Why Liberalism is Key to the GOP Platform

In this election year, terrorism and military intervention are and will continue to be the hot-button issues among the electorate. Some will be inclined to believe - from all the media coverage that these issues get - that they are all there is to the GOP. What gets overlooked in all this coverage is the beginning of a change in the party, as reflected in its platform:

To Bush and the neo-conservatives, this may simply be lip service to those Republicans who have suffered economically under his watch. The platform also describes Lincoln's vision as: "...a country united and free, in which all people are guaranteed equal rights and the opportunity to pursue their dreams." (italics mine) If anything, this statement reflects the core of American liberalism: that freedom means having not only rights but also opportunities.

Contrary to popular belief, liberalism is not incompatible with capitalism. In fact, without liberalism, capitalism always degenerates into a plutocracy. Competition, which is essential to capitalism, always depends on competitors being able to get to the same starting line. Not everyone can run as fast, of course, but they still deserve the opportunity to try. Therefore, it is a central goal of liberalism to ensure that they get that opportunity.

Related to this idea is a recognition (echoed in the Declaration of Independence) that we're all essentially equal, even if we don't all have equal ability. Someone who is born poor is just as likely as someone who is born rich to go on to greatness if they have the opportunity, and the cost to society of affording them that opportunity is less than the cost of preserving a semi-permanent aristocracy. The ability of the rich to innovate or to create jobs is not significantly affected by higher or more progressive taxes, but the ability of the poor to do so is significantly enhanced if that money is spent wisely. The net result is more innovation and competition, which benefits everyone -- even the already rich. It all comes back to opportunity.

I don't think republicans, i mean the average one's out in the mid-west or whereve they troll, understand the true nature of capitolism. For instance, they are usually going crazy over sex on TV. But, sex on TV sells shit. It IS capitilism at it's most effective. SEX SELLS. And THEY buy because of it. look at that desperate housewives thing. It's most popular in RED southern states. WHY? because they're hypocrates

Well, you could probably argue that the "average" person anywhere - be they liberal, conservative, Republican, Democrat, or whatever - probably doesn't give much of a crap about any particular "-ism." Most of them, I would guess, are inclined to believe whatever their neighbors believe.

That said, I suspect that the "values voter" component of the GOP doesn't actually care much about capitalism one way or the other - provided that they have what they consider a "good, clean" job and can work hard at it. But hey, if it weren't for this demographic, there'd probably be no reason to put so much subliminal sex in advertising.