RedGage

This for me has always been a touchy subject.  Along with religion these topics or issues usually get me going.  Many that have know me for years, know that at one time I was a Republican.  I usually tell people I wized up and left.  This came after being involved in fighting a Democrat Bill to make a million acres of California desert into wilderness.  I met many Dems that didn't know what they were talking about, couldn't answer a simple question on what constitutes "wilderness".  Even found Repubs that didn't know squat about the subject.  Most knew nothing about the desert, let alone actually been into the desert.  They saw it from their car as they drove to Vegas.  So you ask what turned you off then to the Republican party?  To make a simple and short statement, "our way is the only way".  If you think for yourself and don't always tow the party line there is something wrong with you.  At the time that this was going on with the Bill, it was election time.  I had met the Republican that was running and did not like him.  Did some background research on him and liked him even less.  I told fellow party members that I would not vote for this man.  By saying this you would have thought I had committed a 'capital' offense.  I was called many names and thought this is stupid.  So I left the Republican party.  Since becoming a Democrat I have found this to be only somewhat true within the party.  The ones that I find that are overly adament about their views being correct are former Republicans, for the most part. 

So this is how I feel.  I have a right to my opinion just like you.  If I can respect your opinion even though I disagree with you, you should do the same for me.  Neither one of us is wrong, it's just that we do not agree.  So get over it.  What I feel will work for me and my country may be different than what you feel is right.  If you are adamnt about this and have thought about what is at stake but are going in a different direction than me, then so be it.  What gets me is that some don't even think about what is a stake.  They don't think about how this will affect their neighbors.  Some don't think about it at all but just go with the flow.  Bruce Springsteen once said, "blind faith in your leaders will get you killed".  I know he was talking about war but from a different angle it could mean a death to our way of life.  Do not go blindly running after some views of a politician because he is with the party that you belong too.  Some oppose because that is what they feel is expected.  I'm a Republican I am not going to agree with a Democrat even if it is right.  Isn't it then wrong not to stick up for what you believe is right regardless of what others will think.  It's not always pleasant, I know that first hand.  I did not vote for the Republican because I did not agree with him on issues and felt that he would never back our side in defeating the wilderness bill.  When he became Governor he did not help our cause.  I did what I felt was right.