I received this in an email:
We are about to make the Mother-of-All-Mistakes, because the Republican Party gave us no reliable alternative. If the conservative movement does not rally behind the only alternative left to us, this country will become a true Socialist State within the next two Presidential terms.
"It's the mostest importantest election ever!" This is the the sort of piss-poor logic that will lead stupid conservatives into voting badly.
First, we are already a socialist state. We have been for quite a while. It's only a matter of insignificant degree now. Second, both Parties are socialist. It's only a matter of insignificant degree. Both Parties desire to grow the government, increase government control (they quibble over what to control, perhaps), and eliminate individual freedom (again, they quibble over the details only).
Third, the Republican Party, much to its chagrin, did indeed give us a reliable alternative, a true conservative: Ron Paul. The stupid voters rejected him. They deserve what's coming now.
Fourth, most conservatives aren't particularly conservative--not in the traditional sense. Conservatism used to stand for small government, individual freedom and individual responsibility, free markets, property rights, etc. So-called conservatives today don't believe in this things. They stupidly turn to government to fix our economic woes (totally missing the fact the government is wholly responsible for these woes), ask Uncle Sam to prevent crime (there's no such thing), and gladly hand over freedom after freedom for the false promise of security and government-led solutions. These so-called conservatives are getting just exactly what they wanted: big government and all the hell that goes with it.
Fifth, this message is again pushing the "lesser of two evils" b.s. If you compromise on principles of absolutism (those principles that cannot be compromised without actively practicing evil), you are supporting evil, no matter how much "lesser" that evil may be.
The Republican Party today--as opposed to what the GOP stood for decades ago--is further left than even the Democratic Party was just 30 years ago. In fact, I dare say the Republican Party is closely approaching the ideals of the Communist Party. There is nothing you own, for example, that cannot be taken away by the government based upon trumped up and even later-dropped charges (e.g., Patriot Act, RICO, etc.). W's Republican Party was responsible for mass arrests of peaceful protesters at their convention some years ago. (They were all released the next day without charges.) This means the assembly clause of the First Amendment is null and void by the GOP's own practices. W's ATF has been actively putting Ma and Pa dealers out of business by lying, stealing, and other kinds of systemic corruption. W's Dept. of Ed. has grown larger and faster than during any other President's term, yet "public" education is more of a joke today than ever before. Many schools teach almost exclusively to the NCLB tests...yet still fail! Medicare added a drug plan--and what a failure that's been!--under W's admonition and promotion. The Constitution isn't even given lip service, let alone obeyed, by W's own admission, relying upon a corrupt Supreme Court to worry about such details. What foolish voter would want a candidate espousing these Party values? Vote Republican, and you're all but assured of more of the same and worse.
I certainly wouldn't suggest that Osama--Ubama--Yomama--Obama--whatever his Muslim name is--isn't worse. He's an even bigger idiot than McCain, to be sure. However, note these words from the same alarmist email:
Most people don't reflect upon the fact that the Democrats ruled Washington for over 40 years; it wasn't until 1994 when the so-called Gingrich Revolution changed - but only for a while.
What event precipitated the Republican takeover of both Houses of Congress in '94? It was the election of an ultra-leftist Democrat, Clinton. If voters are going to use an ends-justifies-means philosophy--contrary to Scripture--then it would seem that turning the heat up on the frog by electing Barracks--Ehud Barak--Barack--whatever his other Muslim name is--would do wonders for the Republican Party again recapturing both Houses. If enough Republicans controlled Congress, the President would be all but irrelevant (i.e., his veto could be overridden at will)--not that the Republicans won't again screw it up by utterly forgetting their small-government roots.
So there we have it: the consequentialist philosophy suggests conservatives should vote Democratic, while the Biblically correct deontological philosophy suggests conservatives should not vote for either of the big two candidates. In other words, there's no philosophical justification for conservatives to vote for McCain, assuming conservatives are truly conservative and not really leftists in conservative's clothing. If this assumption is wrong--I believe it is indeed wrong--then McCain's your man. You pseudo-conservatives will get just exactly what you stupidly desire, and you'll suffer for it. (Of course, those of us who are real and traditional conservatives, desiring less government, believing government is the problem--"libertarian" by today's labels--will unfortunately suffer from your stupidity, too.)
Now what?
I adored Ron Paul and was more than disappointed in how he was treated by the party - and that tool Carl Cameron on the Fox debate. It also appears Bob Barr has squandered an opportunity to bring the Paul folks into the Libertarian Party.
I'm thinking of voting for Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party, especially given Dr. Paul's endorsement of him, but I am a bit concerned with his Baptist background. I want godly people in office but I have problems with "godly" policies being forced on anyone by force of law.
Thoughts?