RNC Wants My Opinions

If you've never been a Republican, you are missing out on some depressing humor that comes in letters from the Republican National Committee. I get at least one such letter in the months before each election cycle. This time, I received three letters so the RNC must be in some sort of panic. The last letter was the official "Republican Party Census Document." Yep, that's the title and they want me to tell them about my most important issues for the coming elections.

Cat in Japan, 12x18, pastel

received a similar (no - make that almost identical) census before the 2006 elections. I answered the questions and added a comment to the effect, "I will not vote Republican again until the Party returns to its roots of integrity and fiscal responsibility." As you might suspect, I didn't get a response, but that might be because I didn't send any money.

By the way, I also receive letters from the NRA. They say I'm not paid up and they will terminate me. Since I've never been a member of the NRA, termination is kind of scary. I own handguns and have had other guns. The Constitution, not the NRA, protects that right. Still, I wish the NRA would clarify how they intend to terminate me.

ut this post is for you folks who don't get the wonderful RNC Census. Let me give you some their questions, the ones I really like. My comments in italics:

• Should we make our fight against the Democrats' massive tax hikes a central part of the 2008 campaign?
• What tax hikes? No Democrat, no candidate of any party, has proposed tax hikes. However, any fixes to Medicare, health care or the like will require more taxes now, or like we usually do, push the debt on to our grandchildren. Maybe more importantly, we need to increase our military budget if we are to fight terrorism AND defend against other threats. Has the RNC mentioned a Republican massive tax hike to defend America?
• President Bush's successful income and capital gains tax cuts are set to expire -- should they be made permanent?
• No. The growing disparity between middle America and Bush's rich should leave no one doubting that this White House has been pro-wealthy and pro-business. Even Reagan realized that tax cuts work only if the are timed correctly and are temporary. Bush's tax cuts are certainly successful - for the very wealthy.
• Should Republicans fight for a balanced budget?
• Yes, dammit. When will you start?
• Should Republicans in Congress oppose the new, wasteful government spending programs proposed by the Democrats and their leaders, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid?
• Yes. But what if the new programs are what America needs, are not wasteful, and are proposed by Pelosi and Reid. Will you still fight them ornery Democrats?
• Do you agree that our top military priority should be fighting terrorists?
• That depends. Fighting terrorists that threaten the US has not been a priority since 2003. In the meantime we've hurt our military so much that we have little reserve to defend against another war of any kind. With no other major threats at this time, I'd vote for fighting terrorist as the top priority, so, when do we start? At least, let's try not to make more terrorists than we started with.
• Should Republicans fight Democrat efforts to impose Clinton-era cuts in the Pentagon's budget?
• Yes, although no Democrat has proposed such cuts. While you are at it, maybe you could also vote to fully fund the VA, start taking care of our vets from all wars to the present, and stop proposing cuts in the medical care promised to us retired military.

This is just a sampling. The questions read like a bad joke but I think these folks at the RNC are serious. Note the inflammatory, but meaningless, sound-bite phrases:

• Democrats' massive tax hikes
• new, wasteful government spending programs proposed by the Democrats
• Clinton-era cuts in the Pentagon's budget

There were worse phrases, but you get the idea. I don't know which angers me most - those meaningless word images or the selection of equally meaningless questions. Democrats are evil and Republicans are the only ones who man the ramparts against such despicable evildoers. By November, I wouldn't be surprised if the Democrats didn't become part of the Axis of Evil.

t just makes me sad that my once proud Republicans have sunk so low. It used to be a party that built a platform on reason (yeah, somewhat elitist). This letter/census is pure hate mail geared to emotion only. A close relative said, "Well, the Democrats did it first." Well, that's true but I don't remember it stooping to such a level that insulted the intelligence of voters.

Anyway, I don't really care what the Democrats did or do. I'm not very interested in that Party; the only values I share with that Party are some of social values and a concern for the non-rich. I am concerned with the Republican Party and would like it move away from the radical right and present a reasoned and thoughtful platform.

I'm sure the RNC letter was intended for the party faithful and not to me. Sorry I opened someone else's mail, but it was addressed to me. At least the RNC hasn't threatened to "terminate" me - yet.