BuzzFlash Reader Contribution

A Letter to My Father: The party of your past is no longer the party that exists.

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION

Dad,

I know you’ve been a Republican all of your life. But, when you first started voting Republicans were “conservative” meaning to conserve. Fiscal responsibility and protecting our natural resources were their cause. Nixon created the EPA, a fact I did not know until I heard the man who headed the EPA under four administrations and a Republican, speak. That man, Russell Train, is now against the Bush Administration for their appalling environmental record. Old school conservatives have joined the ranks in opposition to this administration be the subject the economy, the environment and foreign policy.

Dad, I voted for Reagan. I even voted for the first Bush. I grew up with a work and fairness ethic that told me if you work hard you will be treated fairly. That is not the ethic of the current administration. Their motto is if you are with the right company we will take care of you. Gone is congressional oversight, gone is constituent oversight. If Bush is reelected what does he have to lose? Not votes. Not money from the people he’s taken care of. What would a lame duck Bush administration be capable of? Our nation has already seen how his influence thwarts true democracy.

My oldest brother told me to stop bothering him and I know you feel the same way. I cannot. Why? Because I know as my father you would never ever do anything to harm me. Voting for Bush harms me and my future children let alone your grandchildren. He will take us into World War IV. He has already hinted at Iran (which currently has a very tentative democracy) and Syria as our next conquests. His loyalties are to the Saudi royal family and the interests of companies that make IBM look like small potatoes. His loyalties are to radical religious groups that advocate that women have no voice or rights. These groups are his base, not Catholics, but evangelicals that discriminate against all other religion. Be against abortion, fine, but at least be for a woman protecting herself from unwanted pregnancy or disease. Bush will not fund any education initiative including condoms let alone birth control. That is hypocritical. If you want to eliminate abortion then you should advocate birth control. Not every woman on the planet is afforded the chance to just say no to sex. Rape and domestic violence against women rate highest among our nation’s crime statistics. George Bush and Neoconservatives know this yet refuse to protect women or allow women to protect themselves.

Taxes seem to be the thread some conservatives hold on to. Well, when the wealthiest get more money it does not translate into a booming economy as we have witnessed. When you give the middle a break everybody makes more money, even the wealthy. I hate taxes myself. But, I really hate the fact that deregulation of our utilities has given each state’s energy conglomerate free reign to rob customers. I have a sixty dollar charge on my electric bill to pay for the black out until 2008. That translates to an extra $2,880.00 a year per millions of customers because First Energy decided they didn’t want to spend the money trimming some trees. First Energy happens to be R-Ohio Senate George Voinovich’s largest contributor. The PUCO is basically headed up by energy lobbyists so the middle-class can expect to keep getting the shaft. My measly tax cut cannot even compare to what every other cost of living increase we have to deal with.

Dad, I fear none of these points will change your mind. But, if Bush is reelected I ask you to demand this of your party; give me a better Republican to vote for. Give me someone who does not want to turn our country into a police state and strip away my rights. The Republicans chose the better fundraiser, over the better man (McCain) in 2000. Bush is a money machine bent on destroying our government as we know it. Halliburton gets no bid contracts while Dick has a generous pension and dividends from 433,333 in Halliburton stock waiting for him when he is finally relieved of his duty as Vice President. . Bush’s dad works for the Carlyle Group who owns United Defence which is making billions off the war in Iraq. I have a video documentary in which the founding member of the Carlyle Group brags about the fact they located in D.C. to intentionally work politicians for influence. It’s just business after all, who cares how many soldiers die or how many widows have to fend for themselves.

Does that not disgust you? Does the fact that Bush could give a damn about the soldiers dying in Iraq not disgust you? His mother is quoted as saying she does not bother her “beautiful mind” about the body bags. You are religious, do you think God is not weeping right now at our blind imperialistic foreign policy? We are killing for oil plain and simple. We are killing for our “Israeli Friends”. Saddam was a horrible dictator who used the WMD’s we gave him to kill the Iraqis who rose against him. I have downloaded video of both Condoleeza Rica and Colin Powell in February and July 2001 respectively stating Saddam was basically neutered by UN inspections and sanctions and that he had none of the capabilities the administration claimed a few months later. There has been enough evidence presented by the very stifled media to suggest that Bush had Iraq in mind even before he had been “elected”.

Dad, you may dismiss much of what I am saying as propaganda. What swayed me is that there is so much out there and so much the administration refuses to answer to and/or insulates themselves from that if even 10% of it is true then...my god we must get them out of our government. I did not vote for Clinton in either race. But an extramarital affair is peanuts compared to what Bush is doing. I would love for a decent Republican to step up to the plate but I cannot wait until 2008. And if Bush is reelected I would bet my life your next candidate is Jeb Bush. I am more moderate than you because I have neighbors that are poor, old, and gay. They are all human beings to me, that is what you and Mom taught me. Had you not had family help do you really think you’d be where you are now? Well, not everyone is as lucky as us. And since they are not, we have the obligation to pull them up the ladder as we climb it. That is most definitely what Jesus would do. You may not agree with a gay man’s plea for marriage rights but is it necessary to make it illegal? We’re no better than Saudi Arabia if we do. You may be lucky enough to afford your medicine, but I can tell you from my neighbors perspective (both WWII veterans and former railroad workers) many elderly cannot.

I do not say this to you to make you angry and to rebel against my family. I am too old for that. I appeal to your humanity and love of your country to open your eyes. Be a Republican, by all means. I wish I could believe in that party, it would certainly make life easier. But the party of your past is no longer the party that exists. They aren’t the party of Lincoln or Roosevelt. They are the party of Enron, Halliburton and cultists like Jerry Falwell. They are the party of calling those who question their motives traitors and question our loyalty to our country which could not be more un-American. We are supposed to be able to take our leaders to task, we are supposed to have a voice in our government. We pay their salaries right? I love you Dad. I know you may not believe that because I sent you a letter challenging your beliefs but I do. I love you so much it hurts, like I love Mom and my husband, and the rest of our family. But, I love my country too. I never knew how much because I thought “this would never happen in America” and our freedom is safe. This is bigger than our family, this is too important to ignore. Please reconsider your support for this administration. I would help any of you find a better candidate. I would love to see a good Republican, if one exists, run for the White House. But Bush is not that candidate and I know in your heart you know that as well.

Your loving daughter,

Judy

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION