Michael A. Clarke: What will Republicans, the party of anti, do with their power?
The recent elections resulted in Republicans taking control of the U.S. Congress in 2015. Their leaders said that now things are going to get done – legislation would be passed (apparently in contrast to the six years of being committed to blocking anything proposed by Democrats). Having never been a Republican, I was curious about what they favored
It was easy to see what they were against. They were anti-science, anti-environment, anti-women, anti-regulations, anti-minimum wage increases, anti-abortion, anti-gay, anti-affordable health care ... Their political philosophy was simple: “If President Obama is for it, we’re against it!”
I then attempted to discover their plans for our future. What did they favor? Big business and the rich were at the top of their list. Corporate welfare was an important priority. Free speech was a big item – freedom to influence elections by letting secret money talk. Oil and coal companies could continue making profits, adding to global warming and climate change. Also ranking high was freedom of religion – where beliefs of businesses and various religious groups gave them freedom not to obey our laws.
Maybe “getting things done” by Republicans is not such a good idea.
Michael A. Clarke, Salida
This story was originally published November 19, 2014 at 11:36 AM with the headline "Michael A. Clarke: What will Republicans, the party of anti, do with their power?."