Republican vs. Democrat

First, I'll start by saying that politics is one of the most annoying subjects around. Just like money and religion, everyone thinks that they know everything, and that their opinion just graces the world around them, blessing everyone that hears them speak.  However, most people could not pass a test in Political Science 101 by the time you get to chapter 2.  In recent studies in the children of various countries of the world, the American children were by and large number 1 in one category - confidence.  Not intelligence, understanding, mathematics, science, etc., but confidence.  Its good to have confidence, but at the same time, is it good to have a bunch of "know-it-all's" running around with superiority complexes without a good enough reason to have one?

Politics is not economics.  Politics is, according to http://www.dictionary.com,  "the practice or study of the art and science of forming, directing, and administrating states and other political units; the art and science of government; political science."  Politics is not the "what", it is the "how".  If you have not taken a basic college economics class, you probably should not be allowed to discuss whats best for the country.


An Understanding of Party Beginnings
With that said, let's break down each party.  (In case some of you don't understand the basic fundamental principles of each party, let's start with that.) Republicans generally believe in a small central government, allowing the people to have more sway.  Democrats believe in a big, central government, that from their current explanation is to be able to have the power to help those in need.  Here is a little history on each theology - Thomas Jefferson would be considered by today's principles, and in my opinion, a Democrat with a Republican ideology - a "give back to the people" attitude through a small government practice.  He believed in the common man, definitely considered to be agrarian, and believed in the power of democracy, which in the Greek means "mob-rule."  Alexander Hamilton is considered to be the ring leader of the opposing ideology in wanting a huge central government, by which we would be a large world power to be reckoned with. He also believed that the common man, without specific education, had no business or ability in the affairs of governing over himself or anyone else.  He was fairly elitist, and had a very aggressive desire to be of a new aristocracy here in America that would rival England.  He did not want, in essence, a "new world"; he wanted a world to compete with England, but of the same nature - ambitious and dominating.  Hamilton, one could say, was a believer of "survival of the fittest".  Jefferson was more a lover of the arts, the creative mind, and the ability to "live and let live."  So, Jefferson has a monument in D.C., and Hamilton was shot by his Vice President in a duel.

(For a more in-depth understanding of the Founding Fathers, read "Revolutionary Characters" by Gordon Wood, and "American Creation" by Joseph Ellis.)


An interesting note is that one can make this argument:  if you understand that most people are not "money-motivated", then by allowing free-reign to the market-place, you are allowing a "survival of the fittest" theology to govern our people economically.

Today's Crisis
With that said, let's examine today: We are currently in a state of emergence from an economic crisis.  Why do we have this crisis?  Is it because of Obama?  Bush?  This is where I would really appreciate the American people pulling their heads out of their hind parts:

We are in this because of us.

It started as a landslide of the crashing housing market.  It began because of the greed of people - it was because of greedy loan agents, greedy money lenders and money changers, and because of the stupid, ignorant financial decisions of borrowers - namely, "the people."  If people bought a house they could afford, made their payments, and paid off their homes instead of refinancing four or five times, we would not be here today.  People, take responsibility.  Quit blaming the government, the president, etc.  If someone lends you $500,000, do yourself a favor and read the fine print of the loan.  And loan officers, quit telling people that by refinancing their home and taking out their equity that they can finally buy that boat, plane, pool, or private whiskey-brewing operation for their backyards.  Nevermind that their adjustable rate means they might have to move out of such home in four years.  These statements that it is Obama's fault that we are in this predicament is one of the dumbest, most politically tainted arguments today.  As a Republican, I am hereby stating that it is not Obama's fault whatsoever that we are where we are today.  Done.  Obama, you're off the hook.

Republican vs. Democrat

Here is what I am struggling with now (besides the constant remarks of those who are rather uneducated, but all-too-eager to sprout and advertise their catchy bumper-sticker worthy slogans of each party) - which side do we vote with?

If you at all take this seriously, and desire to find the wisest decision, then please give attention to this portion:

I am all-for less government; but in having less government interference, that also means giving free reign to the market place for businesses.  So, what we're saying from the Republican side is essentially "lets give the decision making power back to those who are 50% responsible for our current situation."  The market-place, the big business corporations, Wall Street, are "in it" for one reason - profits.  They have time, and time again, commits acts of fraud and have taken advantage of the American people in the name of profits.  Are these the people that we want to have the power today?  If you vote Romney, that is what you are saying.  You are acknowledging that the housing market, the big banks, Wall Street, etc., all had major hands in our economic crisis, and we would now be placing them back into a leading role.

The other side of the coin:

Obama is putting plans in place that will spend more money because it takes money to pay these government employees to instill these plans of regulation, and it costs businesses more money to follow these regulations, putting a strangle-hold on the expenses of small businesses, making it harder for more small-businesses to get off the ground.  Obama also likes the "Robin Hood" theory of taking more from the rich and distributing it to the poor.  The only problem is that the Robin Hood story shows us taking money from a couple of financial hyenas like the Sheriff of Nottingham and Prince John, when in reality, we're taking money from hard-working successful Americans and giving it to people who are down on their luck, sometimes sick, and sometimes are just plain lazy and looking for a handout.  (I'm all for the first and second, but the third can "kick rocks".)  However, Obama's big-business regulation policies will make it more difficult for a recurrence of the 2007 crash.  It will help to prevent businesses from taking advantage of the people, and I'm definitely all for this theology.

Obama Care

Misconception: Obama-Care is going to make health care more expensive.
Truth:  Health care is already too expensive.

Misconception: health insurance should be like car insurance.  You shouldn't have to have it because you can choose not to drive.
Truth:  If you have a heart attack in public, get into a car accident and go unconscious, you do not have the choice of not going to the hospital.  One week in the hospital might result in a $100,000 bill.

Misconception:  Everything is fine the way it is.
Truth(s):
1.  Although we are number 1 or 2 in medical technology, we are around number 50 in infant deaths, all because the other countries have better health care plans.

2.  a) Because people go to the hospitals without insurance, they stiff the hospitals with large bills.
     b) The hospitals then jack-up the prices for those who are insured, making it ridiculously high to compensate for those who don't pay.
     c) The insurance companies and hospitals then have huge disputes over payments.

3.  A country where everyone is insured will result in hospitals no longer getting "stiffed on the bill", will in-theory take away the pricing wars between insurance companies and hospitals, and as well as improve the health of the country.  Win, win, and win again.



November 2012 Election

Please keep in mind America: in this coming election, you are voting for one of two things:

Romney:  Big business, I believe in your good intentions; I believe that you have learned from your mistakes over the past 150 years and will no longer put profits in front of people.  I believe that you should be granted free reign to do business as you wish, and strip the government of all unnecessary employees and bureaucracy, lowering our taxes to pay for such regulation.

Obama:  Big business, you have time, and time again, run us into the ground with your greed.  We do not have faith that you will not do it again.  We vote instead for the government to step in and regulate you, in order to prevent us from another economic catastrophe, acknowledging that means a raise in taxes to fund more government employees and workload to accomplish this.


History

I do not have the intention to persuade you in any way, but I will, in conclusion, point out something that should be noted.  History is a wonderful teacher; unfortunately, it does not have enough students.  Here is what we can learn:

We have had 3 notably poor economics situations in the past 100 years:
The Great Depression
The Recession of the late 80's early 90's
The Housing Crash Recession of 2007-2010.

What do all 3 have in common?

They were all preceded by at least two terms of Republican Presidents.

Why would that make a difference?

Historically, when you give free reign to the market place, big business, etc., they will eventually find a way to exploit the system, and the people, and their quick profits will result in some kind of bubble-burst, affecting everyone.

It is up to you to choose.  But do so wisely, and put down the bumper stickers... before I shoot you.