The Militant Moderate

In one of his earlier blogs entitled “Things That Bother Us,” the Militant Moderate developed the thesis that a person may be defined by the things by which he/she is bothered.  It has occurred to him that possibly political parties may be defined in a somewhat similar fashion.  It is something of a challenge to test this hypothesis by examining party positions and issues, but the undaunted MM will make an effort.  

Republicans have often stated that the democrats are for “big government,” that their prevailing behaviors are “tax and spend,” and that they advocate “government control” of business, the economy, and the American way of life.  Democrats say that the republicans are for “big business” practice “borrow and spend,” and favor “special interests.”  They say the party is controlled by the wealthy class, and that the party exercises control of government in behalf of those interests.  

Perhaps it would be appropriate to examine the two parties and take a look at the control elements exhibited.  

Recent actions in the republican Oklahoma State House would indicate that party is most interested in controlling what is taught in science classrooms so as to include creationism, what type of degrees teachers must have to be given raises, what tests will be required for graduation from high school, and what percentages of school budgets must be for classrooms versus counseling, buses, utility bills, and other costs.  Republicans want to control which shelves books are placed upon in public libraries.  The House tries to control all state government by blocking moves by the Senate and the Governor to fund prisons, raise teachers’ salaries, or even ordinary costs to run the government.  They seek to limit the estate taxes paid by a few wealthy families, and they label it a “death tax.”  

Republicans are interfering with pharmacists filling prescriptions as written by doctors.  They are controlling freedom of drug stores and citizens to obtain cheaper prescription drugs from Canada.  They are controlling access to birth control drugs and procedures.  They want to control who cohabits with whom, at least legally, thus indirectly controlling hospital visitations, estates, and various legal rights.  

Republicans want to take personal choice from a woman and control whether she will become or stay pregnant.  They want to control religious exposure of children in schools, and what kind of prayers may be said in school or at school functions.  They would like to control which religious postings may be made or exhibited on government or school property.  It appears that republicans desire to impose their own religious and moral beliefs on everybody through the laws they make.  

Republicans seek to control citizens’ access to courts for redress on liability for faulty products and liability for negligent acts of others, such as hospitals and doctors.  They have set controls over the rights of a worker, injured on the job, to seek treatment of his/her choice and just compensation.  Prominently, republicans want to control and reduce taxes paid by the wealthy.  

Democrats have also sought to control a number of vectors besetting the daily lives of Americans.  They have sought to control formation and behavior of business monopolies or oligopolies, such as exist in the oil industry, to manipulate prices and gouge the public.  They have sought to maintain control over the rates and profit levels of utility company monopolies, and keep these from victimizing consumers.  Democrats tried to set limits on production of gas guzzler autos in order to reduce dependence on foreign oil.  Democrats seek to control out-sourcing of American jobs, and the ability of corporations to avoid taxes by moving out of the country or setting up offices off-shore.  

Democrats have sought to control efforts of businesses and hospitals from taking away the rights of citizens to declare bankruptcy when hit by financial catastrophes.  They have passed rules and legislation requiring the proper labeling of food products sold, and controlling the quality of meat and produce reaching the grocery shelves.  They have sought to control companies’ efforts to refuse workers’ right to organize and bargain with employers.  Democrats want to set a decent minimum wage which must be paid to workers, thus trying to control sweat shops and sweat farms.  They have sought to control some conditions of child and other labor here, and in countries that sell to us.  Democrats want to control illegal immigration and the undermining of wages of American workers.

Democrats have passed legislation which requires banks to make local loans, and to make loans to people who represent the ethnic makeup of the community.  The party has sought to control those who would by subterfuge make race a qualification for voting.  They have sought to control the denial of health care on the basis of ability to pay.  Democrats have established some controls over the latitude of prosecutors to ride roughshod over the rights of defendants, protecting the innocent and the guilty.  They have sought to provide alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders.  

Democrats have developed numerous controls over big business which irritate managerial tycoons to no end.  Foremost among these are environmental protection controls, such as air, water, and nature.  They have tried to put controls on safety of pharmaceuticals that reach the consumer market, with liability penalties for violation.  They regulate workplace safety through standards and inspections, often to the chagrin of employers.  Democrats control fair employment practices through wage and hour laws, and they control hiring and firing abuses of employers by prohibition of discrimination.  

The Militant Moderate now recognizes that his hypothesis has advanced to a thesis.  Indeed political parties are defined by the elements of American life which they seek to control.  One party tries to control the personal lives and freedoms of citizens, while the other concerns itself with controlling corporate and business behavior on behalf of workers and consumers.  With full knowledge of these differences, voters must then be held personally responsible for their decisions at the polls.    

Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA Militant Moderate