Young… Republicans?
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I do not understand how anyone around my age (the oft-grouped 18-24-year-olds), especially those who attend a place of higher learning, can support the Republican party. Does not the nature of youth itself contradict the basic tenants of the GOP? How can someone at the age of twenty decide that he or she sympathizes most readily with a political party built upon the tenants of empowering the wealthy to abuse the working class, revert rather than progress civil liberties, and support the proliferation of war over peace? How does this make any sense? At age twenty, a person should be realizing that the world needs progressive, open thinking. College Republicans, at the very time in their lives when personal exploration and exposure to the world at large should be a part of growing into a full person, actively deny themselves these things.
I wonder what their lines of reasoning are. “You know, I have the whole of life and all of its myriad experiences ahead of me, but instead of enjoying it, I’m going enforce the status quo and support politicians and legislation that denies other young people and myself the chances to exist in a forward-thinking, egalitarian nation.”
I realize that I am making broad generalizations of the Republican party. A lot of ill words can be spoken of my party, the Democrats, as well. No self-respecting Democrat can look to his or her party right now and not wonder why they have chosen to ignore their balls altogether. This is the reason that the Republicans hold so much power — the GOP found its balls and lets them proudly hang out for all the world to see. Perhaps the Republicans are the party better suited to show the world their cajones; we Democrats do, however, need to rediscover some sledgehammer-sized huevos if we intend to make any real change. The point remains, however, that the Republicans are largely the party of unregulated business and social regression. At a college age, when you’re about to become a working shmoe, you need the protections of worker’s rights and social progression.
Winston Churchill already said something quite useful to illustrate my point: “Show me a young Conservative and I’ll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I’ll show you someone with no brains.”
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February 1st, 2006 at 8:49 am
It is implied in Churchill’s (apocyphal?) quote that wisdom counters liberalism. Perhaps young democrats are merely wise beyond their years. Or maybe they’re just prematurely heartless.
February 2nd, 2006 at 8:51 am
“A Conservative is a Liberal that has been mugged.”
I can see how it would be confusing to you to understand how someone your age that has been raised in a society where the media is flooded with counter culture messages and news reporting has become so liberally biased that a conservative backlash has started. Most people your age get their news from Jon Stewart’s daily show or MTV News and think that they are well informed. I am always pleasantly pleased to see youthful conservatives.
But as the quote you supplied from Churchill, a great conservative, implies it takes life experience to make a true conservative. People your age lack that experience and instead replace that with the romantic idealism that you find in the Democratic Party with it’s Kum ba yah, my Lord, 60’s ineffective, in your face, activism.
Another Churchill quote that makes my point is this: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.� Switch Pessimist with Liberal and Optimist with Conservative and you will see a very true statement.
That is my opinion anyway and I just wanted to share it with you. I welcome your opinion.
February 2nd, 2006 at 2:07 pm
I think that the others are overanalyzing. These Republicans were simply told to be Republican by their parents, same about being a religion. People should explore the world, not just accept that what they were taught is fully true. Also, dont go to Swanee College.
February 3rd, 2006 at 10:53 am
Just as many democrats are created by the will of their parents as republicans.
February 3rd, 2006 at 10:59 am
One of my friends is a 22-year old lesbian republican - that was hard to grasp. She is currently interning at the Heritage House in D.C. - and her roommate is staunchly opposed to all gay rights. Now that is something that I could not subject myself to. But, hey, we all make our own beds.