Because of a mistake I made when obtaining my California driver's license, I remain a registered member of the American Independent Party -- a party that makes the Republicans look like hippies. Obviously, this is not okay. Something like four whole cents of my tax bill goes to support my membership in this party each year, and that means I'll have spent eight cents too many on those right-wing freaks by the time I finally change my registration, which I intend to do upon my return to California in August.
Maybe.
The truth is, I don't know WTF to do about my voter registration. Once upon a time, I was a Republican. I won't apologize; it suited my beliefs at the time. But then I grew up and got some education, and I registered as an Independent while living in the state of New Jersey -- until NJ took that right away, and I became "unaffiliated." But I didn't want to be unaffiliated when Hillary and Barack were facing off; to vote in the primary, I had to declare a party -- important to me, as I disdain Hillary. I won't apologize for that either. (While we're at it, I also can't stand Martha Stewart or reality TV shows in any form.) So... I became a Democrat for about seven months. My hippie parents were so proud. They helped deliver Florida for Obama.
But...
I'm really not a Democrat. I can't stand DemoRat fiscal policy. This whole "tax the rich" thing just pisses me off. It discounts the hosts of people like my husband, son of working class people, who work their tails off to make the American dream happen. We're not millionaires, not by a long shot, but we make enough that Democrats call us "rich." Well, Nancy Pelosi, I have a memo for you: What's "rich" in Silicon Valley, where I live, is far from what's "rich" in West Virginia, where I grew up. But Nancy (who is beyond filthy freakin' rich) really doesn't give a shit about cost of living differences.
And that's the problem with Democrats. They wholly fail to account for differences among the states. They believe in big government. (OMG, this healthcare system they're proposing, it scares me -- and I support universal healthcare, just not like they propose... but that's another post.) They believe in tax and spend. They believe in taxing us exhorbitantly because we're in the top whatever percent of earners, even though we live in one of the most expensive zip codes in the country. (And yes, I know we're lucky to live there blah blah blah -- we got there by hard work, not by inheritance like Nancy Pelosi, thank you very much. And we wouldn't have been able to buy there had our tax bill been what Obama is proposing -- which is a big effing problem for us right now.)
Republicans, on the other hand, know that what's good for California may not be what's good for West Virginia or Idaho or Florida. I firmly believe that Republicans are better for the economy. If I have more money in my wallet, I'm more likely to employ babysitters and housekeepers and lawn care guys. If my taxes go up as much as Obama/Pelosi et al. would like, ALL of those people will be out of work. How is THAT good for the economy? The "rich" employ people. Taxing the bejeezus out of them harms small businesses (like the lawn guy), is a disincentive to work, unmotivating, and unAmerican too.
But...
I'm not a Republican because I am a social liberal. I have no stance on the abortion issue, but I believe in equal rights for all Americans. I believe gays should be able to marry and adopt in all states. (I am also quite happy that Carrie Prejean is no longer Miss California.) I believe that I am equal to any other human on this planet and that my life is worth no more nor less than anyone I pass on the street. (I've got a little Buddhist in me. Republicans don't like that.) I believe in universal health care and that it should include mental health treatment too (though I detest the plans before Congress presently).
So...
What do I do? Register Libertarian? Nope, can't do that... first of all because of their whack-job stigma, secondly because I really, really don't support legalizing drugs.
In the end, I'm likely to simply "unaffiliate" again. I am so checked out of our effed-up political system and the fact that we have NO good choice, really. Where is the party that looks out for my wallet AND for my conscience? It doesn't exist, as far as I can tell.
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