The title of this blog is inspired by a Bjork song of the same name. I'm not a big fan, but my husband is and we went to two of her shows last week. On this tour, she ends every show with her song "Declare Independence", in which she shouts "Don't let them do that to you" and encourages her fans to "raise your own flag". It resonated with me in light of what is currently going on with our government.
We learned several weeks ago about the IRS targeting conservative groups. They can deny it all they want, but we know the truth. This is clearly a violation of our 1st Amendment rights to free speech. As if that wasn't bad enough, we recently learned that our 4th Amendment rights were being violated by our own government having full, unadulterated access to our cell phone records (luckily it was Verizon...I'm glad I use AT&T). This is HIGHLY disturbing. People may say "well, I have nothing to hide" and the truth is most of us have nothing to hide. If the government was to read my text messages, they would mainly find me chatting about nothing with my friends, what's for dinner with my husband, and they would be exposed to countless pictures and videos of my incredibly adorable dog. Just because we have nothing to hide, doesn't mean the government should have access to it. It is a very slippery slope from perusing phone records to the police showing up at your front door and demanding to look inside your home. It has to stop here or we will be living in a police state with no right to privacy.
Our country was founded on the basic principles of freedom from tyranny. If we let the government stomp all over our 1st and 4th amendment rights, what's next? Many pro-gun people have argued the same beliefs regarding the 2nd Amendment, and while I do believe in some gun control, I do agree with 2nd Amendment advocates in this regard. In the last two weeks, we heard a story of an elderly woman who defended her home from a burglar with her handgun. We also heard about a disturbed young man who killed several people in Santa Monica, CA. It's pretty clear...someone like him shouldn't have access to any kind of gun (handgun or AR-15), but someone like this elderly woman should have a gun. She's a law abiding citizen and she used a handgun to protect herself, her husband and her home. That is the kind of gun ownership and use I firmly believe in and support. I believe that limitations on guns like the AR-15 and background checks to prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands are necessary and do not violate the 2nd Amendment. Law abiding citizens absolutely have the right to own a gun for protection.
When I started this blog, I did it with the hopes of bringing our party a little closer to the center, so we can win the next election. Obama's actions of stomping all over three amendments are basically handing us the next election. If he keeps this up, we will surely win, but I hope that this doesn't cause us to remain a party of extremes. We are a party that stands up for the rights of all people and I really hope we move towards that path. 2016 is still three years away and a lot can happen between now and then. I will leave you with one of my favorite Thomas Jefferson quotes. "When the people fear the government there is tyranny, when the government fears the people there is liberty."
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/UrbanRepublican
Follow me on Twitter @TheUrbanGOP
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Life or Death
Like many other trial watchers, I've been glued to HLN the last few weeks as the Jodi Arias trial was coming to an end. I was relieved and thrilled when the jury handed down a guilty verdict of murder in the first degree. Shortly after that, they found that extreme cruelty existed, making her eligible for the death penalty. The circumstances of the murder made that verdict a very easy one to reach. Then came the penalty phase...
After last minute, desperate motions and antics by Jodi's attorneys, the penalty phase went forward. Travis' sister and brother gave heart wrenching victim impact statements. Jodi, on the other hand, had no witnesses testify on her behalf (some say this is a strategy for her appeal), but she did give an allocation statement. While she talked about all the things she could do if she lived and accepted responsibility for her actions (in a roundabout way), she showed no remorse and it was all about her. Then the jury got the case and late in the day on Thursday, the shocking news that they couldn't reach a unanimous verdict was announced. The Alexander family was understandably devastated. Not only did they not get the death penalty (yet) for their brother's murderer, but in Arizona, it means the penalty phase must be tried again, so this horrible chapter in their lives is not over.
In most other jurisdictions, like California, if the jury is hung on the death penalty issue, the sentence defaults to life without possibility of parole. Unfortunately, this phase has to be tried again in Arizona unless the DA and the defendant agree to a plea for life (likely without parole). My heart goes out to the Alexander family as they have to suffer through this night mare for at least a few more months. This brings me to my own, personal opinions on the death penalty.
My whole life, I had been 100% in favor of the death penalty and always believed that if I was on a jury, I could easily sentence someone to death. I used to argue that id rather kill murderers than innocent babies (coupling the death penalty issue wi abortion). In 2004, while clerking at the Orange County DA's office, I had the opportunity to watch a death penalty case. Leslie Abramson represented the defendant. There was no question that the defendant was guilty, and the jury reached a quick verdict...guilty of murder in the first degree. Then came the penalty phase...
The victims' families gave heart wrenching victim impact statements. There was not a dry eye in the courtroom. Then, the defendant's mother and sister got on the stand. His mother was a tiny little Vietnamese woman. She cried and cried and begged for her son's life. There was not a dry eye in the courtroom. The jury hung and he received the default sentence of life without parole. As I watched the defendant's mother and sister on the stand and looked at the jury, I realized, at that very moment, that I don't know if I could sentence another human being to death. It's one thing to say it, but until you're in that room, feeling that emotion and faced with the realization that your decision would lead to the death of another human being, it's hard to know what you would do.
At first, I was very upset with the hold out members of the Jodi Arias jury. I thought they should have known they couldn't sentence someone to dealt, but the truth is...maybe they were like I once was. Maybe they thought they could until they got in that room, felt the emotion and were faced wight the realization that their collective decision would lead to the death of another human being. True, Jodi's allocution wasn't remorseful and her parents and siblings didn't get on the stand and beg for her life, but undoubtedly some jurors must have felt their pain and couldn't bring themselves to do it.
Don't get me wrong...the pain of the Alexander family is far greater and Travis never had an opportunity to plea for his life. I believe Jodi Arias is a monster and deserves to die for what she did, but I don't know if I could be the executioner. I try to imagine if the defendant was someone who tortured and killed innocent animals and children. I might have an easier time, but it doesn't change the fact that one's decision to sentence another person to death means, in a sense, that person becomes a killer. I don't ever want to be a killer, therefore I will never serve on a death penalty jury.
Whatever happens, I hope the madness of this case comes to an end soon, so the Alexander family can have some closure and find some kind of peace. I've never been in their position and hope I never am. The families of murder victims have the right to want the murderer dead and I will never question that. They're the ones dealing with a horrific loss. Whatever the outcome...life or death...it won't bring Travis or other victims back...and that is what is so sad about these circumstances. They still have to pick up the pieces and put their lives back together. Justice only helps with a part of that process.
While many people feel that getting life (instead of death) is getting off easy, I couldn't disagree more. Yes, prisoners get used to their lives, but imagine knowing that will be your life until the day you die, which will be 40-50 years from now. Imagine spending the last half century of your life missing out on the simple pleasures of life...no more days at the beach, no more dinners at your favorite restaurant, no more movies at state of the art theaters, no more sporting events, no more 50" flat screen televisions, no more iPads, no more pillow-top king size beds, no more 800 thread count sheets, no more vacations to Disneyworld, Hawaii or Europe, no more playing in the snow, no more swimming in a pool, no more showers everyday, no more privacy, no more safety, no more freedom. It's no picnic, but it is well deserved for people who kill.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Follow me on Twitter @TheUrbanGOP
Like me on facebook www.facebook/UrbanRepublican
After last minute, desperate motions and antics by Jodi's attorneys, the penalty phase went forward. Travis' sister and brother gave heart wrenching victim impact statements. Jodi, on the other hand, had no witnesses testify on her behalf (some say this is a strategy for her appeal), but she did give an allocation statement. While she talked about all the things she could do if she lived and accepted responsibility for her actions (in a roundabout way), she showed no remorse and it was all about her. Then the jury got the case and late in the day on Thursday, the shocking news that they couldn't reach a unanimous verdict was announced. The Alexander family was understandably devastated. Not only did they not get the death penalty (yet) for their brother's murderer, but in Arizona, it means the penalty phase must be tried again, so this horrible chapter in their lives is not over.
In most other jurisdictions, like California, if the jury is hung on the death penalty issue, the sentence defaults to life without possibility of parole. Unfortunately, this phase has to be tried again in Arizona unless the DA and the defendant agree to a plea for life (likely without parole). My heart goes out to the Alexander family as they have to suffer through this night mare for at least a few more months. This brings me to my own, personal opinions on the death penalty.
My whole life, I had been 100% in favor of the death penalty and always believed that if I was on a jury, I could easily sentence someone to death. I used to argue that id rather kill murderers than innocent babies (coupling the death penalty issue wi abortion). In 2004, while clerking at the Orange County DA's office, I had the opportunity to watch a death penalty case. Leslie Abramson represented the defendant. There was no question that the defendant was guilty, and the jury reached a quick verdict...guilty of murder in the first degree. Then came the penalty phase...
The victims' families gave heart wrenching victim impact statements. There was not a dry eye in the courtroom. Then, the defendant's mother and sister got on the stand. His mother was a tiny little Vietnamese woman. She cried and cried and begged for her son's life. There was not a dry eye in the courtroom. The jury hung and he received the default sentence of life without parole. As I watched the defendant's mother and sister on the stand and looked at the jury, I realized, at that very moment, that I don't know if I could sentence another human being to death. It's one thing to say it, but until you're in that room, feeling that emotion and faced with the realization that your decision would lead to the death of another human being, it's hard to know what you would do.
At first, I was very upset with the hold out members of the Jodi Arias jury. I thought they should have known they couldn't sentence someone to dealt, but the truth is...maybe they were like I once was. Maybe they thought they could until they got in that room, felt the emotion and were faced wight the realization that their collective decision would lead to the death of another human being. True, Jodi's allocution wasn't remorseful and her parents and siblings didn't get on the stand and beg for her life, but undoubtedly some jurors must have felt their pain and couldn't bring themselves to do it.
Don't get me wrong...the pain of the Alexander family is far greater and Travis never had an opportunity to plea for his life. I believe Jodi Arias is a monster and deserves to die for what she did, but I don't know if I could be the executioner. I try to imagine if the defendant was someone who tortured and killed innocent animals and children. I might have an easier time, but it doesn't change the fact that one's decision to sentence another person to death means, in a sense, that person becomes a killer. I don't ever want to be a killer, therefore I will never serve on a death penalty jury.
Whatever happens, I hope the madness of this case comes to an end soon, so the Alexander family can have some closure and find some kind of peace. I've never been in their position and hope I never am. The families of murder victims have the right to want the murderer dead and I will never question that. They're the ones dealing with a horrific loss. Whatever the outcome...life or death...it won't bring Travis or other victims back...and that is what is so sad about these circumstances. They still have to pick up the pieces and put their lives back together. Justice only helps with a part of that process.
While many people feel that getting life (instead of death) is getting off easy, I couldn't disagree more. Yes, prisoners get used to their lives, but imagine knowing that will be your life until the day you die, which will be 40-50 years from now. Imagine spending the last half century of your life missing out on the simple pleasures of life...no more days at the beach, no more dinners at your favorite restaurant, no more movies at state of the art theaters, no more sporting events, no more 50" flat screen televisions, no more iPads, no more pillow-top king size beds, no more 800 thread count sheets, no more vacations to Disneyworld, Hawaii or Europe, no more playing in the snow, no more swimming in a pool, no more showers everyday, no more privacy, no more safety, no more freedom. It's no picnic, but it is well deserved for people who kill.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Follow me on Twitter @TheUrbanGOP
Like me on facebook www.facebook/UrbanRepublican
Monday, April 29, 2013
Basketball and my Blog
I apologize in advance for doing two basketball related blogs in a row, but it is the NBA playoffs and Jason Collins did come out of the closet today, so 'tis the season.
First, I want to continue my discussion from the last post about how Mike D'Antoni destroyed the Lakers. I compared him to Obama destroying our country. I still contend both are probably nice guys with good intentions, but they're just not the right leaders for their respective teams. It occurred to me last night, when the Lakers were swept out of the playoffs by the Spurs, that the Lakers are kind of like the Republican Party.
They are a team with a rich history of championships, superstar players and unmatched greatness. The Republican party is very much like this. We are a party with a rich history of achievements (abolished slavery, ended the Cold War, prevented terrorism on U.S. soil after 9/11), superstar presidents (Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln, etc.) and unmatched greatness (I still think we're pretty great). Like the Lakers, in recent years, we have lost our way. Those who hate our party (like those who hate the Lakers) are quick to jump up, point fingers, ridicule, mock, and dance on our graves.
Anyone who follows sports knows that truly great teams don't stay down for long. Anyone who follows politics knows that truly great political parties and candidates don't stay down for long either. I think, as a party, we've made some poor decisions...just as Laker ownership made a poor decision when turning away Phil Jackson and hiring Mike D'Antoni. That said, mistakes can be corrected.
I may sound like a broken record, but I can't stress enough how much we need to be more progressive on social issues like gay marriage. Today, a very brave NBA player, named Jason Collins came out as openly gay, while still an active player in the NBA. 10 years ago...hell, 5 years ago this never would have happened. This is a sign of how much things are changing. So many prominent Republicans have come out in support of gay marriage just as top NBA players came out in support of Jason Collins. If these macho athletes can do it, so can our party. The party platform on this issue has to change. Homosexuals may only make up a small part of the population, but their heterosexual supporters are increasing everyday.
Let's get on the right side of this issue.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Follow me on Twitter @TheUrbanGop
Like me on facebook www.facebook.com/UrbanRepublican
First, I want to continue my discussion from the last post about how Mike D'Antoni destroyed the Lakers. I compared him to Obama destroying our country. I still contend both are probably nice guys with good intentions, but they're just not the right leaders for their respective teams. It occurred to me last night, when the Lakers were swept out of the playoffs by the Spurs, that the Lakers are kind of like the Republican Party.
They are a team with a rich history of championships, superstar players and unmatched greatness. The Republican party is very much like this. We are a party with a rich history of achievements (abolished slavery, ended the Cold War, prevented terrorism on U.S. soil after 9/11), superstar presidents (Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln, etc.) and unmatched greatness (I still think we're pretty great). Like the Lakers, in recent years, we have lost our way. Those who hate our party (like those who hate the Lakers) are quick to jump up, point fingers, ridicule, mock, and dance on our graves.
Anyone who follows sports knows that truly great teams don't stay down for long. Anyone who follows politics knows that truly great political parties and candidates don't stay down for long either. I think, as a party, we've made some poor decisions...just as Laker ownership made a poor decision when turning away Phil Jackson and hiring Mike D'Antoni. That said, mistakes can be corrected.
I may sound like a broken record, but I can't stress enough how much we need to be more progressive on social issues like gay marriage. Today, a very brave NBA player, named Jason Collins came out as openly gay, while still an active player in the NBA. 10 years ago...hell, 5 years ago this never would have happened. This is a sign of how much things are changing. So many prominent Republicans have come out in support of gay marriage just as top NBA players came out in support of Jason Collins. If these macho athletes can do it, so can our party. The party platform on this issue has to change. Homosexuals may only make up a small part of the population, but their heterosexual supporters are increasing everyday.
Let's get on the right side of this issue.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Follow me on Twitter @TheUrbanGop
Like me on facebook www.facebook.com/UrbanRepublican
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Poor Management Destroys Greatness
I haven't written or a few weeks...not for a lack of trying, but because inspiration hasn't struck me and I don't believe in writing just for the sake of writing. Last night, inspiration struck, though under the circumstances, I wish it hadn't.
Most of you have probably heard by now that Kobe Bryant was injured last night and it is believed that he tore his Achilles' tendon. This, unfortunately, is a season ending injury (hopefully not a career needing injury) for one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball.
If you follow basketball, then you know the Lakers have had a very difficult season and are struggling just to make the playoffs. This is not typical of this team and it is especially not typical for a team that has four potential Hall of Famers (Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, and Pau Gasol). It is downright shocking that they have struggled as much as they have and I can only blame one person...Mike D'Antoni. Without getting into the mechanics of basketball, he's been an awful coach, who seems to know absolutely nothing about defense. He has run this great team into the ground and he has run its greatest player into the ground, because he let Kobe play just about all 48 minutes of the last several games in a desperate attempt to make the playoffs.
If you're wondering where I'm going with this...here it is. Kobe Bryant and the Laker are the United States of America and its people. Mike D'Antoni is Obama. I know it's a stretch, but it's how I see it. Kobe struggled and sacrificed only to endure a devastating injury doing a basic move he's done thousands of times, because he was fatigued from being overworked. Hard working Americans struggle and sacrifice only to have our efforts stifled by a government that seeks to penalize (tax) success and greatness. D'Antoni is probably a good coach and a decent guy, but he just doesn't know how to coach this caliber of a team. Barack Obama is a smart guy and probably well-intentioned, but he just can't lead a nation of this caliber. The lakers had an opportunity to rehire Phil Jackson last Fall. They didn't. The American people had the opportunity to rehire the Republican Party last Fall. They didn't. I doubt the Lakers will ever make a mistake like this again and I hope the American people won't either.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbanrepublican
Follow me on Twitter @The UrbanGOP
Most of you have probably heard by now that Kobe Bryant was injured last night and it is believed that he tore his Achilles' tendon. This, unfortunately, is a season ending injury (hopefully not a career needing injury) for one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball.
If you follow basketball, then you know the Lakers have had a very difficult season and are struggling just to make the playoffs. This is not typical of this team and it is especially not typical for a team that has four potential Hall of Famers (Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, and Pau Gasol). It is downright shocking that they have struggled as much as they have and I can only blame one person...Mike D'Antoni. Without getting into the mechanics of basketball, he's been an awful coach, who seems to know absolutely nothing about defense. He has run this great team into the ground and he has run its greatest player into the ground, because he let Kobe play just about all 48 minutes of the last several games in a desperate attempt to make the playoffs.
If you're wondering where I'm going with this...here it is. Kobe Bryant and the Laker are the United States of America and its people. Mike D'Antoni is Obama. I know it's a stretch, but it's how I see it. Kobe struggled and sacrificed only to endure a devastating injury doing a basic move he's done thousands of times, because he was fatigued from being overworked. Hard working Americans struggle and sacrifice only to have our efforts stifled by a government that seeks to penalize (tax) success and greatness. D'Antoni is probably a good coach and a decent guy, but he just doesn't know how to coach this caliber of a team. Barack Obama is a smart guy and probably well-intentioned, but he just can't lead a nation of this caliber. The lakers had an opportunity to rehire Phil Jackson last Fall. They didn't. The American people had the opportunity to rehire the Republican Party last Fall. They didn't. I doubt the Lakers will ever make a mistake like this again and I hope the American people won't either.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbanrepublican
Follow me on Twitter @The UrbanGOP
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Does tearing down Obama build us up?
Last week, Michele Bachmann made some comments about President Obama's budget for his chef(s), projectionist, dog walker, etc. There is some debate as to the veracity of these statements, but even if they are 100% true, is this a good use of our time? Yes, some of these expenses may be lavish, but I'm sure past presidents (including Republicans) did the same. It's part of the perks of having the job as "leader of the free world", which comes with a salary nowhere near that of a CEO of a Fortune 500 company. $400,000.00 per year, plus travel and other expenses makes for a very comfortable lifestyle, but it is a far cry from the $10 million salaries CEOs earn. (As an aside, my own dog walker doesn't charge much, so I'm sure the cost is not that excessive).
The point is, yeah, it's not great that we as taxpayers are paying for this, but we have bigger fish to fry. We need to get our economy back on track and get a Republican in the White House in 2016. In order to win favor with the American people, we need to show them the good that our party can do. Constantly putting down Obama and other democrats may be fun, but does it really do anything to help us? I think it makes us look petty and like sore losers. If we're really going to change our party's image, we have to take a long hard look at ourselves and understand why we lost in 2012. All of this negative finger pointing does not offer the one thing the people really need...solutions.
I'm a fan of a particular basketball team who has a long time rivalry with another team. Once a year, the rival team comes to town and I wear my favorite t-shirt in my team's colors, which states that the opposing team sucks. I get a lot of pleasure from wearing this shirt and "in your facing" fans of the opponent. My husband hates that I wear this shirt. He says I should wear a shirt that promotes my team for them being great, not criticize the other team for...well...sucking. I think this is what our party has been doing. We've been wearing our "democrats suck" and "Obama sucks" t-shirts instead of wearing our "republicans rule" t-shirts. Continuing on this path is not going to lead us to a win in 2016. Let's start showing the American people what we can do right instead of focusing on what the democrats are doing wrong.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbanrepublican
Follow me on Twitter @The UrbanGOP
The point is, yeah, it's not great that we as taxpayers are paying for this, but we have bigger fish to fry. We need to get our economy back on track and get a Republican in the White House in 2016. In order to win favor with the American people, we need to show them the good that our party can do. Constantly putting down Obama and other democrats may be fun, but does it really do anything to help us? I think it makes us look petty and like sore losers. If we're really going to change our party's image, we have to take a long hard look at ourselves and understand why we lost in 2012. All of this negative finger pointing does not offer the one thing the people really need...solutions.
I'm a fan of a particular basketball team who has a long time rivalry with another team. Once a year, the rival team comes to town and I wear my favorite t-shirt in my team's colors, which states that the opposing team sucks. I get a lot of pleasure from wearing this shirt and "in your facing" fans of the opponent. My husband hates that I wear this shirt. He says I should wear a shirt that promotes my team for them being great, not criticize the other team for...well...sucking. I think this is what our party has been doing. We've been wearing our "democrats suck" and "Obama sucks" t-shirts instead of wearing our "republicans rule" t-shirts. Continuing on this path is not going to lead us to a win in 2016. Let's start showing the American people what we can do right instead of focusing on what the democrats are doing wrong.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbanrepublican
Follow me on Twitter @The UrbanGOP
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Inequality of Wealth....so what!
There's this godawful YouTube video floating around on the Internet right now, called "Inequality of Wealth in America". This is nothing new. We all know some are wealthier than others. Some are poorer than others. It's the luck of the draw. It's the way the cookie crumbles. That's life.
A friend of mine suggested I watch and blog about this video, because it provides no factual backup for the statements it makes. It has a lot of cute little graphics, with color bars moving up and down and even cute little stick figure people, but there are no facts. I looked at all of the websites listed as "references" at the end of the video, but they are all blogs and articles, not actual statistical sources, like the IRS, for example. Sure, as a blogger, I get it...I don't offer cites for my claims, but my blog is an opinion piece and I can provide cites if requested.
Even if there was a factual basis for the claims made in this video, there's one point the producer of this video fails to make. In America, you can start out as one of the poorest Americans and you can end up as one of the wealthiest. The opposite can happen, too, if you make poor decisions. Sure, there are the people born into wealth, who inherit a name, a company, or just money, but there are many people who start from nothing and end up with millions or even billions. Dr. Jerry Buss, the late owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, is an example of this. He came from humble beginnings, got his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Souther California and then turned a $1,000.00 investment in an apartment building into a multi-million dollar empire. He bought the Lakers in 1979 for $20 Million and now they are worth $1 Billion. This is just one example of many of people who created something from nothing.
Another point this video fails to acknowledge is how much of our nation's tax revenue is paid by the wealthiest 1% to 10%. Most people don't realize that the top 10% pay 71% of the taxes in our nation. The top 50% pay 98% of the taxes in our nation, which means the bottom 50% pays 2% of the taxes. In fact, according to IRS Data for 2010, of the 1.35 million taxpayers that make up the top 1%, they earned 18.9% of the gross national income, but paid 37.4% of all federal income taxes paid in 2010. The bottom 95% earned 66.2% of the gross national income and paid 40.9% of all taxes paid in 2010.
So when everyone cries about tax cuts for the wealthy, they need to understand that the wealthy pay the most in taxes, therefore they need the most tax cuts. Some people say "well they should pay more, they have so much". Well, they have so much, because they worked hard for it, or they inherited it from someone who worked hard for it, or they managed it well, or they were just plain lucky. The wealthy even get taxed when they die and money is passed to their heirs. The producer even refers to dreaded socialism as "dreaded" and says "We all know that won't work. We have to encourage people to work and work hard to achieve that good old American dream." Do I detect a bit of sarcasm in his voice? Sounds to me like he thinks socialism is a pretty good idea.
Now, I'm not standing here as a middle class woman defending the wealthy. No, I often envy the ladies who lunch, the "Real Housewives", so to speak, who can workout, pamper themselves, lunch and shop all day, while I stress out going to court and negotiating divorce and custody settlements. There are days I wish that their life was my life, but hey...my life is my life and it's not a bad one. Yeah, I have to get up in the morning, drive to work and deal with angry people all day, but that's the luck of the draw, that's the way the cookie crumbles....that's life.
Over 4 million people watched this video. Perhaps, if that many people spent their time working or trying to do something innovative, they'd be part of the top 10% and not part of the bottom 50%. Success is there for those who want it and are willing to work for it. I wonder how much the producer of this video has made from it. I wonder what percentile he falls in now.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbanrepublican
Follow me on Twitter @The UrbanGOP
A friend of mine suggested I watch and blog about this video, because it provides no factual backup for the statements it makes. It has a lot of cute little graphics, with color bars moving up and down and even cute little stick figure people, but there are no facts. I looked at all of the websites listed as "references" at the end of the video, but they are all blogs and articles, not actual statistical sources, like the IRS, for example. Sure, as a blogger, I get it...I don't offer cites for my claims, but my blog is an opinion piece and I can provide cites if requested.
Even if there was a factual basis for the claims made in this video, there's one point the producer of this video fails to make. In America, you can start out as one of the poorest Americans and you can end up as one of the wealthiest. The opposite can happen, too, if you make poor decisions. Sure, there are the people born into wealth, who inherit a name, a company, or just money, but there are many people who start from nothing and end up with millions or even billions. Dr. Jerry Buss, the late owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, is an example of this. He came from humble beginnings, got his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Souther California and then turned a $1,000.00 investment in an apartment building into a multi-million dollar empire. He bought the Lakers in 1979 for $20 Million and now they are worth $1 Billion. This is just one example of many of people who created something from nothing.
Another point this video fails to acknowledge is how much of our nation's tax revenue is paid by the wealthiest 1% to 10%. Most people don't realize that the top 10% pay 71% of the taxes in our nation. The top 50% pay 98% of the taxes in our nation, which means the bottom 50% pays 2% of the taxes. In fact, according to IRS Data for 2010, of the 1.35 million taxpayers that make up the top 1%, they earned 18.9% of the gross national income, but paid 37.4% of all federal income taxes paid in 2010. The bottom 95% earned 66.2% of the gross national income and paid 40.9% of all taxes paid in 2010.
So when everyone cries about tax cuts for the wealthy, they need to understand that the wealthy pay the most in taxes, therefore they need the most tax cuts. Some people say "well they should pay more, they have so much". Well, they have so much, because they worked hard for it, or they inherited it from someone who worked hard for it, or they managed it well, or they were just plain lucky. The wealthy even get taxed when they die and money is passed to their heirs. The producer even refers to dreaded socialism as "dreaded" and says "We all know that won't work. We have to encourage people to work and work hard to achieve that good old American dream." Do I detect a bit of sarcasm in his voice? Sounds to me like he thinks socialism is a pretty good idea.
Now, I'm not standing here as a middle class woman defending the wealthy. No, I often envy the ladies who lunch, the "Real Housewives", so to speak, who can workout, pamper themselves, lunch and shop all day, while I stress out going to court and negotiating divorce and custody settlements. There are days I wish that their life was my life, but hey...my life is my life and it's not a bad one. Yeah, I have to get up in the morning, drive to work and deal with angry people all day, but that's the luck of the draw, that's the way the cookie crumbles....that's life.
Over 4 million people watched this video. Perhaps, if that many people spent their time working or trying to do something innovative, they'd be part of the top 10% and not part of the bottom 50%. Success is there for those who want it and are willing to work for it. I wonder how much the producer of this video has made from it. I wonder what percentile he falls in now.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbanrepublican
Follow me on Twitter @The UrbanGOP
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Sandy, CPAC and Suicide
My inspiration for this blog was an interview I saw with Congressman Peter King of New York on The Situation Room on Friday, March 1st. Congressman King said a lot of things in this interview that I've been saying as I decided to start this blog.
First, he called out Senator Marco Rubio for voting against the Sandy Relief act that recently passed in the House and Senate. What's even more offensive is that Senator Rubio had the nerve to travel to New York recently for his own fundraising events, but he voted against aid to New York. He not only singled out Senator Rubio, but he pointed out how most Republicans in the House and Senate voted against the bill. What is so shocking about this is that many of the senators and representatives that voted against the bill are from states who have needed relief from the federal government for disaster relief in recent history. Here is the breakdown:
The Senate
First, he called out Senator Marco Rubio for voting against the Sandy Relief act that recently passed in the House and Senate. What's even more offensive is that Senator Rubio had the nerve to travel to New York recently for his own fundraising events, but he voted against aid to New York. He not only singled out Senator Rubio, but he pointed out how most Republicans in the House and Senate voted against the bill. What is so shocking about this is that many of the senators and representatives that voted against the bill are from states who have needed relief from the federal government for disaster relief in recent history. Here is the breakdown:
The Senate
- 52 Democrats voted in favor of the bill, 0 voted against it, 1 did not vote.
- 9 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, 36 voted against it, 4 did not vote.
- 1 Independent voted in favor of the bill, 1 did not vote.
The House
- 192 Democrats voted in favor of the bill, 1 voted against it, 7 did not vote.
- 49 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, 179 voted against it.
Of the 36 Republican senators who voted against the bill, many have come from states who have had devastating hurricanes and needed federal aid in recent years. Senator Marco Rubio, of Florida, is one of them and we know how often Florida gets hit with hurricanes. Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott of South Carolina voted against it, yet South Carolina has also needed federal aid for hurricane relief in recent years. Senators Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts of Kansas voted against it. Didn't Kansas recently need federal aid after being leveled by tornadoes?
On a positive note, Senator David Vitter of Louisiana voted in favor of the bill. I guess he doesn't suffer from short term memory loss and knows what it means to have his constituents in need of the basic necessities of life.
As for the House, the numbers are staggering. All of the Republican representatives from Kansas, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Tennessee and many of the Republican representatives from California, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Pennsylvania voted against the bill. It's interesting that coastal and gulf states and states in Tornado Alley would vote against such relief. As a resident of Los Angeles, I sure hope New York and New Jersey don't retaliate when California needs aid when the big one hits...because anyone who lives in earthquake territory knows, it's not a matter of "if", it's a matter of "when" the big earthquake hits.
Personally, I am highly offended by the Republican congress' overwhelming abandonment of New York and New Jersey. I grew up in Staten Island, NY, one of the hardest hit areas. My parents now live near the Jersey Shore, another area devastated by Sandy. My loved ones are all okay, but I have friends who lost their homes in Staten Island. The people of these affected areas are honest, hard-working, blue-collar people. They pay into the system and they deserve their government to be there for them when something tragic like this happens. These are not people that take from the government on a regular basis. These are people who support themselves and their families.
Why did the House and Senate Republicans feel it was okay to ignore the needs of Northeasterners when they jump to aid those in the South and Midwest. Is there a divide between the rural and urban areas? Is that divide so strong that spite overpowers moral conduct? Does our party take the northeast for granted as Congressman King suggested in his interview? Have we become a party of north vs. south, coastal states vs. inland states, big city vs. small town?
Another topic covered in Congressman King's interview was CPAC's failure to invite Chris Christie to the CPAC convention, because he asked for aid for his state. He called CPAC's snub of Governor Christie "a suicidal death wish." He pointed out that Christie is a successful, conservative, pro-life Republican governor who has balanced the budget and has a 74% approval rating in a blue state. He stated that if the Republican party doesn't think he's conservative enough, then the party is doomed to lose again in 2016. I couldn't agree more. This is why I started this blog. It was nice to hear a member of Congress agrees and is standing up to the extreme right that has hijacked our party.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
As for the House, the numbers are staggering. All of the Republican representatives from Kansas, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Tennessee and many of the Republican representatives from California, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Pennsylvania voted against the bill. It's interesting that coastal and gulf states and states in Tornado Alley would vote against such relief. As a resident of Los Angeles, I sure hope New York and New Jersey don't retaliate when California needs aid when the big one hits...because anyone who lives in earthquake territory knows, it's not a matter of "if", it's a matter of "when" the big earthquake hits.
Personally, I am highly offended by the Republican congress' overwhelming abandonment of New York and New Jersey. I grew up in Staten Island, NY, one of the hardest hit areas. My parents now live near the Jersey Shore, another area devastated by Sandy. My loved ones are all okay, but I have friends who lost their homes in Staten Island. The people of these affected areas are honest, hard-working, blue-collar people. They pay into the system and they deserve their government to be there for them when something tragic like this happens. These are not people that take from the government on a regular basis. These are people who support themselves and their families.
Why did the House and Senate Republicans feel it was okay to ignore the needs of Northeasterners when they jump to aid those in the South and Midwest. Is there a divide between the rural and urban areas? Is that divide so strong that spite overpowers moral conduct? Does our party take the northeast for granted as Congressman King suggested in his interview? Have we become a party of north vs. south, coastal states vs. inland states, big city vs. small town?
Another topic covered in Congressman King's interview was CPAC's failure to invite Chris Christie to the CPAC convention, because he asked for aid for his state. He called CPAC's snub of Governor Christie "a suicidal death wish." He pointed out that Christie is a successful, conservative, pro-life Republican governor who has balanced the budget and has a 74% approval rating in a blue state. He stated that if the Republican party doesn't think he's conservative enough, then the party is doomed to lose again in 2016. I couldn't agree more. This is why I started this blog. It was nice to hear a member of Congress agrees and is standing up to the extreme right that has hijacked our party.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Entitlement
Entitlement.
A big problem in our culture today is entitlement. This problem doesn't seem to be getting any better and will probably only get worse as democrats keep getting elected to the White House. I'm not sure when this happened....what generation is guilty of this current state of apathy or are multiple generations to blame? I, myself, am a Gen-X-er (Generation X, those born between the early 60s and the early 80s). I was born in the early 70s, so there's no doubt about it...I'm a Gen-X-er.
I'd like to think that my generation is not to blame, as I don't abide by the code of entitlement. Sure, I'd love to not have to work and spend my days at the movies, watching TV, going to lunch, traveling, etc., but I'm not independently wealthy. Like most of you reading this (if not all), I have to get up in the morning, drive to work, put up with a lot of stress during the day, then drive home and cherish a few hours with my husband and dog before we go to sleep and start the cycle all over again.
Perhaps the Generation Y kids or Generation Me are to blame. Makes perfect sense, right? They're described by some as a generation of narcissists, hence the name "Generation Me". They were born between the early 80s and early 2000s. This is the generation of facebook, twitter, instagram, blogs, etc., everyone displaying their whole lives for the world (or a select group of people) to see. Of course, this is the generation we should logically blame, right....but who raised them? Who are their parents. Chances are, many of Generation Y are the products of Generation X procreation.
My generation, the generation that longed to separate themselves from their parents' identities and feel this amazing self worth all while never wanting for anything. Yes, my generation parented Generation Y and created these monsters. Of course, this does not apply to everyone. I have many friends who are great parents and have polite and charming children....but then there's the other kind of people. The kind of people who believe there should be no winners and losers in a game, just participants. The kind of people who praise 17th place. The kind of people that don't want their children to ever feel any sort of disappointment. The problem is.....this is not the way the world works. Life is full of winners and losers. 1st place is really the only accomplishment that gets praise. Life is full of disappointments. That's life.
Unfortunately, more and more people in our country believe they should have the same things others have without any hard work, without achievement, without anything, but a sense of entitlement. It's not just young people. This disease of entitlement does not discriminate by age. In fact, it doesn't discriminate at all. The epidemic is spreading rapidly and this needs to change fast or we will drift into apathy. This is why I started my blog....we need to unite our party and accept each other's differences if we're ever going to be strong enough to counter a party that is essentially giving the people what they want....something for nothing.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/UrbanRepublican
Follow me on Twitter @theurbangop
A big problem in our culture today is entitlement. This problem doesn't seem to be getting any better and will probably only get worse as democrats keep getting elected to the White House. I'm not sure when this happened....what generation is guilty of this current state of apathy or are multiple generations to blame? I, myself, am a Gen-X-er (Generation X, those born between the early 60s and the early 80s). I was born in the early 70s, so there's no doubt about it...I'm a Gen-X-er.
I'd like to think that my generation is not to blame, as I don't abide by the code of entitlement. Sure, I'd love to not have to work and spend my days at the movies, watching TV, going to lunch, traveling, etc., but I'm not independently wealthy. Like most of you reading this (if not all), I have to get up in the morning, drive to work, put up with a lot of stress during the day, then drive home and cherish a few hours with my husband and dog before we go to sleep and start the cycle all over again.
Perhaps the Generation Y kids or Generation Me are to blame. Makes perfect sense, right? They're described by some as a generation of narcissists, hence the name "Generation Me". They were born between the early 80s and early 2000s. This is the generation of facebook, twitter, instagram, blogs, etc., everyone displaying their whole lives for the world (or a select group of people) to see. Of course, this is the generation we should logically blame, right....but who raised them? Who are their parents. Chances are, many of Generation Y are the products of Generation X procreation.
My generation, the generation that longed to separate themselves from their parents' identities and feel this amazing self worth all while never wanting for anything. Yes, my generation parented Generation Y and created these monsters. Of course, this does not apply to everyone. I have many friends who are great parents and have polite and charming children....but then there's the other kind of people. The kind of people who believe there should be no winners and losers in a game, just participants. The kind of people who praise 17th place. The kind of people that don't want their children to ever feel any sort of disappointment. The problem is.....this is not the way the world works. Life is full of winners and losers. 1st place is really the only accomplishment that gets praise. Life is full of disappointments. That's life.
Unfortunately, more and more people in our country believe they should have the same things others have without any hard work, without achievement, without anything, but a sense of entitlement. It's not just young people. This disease of entitlement does not discriminate by age. In fact, it doesn't discriminate at all. The epidemic is spreading rapidly and this needs to change fast or we will drift into apathy. This is why I started my blog....we need to unite our party and accept each other's differences if we're ever going to be strong enough to counter a party that is essentially giving the people what they want....something for nothing.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/UrbanRepublican
Follow me on Twitter @theurbangop
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Gays vs. Guns
The title of this post may make you
think I'm talking about a battle between gays and guns. I'm not.
I'm talking about the two big issues in which my opinion differs from
the Republican party platform. As I mentioned in my first post (The
Checklist), I support same-sex marriage, same-sex adoption, etc. I
also mentioned that I support a ban on assault weapons and believe
firmly in sensible gun control.
These two issues may appear to have
nothing in common, but they are actually both based in the same
argument. People who are against any sort of gun control argue that
it is an infringement on their Second Amendment right to bear arms.
People who support marriage equality argue that laws that forbid
same-sex marriage deny people of their basic constitutional right to
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Usually (not always, but usually),
those who are against gun control are also against same-sex marriage.
I find this very puzzling. Intelligent people who argue that taking
guns away from law abiding citizens is wrong, because it is an
infringement on our constitutional rights and if you permit the
government to start taking rights away, then you open the door to the
possibility of more rights being taken away. I respect that argument
and I understand that argument. I'll admit, I don't feel the need to
own a gun (I've never even held one), and I wouldn't feel like my
rights have been infringed if guns were banned, but I respect the
opinion of those who feel this way. That said, I have to wonder why
many of these people who believe so much in these basic, fundamental
rights, don't extend this same right to gays and lesbians.
When it comes to relationships, gays
and lesbians want the same things the rest of us want. They want to
meet the right person, fall in love, and get married. Like
heterosexual couples, many of them want children, too. (My husband
and I don't want children, but we recognize that most couples do.)
As an American, I believe people have the right to be with the person
they want to be with and it's no one else's business, but their own.
Our party has not only withheld its support for the rights of gays to
marry, but it actually added support for a ban on gay marriage to the
platform shortly before the 2012 Republican National Convention. I
was very upset by this. It's one thing to avoid the issue, but it's
another thing to take a stance that is so exclusionary. This move
alienated many gay voters. I have gay friends who have told me they
would consider voting for a Republican presidential candidate, but
after the party's stance against gay marriage, they felt they had no
choice, but to vote for Obama.
As a political party, why are we doing
this? Why are we excluding people who want the same things we do?
Why are we excluding people who get up in the morning, go to work,
work hard, and go home to their loved ones at the end of the day?
Why are we excluding people who put their children's needs before
their own? Why are we excluding people who pay taxes? Why are we
excluding people who own homes? Why are Why are we excluding our
friends, neighbors, co-workers, siblings, cousins, children, etc.?
Why are we excluding a man who loves another man and a woman who
loves another woman, yet we're willing to fight tooth and nail for a
piece of machinery that is designed to kill? Why?
Some people believe that it is
unnatural to be in a same-sex relationship. Sure for heterosexual
people it is unnatural, but it's perfectly natural for gay people. I
firmly believe sexual preference is something a person is born with
and it is unfair to deny someone of the basic right to marry, because
the person he or she loves is the same gender. What makes a
heterosexual relationship superior to a homosexual one?I am a family
law attorney, and I promise you, heterosexual relationships are in no
way superior to homosexual ones. I have witnessed a lot of ugliness
between straight couples. A lot of vengeance, pettiness, cruelty,
use of children as pawns, anger, hatred, etc. I'm not saying gay
couples don't resort to these tactics when a relationship ends, but
the point is straight couples are no better than gay couples and vice
versa. The relationships are equal and should be treated equally in
the eyes of the law.
I don't expect the Republican party to
do a complete about-face on this issue, but I hope the party can back
off from the ban on gay marriage and at least have a dialogue. I
didn't always feel the way I do about gay marriage. I used to
believe only in civil unions, but didn't support marriage. As time
went on, I matured and I learned more, then I realized there is no
reason a same-sex union should be called something different from an
opposite-sex union. I believe many in our party feel the same as me
and those who don't can change their opinion on this issue as well.
At this point, I am asking other members of our party for
tolerance...that is all. Let's stop excluding people who probably
share many of the same values as us and let's start including people.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
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me on facebook: Urban Republican
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me on Twitter @TheUrbanGOP
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Happy Birthday, President Reagan!!!
February 6, 2013 marks what would have been Ronald Reagan's 102nd birthday. In honor of his birthday, I'd like us to remember some great things he achieved during his presidency. As much as I adore Ronald Reagan, I promise that my weekly posts will not all be Reagan-centric. This is just a special Happy Birthday post in honor of our 40th president. Here's Reagan's presidency in a nutshell...
1) One month before President Reagan took office in 1981, interest rates were at an all-time high of 21.5%. On the day he was sworn in, they decreased to 20%. By the end of his first year in office, they were reduced to 16.5%. By the time Reagan was sworn in for his second term in 1985, interest rates were down to 10.5%. By May of 1987, interests rates were down to 8%. Anyone who purchased a home between the 1970s and now understand how important it is to have low interest rates. The low rates we enjoy now were unimaginable to home buyers in the 1970s.
2) Reagan reduced taxation from as much as 70% during the Carter administration to 28%. As a result, economic growth was stimulated and tax revenues actually increased from $244 billion in 1980 to $446 billion in 1989.
3) President Reagan played a crucial role in bringing the cold war to an end by building up our nuclear arms, preaching against communism and being a strong, yet fair leader in dealing with Mikhail Gorbachev. Less than a year after President Reagan left office, the Berlin Wall fell. By the end of 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved. Sure, Obama supporters will say that Obama was responsible for killing Osama bin Laden, but anyone who has seen Zero Dark Thirty knows it was the operatives on the ground who dedicated nearly a decade of their lives to the hunt who are responsible for bin Laden's death. Obama was lucky. Reagan was not. It was Reagan's foreign policy that ended the Cold War.
4) In 1986, President Reagan signed the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) into law. This is the law that allows workers, who leave their jobs for whatever reason, to remain insured for a period of time. What a concept, healthcare available to those who want it and are willing to pay for it. It's optional, not mandated like the current healthcare law.
5) President Reagan saved Social Security signing the Social Security Reform Act in 1983. He also mandated states to provide job training programs to low income families to break the poverty trap. President Reagan, like all Republicans, knew that handouts don't get people out of poverty.
6) President Reagan helped curtail frivolous strikes by standing his ground in the Air Traffic Controller strike of 1981. He brought in military air traffic controllers to ensure no interruption of service.
7) As I stated in my first blog, he appointed the first woman and the first Italian American to the United States Supreme Court.
The list goes on an on. I could go on all day talking about what great president and what a great man Ronald Reagan was, but it is time to move forward. The next presidential election is only 1,371 days away. If we have any hopes of our next president being Republican, our party has to come into the 21st century.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Friday, February 1, 2013
The Checklist
The Checklist
Republican. In the days and weeks
since the 2012 presidential election, it sounds like a dirty word.
Republican. Old, white, rich men smoking cigars and cackling as they
plot and scheme to control women's reproductive systems. Republican.
Ignorant religious, born-again Christians who hate homosexuals and
condemn them. Republican. Gun toting ranchers hunting down illegal
immigrants like game as they race across the border. Republican. If
you believe the imagery the mainstream media conjures up, Republican
is synonymous with pariah.
While I am offended by these notions, I
also acknowledge that many people don't know about the other kind of
Republicans. The Republicans like me. I am a Republican. I am an
Urban Republican. I don't fit the description of the “typical”
Republican, as the media would like you to believe. When I first
thought of writing this blog, my intent was to show those on the
outside that we Republicans are not all like this. However, after
the shooting in Newtown and my ongoing debates with fellow
Republicans over guns, I realize I need to remind my fellow
Republicans that we are not all like this.
If there was a checklist, of what makes
a Republican (according to some), it would look something like the column on the left,
below. My feelings on these topics are in the column on the right,
below:
| Republican Characteristics/Beliefs | √ | My characteristics/beliefs |
| Rich | I am far from rich. I'm an attorney, I make decent money, but I'm paying back huge student loans and will be doing so for the next 25 years. | |
| Man | I am a woman (and I'm not a mother, nor do I intend to be.) | |
| White | √ | Yes, I'm white, but I'm half-Italian, quarter Polish, eighth English and eighth German. I'm basically a European mutt. |
| Evangelical Christian | I am Roman Catholic. I don't beat anyone with a bible. I go to church once in a blue moon, but we have confession as an option, which is pretty cool. | |
| Pro-family values | √ | I have nothing against family values, but I have no desire to have children. My husband and my dog are more than enough family for me. |
| Anti-Gay Marriage | This is where the party and I strongly disagree. I am 100% in
favor of gay marriage. Everyone deserves to marry the person he or
she loves as long as that person is a consenting adult. I am also
in favor of adoption, surrogacy and sperm donation for same-sex
couples. Anyone who goes through all that trouble must really
want the child and will take very good care of him/her. Straight
people just have to be careless and a baby comes along.
|
|
| Pro-life/anti-birth control | √ | I'll admit, I am pro-life. I would never have an abortion (despite my desire to never have children), but I also don't think this needs to be a major platform for our party. I agree that the tax payers shouldn't have to pay for abortions. I also feel they shouldn't have to pay for contraception, but I am 100% in support of it's use. I use it. I don't want children. I am 39 years old....you know how many times I've been pregnant? Zero!!! It's amazing what being responsible can do. |
| Pro-Military/War on Terror | √ | I absolutely support our troops and I fully support a strong military and defense spending. We need to do whatever it takes to kee p our country safe. Let us also not forget that many technological advances and gadgets we enjoy today originated in the military. |
| Anti-Immigration | √ | I am against illegal immigration. People need to come here through the proper channels and pay taxes. I do not approve of people sneaking across the border and staying in secret or through loopholes and taking advantage of all the freebies our government gives to people. |
| Small town/rural mentality | I grew up in Staten Island, NY and now I live in the heart of Los Angeles. I am a city girl through and through. I've never been camping, I've never held a gun, I've never milked a cow, etc. | |
| Racist | I am not a racist. Most Republicans aren't either. Remember the 13th Amendment? | |
| Ignorant | I am not ignorant, I consider myself to be very open-minded. | |
| Fiscal Responsibility | √ | I 100% believe in fiscal responsibility. We need low taxes to encourage economic growth and we have to cut spending (like freebies to people taking advantage of the system, free healthcare, etc.) and other government entitlements. |
| Pro-gun | I fully support a ban on assault weapons. I have listened to ridiculous arguments that we need these guns to fight off the government. I hate to break it to you, but if our government really wants to invade your compound in the woods, your AR-15 arsenal isn't going to keep them out. Let's get these guns off the streets so incidents like Newtown, CT and Aurora, CO never happen again. I do agree that people have the right to own handguns for self-defense and hunting rifles (for hunting...nothing else). | |
| Hunters | I've never been hunting, I would never hunt. I love animals. I love my dog more than life itself | |
| Tough on Crime | √ | I fully support laws that are tough on crime, but I also believe that a person is innocent until proven guilty and that the punishment should fit the crime. |
I have been accused of not being a true
Republican, because I'm anti-gun. Since when does every single box
on the checklist have to be checked to be a Republican? So, if I'm
pro small government, low taxes, pro-life, but anti-gun, does that
make me a liberal?
This idea that Republicans have to fit
into this small rigid ideology is ridiculous!!! I was born and
raised in New York and lived in New Jersey for a year and somehow I
stayed Republican. I've even lived in California (the biggest blue
state of them all) for 17 years, working in the entertainment
industry for 8 of those years, and wow...I'm still a Republican. I
attended a large private university in the Northeast and law school
in Los Angeles and wow....I haven't been swayed from my core values.
So, why has the definition and face of our party become so narrow?
Extreme right!!! I'm calling you out.
You may have a stronghold on our party now, but not for long. I am
proud to be an Urban Republican. More importantly, I am proud to be
a Republican. I will not abandon our party and let the extremists do
with it what they will. I know we can do better. We are the party
of Abraham Lincoln. We are the party of Ronald Reagan.
Ronald Reagan believed in hard work and
being rewarded for one's hard work, not being punished with higher
taxes. He believed in small government, low taxes and fiscal
responsibility...all of which contributed to economic growth during
his presidency. He was a member of the NRA, but he supported the
Brady bill. Ronald Reagan believed in strong military and national
defense. “Peace through strength”. Due to his leadership, he
ended the Cold War without firing a single shot. He believed in
equality and an individual's basic rights and freedoms. He
appointed the first woman, the first Italian-American and the second
African-American to the United States Supreme Court. Ronald Reagan
believed in the American dream. Ronald Reagan believed in
America...that “shining city on a hill”, as he often called it.
These core beliefs are what make a true Republican.
Republicans who think more like
me...I'm asking you to join me in bringing our party back to the
issues that are important and stop wasting time on social issues that are
none of our business.
Do you really care if your neighbors
John and Steve are married to each other and receive the same tax
deductions as you do for being married? You shouldn't care, but if
you do, you should care, because you're happy to have such great
neighbors who most likely decorate their home beautifully and make
your neighborhood look a lot better....and they're probably really
nice people, too.
Do you really care if the woman in your
office is taking birth control and had an abortion when she was 22?
Yes, most of us find abortion immoral, but is it really the most
important issue facing us today?
Do you really care if the government
bans assault weapons? Are you really planning on building an arsenal
in case the government decides to hunt down it's own people?
Let's stop focusing on nonsense and get
back to what our party is really about....small government, low
taxes, and fiscal responsibility.
As the great President Reagan once
said, "I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right
will always eventually triumph. And there's purpose and worth to each
and every life."
I truly believe this sentiment about
our nation and our party. We are the party that passed the 13th
Amendment and made every man and woman in this nation free from the
bounds of slavery.
We can be that party again. We will be
that party again.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
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