I had an Epiphany about why Republicans are the way they are

[rpgamerd00d]

Most of us think about the myriad of differences between Democrats and Republicans, Liberals and Conservatives. Whether it be financial strategy, or civil rights, or national agenda, or foreign policy, we tend to dwell on all the differences in an individual manner.

But I had an epiphany.

There is one, over-riding, fundamental, and dare I say even logical difference between "us" and "them".

Democrats see the world, see all the problems and issues, and think "We need to fix it all and make the world better." In other words, we are idealistic, and fight to change things for the better no matter how hard, or even impossible, it may be. Democrats think about more than just themselves.

Republicans see the same world, and say "Hmm, ok, this is the world I need to live in, let me work according to the existing system, no matter how bad it is." In other words, they simply believe that they can't change anything and decide to work within the bad system, thus becoming part of the problem. Republicans only think about themselves.

The flaw in the Republican way of thinking, is that they create a self-fulfilling prophecy. The system cannot be fixed because the Republicans decide its unfixible and act illegally and immorally to take advantage of the system, which in turn makes the system bad in the first place.

Sorry if this seemed obvious to anyone, but for those of us that are "new" to the political arena, this needed to be said.

[400Years]

1. Very Naive IMHO

They rig the system in their favor on a daily basis.

They don't say "hey I just deal with a corrupt system" instead they
say "how can I rig the system in my favor?"

[rpgamerd00d]

2. Right, I sorta said that, just not directly.

[400Years]

3. of course I am referring to the "movers and shakers" not the

rank and file types who have no clue as to what their leaders are really doing.

[ThomWV]

4. Quit That! Never Stick A Pin An An Ephipnatic Bubble

Let the good person think. The correct assumptions and flaws will occur to the writer after a while and his thinking will mature. We don't need to be heavy handed in our criticism.

All Epiphany's have their own evolutionary path to follow, you and I can not dictate one.

[400Years]

7. Yeah, I didn't mean to sound heavy handed

but it came across that way, I guess.

[Bluerthanblue]

18. aka "control freaks"

.

[SmokingJacket]

5. That might be part of it...

but I don't think most Republicans care about *others* -- they're looking out for number one, and people who are just like themselves.

I think it comes down to lack of imagination and empathy. When I see a person in poverty or suffering, I can imagine being in that situation. My republican relatives can't -- they just think, Well, *I* ain't poor, so they must have screwed up somehow.

[lukasahero]

6. True and this relates to the OP's epiphany

The emphasis was just put in the wrong place. Yes, repuglicans think "I can work with that system" but the emphasis is "I can work with that system". Lack of empathy leads to lack of care and concern for others.

[SmokingJacket]

12. That's true -- they accept the system as long as it's working for THEM.nt

[mzteris]

8. exactly.

I hear it over and over. I'm looking out for #1. My "family" comes first. "Those" people are just lazy. If they wanted it bad enough they'd work for it. Everybody has the opportunity to succeed. It's not MY fault "they" don't have ______________, it's their own fault. Pull yourself up by your bootstrap. *I'm* a self-made man. (yeah, right. They went to private or the "good" public school. Went to expensive college on entitlement scholarship 'cause that's where daddy went. Got hired by dad's golfing buddy. Got promoted 'cause you remind the boss of himself when he was your age. Got that fancy house/car/boat 'cause you married well - that girl you met at the Country club.)

[Bluerthanblue]

19. back yet again to

the desire to control the uncontrolable.
How many people in this country are one paycheck away from homelessness? One illness away from bancrupcy? One breath away from death? One mis-step away from being paralized for life, or murdered, or diagnosed with cancer, or a car accident, or any of lifes less 'comfortable' or 'pleasant' or 'positive' realities?
And while we can attempt to minimize our 'risk'- we can and will NEVER be able to control 'fate'- not even with "God" or money, or guns or being the dictator of the world- 'trouble WILL find us' as Dave Bromberg sang- "Don't go looking for trouble, trouble will find you, deaf, dumb and blind you.. let me remind you... there's trouble in your own backyard".

"Accept the things that I cannot control.." that is something learned most profoundly by painful, experience trying to prove it is not something we will all need to do.

Blame the victim, then it doesn't 'hurt you' where your compassionate self lives.- avoid pain at all costs. Even when that avoidance adds to the pain of the victim, which, one day WILL be you.

I'm learning, and it hurts. Like hell.

[newportdadde]

9. I think it all comes down to Empathy.

I'm not talking about your moderate middle who goes back and forth between parties but the core left. Its been my experience that these people have a very hard time with Empathy.

They might be able to do it if it happens to a very close family member or perhaps friend but thats about as far as it can go. They just cannot put themselves in that other persons shoes, even for a second.

[converted_democrat]

10. As a former puke myself..You hit the nail on the head...

On of the biggest reason I am a Dem today is because I snapped, and decided that this mess has to be fixed.. You are completely right though..They figure out how to work within a corrupt system, never seeking to change it.. Which just exacerbates the problem.

The other problem that runs rampant in the party is that they hold party loyalty over loyalty to the country..Which is a bigger problem than it "appears" to be from the outside. One of the biggest catch phrases I can remember from my youth that illustrates this problem is- "I'd vote against Jesus Christ himself, if he was running on the Demorat ticket." This basically gives the pukes the power to do whatever they want, because they know they are still going to get the votes.

From a very young age you are taught to work "within" the system, or you wind up in jail. So, they stifle dissent from the cradle, and they make people feel that the only power they have is working within the corrupt system. You are taught to never make waves, or drawing attention to unpopular party views..So you aren't "left behind" by the herd.. It's an Us vs. Them mentality. You either tow the line, and keep your mouth shut or you become a "them."

[Jade Fox]

14. Interesting info. Thanks...n/t

[Ready4Change]

11. I see it differently.

I see Democrats actions as saying "What is good for the world is good for me," while I see Republicans actions as saying "What is good for me is good for the world."

In other words, Dems believe in the Trickle-Up theory, and Repubs believe in Trickle-Down. And neither thinks the opposing theory will "reach them."

Personally, I don't whole-heartedly believe in either. I think the sweet spot is somewhere in the middle, not at either of the extremes.

What is frustrating to me is that Republicans seem blinded to the failures of the various flavors of extreme Trickle-Down economics put in place by Reagan, Bush1 and Bush2. Clear, resounding, measurable, repeated failures. They are also blind to how well the economy responded to the relatively moderate economic policies put in place by Clinton. You'd think they'd look at the riches created during the 90's, as opposed by the doldrums we had in the 80's and today, and a little light bulb would appear over their heads?

I see no light bulbs.

[Jade Fox]

13. That's why they accept corruption....

Republicans convince themselves that corruption is just the way it is, so they go along with the program, and then seem confused when they are made to answer for their own corrupt behavior.

I've often thought of this difference that you have written about. Whenever I hear someone say, about politics or anything else, that we should be "realistic", I point out that the world has never been changed by those who were being realistic.

If you haven't read this, you may find it interesting:

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/07/22_politics.shtml

[rpgamerd00d]

15. Cool article

Explains a lot.

[earth mom]

16. The rethug lack of empathy....reeks of sociopathy. eom

[Bluerthanblue]

17. Well written, and thought out, but

I see this abit differently than you- As a former 'one of those we will not speak of' I believe, and witnessed the opposing perspectives as one of control, and denial- versus acceptance and empathy.

I believe that democrats (on the whole) face reality- head on-. We don't pretend that 'the economy is looking up' when it's tanking, we don't tell people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, when they don't even have feet, never mind boots. And we are not willing to walk around in our designer shoes, with another 2,000 pair in the closet, pretending that those who go shoe-less either don't exist, or deserve their plight.

Republicans, - particularly 'right-wing' fundie folks, are people who are desperately afraid of life, with all its unpredictable, unfair, and frightening twists and turns. Especially death- which is why, the desire to control everything possible- abortion, recreational drugs, lifestyles, other nations is so important to them- And when you are afraid of something, and see others suffering, it brings home the reality that bad things DO happen to people who do nothing to deserve what is happening, so like 'Job's comforters' (sorry for the biblical reference) they seek ways to make the victims of LIFE as responsible for their 'fate'- and in this way, they don't have to feel the discomfort, rage, and pain that goes along empathetic suffering, and allows them to delude themselves into thinking that by placing BLAME where chance, or dumb luck actually lives, they can 'stay safe'.

I see Dem's, as far more realistic- and at the same time idealistic- Acknowledging that life does suck sometimes, and that being 'good'(by whatever measure one chooses to use) isn't protection from bad times, or death. That suffering, death, illness, loss and sorrow come to anyone at any time. But that there ARE things within our control that can help people live lives as fully, contentedly, and completely as possible- even if that means 'less gluttony' for some, that there will be 'enough' for everyone, and more than enough for many while no one going without. Dem's seem to 'hold onto' life, and 'things' (especially money) with a much looser grip, trusting that the less you obsess and hoard, the more abundant everything will be for everyone. I realize i'm painting this very rosily, but that is why I choose the democratic perspective, over the republican one.

Dem's recognize the connection we as human beings have with each other, the world and all life- far more clearly than repubs. (speaking in a very LARGE generality here). We know we will die, we know that hunger kills, so we try and help lessen hunger for everyone. Health care, basic shelter, a living wage, general safety, etc, are things that EVERYONE should be endowed with, because when people have the 'basics' then the need to kill, steal, hoard, fight, and hate are not so prevalent. Will that 'cure' society? I sincerely doubt it- humans are imperfect, but it WILL improve the life of ALL, in the long run- Will we escape death, illness, accident etc? No, but at least the burden of coping with the 'bad' will not be added to the desperate struggle to just make ends meet.

Dem's see the REAL WORLD and say "how can we as citizens of this planet, live lives that offer everyone a chance at as full, and content a life as possible?"

Repubs see the scary parts of life, refuse to accept that 'we' cannot protect ourselves individually from 'chance, suffering, loss, poverty, illness and death' and get lost trying to find the control buttons- refusing to believe that 'humans' are NOT in 'control' or to put it bluntly the "Gods" of this planet, and all that exists.- So they (and i WAS one who believed this, i'm ashamed to say) control everything they possibly can, and seek solace in that.

Very judgmental view, i'll admit, and very generalized, but it was my epiphany, and what helped move me back to the place that was right, but which i had left, out of fear- and a desire to control the uncontrollable.
correct is left- and right wing is wrong, in my experience, and opinion.

sorry to be so verbose yet again.

peace,
blu

[lyonn]

20. I think many repubs think they are working hard and praying

hard and that is all it takes to make their life better. They are the "pull yourself up by your own boot straps" type that also pray and think their way or the highway is the issue. Arrogance, ignorance, lack of an depth of thought, holds them to bush's Simple Answer to everything. Taxes come into this equation, also, they can not comprehend that you might need to help that person that may have a bad hand dealt to them, or made a mistake. They equate things as either a loser or winner situation. Lordy, we all know those losers and their is no help for them but we know those that a little help would make all the difference. For instance, affordable health insurance/care that is not the responsibility of the corporation but something in the area of universal care. It is costing All of us for the unpaid medical of those that don't have it. You pay one way or the other, but, why should someone suffer from lack of care in this country. Repubs only see it as it not being their responsibility.
They don't understand the taxes now or later analogy; we get a real program for health care where the cost is spread around without drug co. getting perks, energy gets perks, insurance, corps. going out of country to evade taxes, it goes on!