On 7/10/2011 7:04 AM, Ignoramus14315 wrote:
On 2011-07-09, Lloyd E. Sponenburghlloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:
fired this volley in news:ivahok$81f$5
@speranza.aioe.org:

Yeah, so was I. But my excuse is that back then I was young and stupid.

Bull.

To only _slightly_ turn Churchill's words, "When a man is young, if he is
not a Democrat, he has no heart. When a man is old, if he is not a
Republican, he has no brain."

I heard this too. My own personal development went in the opposite
direction. I started out as a libertarian and was obsessed with a
career and making money. After a while, the older I get, the more
liberal I become.

My first motivation is my disgust at the devolution of the Republican
party. Possibly, the Republican party has always been as bad as it is
now, but I just was not aware. I would have to dig into history, for
which I do not have time right now.

Secondly, though most rich people and wannabe rich people I know are
libertarian, I believe that they have not considered things properly.

The first thing a rich person needs is not even a low tax rate
(because it makes little difference as far as their well being is
concerned), but a stable society. And I do not believe that a stable
society can be promoted by deficits, endless wars, plunder of the
budget etc.

i


What you need to remember is that political parties are just a
conglomeration of like minded individuals. They never stay the same, and
the people in parties are always changing. The kind of people you found
in the republican party in the 1950s were different people than you find
now. Today's republican party is dominated by a certain group of people
who hold what are in today's society considered to be rather extreme
views. They only amount to a small segment of our society but they have
gained control of the republican party. So they are in effect driving
the car.

With this kind of people you are either with them or you're against
them. A lot more people who used to consider themselves republicans no
longer see that they are anything like the people who now dominate the
party. This condition may or may not last very long. If the republicans
are kept out of power for quite a while because of their extreme views
then in time the party will change. The people today will get replaced.
Both success and failure cause parties to change who belongs to them.

Right now a minority is in control of the republican party. I'll be
surprised if they are not defeated in 2012. Two straight losses to
Democrats in presidential elections will have a big effect on the
republicans. Will this cause the party to go back to what is used to be?
Good question. It's possible but it's just as possible it will be quite
different in the future. Unfortunately, the basis of the party has
always been the support and defense of the wealthy and business. I doubt
you will ever see that change.

Hawke