On Wednesday Gary posted the list “Five Truths that Liberals Hate,” and it proved one of the most popular posts we’ve had in a while. While in total agreement with those ideals, and actually probably the most conservative guy at American Vision, I thought a little Tabasco for the Right was in order as well. So let’s hear it: five truths Republicans hate.
1. Most Republicans are as socialist as the Left. While not as socially liberal as the left—not advocating equality, gay rights, feminism, etc., etc.—Republicans have proven every bit as fiscally liberal with the exception of the last year or so when political convenience has changed their rhetoric. But try to get one to admit that social security and medicare are socialist programs along the lines of Obamacare, and they’ll dance and dodge all day! It was Bush II who created medicare prescription drug coverage at the cost of $550 billion, and only nine Senate republicans opposed.
2. Public schooling is a socialist institution, paid for like a social welfare scheme, where socialist teachers teach socialism to conservatives’ kids. It was designed as an anti-conservative institution and operates openly as an anti-conservative institution. Yet most conservative parents still mock homeschooling and refuse to put their kids in even a private school. Some Christians argue they’re salt and light—”we just need prayer back in schools!” The only prayer any kid should be praying in school is “Mom! Dad! Please! Get me out!”
3. There is no such thing as private property as long as property taxes and the threat of liens exist. Bad-mouthing Obama’s socialism rings hollow until you pressure your state, county, and municipal officials to abolish property taxes. Of course, you’d also have to argue against public schooling as well, for about 75% of property taxes go to pay for public schools.
4. There is nothing inherently or historically conservative about our national standing military. It was a Republican-led effort that ignored everything the American founders wrote about the dangers of standing armies and centralized the state militias into a national army, the outlawed state militias. Shortly after the Militia Act of 1903, in one ten year span before WWI, the military budget rose from $2 million to $53 million—a 2,650% budget increase. The whole program was carried out by Progressives which at that time dominated the Republican Party. These were men whom Republicans generally revere as well, Republicans: William McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, William H. Taft, Elihu Root. Historically, big war has been carried out under progressive Democrats: Wilson got us into WW1, FDR WWII, Truman Korea, and Kennedy/Johnson Vietnam. Progressives love war inherently: it was one aspect that grew directly out of social Darwinism. Conservatives fight when necessary to protect their own land and freedom, except against property taxes, apparently.
5. Republicans were the original spend-and-tax, big-government Progressives, and remain so today. The same Republican men who nationalized the military, in order to fund their progressive ideals, created, promoted, and signed into law the Sixteenth amendment (national income tax) which had the side-effect of rendering the IRS a permanent institution. Taft got the act through Congress in 1909, the last state ratified it in 1913. The intervening presidential election was a contest of three men with the same ideals—Wilson, T. Roosevelt, and Taft—all of whom supported the national income tax. The same Republicans instituted the National Monetary Commission which developed the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, which Wilson also signed into law. In modern times, were it not for Obama, Bush II would reign as the spending and deficit king by quite a margin. The biggest spenders in recent decades were all the Republican presidents, including Reagan. Only Clinton in his first term rivaled them before Obama.
So there you have it. These are five truths that Republicans just have to hate! But thankfully, we have a God-given right to change our minds and become truly conservative. See my God versus Socialism for a look at where the Bible stands on such issues, and how the U.S. already has adopted seven of the ten planks of communism straight from Marx’s Manifesto.
Joel McDurmon, M.Div., Reformed Episcopal Theological Seminary, is the Director of Research for American Vision. He has authored four books and also serves as a lecturer and regular contributor to the American Vision website. He joined American Vision's staff in the June of 2008. Joel and his wife and four sons live in Dallas, Georgia.
One more thing!
Government can employ programs legitimately as long as they are voluntary.
Social Security should be voluntary which Bush tried in vain to implement. Even then, Social Security was a feasible instrument till Government put S.S. funds into the general fund. Then it became a Ponzy Scheem.
Regardless of what label you put on your political leanings, if you were elected to office through the financial power of unions and special interests, and if you bow to those organizations in order to secure your own re-election, you are an Enemy to this country and have betrayed your oath of office! If you refuse to uphold the Constitution and seek to legislate for “social justice,” you are an enemy to freedom! If you are a slave to Political Correctness and bow to the progressive agenda espoused by the vocal and powerful MINORITY, then you are an Enemy to the United States. IT’S TIME TO TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY AND RE-ESTABLISH A NATION UNDER GOD, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE (Individual justice, NOT Social Justice) FOR ALL!
Doesn’t matter Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green or whatever!
If they pursue Progressive, Liberal, Socialist or other ideals that take from the the productive and give it to the unproductive by force of law, they are Communists.
Let’s cut the charade and call a pig, a PIG.
Vote out ALL incumbents. Let’s clean House!
Ronald Reagan was hogtied by a liberal Democrat controlled Congress. In order to get a lot of his tax cuts through, the Dems kept sticking twice as much spending on the same bills. There is a lack of control on both sides, but the difference is that Dems always want to raise taxes and spending. Where Reagan Republicans until W2, did want to control spending and give more in tax cuts. As far as Reagan spending money on the military, he did so, but did give our country the ability to defeat the Russians without firing a shot. His efforts have given the military the best armed force in the world. Whether or not this is a conservative issue is not the question. We had peace when those that mean us harm are afraid to attack us.
As a teacher for over 30 years, I have watched the performance of our students in public school sink to a dismissal level. The students are not taught the basics; therefore they cannot “build” on a solid, educational foundation. Phonics is considered a “dinosaur” even though it has been proven that 95+% of the population CAN learn to read phonetically. Public schools whitewash this issue by claiming to use “whole-language” which amounts to a sorry mixture of phonics and sight vocabulary. Teaching math is another HUGE joke! Students are not required to “learn” their math facts………they are instructed on how to use a calculator. My four children attended a private school for most of their lives, and I taught in that school for mere pennies compared to what I could have made in the public realm. Yet, I do not and never have regretted the fact that they were provided a quality education with Christian influences. Of my four children, one has a masters in accounting and on her way to becoming a CPA, one has a degree in wildlife biology, one is a master electrician, and one is completing her degree in education to become a pre-school SPED teacher. At the moment, I do teach in public school. I see the many faults and failures, but I also see many wonderful teachers who are called of God to teach. They love their students, and their jobs are their ministries.
One thing that stands out to me is the huge failure within the family structure now days–even those students from Christian families. They are not rooted and grounded in the Word. There are no family devotions, no hard and fast rules, no expectations. As a solidified unit, the family isn’t combatting the demonic spirits, humanistic ideas, and the permissiveness that prevails in even the best public schools. Mom and Dad–step up and run interference for your kids!!!!
I am all for doing away with the department of education as it is merely an avenue used by NEA to infiltrate our schools. The evil and power that this organization embodies is unprecedented.
Some of Joel’s points are touched on in the novel “Molon Labe” by Boston T. Party (real name Kenneth W. Royce).
Wow, this guy is way out there. I thought it was supposed to be a listing of “truths” we don’t like. I read nothing that related to the truth of the matter. OK, yeah, we did do a lot to establish a “standing” army – but that certainly was a necessity as we prepared for all out war. This guy is buried, up to his ears, in a liberal ideaology. That’s his right but to spew such stupidity should be outlawed. But, one last point: I’ll have what he’s smoking!”
Your response is exactly what this article is addressing. You don’t want to be told that these things are socialism. You admit these are truths but you obviously don’t like hearing that they go against the free market and are against God’s Word.
In Joel McDurmon's 5th point of Five Truths that Republicans Hate, The statement about the 16th Amendment is not true. The 16th Amendment did not create new taxes and did not change Article one sections two and nine about no direct taxes unless apportioned. It did not create anything. It did correct an error made by the Supreme Court. See all of the Supreme Court rulings on The 16th Amendment. For true and excellent summary of this, go to http://www.lost horizon's.com. Then read "Cracking The Code, The Fascinating Truth about Taxation in America"
I believe that the chaos that has been created by the democratic system of government we currently have proves that eventually we will revert back to some sort of monarchy or dictatorship.
We can't keep going the way we are going now. Eventually the entire GDP won't be able to pay even the interest on our national debt. The only reason we are in such deep financial straits is politicians are desperately trying to buy votes so they and their party can remain in power.
These last 200 or so years will be looked back upon by historians as an interesting experiment. But it will absolutely prove the "T" in TULIP. Man is totally depraved and incapable of self government on a national scale.
We live in a Republic, not a Democracy. Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance and you will see what form of government we have.
Joel, I can't help but feel that you are reaching and grasping for five statements that will raise the ire of Republicans, rather than elaborating on genuine issues that bother them. Not all of your, maybe none, actually reflect the true feelings of Republicans. Of course there are some…I repeat SOME.. things you call socialist are simply necessasry functions of the federal government in helping citizens provide for themselves. Without these government programs we would return to the days of the wild west, or the days when it was one-on-one with neighbor against neighbor, each desperately trying to obtain what he and his family need. But the wholesale socialism that Obama and others are pushing is not what America needs or wants.
dumbbuggydriverfrqtrnola.com – Just base your thoughts,conclusions,and commentts on Benjamin Franklin's reply to a citizen waiting just outside the constitutional convention's door that remarkable summer – that citizen asked " what have you brought forward to us after all this blood we all shed for freedom?" Mr Franklin Simply Replied ; as he got into his carriage ,in order to go home – " A REPUBLIC !!! – IF YOU CAN KEEP IT !!! ". Before you lately come so-called patriots make more public comments and go to your local gun range to compete and contend with U.S. Old hands at this Constitutional stuff – just go home and study some serious detailed real AMERICAN HISTORY first. We can't afford any ignorant would be troopers next to us on the firing lines that will successfully defend our American cunstitutional librertys. You'll be too easily turned to a compromise of our FREEDOM – That is and will be Treason – with a traitor's punishment being meted out to you -Think your Allegience to Te U.S.Constitution through completely. – When you are certain whats right and true – then come ahead. Join U.S. – and be free
What a tax relief it would be to eliminate the public schools! Along with them would go the schools of education at
nearly every college and university, as well as the Departments of Education at both federal and state levels. The degree of indoctrination is far greater than most would believe. It revolves around issues such as self esteem, multi-culturalism, moral equivalence, environmentalism/climate change, and apologies for being American. There is not time to teach the basics, and Heaven forbid that we should teach kids how to think.
Interesting . Newt Gingrich fits in here someplace .. says Republicans should offer "alternatives" .. haven't guite figured out from whence he comes – he being more clear in '94 revolution' than today. Most Americans 'mainstream' Democrats at one time – 'till party 'got stupid' .. which describes us today. "We the People" should .. pause .. re-assess, before advancing ..
Dear friends, We need to find candidates who will work to eliminate the income tax and replace it with a national fair tax. The real debate is how much it should be. I think Neal Boortz says something like 23 percent, if I am not mistaken. That seems to high to me, but I may be wrong. Anyway, taxes will continue, that much is certain. Scott Harrington
Both party is a anti American party. Back to our constitution with the Constitution Party,. Any other way is lead us in to socialism. And that is no good.