Monday, April 22, 2013

Reagan and the Democratic Party

Ronald Reagan once said that he was a Democrat, but the party left him. I think I understand how he felt when he saw it happening.

This week, there has been a great deal of discussion, with many Republicans insisting we need to strip Dzhokhar Tsarnaev of his Citizenship, and his Constitutional rights. Anyone who disagrees is called Liberal. Under those circumstances, call me Liberal if you want, I am first and foremost an American.

The Constitution is not just some ancient document with no relevance today. It is the foundation of this nation. The rights and laws contained therein are the things we detested about other nations, other Governments. It was those things we swore we would never allow here. More than that, it is the written principals we hold sacred when we call ourselves Americans. It has taken us a long time to reach the full principals, and we may have more to grow into it. But that is the amazing thing about it. We can change it, but only after a process involving a great deal of debate and consideration. This is to prevent us from making a foolish mistake, if we can be prevented from making it.

The rights of the accused, contained within the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments are just as sacred as any other part. It is the trampling of those amendments that causes me such sorrow. Why is it that Republicans are becoming the party that would ignore those three amendments? What amendments are next to be trampled? The First Amendment, is it next?

I think part of this error is one of vision. I see the Constitution as limiting Government, while those who want godlike powers see it as a document enabling Government. I want no such powers, I want nothing of the sort. I want to live, and let live, and exercise as little authority over my fellow citizens as is possible. That was the vision of the Conservative movement. That was the ideals of the Republican Party. Like Reagan, I see my party leaving me, and I am saddened by what this means for the future.

I object to the authoritarian nonsense no matter who spews it. For that reason, I am glad I named this blog Max Conservative. If I had named it Republican Ramblings or something else, I'd be looking to change it now. Perhaps the party will come back to the Conservative roots, but I don't think so.

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