Republicans - evil or misguided?

[captainjack]

WE have logic backing us up against these new, fundamentalistst, greedy, neoconservatives.

But could it be that the fundamental tenet of conservatism - a small government intruding as litle as possible into people's lives but also doing little to help the social contidion - is a valid and viable option for a nation's governance?

[TexasSissy]

1. Moderates: misguided. Far right: evil.

[Kikosexy2]

3. they're...

both and just plain stupid as well. LOL.

[calico1]

6. I agree. Not all Republicans

are wingnuts who can't wait for the end of the world. A lot of the more Moderate ones just assume that anything good that happens with the economy is because of Republicans and anything bad is because of Democrats. They don't bother doing any research. They just have believed this for so long.

[sui generis]

7. I second that

There's something about extremism and fundamentalism that wants to squash all dissent. What makes it so evil is that you "must be saved" or else you're going to hell.

That attitude also affects their politics - you must be one of us or else you're going to hell.

[XNASA]

2. Neither. I think it's lack of self-esteem.

It's the only thing that would make people act like that.

[neoteric lefty]

10. also a lack of quality education, lack of critical thinking skills, and a

poor background of preserving tradition no matter what. Traditional Republicans are not evil like I hear every once and a while. They have a certain world view and their leaders have fixed thier beliefs to play on that world view in order to gain and preserve power.

[XNASA]

15. Yep. I'd have low self-esteem if I lacked critical thinking skills...

They're mean and defensive and they lack intellectual curiousity.

Hey, not everyone has the benefit of a quality education...but you'd at least think that they would learn a thing or two from their faith, which warns against the very kind of behaviour that most of them exhibit.

[JuniorPlankton]

4. A mix

Some are fooled by the propaganda, others do the fooling.

[FlashHarry]

5. Depends. Tom DeLay is true, blackhearted evil.

But there are those, such as Chuck Hagel, Lincoln Chafee and others, who are merely conservatives. They aren't evil--they're just misguided.

[Magrittes Pipe]

8. I don't know, but they sure do like to hear themselves talk.

:eyes:

[Wat_Tyler]

16. They do go on, don't they?

[liontamer]

9. a little of both

depending on who

[DarkPhenyx]

11. Neither.

and it isn't a lack of self esteem either.

They simply have a different world view that, in general, is neither more or less wrong than yours, mine, or the rock in the garden. There are some people on all sides of the discussion who are evil or misguided, but to say the entire group is that way is flawed, foolish, and ultimately useless.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

12. Some are misguided.

I have a really good friend with whom I have decided to agree to disagree with. She's a great person. Just has no grasp of the facts.
Duckie

[Goldmund]

13. Policy-makers: evil. The followers: clueless.

[texastoast]

14. Out of touch with the Founding Fathers

Many Republicans (moderates included) see any type of charity as "socialist." Charity was a necessary commodity in our nation's early years. It was expected, but often refused due to pride. We as a nation have left that mindset. Many who have more than they need do not want to give, and many who shouldn't will take.

A small government will work when its people (aka corporations) return to correct-thinking values (some would call them morals), rather than monetary worship (i.e., a polluter would never pollute because it was the wrong thing to do, although the cheap way out). That ain't happening for a while.

Our nation was founded on a blend liberalism, conservativism, and populism. Presently, the balance among these three items is MIA.