Now that the election is over:

[PrincessFiona]

Questions for Dems and Republicans

For the Republicans? How does the party justify voting against abortion in all cases but then also not want to pay for welfare/special education/healthcare programs etc?
Why does the party continue to cling to the abortion meme when it is a done deal. It will never change. Why care so much about whether a man who fight for this country is gay? If you are a physician spouse, how do you feel about the idea that healthcare is out-of-reach for many hardworking americans?

For the Democrats: How does the party justify increasing the debt substantially to provide more and more services for others and then trying to increase taxes on those who have more to pay for those who have less? If you are a physician spouse, are you afraid that the new healthcare bill will threaten your financial bottom line? Do you have concerns about this?


No fighting!

[SoonerTexan]

I guess I'm not really a rank and file Republican, so I don't know if I truly truly count. I don't identify with 60-70% of the Republican agenda.

How does the party justify voting against abortion in all cases but then also not want to pay for welfare/special education/healthcare programs etc?

Very badly. I think it is wrong.

Why does the party continue to cling to the abortion meme when it is a done deal. It will never change

.

1. The Principle of it. Just because something will never change does not mean it is okay to stop fighting for it to change.
2. Overturn Roe v. Wade? I agree it is unlikely to happen. But if abortion=taking a life, then any limits to abortion=lives saved. Also, I think there is an idea that once an idea or right is widely accepted, it is more than a law, but somehow becomes morally right. For example, 100 years ago you would find many people actively arguing for something like racism or discrimination as if it were morally acceptable. Now the argument is over whether or not racism or discrimination exists, not whether it is morally right. People against abortion don't want it to fade away into something that is automatically assumed to be morally by all. Visibly protesting is honestly the best way we can show that we still believe it is wrong. That wasn't very eloquently stated, but the best I can do.

Why care so much about whether a man who fight for this country is gay?

I have no freakin' clue

If you are a physician spouse, how do you feel about the idea that healthcare is out-of-reach for many hardworking americans?

It bothers me. I guess I do understand and somewhat back the Republican idea that if we cant afford it, getting us into debt is going to screw us all over a la Greece eventually, which I think is tied to the criticism of the Republican party and their shortsightedness in hating abortion but not being willing to support the mom. I see both sides, but err on the side of life being > money.

As far as the health care law, there are some aspects that I think are good, and some that I do not.

[moonlight]

No Fighting!?? With those questions you've got to be kidding!! haha!

[Michele]

I'm registered as a Democrat, but I'm not particularly well versed in politics and all of the nuances...so my answers aren't well researched.

I think I tend toward socialism. As I was trying to explain it to Daegan this was the analogy I came up with. Everyone is part of a family. In a family everyone contributes toward the common good of the entire family. We expect people to help with dishes after a meal, sort laundry, clean up after themselves. But not everyone is able to contribute evenly...babies are mostly takers as are old people...so the burden often falls on the young/healthy/strong....we contribute because when we were babies, we were takers and when we become old we will be takers as well.

I don't necessarily agree with going into debt for all of this. I don't have a good solution because I'm not well read on the issues.

But it's why I'm ok with abortion. Adding extra takers that aren't necessarily wanted isn't beneficial. I'm also ok with euthanasia/suicide.

There are always people who take advantage of others. I can't control them, but I can control how I react to them.

This is all my ideal-in my head- kinda thoughts. I realize that true socialism doesn't work IRL...and I get jaded with all the takers. More often than I wish I did. . But I wish we would all think of the hive before ourselves a little more.

[MsSassyBaskets]

How does the party justify increasing the debt substantially to provide more and more services for others and then trying to increase taxes on those who have more to pay for those who have less?

A) We all do better when we all do better. A rising tide lifts all boats. Etc. Etc. Like Michele, I tend toward socialism. Buoying the lower socioeconomic classes with social services, health care and education will reap rewards in the form of greater participation in the economy and other societal progress years down the road.
B) Also, we don't necessarily have to go into greater debt. I don't fully believe in funding all social services the way we do now -- I think we need some significant reform and improvement of efficiencies. However, I don't think that cutting all those services that are functioning inefficiently is the way to initiate reform.
C) Like I said in the other thread, my right to the tax rate I want does not trump your right to life (through healthcare and other social services that extend life and improve its quality).

If you are a physician spouse, are you afraid that the new healthcare bill will threaten your financial bottom line? Do you have concerns about this?
We absolutely don't worry about this. DH decided to go into medicine in part because it is a service profession. We don't believe that healthcare should be a moneymaking industry. We are privileged and fortunate, and we are grateful for what we have. However, I also don't believe that education should be a moneymaking industry. It's unfortunate that we have to pay so much for an education to go into a profession that should serve everyone. We will be happy if we can pay off the student loans and live a comfortable life with a feeling of financial stability. And I don't define comfort as expensive cars, large houses, etc. I mean the same urban middle-class existence we already have.

[SuzySunshine]

I don't really align myself with either party right now, I voted for both yesterday and have for years.

I do see that we pay more taxes, fine, we make more money but the issue I have is the people who are on aid that NEVER get off of it. I don't mind helping those that are down on their luck or helping those get on their feet in the first place. Its the people that get on welfare or unemployment or whatever and NEVER get off that I have an issue with. We are a democracy, we help each other, we work together, we are NOT a free ride.

How the parties do any of that other stuff, I have NO idea and I don't think anyone else does either which is why everything is such a colossal mess!

[GrayMatterWife]

Questions for Dems and Republicans

For the Republicans? How does the party justify voting against abortion in all cases but then also not want to pay for welfare/special education/healthcare programs etc?
Why does the party continue to cling to the abortion meme when it is a done deal. It will never change. Why care so much about whether a man who fight for this country is gay? If you are a physician spouse, how do you feel about the idea that healthcare is out-of-reach for many hardworking americans?

1. Who said that Republicans so not want to pay for any welfare, special ed, or healthcare programs? That's a misstatement of the Republican position. I suggest that the question doesn't really deserve to be engaged, because doing so would require adopting the premise. Just because I don't want to pay for other people's abortions or make it federal law to require Catholic institutions to provide artificial contraception doesn't mean: (1) I don't think welfare is important or appropriate; (2) special education shouldn't be funded (I'm pretty sure that Sarah Palin is loud voice on this advocacy issue; and (3) I don't think that healthcare assistance to the poor and needy is not appropriate and necessary. To the opposite--Republicans believe that ALL these charitable efforts are important. We just don't think that they should be dictated by the federal government because the federal government is the least responsive and most wasteful. The perception that we are money-hungry, cheap and uncharitable is media-mongering.

2. Some members of the Republican party "cling" (as you put it--or "adhere," which is less judgmental) to the "abortion meme" (or "pro-life position") because it matters to them. They believe that abortion is murder of an innocent child and thus worthy of fighting against. Despite the view that "it will never change," they believe that it is a fight worth making. Just like some people believe that poverty, injustice, child porn, etc. are morally detestable and worthy of fighting against. It is simply that, in this culture, abortion is not widely viewed as morally detestable--and, moreover, people who hold the view that abortion is bad are perceived to be advocates of gender injustice and backward thinking. It should be noted that not all Republicans view abortion this way and not all Democrats are pro-choice.

3. Who cares so much about whether a servicemember is gay? That certainly was not an issue that either Presidential candidate raised. DADT was always a dishonest and intellectually unsustainable idea. I don't know any major Republican candidate that even suggested that this is an issue anyone cares about.

4. I think is it terrible that healthcare is out of reach of some people. There seems to be the suggestion that, because I am a Republican, that I do NOT care. That has no basis. Republicans want to FIX healthcare costs in real ways--they would like to allow for interstate plan purchasing, for example, and to allow great charitable deductions. It was not the Republicans that negatively limited the health spending accounts that will end up hurting lots of low-to-middle income Americans through ObamaCare. We just don't want the federal government, through a TAXING system, to control healthcare access and decisions.

These questions assumed some pretty base and unfounded stereotypes of Republicans. We are charitable people who love our fellow Americans and want to make this a better country with more freedom and respect for everyone. We just have a different understanding of how to best effect that. But don't mistake our difference of opinion for indifference to others.

[diggitydot]

I'm registered as a Democrat, but I'm not particularly well versed in politics and all of the nuances...so my answers aren't well researched.

I think I tend toward socialism. As I was trying to explain it to Daegan this was the analogy I came up with. Everyone is part of a family. In a family everyone contributes toward the common good of the entire family. We expect people to help with dishes after a meal, sort laundry, clean up after themselves. But not everyone is able to contribute evenly...babies are mostly takers as are old people...so the burden often falls on the young/healthy/strong....we contribute because when we were babies, we were takers and when we become old we will be takers as well.

That's not socialism; that's just part of living in a civilized society.

[PrincessFiona]

Socialism positions in countrs physician salaries in these countries are abysmal is that something you can accept after all of these years of medical school and training? Also how do socialists justify taking money to put into social programs for those who do not earn as much? Should I do cations and innovation be rewarded financially if not how how should people be rewarded for innovation education and hard work? Fyi I used to post as the commymommy.

I realize I am really grappling with my political views this is why I am asking

[PrincessFiona]

I disagree Abigail. Also the gay marriage issue was a major major major Republic an issue in Minnesota this year

[ladymoreta]

I'm also not on board with either party. I ended up voting mostly libertarian yesterday.

At this point, I'm so scared of our national economy going the way of the subprime mortgage fiasco that I can't bring myself to care about the issues that once concerned me, like abortion, equal rights, and health care reform. Not that those things aren't important, but it's all moot if our economy collapses. I'm trying not to be the crazy "the end is near" lady, but we can't mathematically continue even just the Social Security pyramid scheme for many more years, not to mention maintaining a military, roads, and education. It just seems like all the rest is smoke and mirrors to distract us from the coming crisis because no one wants to deal with it.

[diggitydot]

We just don't think that they should be dictated by the federal government because the federal government is the least responsive and most wasteful.

I find this interesting. I look at FEMA's responses and Medicare's 3% overhead costs and think that the federal government can DEFINITELY be the most responsive and least wasteful in some aspects. Not all, certainly -- but more than none.

We just don't want the federal government, through a TAXING system, to control healthcare access and decisions.

Can you expand on this? What do you mean?

[PrincessFiona]

I know Laurie. politics feels like it has become so divide decided that we can't talk to each other anymor

[GrayMatterWife]

I disagree Abigail. Also the gay marriage issue was a major major major Republic an issue in Minnesota this year

OK. I don't live in Minnesota. Never hit the national news. Was it because of Bachman? Her positions on that issue certainly aren't mainstream Republican. Any more so than extremist Democrats (think of that idiot from Florida who said that Republicans want you to "die quickly").

It wasn't an issue here in GA, and it is an issue that would probably play well to ignorant Reps AND Dems in some of this state.

Romney didn't mention it. Ryan didn't. It didn't not come up at the National Convention. There is no plank in the platform to "go back" to DADT and I don't know of any major Republican candidate who wants that.

[PrincessFiona]

I want to agree with you Wendy and then I look at how little Medicare is paying. I worry about what things will look like when we get older if there is no money to support educated healthcare providers and innovation I also worry as the south of a position how that will impact our financial health