In watching the news and DNC speeches and such, I started wondering something, which I tend to wonder every 4 years, but now I have a blog, so I will ask it out loud. Why do the “religious right” align themselves so firmly with the republican party?
What’s the actual reason? When I ask a republican why they are voting for their candidate, assuming I don’t get the “i just vote republican” answer, I usually get something along the lines of these reasons.
- He will cut my taxes
- He will protect my religion
- He will stop spending on frivalous things like social services, so he can lower taxes
- He will protect me
When I speak with a democrat, I generally get these answers.
- He will give tax cuts to the poor
- He will increase spending on social services
- He will protect me by becoming a world leader, not just a US leader.
Generally, religion never seems to come up. I wondered why, and then it dawned on me. The democrats don’t care what religion you are, the republicans do. A democrat for the most part will think it’s pretty cool if you are a different religion than them, like budhist, jewish, hindu, muslim, or any other non-christian/catholic belief system. I’m not saying republicans as a whole are bigoted, but I do think there is an underlying tenet that Christ/Cath is the only way to be a good American.
So here is the question, the one that makes my head hurt. Why does anyone who claims to be a true, god fearing, neighbor loving, christian or catholic, follow the republican party? The core tenet of almost every single Christ/Cath based religion is to love thy neighbor. It is to give alms to the poor. It is to care for one another, regardless of the time of need.
The republican party generally stands for self interest, such as, reducing social services which could benefit ‘thy neighbor’, privatizing schools so that not everyone can get a fair chance at a future, privatizing healthcare so not everyone can be healthy. Why is that so appealing to a self proclaimed ‘good christian’? If you are such a good christian, shouldn’t you vote for the guy who promises to help thy neighbor? Generally that is the democrat. The democrat of course will need a little more money from those who can spare it, but he will use it to make sure that struggling family can at least get their children vaccinated, or that an alcoholic can get the treatment they need, or that police can actually afford to buy each cop their own body armor, or to spend on schools to get better and more teachers. Why is that a bad thing?
I know why. You are not a good christian. You are fraud. A phony. You only care about yourself, your future, and you don’t give 2 shits about thy neighbor.
Here is the ironic part… I am an atheist. I don’t believe in any God(s). Yet, I care about my fellow man. I care about the kid I have never met, and want him to get a good education. I care about the 70 year old who I hope will no longer have to eat cat food or choose between heart medication or asthma medication that month. I care about kinds being able to play in a park, without wearing a pollution mask. I don’t have a fear of a vengeful or spiteful God, no fear of hell, no motivation for entry to heaven, yet I care more than many of you do? I don’t get it?
Is it about the money? I don’t give a crap about my taxes. I already pay a silly amount, what’s a little more gonna do to me? Even a lot more? The reason most folks in countries, like the Scandinavian countries, who pay huge taxes don’t complain is because they actually get something for their money. Great healthcare, great infrastructure, great living environment. We complain because we don’t get shit for our money.
But I digress. I do really want to understand. To me, it makes as much sense as the priests who diddle young boys, or the guy who goes to church to gain forgiveness for beating the crap out of his wife. I guess there must be something in mass or temple that I never heard or saw? Maybe there is a secret meeting or something once you give enough tithe? Oh wait that’s scientology.
