Daily Archives: October 21, 2011

For a while now I’ve argued that the Republican Party has turned into a cult, more than a political party or ideology.  Not to take a jab at Republicans, but simply because it’s what I’ve observed, even more so since the emergence of the Tea Party.

Scientific research (not that science means anything to Republican’s now days) has labeled the signs of a cult, as it relates to the mind control aspect, as the following:

1. People are put in physical or emotionally distressing situations
2. Their problems are reduced to one simple explanation, which is repeatedly emphasized
3. They receive what seems to be unconditional love, acceptance, and attention from a charismatic leader or group
4. They get a new identity based on the group
5. They are subject to entrapment  and their access to information is severely controlled

I’ll tackle these one by one.

1) On the first part.  Is there any doubt from anyone that isn’t a Republican that Republicans are a fearful, angry bunch of people?  Has anyone ever objectively watched Fox News or listened to Beck or Limbaugh?  I can’t count the references of apocalyptic destruction Glenn Beck has referenced, or how he can’t seem to finish a thought without using some Nazi reference.  After the death of Bin Ladin Fox News personalities actually pushed Obama as a leader who proved that he’ll go into a country without authorization to kill whoever he wants to and at any time.  Really?  You take what should be an apolitical event and turn it into a means at which to paint Obama as some kind of tyrant who will stop at nothing to kill whoever he wants.  Ridiculous.

Many Republican people now days have a deathly fear of “death panels” in the Health Care act, or Obama is some kind of homosexual supporting, Muslim foreign-born socialist plant set on destroying everything American, yet can’t define what it is to be “American”.  Then can’t comprehend that to be a socialist, a Muslim AND support homosexuality is nearly an endless line of contradiction’s that no one person could ever singularly encompass.

They’re told by most of their media sources to be afraid, be very very afraid.  These bad men are out to bankrupt your grandchildren, create panels deciding who lives and dies and want to turn this country into some socialistic style of governing.  You can’t be bombarded with this kind of intensely negative and hate filled  information constantly and not come out at the very least somewhat emotionally compromised.

2) I’ve always said Republican’s are all about simple thoughts and vanilla ideas.  They create catch phrases like “Obamacare” or “job creators” because it’s easier to peddle to their followers.  You even seen it in the GOP debates when referencing Mitt Romney’s universal health care bill as “Romneycare”.  Their party is essentially based on 3 main ideas God, taxes and guns.  It’s simple.

I always say Democrats have a strength and a weakness that is the very same thing.  Their ability to be diverse and think differently, while still fundamentally agreeing upon an issue, makes Democrats more well-rounded.  On the contrast that same diverse nature makes them seem weaker and far less organized.  Republicans aren’t this way.  If Fox News, Beck or Rush push an idea I’ll almost instantly see Republicans repeating those same ideas, nearly verbatim.

When bashing public workers in the Wisconsin union issue back in the Spring, suddenly Republican’s were out bashing teachers pay and benefits as too much.  When Bin Ladin was killed almost every Republican I spoke with spun it as well as they could to either deny Obama ANY credit, or give what credit should be given to any administrator to Bush.  The best I heard was “well, it happened on his watch so he has to get the credit (1-2 second pause)…just as Bush gets the credit for getting Saddam”.  Even in the half-hearted compliment they STILL had to bring up Bush and give him credit for something.

Currently it’s the Occupy Wall Street protest.  Amazes me how Fox News and the rest of the conservative media were the cheerleaders for the Tea Party, yet the Occupy Wall Street protesters are scum or bums who need to get a job and stop complaining about their lack of money.  Just amusing when the Tea Party was obviously a re-branding of Republican’s after the Bush debacle of a Presidency, a PR move basically, yet a movement much more grassroots in nature is an attack on the American way of life.

And with each of these issues Republicans oppose you’ll see every section of their media from basic newspapers, to TV and radio repeat the EXACT same talking points and viewpoint about the subject.  Then they’ll repeat them over and over  indoctrinating their audience until it becomes second nature to repeat the exact same response anytime faced with that issue from the opposing side.  Want proof, ask a random Republican the real name of “Obamacare”.  Heck, Republican’s won’t even say rich or wealthy anymore, if you make over $250k a year you’re a “job creator”.

3)  While I wouldn’t call it unconditional love, it is shocking when I ever see Fox, Beck or Rush disagree with anything Republicans are doing.  These outlets make Republicans feel good and justified for their hatred and fear of anything and everything not just like them.  While the “liberal media” may bash you, and Democrats may call you hypocrites…who cares!   These people are simply the enemy and we’ll spoon feed you exactly what you want to hear.  You’re not bad Christians!  Sure you may hate homosexuals, call the poor and needy lazy abusers of the system then cheer executions, but you’re a devout member of your church!  You volunteer in the choir and tithe 10% of your income each month.  You’re a fantastic Christian American, don’t you let anyone tell you different.

When a gay soldier was booed at a GOP debate, not a single candidate reprimanded the audience for doing so.  At another debate a hypothetical man without health insurance was presented to Ron Paul in which he concluded let him die, which was cheered by the audience.  This the party who clings to the Bible and calls themselves the “moral majority”.   But it’s alright because Fox News says it is, and while the rest of the world may detest you, WE all love you and it’s perfectly acceptable to believe how you do.

4)  Republican’s are no longer a political party.  Not anymore.  It’s a faith, similar to any religious faith.  Republicans wear their party as proudly as they do their religion.  Ideology should ALWAYS be up for adjustments or debate.  Facts should be considered proof.  It’s faith where an idea simply is an idea and from that idea the foundation is set for a grander scheme of things.  With Republicans they’re born and bred to be a Republican.  Granted Democrats are this way to on a lot of levels, but Democrats are typically more diverse and open to progressive and changing ideas, Republican’s cling to the same talking points they have for decades.

I am a Democrat and I think differently, very differently on a lot of occasions, than many of my Democratic friends.  Republicans aren’t this way.  In fact if you’re not essentially 100% committed to their ideas top to bottom they have a title for you with a nice little acronym to match.  You’re a R.I.N.O. (Republican In Name Only).  Sure, they’ll accept your vote and support, but think gay marriage is acceptable?  Think we should raise taxes?  Well, sorry but you’re really not “one of us”.

Now it’s not just being a Republican, you’re a “Tea Party Republican”, which means you’re  more Republican than just the average Republican.  Essentially you’re a Republican on steroids.  Before the Tea Party it was the K-Street Republican’s.  You can’t simply have some political ideologies, debate them and be diverse.  You have to be the alpha Republican, all or nothing.  Otherwise you’re really not a true Republican.

5) And my favorite.  Access to information is highly controlled.  Currently the Republican answer to anything is, “If a Fox approved media source didn’t report it, then it is all apart of the liberally bias media, thus apart of the whole conspiracy against the truth”.

I’ve said for a while now, suddenly facts are now objective statements.  I can provide links to simply explained ideas such as Reagan raised taxes 11 times, yet to a Republican they either don’t care or don’t believe it.  Tell them Reagan quadrupled our deficit, you know the messiah of “conservatives”, and they aren’t even phased by the contradiction of “conservative hero” and man who skyrocketed our deficit.  Heck he was the guy who started our entire massive deficit spending to begin with, now he is a legendary figure to Tea Party followers. They cling to his legend as the epitome of Republican values, despite the fact Obama is closer to Reagan than anything the Tea Party represents.

It’s the classic case of trying to argue with a conspiracy theorist.  Essentially you can never win the argument with one it’s almost an impossible task. To someone who buys into a conspiracy all evidence opposed to that conspiracy is just all APART of the conspiracy.  That’s how Republicans are right now.  Any economic or political evidence that shows the obvious hypocritical and contradicting beliefs they currently value is simply the liberal media trying to push their agenda.

Suddenly global warming is a hoax, homosexuality is a choice, green energy is bad because it requires about 1/1000th the fossil fuels we use today so see…it still needs oil!  (that one always makes me laugh), Reagan never raised taxes..I honestly could go on and on about the ridiculous statements I’ve heard Republican’s make simply because Fox News and their buddies decided to push that particular agenda.

Now I know this doesn’t include “all Republicans”.  Nor am I saying Republicans are bad people.  But to say it’s a simple political ideology or choice now days is simply not true.  The dogma of “Republican” has turned into a full-fledged cult following.  Events that 15-20 years ago which were only thought as debatable with the fringe radicals such as global warming or homosexuality are suddenly the growing true belief of the party.

Next time you talk politics with a Republican ask them to provide you with an example of a strong economic country where the government is weak, taxes are low, and the welfare of the countries economic future is simply put into the hands of the rich and powerful, just one historical example.  I already know what the answer because there isn’t one.  In fact the closest resemblance to any nation that has a weak govt little or no taxes and the powerful are left to do what they will are third would countries.  That still doesn’t change the fact they believe in the ideology that supports this style of governing.

Ask them if homosexuality is a choice, was being straight a choice?   And if so, does that mean you really could be a homosexual if you wanted to be, but your moral obligation to God then keeps you seeking the opposite sex?  And if so, do you sexually follow all the other moral obligations to God?  Because, to the Bible there’s no kinky or fun sex, it’s for baby making get on, get off, that’s it!  Sorry ladies.

Or just simply ask them not to tell you what they believe, but provide examples of where it’s worked.  Republican’s are masters are repeating the same talking points or political rhetoric all day, but when you ask them to provide actual real information where this ideology has worked, they typically come up lacking any evidence to prove what they believe.

I never ask people to agree with me, but I do ask them if they disagree with me not to tell me why I’m wrong, but to show me why they’re right.  And in that request, almost always, I never get an answer.