To the residents of Bethlehem, PA:
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays all around.
My name is Arthur Christopher Schaper, a resident of Torrance, CA.
The 2012 General election is over, and I am surprised that the national
Republicans did so poorly compared to their state-wide peers, including Pennsylvania. I believe that the ideas of individual liberty, free enterprise, and limited government should be appealing, but the party seems to have done a poor job of making its case.
To anyone who is willing to read and respond, I would like to know:
1. Did you vote for Democratic or Republican candidates? For which offices?
2. Why?
3. If you voted for the Democratic candidates, what were the issues or concerns that you have about the Republican candidates?
Thank you for your time.
1. Republicans work to take the vote away from qualified citizens. 2. Republicans protect fetuses more than they protect women. 3. Historical data show that the Republican economic theory - that protecting the interests of the rich benefits the entire economy better than protecting the interests of the masses - is wrong. 4. Except for a bloated defense budget, which is out of line with the actual threat, there is not much to cut in the federal budget that won't hurt the people. 5. The wish to be secure in one's health care and in one's elder years is not a wish to be dependent. Republicans who harp on the alleged "entitlement mentality" show their contempt for large parts of the general population. Romney did NOT misstate his position when he insulted the 47%; he was speaking like a typical Republican. 6. The Republican post-election explanation that they just need to improve their messaging, their presentation, is wrong. With a huge cash advantage in campaign advertising, thanks to the likes of Adelson/the Koch boys/Rove, they had more than enough messaging. The problem is with the policies they advocate and the actions their state-level elected officials take. They work against the middle class. This is the way it looks to one anti-Republican. Thanks for asking.
If you mean voter ID laws, allow states to provide free ID. Nothing wrong with that. The racial allegations of voter suppression are unfounded. "Republicans protect fetuses more than they protect women." Life begins at conception, but one must permit exceptions, in rape, incest, life of mother. "Except for a bloated defense budget, cut in the federal budget that won't hurt the people." Means testing and block grants would save money without hurting people. If cutting spending hurts "everybody", then would you not submit that government is doing too much? "The wish to be secure in one's health care and in one's elder years is not a wish to be dependent." I agree. If you paid into social security or any other federal program, you should get your money back. Many Democrats I spoke to did not like Obama, but they voted for him. In the same way, I was not a Romney "fan", but I voted for Romney. "47%" was bad, bad, bad! "The problem is with the policies they advocate and the actions their state-level elected officials take." A positive message which respects everyone is individual liberty all the way. "They work against the middle class." Tax hikes on the 250k + crowd will hurt middle class businesses. If GOP must acquiesce, it should be for millionaires at best. Still, research has shown that tax hikes cause people to hide their money in tax shelters. Thanks.