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... because I simply got tired of how the control freaks — especially the religious right and neo-cons — have taken over the party at all levels: national, state and, most distressing, local.
I registered as a Republican as a senior in high school, during the first President Bush's buildup during Desert Shield (which, as we all know, later became Desert Storm). I wasn't as wise then as I was now, but even then, looking back, there was still a possibility that the moderate Republicans could hold their own, or even stage some sort of comeback. Well, the passage of 16 years has proven me wrong. The religous right and neo-cons are firmly in control and likely will remain so into the foreseeable future. There's no room in the "big tent" for former Republicans like me — conservative when it comes to fiscal issues, but more moderate on some social issues, including abortion and gun control.
In recent years, I've also grown more and more alarmed at the ever-increasing role of the federal government in the daily lives of the average man, woman and child — especially since the nightmare that was Sept. 11, 2001. I'm getting nothing but bad vibes, with one example being the "signing statements" that Bush has used on legislation Congress has sent his way. He has used them *hundreds* of times, the most of any president, and I fear that's damaging Congress, and institution already being undermined by the majority of the Republicans there who seem to be content playing lapdog to the executive branch of the federal government.
My disappointment with the Republicans runs deep, but by no means does this mean the Democrats get a free ride in the sympathy department. Hardly. To me, they're just the flip side of the same coin. Regardless of party affiliation, it seems there are very few statesmen and stateswomen anymore. It's all about keeping the bases happy — and more often than not, the bases are the extremes — raking in the money for re-election campaigns and schmoozing with interest groups. All of these elements have a role in democratic system of government ... but, damn, it seems it's all out of whack, that these elements are taking bigger chunks of the pie than they should be.
Maybe it's silly, but I implore my fellow Americans to become more active in how they're governed. Read the newspapers! Listen to the newscasts! Follow developments on the Internet! In a word, *know* what your leaders and the interest groups — at *all* levels — are doing! Don't let them pull the wool over your eyes with non-issues while the city is burning down around you! Become educated and informed, because it's those two things that will save you from a future where America becomes a velvet-gloved police state of sorts.
If you're a foreigner, the above advice applies to you as well.
*sigh* OK, enough from me for now. I needed to get this off my chest; if you've read this far, thanks for wading through. You're home free, now.
Gatekeeper
P.S. Oh, and I registered as an independent ... although I was tempted to go Libertarian for a minute or two.
I registered as a Republican as a senior in high school, during the first President Bush's buildup during Desert Shield (which, as we all know, later became Desert Storm). I wasn't as wise then as I was now, but even then, looking back, there was still a possibility that the moderate Republicans could hold their own, or even stage some sort of comeback. Well, the passage of 16 years has proven me wrong. The religous right and neo-cons are firmly in control and likely will remain so into the foreseeable future. There's no room in the "big tent" for former Republicans like me — conservative when it comes to fiscal issues, but more moderate on some social issues, including abortion and gun control.
In recent years, I've also grown more and more alarmed at the ever-increasing role of the federal government in the daily lives of the average man, woman and child — especially since the nightmare that was Sept. 11, 2001. I'm getting nothing but bad vibes, with one example being the "signing statements" that Bush has used on legislation Congress has sent his way. He has used them *hundreds* of times, the most of any president, and I fear that's damaging Congress, and institution already being undermined by the majority of the Republicans there who seem to be content playing lapdog to the executive branch of the federal government.
My disappointment with the Republicans runs deep, but by no means does this mean the Democrats get a free ride in the sympathy department. Hardly. To me, they're just the flip side of the same coin. Regardless of party affiliation, it seems there are very few statesmen and stateswomen anymore. It's all about keeping the bases happy — and more often than not, the bases are the extremes — raking in the money for re-election campaigns and schmoozing with interest groups. All of these elements have a role in democratic system of government ... but, damn, it seems it's all out of whack, that these elements are taking bigger chunks of the pie than they should be.
Maybe it's silly, but I implore my fellow Americans to become more active in how they're governed. Read the newspapers! Listen to the newscasts! Follow developments on the Internet! In a word, *know* what your leaders and the interest groups — at *all* levels — are doing! Don't let them pull the wool over your eyes with non-issues while the city is burning down around you! Become educated and informed, because it's those two things that will save you from a future where America becomes a velvet-gloved police state of sorts.
If you're a foreigner, the above advice applies to you as well.
*sigh* OK, enough from me for now. I needed to get this off my chest; if you've read this far, thanks for wading through. You're home free, now.
Gatekeeper
P.S. Oh, and I registered as an independent ... although I was tempted to go Libertarian for a minute or two.
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