This may be a long article. I want to take you through the changes in the once Grand Old Party and expose the alterations which have now created a Cartel rather than a political party. Multiple factions have taken control of the Republican Party, and today it has no credence, no values, and has lost the principles of its predecessors.
I begin with what I believe is the most egregious and hypocritical stance by the Republican Party. The subject matter is twofold; its support of the NRA, and its stand against abortion. These two seemingly separate issues are joined by a single belief in hypocrisy.
Human life is sacred, and no true American denies that fact. But the Christian religious right has decided that life begins when two adults consummate, and an egg is inseminated by a sperm. Nowhere in the Bible or any other religious writing is this a truth. This is promoted by men who stand behind a pulpit and denounce consensual sex while denying women the right to make decisions regarding their own bodies.
Over a decade ago, the Christian religious right recognized an opportunity to control one of the two major political parties. Few, if any, of those in the Republican Party truly believe in Christianity, but that is of no concern. All that matters to GOP candidates is receiving votes in elections from a bloc of religious extremists.
So, how does this link to the NRA? It does not, directly, but demonstrates additional hypocrisy within the GOP. The connection is the lives of children, although once they are no longer a fetus, Republicans have no concern.
More than 100 toddlers die or kill someone else with the use of a gun each year in the United States. Although Republicans express great concern for undeveloped fetus,’ neither they nor the Christian religious right express concern for this disastrous statistic.
Negligent parents, relatives, or family friends are guilty of keeping loaded weapons in locations in their homes where small children can easily access them. In most states no punishment occurs when a child injures or kills itself with these lethal weapons, or harms another individual.
If abortion is wrong according to Republicans, why isn’t this important? The answer is simple and upsetting. The NRA donates millions of dollars to Republican politician’s campaigns. Money trumps life once again. Human life is not selective. It is obvious that GOP politicians believe in nothing unless they receive votes or campaign contributions from the source.
Republicans once championed human rights, individual rights and equality under the law. Today their efforts are focused on control of the American people. Their primary tactic is fear.
Their party’s leader is a vile man by the name of Donald Trump. He is not a supporter of democracy; in fact, his ideas and actions mirror fascism. He voices his belief that only some Americans have rights and the freedom to live as they choose.
His rallies are filled with angry and hateful discourse. Dissenters are not allowed to challenge his despicable statements and attacks. He encourages violence as he claims the role of dictator.
As a whole, the Republican Party has moved far away from the ideals of their predecessors. As they moved farther to the right our government became dysfunctional, and democracy became only a memory. Although they were once a party who believed in less government and more personal responsibility, they deny the freedoms necessary to live within those principles. It has created a third world nation where one-percent of our nation’s people control 90 percent of the wealth.
The goal of Republicans is to rebuild our nation into a plutocracy. Emotional warfare has brainwashed the supporters of an entire party. Thanks to the Electoral College your votes may not count. Our unfair system does not guarantee that the presidential candidate who wins the majority of votes will be declared the winner. This situation was demonstrated as recently as 2000. Wealthy Americans own the GOP, and therefore rule our nation.
The Republican Party’s leader, Mr. Trump, has voiced his belief in racism, bigotry, and overall prejudice. His supporters share his philosophy, and therefore offer proof that the entire party shares the worst of America. The Republican Party no longer supports the first or the 14th amendments. It denounces all religions with the exception of Christianity, and seeks a form of slavery for minorities. Its homophobia is based on its orders from the Christian religious right.
Republicans have waged a war on women for far too many years. They believe that women are third class citizens. Votes in Congress continually deny them equal protection under the law, and forbid them control over their own bodies. Priorities for Republicans are men, undeveloped fetus,’ and finally women.
Republicans have become elitists. They consider themselves and their party superior to the people of our nation. Although they have offered us the worst possible candidate in history as the next leader of the free world, they support him for a single reason; the party must win the election at the expense of our nation and its people.
The bottom line is that Republicans no longer represent the United States of America. They believe in party first which will guarantee their owners control over government.
If Ronald Reagan or George H.W. Bush were running for office today, they would be labeled ‘Democrats.’ Our two major parties have moved to the right, but Republicans have become reactionary. It is now the party of extremists and obstructionists.
Yes, there is no doubt that the Republican Party is now a business, a cartel, rather than a party representing all 320 million of the American people.
If tragedy occurs, and Trump wins the general election, the nation founded by our forefathers will cease to exist. A member of the one-percent would be our president, and eliminate entirely our Republican Democracy.
America would move to the bottom on the list of once great nations.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
The Truth With No Restrictions 