The Tax Day Tea Party protests were more significant to American political culture than I originally thought. I wrote off the ridiculously costumed crowd as angry huddles of eccentric fringe conservatives, but it turns out that the Tea Party Protest represented a larger, more serious political problem.
The political spectrum is becoming increasingly polarized due to an interesting shift in American culture. Throughout the Clinton and Bush Eras, the major concerns of Americans were the social policies of our politicians. Politicians’ stances on the elimination of abortion in society determined, in many cases, whether a politician was warmly received by the public.
In the 1980s there was a marriage between Christians and Republican politicians. Since then, Republicans have greatly benefited from the service of Christians. In exchange for touting “societal morals,” Christians dutifully came to the voting booths in droves to support Republican politicians. To a large extent, these Christian Republicans are the reason behind the Republican reign in the 1990s.
More recently, Christians like myself have come to the conclusion that it is difficult for followers of Christ to support the ideas of either political party entirely. A Christian can’t, with a clear conscience, advocate on behalf of abortion rights, but in the same way no Christian should ever support policies that marginalize the poor. Thomas Merton once wrote, “We must never overlook the fact that the message of the Bible is above all a message preached to the poor, the burdened, the oppressed, the underprivileged.” Our God is the God of the poor, foremost.
Since President Obama has been in office, political debate has focused on government fiscal policies. It’s a welcome shift. But where once social concerns like abortion polarized America, the fiscal policies are just as divisive. Democrats believe that the stimulus package and programs supporting the poor are necessary, while the majority of Republicans believe that these liberal fiscal policies are ruining America.
What I find interesting is that President Obama’s stimulus package is not based on socialist or even liberal ideas; it’s based on Keynesianism. The basic idea of Keynesian theory is that the government should save money when the economy is strong, and the government should spend money to stimulate the economy when the economy is weak. Nevertheless, the majority of Republicans ignorantly label everyone who supports the stimulus package efforts as Socialists, and so did the Tea Partiers.
The thousands of Tea Partiers who came out to protest in hundreds of cities across the United States — and those who think like them — are the only Republicans left. That’s why Arlen Specter had to leave the Republican Party Tuesday. He said, “Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats.”
The fact that so many people shifted to the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania made it difficult for a moderate Republican politician like Specter to have a chance in Republican primary. The tea-sipping Republicans won’t vote for center-right politicians who might be useful to balance out the ideas coming from the Democratic Party.
The massive change in Pennsylvanian voter registration reveals a larger ideological shift in America as well. According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released April 24, only 21 percent of Americans polled consider themselves Republicans. This is the moment in American history of the Obama Big Tent.
As Republicans have become more extreme in their political tactics and rigid ideology, the American public has shifted closer to the center. Those remaining in the Republican party are the fringe conservatives who will only re-elect those Republicans who support their rigidly conservative ideology. People like Arlen Specter, who agree with some Democratic policies and some Republican policies — like myself and the vast majority of the American people — have no place in the Republican Party.
Sen. Olympia Snowe, a Republican moderate like Sen. Specter, said Tuesday, “On the national level of the Republican Party, we haven’t certainly heard warm, encouraging words about how they view moderates, either you are with us or against us.”
The New York Times goes on to report that “She said national Republican leaders were not grasping that ‘political diversity makes a party stronger and ultimately we are heading to having the smallest political tent in history for any political party the way things are unfolding.’”
My political leanings, and the 200,000 Democratic converts in Pennsylvania, rest in the openness of the Democratic ideology. I know that I can be a Democrat while retaining some conservative ideas. The emerging Republican Party is all or nothing, and as a result we should expect more moderate Republican politicians and free thinkers to begin changing the letter after their names too — to the detriment of our public discourse and evenness of the political debate, I am sad to say.
Stephanie England is an English junior and Mustang Daily political columnist.
Stephine, you have said some pretty bad things since I have been reading your articles along with Colin’s. But this one would have to take the cake. Republicans don’t care about the poor? Wow. The statement should read “Republicans don’t want to use the government to care for the poor.” Christian Republicans like myself use charitable organizations to give to the poor and also volunteer our time at soup kitchens and other programs designed to help the poor. We give what we can willingly (something the average liberal can’t understand) and don’t NEED the government to help the poor. If you really were a Christian, you would have realized this instead of saying it just to try and get a failed point across. Very poor.
Ah William, you are the reason Christianity has such a bad rap in America. You have politicized the Cross. What exactly does it require for one to become a Christian in William’s America? Be and think like a Republican. What a horrid spokesmmen you are for Christianity William! And your little rant about how much you give is your reward in full. Pat yourself on the back and don’t complain when rewards are handed out in heaven William. Your mouth gave you your reward in full in public view lol! Everyone tell William how good he is!
Stephanie is not your enemy William so you should at least get her name right. And you should at least read her article. I don’t see where she attacked your generosity for the poor? But I will. Republicans hate the poor and their past actions when they controlled Congress under Bush Jr proved it! Your enemy William is your insane Republican ideology of trickle down economics, your hatred of welfare for the poor, your abhorence of any regulation in the market place (EXCEPT FOR PEOPLE ON WELFARE!), your complete aggrandizemnt of everything Republican and sadly last of all devoid of the ability to see any value in another point of view, and that maybe William, just maybe you are wrong.
I know you are wrong on your Christian views. Your attacking Stephanie’s Christianity because she had the gall to speak truth to your hypocricy is proof! And don’t go to William to tell you how to get saved CalPoly! You will have to sign a Republican registration form to be entered into his church; The Church of the Cold Heart. And just for your information William, what you call socialism they called Christianity in Acts 2:42-47. And you might want to pay close attention to verse 45. And how about Acts 4:32 How do those two verses fit into your rigid Republican ideology William? Republicans say ad nauseam America is a Christian nation but the Republicans preach something totally opposite of what the bible says and that makes you by deffinition anti Christian doesn’t it Republican? The very thing Republicans disparage Democrats for is found in the early Church! lol. Wllliam you best be running from your church, the devils in the pulpit!
Ahh, Jason the Troll. Dedicated to always agreeing with Ms. England no matter what the issue. Dedicated to the polarized left. Where did I say I wanted no regulation of the free market? Just because I align with the Republican party does NOT mean I agree with all the ideas. You put words in my mouth. As for welfare, it is a good idea in theory. But since there are many people who take advantage of the system, the REAL poor suffer from getting less aid.
Plus, your savior Obama voted with Bushes policies a good percent of the time.
Let’s us all listen to Jason folks. He preaches that the government will help you with aid. What he neglects to mention is that the money to do so has to come from somewhere. Namely, the people. What the heck do you think taxes are for? Everything is then redistributed and no one will get ahead… until the government realizes that they have the people by the balls and seek dictatorship. When they have control of every aspect of your lives, you will cry and complain but it will be too late. One only needs to read 1984, the government controls all aspects of life and the people worship Big Brother. Perfect example of what happens when government grows out of control.
William! Is there nothing genuine about a Republican? God Bless you William.
“Everything is then redistributed and no one will get ahead”
Oh poor Robert. The governement is the reason Robert won’t get ahead. I’m sorry Robert. Try harder.
Are the Democrats really more tolerant of moderates who disagree with big chunks of the party’s issues? If I remember correctly, a man by the name Joe Lieberman left the Democrats after being defeated in the 2006 primaries. He ran as as a 3rd party and won reelection. I really fail to see how this much different from what happened with Arlen Specter.
Might an old Californian escaped to Washington chime in here?
For those here who need to know united States history, BTW, NOT found in any of today’s education, which is by law, a political orientation, and false sexual orientation breeding tool, the founders of our once honest nation told us that a two party political system was to be feared more than any other weapon of mass destruction of any democracy.
Your amusing frustrations about fractions of opinions, shown clearly in this un-educated argument about a “Bible” none of you have studied in its original, pristine, permanently-maintained form – two known editions exist – on the grounds of its assumed political applications, border on the silly, just as those fathers of our nation stated it would, for it ignores the stupendous ignorance found in arguing petty issues when a national disaster is about to strike, such as the impending elimination of our Constitution, in favor of a One World Order mandate, whereby We the Sheeple will lose 110% of our once-enjoyed freedom of speech, right to life for all, including unborn citizens, and our freedom to travel, conduct business, and all else our Great Constitution GUARANTEES, IF, – I-F – We the People had the gutz to demand our Government limit itself to that 20-powers of governance allotted by the Constitution.
But, which one of you here even knows that our Constitution allows just 20 areas of governance authority to the federal government? Also, which one of you also knows that NOT a single Congress member, EXCEPT for Ron Paul – who I support more in theory than completely – who bases his Republican Party Congressional works on our Constitution, has ever limited their congressional activities to those defined 20 powers?
Which one of you “Bible” believers has ever read of your “God”‘s unrepressed hatred of homosexual conduct? – literally embedded from one end of THE Bible, to the other?
Which one of you has the smallest inkling of an idea that your fav prez, #44, aka Barry Soetoros, aka B Obama, aka Nobama, has not just ok’d the Gitmo prison, and its tortures, but now written it into law, and expanded it to secret locations in other un-named countries? – That your #44 has not just ok’d the Patriot Act, but has now signed it in an Executive Order, making it a permanent, deified magistrate of your personal choices for life? – Or, that your #44 has filled his un-elected positions with every one of the worst Wall Street banker-fraudsters, those who have been primary offenders to melt down our nation’s financial strength?
Who here knows that your #44 has personally pledged to sign into law an order decreeing that to call a homosexual pervert a child molester for having penetrative sex with a minor, no matter what age, is a crime?
Who here can argue with certainty that #44 is not a puppet of the Banker-Cartel, a foreign banker group determined to destroy our Constitution, and enslave every citizen with implanted ID chips, so no one can even sustain life without being a zombie to their grand One World Order Plan?
Who here understands that the book, 1984, and another, Non Dare Call It Conspiracy, published in 1948 and 1971, respectively, detail the New World Order, and who is hiding behind our government, and who is its “God”??
Who here understands the original bible text that states this day will come, where people foolishly argue nuances, when their lives are about to end in slavery to self-indulgences, licentious activities, and complete loss of self control?
It’s impossible for me to understand the petty-minded yammer going on in this blog, but, I guess it’s simply because I am grounded upon the reality of Eternal value, rather than the insidiously petty frustrations of whether republican this, and democrat that is “Bible” enough for me to believe in!
Oldtimer out.