Growing up in our middle-class neighborhood meant that there seemed to be an equal number of Republicans and Democrats.
Our neighborhood, in the suburbs of the San Francisco Bay Area, was divided among those whose ancestory was divided among those who considered themselves to be Americans and those (like my family) who were immigrants, mainly Italian and Irish. And yet, everyone was in the same boat (so to speak); working to better the circumstances of their families, improving their homes, helping their kids with their homework, going to their games, and all of us regardless of religion...attending our separate churches.
And even though there were a few minor areas of contention in policy between Dems and our friends who voted GOP, I do not recall arguments of the magnitude that we now see. In fact, my Democratic elders (my Italian Grandparents were teetering on the brink of Socialism) were best friends with my best girl-friends parents who are, to this day, staunch Republicans. I never witnessed an argument between them and certainly not about anything political. At least not until...
We went through the Kennedy assassination, Vietnam, and Watergate without an argument. In fact, it wasn't until Ronald Reagan became governor of California and closed the mental hospitals that I recall my parents and my friends parents, disagree over "politics".
My how the Republican Party has changed. Prior to the election of George "W" Bush, it was the judgement of Karl Rove that it was a good idea to embrace the "fringe" elements of the party. It seems that Mr. Rove felt that he could manipulate these fringe Republicans with Social Issues, such as abortion and gun rights and "turn out the vote" when required. Unfortunately, those "fringe" groups did not realize when they were being used.
OR...has it become the other way around?
I am glad that my parents and grandparents are deceased so they cannot watch the planned destruction of the country they loved so much. Especially, my grandparents.
My grandparents came to the United States just after Mussolini took over Italy. In fact, I had one great-Aunt who used to smuggle Italian-Jews over the Alps in an effort to keep them from harms way, due to my families' hatred for fascist dictates. If they were to witness the direction of the so-called GOP now, and how they are trying to drive our country, it would break their hearts.
There was a time when the Grand Old Party had some good ideas. Witness those of former General, then President Eisenhower. After fighting the Nazi Machine and having to turn over half of Europe to the Soviets, he was more than aware of how unchecked power and ego could destroy a country and he tried to warn us all. His own party chose not to adhere to those warnings.
IF the Republican Party hopes to survive, their only hope is to jettison the Tea Party as well as those identifying as Libertarian. Their influence has nothing to do with American Independence and EVERYTHING to do with either a Theocracy or a Fascism...depending on which sect takes control. Either way it spells the end of Democracy as we were taught it should be, "by the people, for the people"
The "two party system" which is the United States political system is in need of a second party. The Republican party has abdicated its duties by encouraging the fringe elements, for whatever reason. If the Republican Party wants to make good on its inherent responsibility, the promises it made to their members from its beginnings, then it should become autonomous again by making a clean break from its so called "base" of lunatics.
Signed,
A concerned Democrat