Good Morning!

I was eleven years old when I asked my Mother to take me to Richard Nixon’s headquarters in 1972. I didn’t understand all the issues, but I knew that he was “my President” and I proudly affixed his bumper sticker on her car.

I voted for Reagan. I voted for Bush. And I voted for W. In every election, I voted Republican unless there wasn’t a Republican in the race. I believed all the rhetoric that if we controlled all three branches we could fix government spending, stop gridlock and “Build a Better America.”

So how have we done?

Government spending went through the roof with Reagan. Worse with Bush. Better with Clinton. Have we fixed the deficit under W? No.

Gridlock? Yes, we fixed it! The Republican Party has forced many measures through. Is the country better off? Let’s see.

Taxes are lower. Good for my household, so one in the plus column. Of course, the deficit is growing and my son will have to carry that burden.

We declared War on the Taliban. I am not convinced we fixed the problem, but I agree it was the right decision.

We declared War on Saddam. Why? So we could create a greater problem fiscally? So we could lose countless American and Iraqi lives? There were no weapons of mass destruction. Perhaps one day the Iraqis will be better off, but right now they are killing themselves more than we are killing their terrorists. We didn’t fix the problem, we created a worse one. The worst result is that we have set back human rights at least a century and a half in America. How can anyone truly believe that incarcerating “terrorist suspects” without legal representation is a good thing? How can anyone believe that abusive interrogation techniques are okay for America, but unacceptable for other countries to engage in? Are we truly a better nation for holding prisoners in Guantanamo Bay without their day in court? They aren’t prisoners of war.

We have declared War on Drugs. Great! We spend billions and billions to beef up our borders and yet the drugs continue to come in. For a brief time in the 80’s usage decreased, but no one would argue that today. Instead of spending the money on “defense” we would be better off spending it on education and rehabilitation. Better yet, legalize it, control it and tax it. The taxes would certainly help since drugs are obviously not going away. Instead of spending billions we could make billions. Then spend the money on education and rehabilitation. Plus we would not have to spend money chasing criminals importing drugs and laundering money, thus saving more money. Crime would go down because drugs would be safer and cheaper. Prohibition taught us this lesson, it is time we learn it. Let the police focus on safety and the Justice Department focus on justice, not on someone smoking marijuana.

We are focused on another drug policy. That of limiting America’s access to cheaper drugs. Great! It is cheaper in Canada for the same drugs. I want to know why. Don’t give me the argument that we have to control the manufacturing process. I haven’t read about Canadians dying from taking drugs that weren’t manufactured according to American laws and regulations.

We haven’t focused on medical insurance reform. Great! I pay more for drugs I need every day than my Canadian friends to the north. And I pay more for my medical insurance every year. All the while, the insurance companies and their executives and actuaries keep making more money.

We are focused on illegal immigration. Great! Unless you consider our country was founded by immigrants seeking a better life. Have you ever met an immigrant who took an American job? I haven’t. Primarily because they work the jobs that no one else seems willing to do. The Hispanics work harder than any people I know. Do they suppress wages? Perhaps. But I am not willing or able to spend ridiculous sums of money to cut my lawn, clean my house, watch my kid, dig ditches in 100 degree weather and build our highways. We can’t staff all of these jobs in Texas without immigrants. And historically speaking, America never has.

To your credit you focused on education so that “no child is left behind.” As a father I wholeheartedly agree with this approach. Every child, including those of “illegal immigrants,” should receive a quality education focused on teaching them the skills and disciplines they need to succeed. And every teacher, administrator and school board should be held accountable for their respective results. No teacher should be allowed to hide behind their Union or Tenure. But in exchange for losing this protection they should be paid what they are worth. And I am not talking about a token $3000 increase. Take the excess money we save from the failed drug war and that we earn on drug taxes and give it to our children’s teachers. Better educated kids won’t waste their time getting wasted.

We are focused on “right to live.” Great! Now we have decided that we should play God. Or at least act on her behalf. I wouldn’t choose an abortion if I was a woman, but I am not going to pretend to know what is best for her. If her choice proves wrong in God’s eyes, then there will be Hell to pay. I don’t believe I am God, and neither are any of you reading this. Besides, I don’t see anyone rushing off to adopt all our unwanted children. And our adoption laws are so complex that it is easier to adopt children from other countries. If the Moral Majority wants to stop abortions then each of them should be required to adopt at least one unwanted child until “no child is left behind.”

We are focused on the death penalty. Great! We don’t kill unwanted fetuses, but we do kill adults. Personally, I hate criminals. And, from an emotional perspective, I would wish dead the criminal who murdered someone close to me. But at what cost? It has been argued that it is cheaper to incarcerate criminals for life than to execute them. Certainly spending life in a hellhole with no chance to spend one day beyond bars is worse than an injection. Plus it avoids the mistake of executing the wrong criminal.

We are focused on euthanasia. Great! You have an incurable disease, feel horrible and are in constant pain, but you can’t do anything about it. Our pets get better options. In Moral Majority America, unless you are a criminal, no injection for you.

We are focused on stem cell research. Great! We have a chance to cure diseases of living Americans, but we don’t want to compromise the life of a future unwanted child.

We are focused on Gay Marriage. Wow! Homosexuality has been around forever and we are still trying to cure it. I am amazed that the Moral Majority cried out against Gay promiscuity in the 80’s and now they care about Gay monogamy in the 2000’s.

Twenty years ago the uneducated bigoted Confederate Flag carrying Americans voted Democratic. Now they vote Republican. We should be pleased with their addition to the Party.

I don’t like Unions which support the Democrats because they protect members who don’t deserve protection. And that has always been an issue for me with the Democratic Party. However, the Republican Party is not in tune with its Majority. Most of us make good money, have good educations and think for ourselves. And we didn’t hire you to legislate morality.

I had hoped you would focus on the deficit, gridlock and “Building a Better America.” This to me means, educating our children, feeding our homeless, making our streets safer, rehabilitating our drug addicts and creating a safe environment in harmony with the interests of the business community.

Instead, you have focused on the agenda of the Moral Majority who makes up a small percent of the Party and America.

Instead you have allowed a self-serving radio personality to serve as the “voice” of the Party. He never focuses on issues, only his own ratings, by attacking Hollywood celebrities who are willing to take a stand and put their money where their mouth is. These same celebrities who are adopting unwanted children. Do you think I want my son to grow up like that uneducated airhead?

Instead you have embraced a washed up actor to serve as the voice of people wanting more guns. As if I feel safer knowing my neighbor can own a submachine gun. And that his kids have access to his handgun.

Yes, I like Arnold. I love Rudy. And I greatly admire McCain. But until the Party separates itself from the Moral Majority, they will be hard pressed to get my vote.

And as for Congress? Forget it.

From now on, I will take my chances with Hollywood, the Unions and the Immigrants.