Another reason to avoid Texas
Jun. 14th, 2004 12:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
onefixedstarNotes from Salon on the current GOP platform:
The platform makes short work of the federal government, calling for the abolition of everything from the U.S. Department of Education to the Internal Revenue Service, along with most taxes. Aliens without proper identification are to be summarily deported. Illegal immigrants should not be granted drivers' licenses. Voter registration is to be made more difficult. "American English" is the official language of the state, and "the Party supports the termination of bilingual education programs in Texas." A plank titled "equality for all citizens" urges the repeal of hate crimes legislation. Another one states: "We oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values." Since the Bible is the literal truth, teachers should have the right to instruct their public school students in "creation science." The Ten Commandments are the foundation of the legal system. And lest anyone forget, "America is a Christian nation."
I'm truly amazed that a mainstream party would develop this kind of platform and expect to win. What's more, I gather everyone expects them to win. Do the majority of Texans vote reflexively, without reading the platform, or does this reflect how most of them think? What a fearful world they must live in if it's the latter.
(I really don't get the apparent obsession with undermining the federal government--do Texan Republicans take no pride in being American?)
The platform makes short work of the federal government, calling for the abolition of everything from the U.S. Department of Education to the Internal Revenue Service, along with most taxes. Aliens without proper identification are to be summarily deported. Illegal immigrants should not be granted drivers' licenses. Voter registration is to be made more difficult. "American English" is the official language of the state, and "the Party supports the termination of bilingual education programs in Texas." A plank titled "equality for all citizens" urges the repeal of hate crimes legislation. Another one states: "We oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values." Since the Bible is the literal truth, teachers should have the right to instruct their public school students in "creation science." The Ten Commandments are the foundation of the legal system. And lest anyone forget, "America is a Christian nation."
I'm truly amazed that a mainstream party would develop this kind of platform and expect to win. What's more, I gather everyone expects them to win. Do the majority of Texans vote reflexively, without reading the platform, or does this reflect how most of them think? What a fearful world they must live in if it's the latter.
(I really don't get the apparent obsession with undermining the federal government--do Texan Republicans take no pride in being American?)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
"If I owned Hell and Texas, I'd live in Hell and rent out Texas." General Sherman
Date: 2004-06-14 11:32 pm (UTC)I read really hard, and found one thing on that platform I could almost get behind (It's the abolition of Hate crimes in case your wondering. Never believed governments had a right to legislate thinking. Murdering someone because you don't like there sexuality/creed and murdering someone for money is equally odious as far as I can see and I don't see why the first should garner extra years with regard too sentencing).
I think Texan's tend to think of themselves as Texan first, American second, so aren't worried about undermining the federal government (even when one of them is leaidng it) provided there the ones to do it.