint. Many Catholics of the time were democrats. It seemed to be the party that cared for individuals, whether farm workers, young men and women, or blacks. I had the vote at 18 and choose the Democratic Party. I have never regretted it, though I see many flaws. But to be human is to be flawed. I work towards social justice and world peace through my love of God, and sharing that with children. I support the world peace work through the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment. We have held a Peace Conference for the last 8 years with speakers such as Yolanda King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr. , Dolores Huerta cofounder of the Farm Worker’s Union, Arun Gandhi – Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, and Dwarko Sundrani student of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of many eye clinics and schools in India. We continue our peace work by being members of the World Parliament of Religions, convening religious leaders around the world together for world peace. So many wars have been fought over religion; it is time that our religions become our peace building instrument.
3) What are you political views on:
a) Abortion
Above all else, I believe in the right to choose our own destiny. I don’t think we have the right to control another’s life or life choices. The case of an unwanted pregnancy is a difficult one, one I am grateful I have never faced though I have had friends who did. An unwanted pregnancy can change the whole future of a woman. It has much less effect on a man if at all. Many men just walk away or are unaware of the consequences of their actions. The decision can only be the woman’s decision. She can base it on many factors such as social support and spiritual convictions, but it must be one she makes for herself, as she will live with the consequences all her life.
I have lived through a time when sex was freely given. It was the norm, and at my college, if you didn’t have sex, then you didn’t have a boy friend. At that time girls and boys didn’t relate to each other like they do now. We couldn’t have men friends; we could only have boy friends. It was a very distorted relationship. (Why there was a sexual revolution is a whole other topic.) It was out of this social structure that the need for abortions became apparent. Abortions had happened to poor women in the 50s and 60s, but it was when the well-to-do white middle class college coeds started having sex in large numbers and got pregnant that the choice of whether to have an abortion and remain in college or leave college and raise a child single handedly and in poverty became an important question for our society. Those who had abortions had to do it illegally, many times losing their lives or their reproductive abilities. A procedure became available that seemed to take the risk of harm away from the mother and allow the coed to continue her education, giving her a future and a possibility for a normal life. It was a tough decision. I know women who have had abortions and women who have given their children up for adoption. In both cases the deep hurt, guilt and shame have colored the rest of their lives. I’ve seen the living children and within them is a deep hurt at being given up, even though they may have found loving homes. Underneath there is a disconnect, a need for healing. I have seen children and mothers reunited and seen healing happen though it may not be complete. I am for healing.
I still have yet to answer what my views on abortion are. I have wondered at times in my life if I would have an abortion if I needed one. It has always been a hypothetical situation for me so I have not thought it through fully. If I had to counsel a young woman, I believe I would have her look at the beauty of new life. My life has not gone the way I planned it, yet I would not change a thing. Bringing an unplanned child into the world and raising the child would be a tremendous growth opportunity. The services and opportunities that are available today are much greater than in the 60s and 70s: the social stigmatism, much less. With DNA testing, men can be made aware of their social and financial responsibility for the child. There are possibilities for life, which I do hold as sacred. If the woman were to choose an abortion, I would not judge her. It is her choice. People make choices all the time away from life, choices to drink alcohol, choices to overeat, choices to do drugs, choices to lie. If we look at the mistakes we make and condemn, then we choose to live in those mistakes. I choose to forgive and to heal and I allow others their choice.
b) Gun control
I don’t believe that people have the right to own weapons of mass destruction. Guns such as rifles and pistols that are single fire are fine. I understand their uses for hunting and sportsmanship. I can appreciate people’s desire for protection though I don’t believe a gun is the strongest form of protection. I do not believe that people should have multiple repeating guns. I don’t know the terminology for these items. I do believe in registration and checking a person out prior to authorizing a gun. Many people who commit mass murders in one go are mentally ill. I believe in correct diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. There is a lot of work that is needed in this area.
c) Free education through college
Through our JC system, college is nearly free for the first two years. The JCs are an incredible deal. There are also ways to make the last two years nearly free, such as the state colleges. The greatest expense in college is the living expense. Basically, it is up to the parents to support the young adults during this time period, which extends the length of time and cost to the parents in raising the children substantially. I believe it is beneficial to the students to do some work during college. There are studies that show a 10 hour/week job actually increases grades and helps students get through school faster. Giving college absolutely free isn’t being responsible to those who are paying the costs, the parents. Students need to take responsibility for their own education. When we pay for something, we value it more. However, the costs should not be prohibitive leaving students with tens of thousand of dollars in debt.
4) At this point in time what candidate do you most support?
Hillary Clinton. We share common values. I do not agree with her on everything but I trust her. I believe that she has the skills to lead the country. Obama is a better speaker, but I don’t believe he has the substance that Hillary has. I have not looked at Ron Paul. I agree with McCain on some items, but disagree with him strongly on others. I think he has been smart with running the war and understands this better than most people.