REVIEW: 2010 GOP PRIMARY
The problem with all 5 propositions is that once again the GOP is looking to control the public in ways that currently are illegal according the Constitution of the United States of America and the Texas Constitution
Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net, to Mr. Stern at pstern@austin.rr.com, or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story
By Peter Stern
Guest Commentary
The whole point of a Democracy is to permit people to control and determine their own lives, to limit and prevent government from becoming a Dictatorship, in which the people would have no rights and freedom to live as they choose.A mainstay of the Republican Party from its inception to this present day is to ensure less government in our daily lives. It is one of the main reasons why I became a member of the GOP back in the 1950's during the Eisenhower administration. President Eisenhower managed our nation with intelligence and promoted actions for the well-being of the entire community.
Back then, when businesses prospered, so did the majority of Americans. These days, greed overshadows the actions and inactions of our leaders and a significant number of hard-working citizens have become hardly-working Americans, suffering in this leader-imposed economic depression.So, whatever happened to the GOP platform of less government interference into our lives? Instead, every few years the Republican party tries to invade our lives with more government control in the form of what often appears to be oppressive and/or racist ballot proposals to change the Constitution.
As with previous Republican Primary propositions or ballot initiatives, the five propositions below are non-binding; they are designed to determine how the electorate feels on certain issues. Overwhelming support for a proposition may lead to legislation being introduced in the future. This year the GOP is trying to push 5 propositions that further dissolve or impede our inalienable rights. In brief, they are:
Proposition 1. Each registered voter must present a photo ID to vote
Proposition 2. GOP says we need to control government growth via additional budget restrictions
Proposition 3. Stop government stimulus and instead cut Federal Income Taxes
Proposition 4. The GOP wants to force all of us to acknowledge God at public events
Proposition 5. The party wants to demand sonograms be shown to every woman who elects to have an abortion.
The propositions are NOT on the ballot of the Democrat Primary.
To read the propositions in entirety you may review them on the site of any county election office. The link below is to the Hays County Election Office. The propositions are cited at the end of the sample ballot: http://www.elections.co.hays.tx.us/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=DkVp2PWYHj4%3d&tabid=110&mid=438
The problem with all 5 propositions is that once again the GOP is looking to control the public in ways that currently are illegal according the Constitution of the United States of America and the Texas Constitution.
If they were not illegal, there would be no need for the GOP to push for these propositions.
In the U.S. each citizen has the right to determine his/her own lifestyle, religious worship (or not) and medical determinations.
Whether or not members of the GOP believe it, the government has no right to demand people to follow directives that do NOT concern government and which actually would impede the rights of all American citizens.
Consequently, even though the propositions are not binding, voters should mark a big "No" on the GOP primary ballot for each one of the five propositions. We need less government intervention, NOT more.
Peter Stern, a former director of information services, university professor and public school administrator, is a disabled Vietnam veteran who lives in Driftwood, Texas.
11 comments:
You know Peter, if you really believed in less government intrusion in your life you would be Libertarian rather than a Socialist. I’ll look for you at the next Tea Party Rally. Why are you so concerned with what is on the Republican Primary Ballot? I agree with one thing you say, “leader-imposed economic depression.” Since Obama is that leader.
Peter,
I believe that you are sadly mistaken in regards to Prop 4 - it says that "The use of the word, 'God', prayers, and the Ten Commandments should be allowed at public gatherings and public educational institutions, as well as permitted on government buildings and property."
That word, "should", is not coercive such as "shall" or "must". It is merely saying that the right for a free republic's citizens to acknowledge God is their right just as much as it is a right that another free republic's citizen can also choose to ignore, or gather enough like-minded individuals to vote to remove or say that locally such things are not wanted. That is local control.
What is wrong with Prop 1? Are you in favor of people who live here and who are not citizens having the right to vote? Are you okay with people voting more than once? How do you know that someone is who they say they are when they come to vote unless you ask them for an ID? The problem that I have with not providing a picture ID is that it opens the system to fraud, which has been known to be the benchmark of the Democratic Party since the 1930's or 40's, whenever it was that "Landslide Lyndon" won his seat using the graveyard in South Texas to win his election.
As for unconstitutional control, it is the Democratic Party in D.C. that wants to FORCE everyone to have to buy health insurance. That is unconstitutional - since when can the federal government require us to BUY anything? Pay taxes? Sure, but actually have to purchase something? Sounds like the creation of yet another special interest - insurance companies who now have a way to control the cost of insurance that is required, rather than desired. Remember simple economics boils down to supply and demand. This creates a required demand, thus directly affecting price. And if government regulation is too restrictive and enough doctors flee the industry, that will adversely affect the supply side of the equation. Both of these will then be moving in the wrong direction to provide "lower" health care costs which is supposedly the reason for requiring it.
You say, "If they were not illegal, there would be no need for the GOP to push for these propositions." Can we ask that you document just how these items are "illegal"? Is it illegal to gauge public interest to require voter id? Is it illegal to gauge public interest in allowing localities to decide for themselves as to whether or not they want to acknowledge God? (Or in some cases it could be Allah, or Buddha, or none at all.) It is conveniently easy to throw rocks when it fits your political leanings, but just as inconvenient to forget about the politics and statements made that run against the grain that are truly unconstitutional.
It would be great to see an expose on this blog of the Democratic Party's shortcomings and failures to do as they advertise. But that is the editor's choice. I am sure there would be no shortage of offers to write it.
Peter,
Actions speak louder than words. The democrats have already exercised control of our lives by dictating what kind of light bulbs we can have, taking control of the water ways, limiting economic growth with cap and trade, creating a 'mandatory' volunteer youth corps, forcing the people to purchase insurance in a violation of the Constitution. These are examples of 'MORE' control done to us by DEMOCRATS. I do not care for the Republican control either. A responsible government would enhance our liberties rather than restrict them. Both parties fail to grasp this truth.
So write one, big mouth. No one is stopping you.
If you write it, they will come.
I'm sure the editor will print it, so stop complaining and criticizing and write an "expose" against the Democrats and send it in so that your big ego may be filled for a short time.
Oh! But then you would have to use your real name and then you'd get complaints and opinions from other people who also know what is best for all of us. Can your super-ego handle it?
Geez, numbers 1 & 2, so many words for nothing more than a harangue against Democrats.
I think Peter's point (made very plainly in the heading) is that the 5 propositions in the GOP primary could lead to even more control over our lives. Screw that!
Fundamentally, I agree with Peter's point. What good right winger wouldn't vote for them. It's like letting kids loose in a candy store. Our Republican controlled Legislature, with their wingnut leadership, frequently twists the results of these GOP-voted propositions into some kind of mandate from "the people". Then they enact them into laws. Now that would be an interesting topic for an article.
If our GOP Legislature had any interest in hearing from the people, they'd enact Initiative and Referendum into law. That's not likely to happen because for the most part they are all cowards, fearful of losing their grip on control.
I am a Republican who moved here from California a few years ago. Peter Stern is exactly correct. The 5 State GOP propositions are nothing more than ignorant political grandstanding from Rick Perry and his Legislator cronies. This is why Sarah Palin endorsed him. Perry and his Texas GOP supporters are opportunistic religious right wingers who use religion and patriotism as their sword.
As to the two Al-Anonymouses above, their comments are the rantings of propaganda sheep that the extreme Texas GOP uses to herd their ilk into the political gas chambers with diversionary Obama scapegoating and liberal bashing. They mindlessly follow their leaders into a fallacious political bliss by chatising others because they have no good excuses for our party's failures, ignorance and hate.
From what I can tell, Peter Stern is the type of Republican that the GOP needs to move back to. The only reason the Libertarian Party has any merit at all these days is because the GOP has become so much about citizen division and religious judgment that they have become political versions of crazies like Pat Robertson. The Party has evolved into a joke that still has power only because we have a two-party system. In any other country the GOP would be a laughing stock.
Sadly, Perry and the Texas GOP have the same mental delusions of the Republican politicians who hang out in airport bathrooms playing footsies with the guy next door and send underage interns seductive e-mails and lie about hiking on the big Trail. And they even have the temerity to act like they are some sort of religious leaders? Hopefully sane Republicans can see through their political exploitation.
In reality, if most of the GOP thought like Peter Stern, an intelligent Republican, we would be in power almost all the time and the right wing religious extremists of our party wouldn't even have Obama to kick around as their scapegoat.
The Texas GOP has become very dysfunctional, as well as the people who believe their divisive hate. If the Texas Republicans select Perry as their gubernatorial candidate, I will vote for Bill White for Governor.
Thank you all for sharing your comments, opinions and thoughts.
I find myself agreeing with some of what each of you had to say.
Anonymous #1: First, I'm not a Socialist and have no idea where you got that one. I don't want to be "a Libertarian. I feel fine as a reality-base, thinking Republican. Why can't we all be thinking Americans instead of belonging to various parties that do NOT work for us?
Unfortunately, it's the leadership of the GOP that needs "to move" somewhere differently. I am concerned what is on the ballot for the reason I already stated. It's more government control over our lives and we do NOT need more of that from GOP or Democrats.
Anonymous#2:
re: Prop. 4 Who is stopping you now from bowing your head in public and praying? Why do we need a law to promote this? If you want to do it, go ahead. You don't need such a law.
Also, I see no reason on Earth why the Ten Commandments, which "was handed from God to Moses, a Hebrew or Jew", should be posted in public or especially on our court or other public buildings. It serves no real purpose. Our tax dollars could be spent better.
No, of course I don't want illegals to vote here, but how will Photo ID's resolve that issue? It's a really dumb consideration. We should be more concerned about Voter Machine Integrity, which is a much bigger problem. And what about voting machine manufacturers like Diebold who provide huge campaign contributions to elected officials? Isn't that a conflict of interests? I think Voter Registration Cards are sufficient for the 4 to 6 percent of registered voters who actually go to cast their ballots. Maybe I would think it's worthwhile if most of the population voted.
You know, if forget to, or you don't bring your registration card to vote, they then ask you for a photo ID. Maybe we should get rid of Voter Reg. Cards and just show Photo ID's???
Mr. Murrah:
I agree with you completely re: the Democrats adding to the control over our existence. It is both parties who have destroyed our political system and who continue to do so.
Anonymous#3:
While I agree with your point to Anonymous #2, that he should write the expose, there is a nicer way to say that.
Blue heeler:
I agree with most of your points, especially this one:
"If our GOP Legislature had any interest in hearing from the people, they'd enact Initiative and Referendum into law. That's not likely to happen because for the most part they are all cowards, fearful of losing their grip on control."
No Burning Cross Please:
I absolutely agree with you. You must have gone through significant "culture shock" moving to TX. Welcome!
In closing, I believe that the Texas GOP AND the National GOP need to rethink more intelligently a new platform and direction, to climb out from the self-made muck that is consuming and defeating the Party's success and survival.
We are scraping the barrel out for candidates who never should be considered for the offices they run for. We need to find higher quality candidates.
I also believe that the 2-party system is failing most Americans and our economic well-being.
I further believe we need to get rid of all parties and simply vote for the BEST person for each position.
We need to limit significantly or eliminate excessive campaign contributions so that wealthy lobbyists, corporations and/or individuals can NOT purchase the best government money can buy.
Then, we need term limitations. Any elected official gets 2 terms max! After 2 terms THEY ARE GONE! Like crop rotation. Call it my LIP --- Legislator Incentive Plan!!!
Think about it. All these suggestions will ensure that we can a continuous flow of fresh, honest and ambitious slew of elected officials who will NOT be bought and who will perform their duties in the best interests of the community they serve within a 2-term limit!
Those are MY propositions!
The Texas GOP, exemplified by successionist Governor Rick Perry, is a dangerous cadre of right wing rabble rousers who are deviously exploiting angry marginalized white people in this state. Perry knows that Texas has the largest membership of white hate groups in the nation and he is trying to hang on to his Plantation Manager job by tapping into that sickness.
The real problem is that Perry actually believes most of what he says - which makes him much more psychopathic than his speeches indicate. He is the modern southern reincarnate of Alabama Governor George Wallace (before Wallace's conversion). Words like "nullification" are ominous coming from a Texas Governor -- and his endorsers such as Sarah Palin.
Pathetically, Perry actually believes he has charisma, intelligence, and populace support -- which is too similar to Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. For Perry (and Palin), such delusions of grandeur are clear signs of mental derangement. These behavioral warning signs should be red flags to any sane voter.
Texas needs to wake up to the pending disaster occurring now within our state. Perry is an empty vessel with power, and nothing is more dangerous.
Re-electing Perry and siding with the Texas GOP by voting for those slippery slope propositions would be a sad day for average Texans.
Amen, LLB, and yet Perry is leading in the polls by a large number, 38% to 28% to 24%.
The latter number is for Debra Medina, who will take away Hutchison's chance to defeat Perry.
It is very sad and disappointing.
What is really sad is that Debra Medina will not beat both of them and become our Governor. Get used to it, Perry will be re-elected, period. Grrrrrr
Will Bill White win? What's the chance?
Post a Comment