Whoa! I think too many people on both sides are getting FREAKED OUT about this election. I know the election is very important, and I will be very unhappy if McCain/Palin wins.
However, both sides are demonizing the other side, and it's getting both sides scared and angry and seemingly on the verge of violence.
Both sides are freaking out because they believe these exaggerated straw man versions of the opposition. Just because Obama is supporting a tax cut on only 95% of the people makes him a socialist? Come on!
Just as most Democrats aren't actually hippie-socialists, I'm sure most Republicans aren't actually inbred Jesus freaks. (At least I hope they aren't).
Let's be honest here...let's look at these ideological straw men on both sides.
Let's really examine these characters we fear so much.
Meet the Straw Republicans
Jedidiah Elihu Samson: He is an Christian Evangelical Fundamentalist. He accepts a literal interpretation of the Bible on faith, and would consider it a character flaw if he allowed himself to critically examine that belief. He believes the Earth is only 6,000 years old, and that Evolution is a global scientific conspiracy. He is a Christian Dispensationalist who sees no reason to worry about protecting the environment when we are already in the end times. In fact he advocates a Holy War against Islam to hurry the end times along. He is pro-life and pro death penalty. He believes homosexuality should be a crime, and women who cheat on their husbands should be executed, even if she is only 12 years old. He only votes Republican because there isn't an official Jesus Party (yet).
Brice Winchester IV: He’s upper class, arrogant, and does not appreciate the advantages he has been given in life. He believes that he has worked hard to attain his status in life, and that everyone who is poor must just be lazy or defective. His power and position in life is obviously due to superior genetics and superior character. He has contempt for the underclass, and treats his employees poorly. Anyone who refuses to work 80 hours a week for minimum wage is lazy and weak. He idolizes Gordon Gecko. If there is to be any justice in this world, then people like him should not have to pay ANY taxes at all, because he already (regrettably) has to pay his employees, and that's more than enough charity as far as he's concerned.
Cletus “Duke” Becephelus: Loves beer, guns, Nascar, guns, hunting, guns, red meat, guns and *****. His blood is an explosive mixture of alcohol and testosterone. He has a hard-on (figuratively or literally) for the U.S. military. The rest of the world is one big ass that just needs a good kicking. He is a racist, sexist, homophobe, and bigot. He has no end of derogatory names and hatred for every kind of person on the planet that isn't exactly like him. Those people are the enemy, and he and his buddies are in a perpetual state of ass-kickin' war against them. He has no respect for higher education and hates intellectuals. What’s the point of going to college if you graduate and still get your ass kicked in a fight?
Meet the Straw Democrats:
Moonbeam Riversong: She’s a vegetarian who asks her food for forgiveness before she eats it. She keeps a diary of her carbon emissions, and even recycles used toilet paper. She sees herself as being one with nature. Nature recognizes no artificial national borders and nature puts no value on material possessions. Nature seeks only harmony and balance, as must we. She wishes to outlaw all combustion engines and plastic.
Milton P. Dippole – An intellectual bookworm. He has three degrees from Cornell in Music Therapy, Comparative Sociology, and Philosophy. He has a genius level IQ and believes that intelligence is the greatest measure of worth. He believes Americans are ignorant and superstitious and that Europeans are better people. He wishes for a single world socialist and atheistic government. He views himself as an enlightened man drowning in an ocean of primitive and ignorant humans. This makes him bitter and he sinks ever deeper into solitary intellectual pursuits. You'll find him down at the book store cafe sipping latte and reading French poetry or Friedrich Nietzsche (if he's in a good mood)
Dirk "Dude" Logan – An irresponsible man with no ambition in life. He's been fired or laid off from countless jobs. He blames all of his problems on "the man" and excuses his lack of ambition by saying that the system is stacked against him, so there is no point in even trying. He lives in his parent's garage, and still receives an allowance from them, even though he's 30 years old. He spends his money on booze and partying, and refuses to have a goal in life. He is a strong advocate for the legalization of marijuana, the re-instatement of welfare, and free healthcare.
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There are other archetypes for Republicans and Democrats, like the Radical Muslim, the Fascist Soccer Mom, etc. All of these straw people DO exist in real life. There are real Jedidiahs and Moonbeams in this world, and they are a problem, I know. I just don't think they account for the majority center of this country.
I am personally embarrassed when a Moonbeam speaks for the Democrats on television...just as I'm sure Republicans are embarrassed whenever the television camera finds a Republican Cletus.
We are all looking at each other lately, trying to find one little characteristic that will allow us to comfortably dump every member of the opposing side into one of these extreme caricatures.
Obama proposes one TINY adjustment to take rates for the top 5% income makers, and suddenly everyone on the Right says "Ah ha!! He's a [derogatory label]! We knew it!!!!"
Likewise I think some Democrats were too quick to cast Sarah Palin as a total Jedidiah without hard proof she was really that extreme. They ended up mocking her assumed beliefs instead of attacking the legitimate fact that she's a complete ditz who lacks even minimal awareness of the world. I think those attacks backfired just a little and got the other side really upset.
Ugh, it was VERY hard for me to type that last paragraph. The last thing I want to do is defend Sarah Palin. But if I'm going to get upset at the Republicans for type-casting Democrats, then I have to be willing to check my own type-casting of Republicans.
I have to bite my tongue when I see a Tanner or Jedidiah, because I know the Democrats have their own contingent of idiots too. It's not as easy as just assuming that all Republicans are stupid and all Democrats are smart. Both sides of vast stockpiles of stupid.
The key is to not let the stupid ones from either side get on camera, much less get a leadership position.
If you are going to attack Obama, then attack his policies and attack what he has actualy DONE in his life. Don't attack what you are so sure you think he will be just because you are scared witless of these Democratic strawmen.
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