My niece stumped with with a question: Why is the Republican Party allowed to even exist today?

[Fluke a Snooker]

"Aunt Judy, why is the Republican Party even allowed to exist today? Everyone I know thinks that its a racist party that only helps white males."

I'll be honest. I could not come up with an answer that justifies its existence, based upon the reality that the party is the manifestation of our country's white supremacist founding, in fact the "discovery" of the continent by white supremacist murderers and rapists, and that Europe itself oppressed the rest of the planet throughout history under a blatantly destructive Jedeo-Christian philosophy.

If anyone can come up with reasons that the Republican Party is not inherently racist, I and my niece are all ears. In fact, I will be helping her on her term theme paper on presenting why the Republican Party should not be allowed to exist.

[JI7]

1. Electoral college and gerrymandering

[Freddie]

8. this

[aikoaiko]

2. They are allowed to exist because of the first amendment.

Freedom to assemble and all that.

Are Republicans racist? Yep. But there are enough white men and while women to keep Republicans in office.

[lagomorph777]

16. Correct answer.

Because an attempt to ban them could lead to even worse consequences for our society. We can and should out-compete them, and feel free to attack every crime or massively immoral deed they commit. We should do everything possible to vote every last one of them out of office. We should do everything we can to make "Republican" a horrible epithet never spoken in polite society. But sadly, we can't ban them.

[Hortensis]

21. Right, and the rest of the constitution. This isn't North Korea.

[DBoon]

30. I interpret the question differently

The niece wasn't expecting the Republican Party to be outlawed, she was wondering why enough people support it to make it a viable party. If the racism endorsed by the Republican Party is evil, then shouldn't it be a minor fringe party?

Why do decent people tolerate a political party that is consistently evil? Why are not Republicans social pariahs?

[ProudLib72]

35. Yes, that's how I read the question

In which case, white male hegemony is in existential crisis, and the rethug party is fast becoming irrelevant.

[aikoaiko]

54. That's an even easier question to answer. There are a lot of racist /hateful people out there.

A whole lot.

If it's not racism against brown people, its hate against homosexuals or women's liberty.

[RandomAccess]

34. True, but to be honest I'm having more and more trouble with

pretty much any and all hate speech being given equal accommodation under the 1st Amendment. There ARE other forms of speech which are prohibited --

* lies in advertising and certain financial dealings, and a few other places (court, govt docs)
* libel and slander
* yelling FIRE in a crowded theater
* conspiracy to commit a crime

and probably some others I'm not remembering.

I just increasingly question whether tolerance for speech that, ultimately, promotes genocide (as racism's ultimate goal) should remain protected speech under the 1st Amendment.

AND EVEN IF IT IS, or remains so, that doesn't mean it needs to stay "acceptable" in any other venue or platform. IOW, even if it remains protected under the 1st Amendment, we should redouble our efforts to totally cast it out from every other place it may appear.

And I also keep thinking about how Germany has prohibited Nazi speech and paraphernalia, and somehow they haven't devolved into anarchy or barbarism as a result. So -- ?? Why can't we?

[X_Digger]

42. Yelling fire in a crowded theater is perfectly legal. Stop using it as an example.

https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/11/its-time-to-stop-using-the-fire-in-a-crowded-theater-quote/264449/

[RandomAccess]

48. Oh, that's interesting. Good to know. I'll replace it with --

child pornography

[former9thward]

3. I guess they don't teach the Constitution at her school....

[Fluke a Snooker]

11. Actually, they do. She's in eighth grade in middle school.

But we have a progressive school district, and teach the Constitution correctly, which is that it is supposed to change as times evolve and new issues come into play. In addition, the entire construct of the Constitution was done by 100% white men, with nearly all of them slave owners, so even if the Constitution were taught, the original intent of the document was to render privilege to white males at the expense of women an non-white individuals.

[former9thward]

12. So you reject the First amendment.

The thing that allows the Democratic Party to exist. Ok, good luck on the term paper...

[Hortensis]

22. Fluke, remember, voters are citizens. The constitution serves us

as the bedrock of our GOVERNMENT OF, BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE.

Those last are Lincoln's words. I can understand being briefly stuck, so maybe use them to kick off? You can explain that We The People make our own decisions as free people and that our government was designed to guarantee our right to do just that and to go to the polls to vote our choices.

And maybe call the teacher and just let her know the big picture and the big principles are getting lost in the details.

Btw, if she asks if that means a powerful news network like Fox should be allowed to incite sedition and call for armed rebellion against our government to obstruct justice, in effect yell fire in a crowded nation to create a mob, tell her that's a big open question that some of us think really needs not just an answer but a solution.

[Oneironaut]

37. Sorry, but thats the argument Fascists will use when burning the Constitution.

“The Constitution was inherently evil, as were the men who wrote it! We’re only fixing it! You don’t need a first amendment - we need to protect you from harmful speech!”

Hold your rights dear. It’s easier to keep your rights now than being forced in a situation where you may need to give everything to get them back. Remember that Fascists are always your friend until they aren’t.

[Demsrule86]

4. There supporters vote for them no matter what...so they exist. Even though they shouldn't.

Also, some muddy the water with the parties are the same...they are not.

[pansypoo53219]

5. money stockpiles support it.

[linuxman]

6. I guess the constitution gets covered somewhere in grad school...

[X_Digger]

41. You'd think, right?

[Billy Jingo]

7. That is the downside to democracy

People who disagree with you get to vote too.

[Irish_Dem]

9. Money/Corruption/Propaganda nt

[The Wielding Truth]

51. I totally agree with you.

[lpbk2713]

10. The GOP was down for the count in the latter years of the BushCo Regime.

But the MSM resurrected them.

[renate]

13. I like your niece! But yeah, it's the First Amendment

I sure can't help with your last question about why it's not inherently racist, though.

[fescuerescue]

14. Same reason the Democratic party is allowed to exist.

If it were possible, to assemble a Congress and Presidency that would be willing to sign a ban, outlawing Republicans, it would only be a manner of time, that a complimentary law would be passed outlawing the Democratic party. In fact, given the makeup in Washington today, The Dems would likely be first on the chopping block.

But it's not possible - Bill of Rights allows it.

But - lets imagine that scenario where the Republicans were banned, and it was perfectly constitutional, and it was unconstitutional to ban the Democratic party. Within a short amount of time, the Democratic party would split, a new party would spin off, former republicans would join it and we would be back at square #1, with a just a different name.

Super short version? One party states are worse than two party states and a big group of people must always have an opposition and if they don't - they will create one.

[chumpchange]

28. It is also worth remembering that...

the Constitution is a major part of what keeps the US together as a nation. Strip out the Constitution and its fundamental guarantees for all citizens and you will quickly have difficulties keeping the US together. States might secede, you might see armed rebellion, etc. Better to have some disagreement and keep the country together.

[Fluke a Snooker]

15. Wrong. California is a perfect, shining example of a Democratic Party-only state.

California is running rings around the rest of the country due to the Democratic Party's complete, absolute control of the political process. Because of "jungle primary" rules, no Republican will ever get enough votes to qualify for a general election for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, or US Senator ever again. In addition, they hold a near-supermajority in both the Senate and Assembly, and will regain it once new Democrats are voted in the place of vacated seats. In the meantime, with its fair, substantial taxation policies, burgeoning single-payer health care mandates, cutting-edge environmental policies, and most importantly, its progressive immigration policies, California will lead the way to show the rest of the country...and the planet, actually... of how, by shedding itself of the Republican Party, that we will overcome other states' white supremacist US Constitution approach and render a new global, progressive era. THIS is why my niece just got an A on her report!

[LanternWaste]

20. Post hoc ergo prompter hoc.

"California is running rings around the rest of the country due to the Democratic Party's complete, absolute control of the political process..."



Post hoc ergo prompter hoc.

It does not necessarily follow. Never allow your bias to overtake rational thought.

[Calista241]

44. Blind faith leads to the inability to see failure thats right in front of you.

From the LA Times, just 11 days ago, “Why is liberal California the poverty capital of America?”

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-jackson-california-poverty-20180114-story.html

[Tipperary]

47. I was thinking the same. Interesting read.

Some people here think of California as the promised land. I just do not understand that. Never mind the mudslides, fires, earthquakes.

[BoneyardDem]

17. I honestly belive we are better politically where there are antagonists

we relly do need at least tow parties. Now as for why the party or Racism exists...that's because they represent racists who vote for them, in the millions. Racist, bigots, homophobes, mysoginists all have representation in that party.

[MrScorpio]

18. The answer to me is obvious, the GOP is functioning as a white power party

It’s all about demographics. Where it can, the Republicans serve as the defenders of white supremacy. That’s easy to see, as it’s the party of preference in most areas of the country that are predominantly white, middle-class to under-class monocultured and rural

They maintain their power base in those areas of the country by playing on the feelings of white resentment, fear of otherness and outrage.

It’s an appeal to white supremacy, whether those white people see it or not. Dog whistles are common in that appeal. What it does is give the GOPrs a cover of plausible deniability, as most white people are reluctant to claim that they’re holding white supremacist beliefs when they actually do.

Whites who openly hold white supremacist beliefs understand that message and have adopted the Republicans as an unwilling ally, a means to an end.

As long as the Republicans continue to serve as a functionary of white supremacy while rural, middle class whites maintain a demographic advantage and that advantage is further enhance through the use of gerrymandering and the influx of mega-donors, they’re going to stick around.

However, if you want to beat them, you’re going to need to beat white supremacy as well.

[Blue_true]

19. The Republican Party started out as an anti slavery expansion party.

The Republican Party through 1900 was actually decent. It was ok up to the election of FDR, then it started a long slide.

I think you niece should write her paper by researching the original Republican Party that Lincoln help start versus the Republican Party since 1948. She should do a historical recounting on how the party changed over time, she should use 20 year blocks of time starting from the inception of the party during Lincoln's day.

BTW, until 1960, most African Americans voted republican. That changed with Kennedy embracing civil rights for Blacks after a push. FDR and his New Deal did nothing of significance for African Americans, they were excluded from every New Deal program, including Social Security and the FHA loan program. Truman integrated the Armed Services and ended the dual tier treatment of soldiers that FDR allowed to continue. Lyndon Johnson got AA into Social Security and getting FHA loans, maybe that is why modern republicans so hate those programs today. Also, the modern Republican Party gets most of it's adherents from the old Dixiecrats that left the Democratic Party in 1948.

[dawg]

23. Selfish white males have a lot of money.

And, I have been told, money talks.

[samir.g]

29. and guns

[brooklynite]

24. Simple reply: "would you be willing to let someone else decide which groups you can join"?

[NCTraveler]

25. They exist for extremely good reason.

Last edited Thu Jan 25, 2018, 06:45 PM - Edit history (1)

A wee bit frightening that you can't come up with an answer. But what you put forward is a little cloudy. You have put forth thoughts that are not connectable.

Serious suggestion, and one you should take to heart. Don't help her with some fascist sounding paper. Have her put together a paper on why the Republican party should and does exist today. Seems that is what she is completely missing and you are all to eager to hide from her. The answer will be some of what makes the US kick ass.

[Cosmocat]

26. Human nature

Unfortunately history proves that overtime the tides of public opinion come and go far too often in the direction of that which appeals to the lesser aspects of the human spirit.

[elleng]

27. First Amendment

[sarisataka]

31. I am curious what class

Would have a term paper assignment to advocate for a one party state

[iscooterliberally]

32. The real question is 'why does the republican party exist?'

To me, it's mostly because of voter apathy. Yes there is terrible gerrymandering and there are voter suppression laws. Republicans don't want the vast majority of people to vote. I feel that if everyone who could vote actually did so, the republican party would just be some far right fringe group that had no power at all. I read after the election that only 27% of all eligible voters actually voted for Trump. If everyone who could vote actually showed up our country would be very different from what we have today. Right now, the politicians pick their voters.

[tritsofme]

33. What ridiculous and absurd framing. Your entire premise is actually quite frightening

Not to mention authoritarian.

Do neither of you have a problem with the concept of the government “allowing” political parties or ideas to exist?

Your niece being young gets an excuse for such naïveté, l’m not sure what to think of OP.

[Oneironaut]

36. Depends on the definition of allowed to exist.

If “allowed to exist” means “why do people vote for them,” I believe it’s because they appeal to and exploit base human emotions like fear, anger, jealousy, and tribalism. Their talking points are very dumbed down and almost tinpot dictatorship-like.

If you’re wondering why the government doesn’t ban the Republican Party, it’s because that’s what a tinpot dictatorship does to their foes. I’d rather kick their butts in the ballot box than become a monster to fight monsters.

[melman]

38. Laying it on a little thick there

Don't you think? I mean if the idea is to not be noticed.

[Gothmog]

39. Freedom of association-even assholes can organize and associate

The GOP is full of assholes who share the common goal of being assholes. The First Amendment give groups the right or freedom to associate which means that the assholes who make up the base of the GOP can be part of a party of assholes

[X_Digger]

40. Because we don't kill political parties for being racist? Or disagreeable, or hateful, or..

What, does she think that the government has the power to strike a party from existence based on some perceived characteristic?!?

Who the fuck gave them that power?

[hack89]

43. Because we didn't give the government the power to judge what we have to believe

in order to participate in our democracy.

Her paper should simply say "political parties exist because of the the 1st Amendment and therefore we have to let people with different ideas than me participate in politics."

You and your niece scare me.

[Calista241]

45. You do realize that this problem is only going to be exacerbated in the future?

Democrats will concentrate themselves in the city, and Republicans will increasingly become a rural / suburbs party.

In the future, Dems will likely hold the Presidency in near perpetuity, but Repubs will hold the House and Senate.

[Dreamer Tatum]

46. Cool story, bro. nt

[stevenleser]

49. Thats not a hard question to answer. We have much more extremist parties than the GOP

The first amendment guarantees the right to speech, freedom of assembly and to petition the government to address your issues whatever issues you think you have.

1st amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[Quemado]

50. It's allowed to exist because of money

The Republican party in a sense is not a political party, it's a scam on the part of the wealthy to control government. In order to control the government under the veneer of democracy, the wealthy buy off politicians, and in the case of the U.S., the wealthy bought themselves a political party.

The wealthy do not want government to be controlled by the will of the people. The wealthy want to control government to make themselves even wealthier. To accomplish this, the wealthy instruct their employees (Republican politicians) to change the tax law (which we have witnessed recently), spend more government money on things that benefit the wealthy and less money that benefit the people.

If we assume the wealthy make up 1% of the population, then, how could they control government? The employees of the wealthy (Republican politicians) conduct campaigns to attract enough voters to get themselves elected. For example, Republican politicians do and say the right things to attract one-issue voters (abortion) and culture voters (those who don't like non-white people).

[parkerMcDavis]

52. Please don't help her on the term paper.

[jberryhill]

53. What grade is this?

Are you going to help her classmates write their papers? If not, why not?

The Republican Party is allowed to exist as a refuge for kids who had Aunt Judy help them with their schoolwork, and went on to believe they worked as hard as those who didn’t.

[Fluke a Snooker]

55. 8th grade N/t

[john657]

56. Are you even an American?

I ask because most Americans do know about the 1st Amendment.