Peace, Love and the G.O.P

NOT funny...not NICE!!!

Since we're one week into the new year I thought it was time for me to get a little political. You may or may not agree with me, but I think many people are a little disillusioned with our current President's first year in office. He has focused so intently on his health care agenda that he has let so many other things, including the economy and national security fall by the wayside. Yeah, yeah, I know, "he inherited a big mess." Yes, he did, but it's his job to try to fix it. You can't play the blame game forever.

It seems like the political tide is shifting slowly but surely, and many people are rethinking their political views. I am a perfect example. For the past couple of years I have been leaning very strongly towards a Libertarian political philosophy. I believed in as little national government intervention in our lives as possible, with the exception of defense.

Because of all the uproar during the last election, as well as a result of the banking crisis and incidents with terrorist attacks on American lives, I no longer have such an extreme belief that the government should play a hands off role in our lives. I think my previous philosophy was a bit naive.

A fellow blogger drew my attention to this article from The Wall Street Journal....it describes the "Republican stereotype" which labels members of the Republican party as people who "use homophobic language, express thinly disguised contempt toward immigrants, or ridicule heartfelt concerns for the environment, they affront the values of the educated class."

The article goes on to describe a group of voter's that he calls "Whole Foods Republicans." This article resonated with me, because in so many ways it describes me, my husband and many of my friends. (Although I have to admit, my husband does NOT ride his bike to his job, 40 miles away...even though I think he's like to!)

"—independent-minded voters who embrace a progressive lifestyle but not progressive politics. These highly-educated individuals appreciate diversity and would never tell racist or homophobic jokes; they like living in walkable urban environments; they believe in environmental stewardship, community service and a spirit of inclusion. And yes, many shop at Whole Foods, which has become a symbol of progressive affluence but is also a good example of the free enterprise system at work. (Not to mention that its founder is a well-known libertarian who took to these pages to excoriate ObamaCare as inimical to market principles.) What makes these voters potential Republicans is that, lifestyle choices aside, they view big government with great suspicion. There's no law that someone who enjoys organic food, rides his bike to work, or wants a diverse school for his kids must also believe that the federal government should take over the health-care system or waste money on thousands of social programs with no evidence of effectiveness. Nor do highly educated people have to agree that a strong national defense is harmful to the cause of peace and international cooperation.

Bottom line is, yes, we are Republicans, but just because we don't want the government to have it's hand in every aspect of our lives, does NOT mean we are homophobic, racist, or heartless.

If you want an interesting read, head on over and read the article in it's entirety, and tell me what you think...