Someone asked me recently how I can be a Republican. Here is my courteous and intelligible response. I examined what things are most important to me and then chose the party that "most resembles" that ideology. There are things about the Republican party with which I do not agree. There are people in the Republican party who do not represent what I believe in. However, the following are the things that keep me Red instead of Blue.
1. I believe that a smaller federal government is better for our country.
2. I believe that the laissez faire approach to economics is best for our country.
3. I believe that capitalism helped make this country great and socialism in any subtle form will only make us mediocre, if not worse.
4. I believe that the Constitution was never written to allow for the rewriting of basic cultural and social definitions.
5. I believe that in a country of so many opportunities and freedoms, each person is responsible for his or her own financial and physical well being.
This is just the short list of the most important concepts I hold near and dear, politically speaking. I think that I should not be stretching the truth in saying that I am well-educated, articulate and intelligent. In the light of the definition of the word bigotry, I am not a bigot. Bigotry = stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or
opinion that differs from one's own
I listen (and read) respectfully the thoughts and opinions of others daily. They receive the same logical scrutiny that I apply to the rest of my life. In the process, I've changed my opinion many times. That, by the way, is not a sign of fickleness, but rather a sign of growth. I have not become so openminded, however, that my brain falls out.
There aren't really any "moral issues" in what I've just listed. Although I DO have thoughts along those lines as well. Frankly, neither party seems to represent, much less exemplify, my passionate beliefs in that area.