It Ain't About 'Opinion'
As custom, I called one of my very good friends this morning on my way to work.
Anyways, we get into the subject about some people not liking me because I am an OUTSPOKEN Republican. Since I am a people person, it sometimes bothers me when people automatically disqualify anything I have to say because of my political affiliation. Obama can say that more black fathers need to support their children without the race hustlers and victicrats sounding the 'it's because of slavery' or 'it's because of institutionalized racism' alarm. Moynihan said this like 40+ years ago, but he was called a racist.
So my friend said, "Vanessa, it's not that we don't listen to you. It's just that we feel like you don't value our opinion!"
My response was, "You're right! I don't value false opinions. Politics is not like music genres or ethnic cuisine. It ain't about opinion. It's about what has historically worked! As a Conservative, I don't have the luxury of repeating unsubstantiated rhetoric. I have to actually know what I am talking about. If I don't know something, I won't pretend to!"
He intently listened to my rant so I continued, and said, "Conventional knowledge is not always supported by facts. I guess it's not necessarily me that people don't like, but the fact that for once they are challenged with facts that they have probably never heard before."
It's that moral relativism crap that gets underneath my skin. So now, people can't be 'wrong' if they hide under the, 'well, it's my opinion' umbrella??? No. Sorry. Not going to fly. That's a cop out. My freshmen year in college I took this philosophy course. I'm never going to forget what my professor said on the first day. He said, "This isn't going to be one of those 'because it's your opinion you can't be wrong' classes. That's not going to work in here. You're either right or you're wrong!"
It's not even about me proving people wrong (I admit I like that a little 
); its about the fact that most people I know are ok with a cursory inspection (if that) of policies and how they'll affect EVERYONE. "If it sounds good, I'm in!!!" "Universal health care sounds great! I'm down with the cause!" My personal favorite: "Rich people can afford to pay higher taxes!"
Those phrases are too banal and they're not good enough for me to espouse...that's why I am an avid Conservative.
The bottom line is this:
It's not an opinion that the Great Society Programs messed up the Black Family.
It's not an opinion that when children are raised in a home where mommy and daddy are present they fare better educationally, are less likely to abuse drugs, are less likely to commit crimes, and are more likely to have high self-esteem. The list goes on.
Its not an opinion that raising taxes does virtually nothing to stimulate the economy. Ford, Nixon, LBJ, W. Wilson, FDR...and counting... found that out the hard way...
It's not an opinion that since Russia and Japan (and lots of other countries) have introduced a Flat Tax system, they have seen a plethora of wealth creation and budget surpluses! High tax rates are counterproductive. Im, sayin', can I get a flat tax... HELLO?
It's not an opinion that government micromanaging the private sector makes things harder for the consumer.
It's not an opinion that NAFTA helped create 20 million jobs.
It's not an opinion that raising the capitol gains tax generates less revenue for the government.
It's not an opinion that since No Child Left Behind there is greater accountability, reading and math achievement gaps between white and black 9 year-olds is at an all time low.
Look, I can go on and on and on about how conservatism is less about emotion than it is clear, cogent facts.
It's like Clarence Thomas said:
"I don't know one of my friends who is considered a conservative who has not had to go back and thoroughly think through everything. You do a lot of soul-searching - 'cause we are not going to win any popularity contests."
I'm not quite sure i understand what they mean by flat tax rate. Does that mean no matter what you make everyone pays 1 tax amount? I mean if thats the case that seems unreasonable, doesnt it. if i make 10,000 annually and you make 100,000 annual and we both pay 6,000 a year that seems unfair. Im sure thats not what it would be like but that is sure how democrats make it seem. If you could clear this up for me and probably many others that would be good, cuz that is the one thing that has always confused me quite a bit.
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A flat tax is one rate applied to all incomes. In other words if the flat tax rate is 10% then someone making 40,000 would pay 4000 a year in taxes. If someone makes100,000 then they pay 10% which is 10,000. With the flat tax you pay more money based on your income but the marginal rate stays the same....
This is in contrast to the unfair 'progressive' system that we have. Our current system penalizes people who make more money with a higher tax rate. The less money you make the less you have to pay (lots of people pay no income tax) and the more money you make the more you give back to uncle sam. So someone who didn't go to school and makes about 20,000 a year doesn't get much money taken from them. However a doctor (12+ years of school) can have almost half of what they make taken away from them to fund government 'programs'...
A little history...the income tax rate to fund WWI (under Woodrow Wilson) went up to 91% for top earners... Can you imagine keeping .09 cents for every dollar you make? Ugh!
I hope that answers your question...
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OOOHHH! Well, that makes perfect sense. I would that that would work much better than the system we have now. And wouldnt that insure that everyone would pay taxes and not be able to wiggle out because of loop holes and such. That is very interesting! You learn something everyday. Before reading your blog i considered myself pretty conservative in thinking but im not one to catagorize myself as rep. or dem. But i see that my thinking is more republican than i thought. I am very curious and excited to read what else you have to say. Vannessa you sure have changed since highschool. I think i like it very much. lol
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You are absolutely correct Vanessa, the left feeds on emotion and rejects empiricism. This tendency is played out in politics as well as in the churches. It is the reason that so many "black churches" preach prosperity instead of sound doctrine. So much credence paid to experiential tomfoolery and too little expository biblical teaching.
In our schools we reject facts and accountability and replace it with outcome based touchy-feely excuse making. You are a very impressive thinker. Though I tend towards the Fair Tax myself.
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I waa having a conversation with my mother on how pastors talk more about sowing seeds and leaving money on the alter instead of teaching morals and values to people. People want some miricle way to pay debt that they accrued themselves, but they cant stop lying, cheating and commiting adultry. I believe god can use what you have already make it enough for you to live on with you having to give half of what you dont have to the church. I dont think you can give to god with a 'whole heart' if you are only doing to get something in return. Most people only give EXPECTING god to do something in return. when nothing happens its because you 'didnt give enough'. i love the story of the women and the vessels of oil. He used what she had to make more, sell, pay off her husbands debts and told her to LIVE OFF THE REST, and nothing else. How we learn if we actually READ the bible. But i digress! lol. Vanessa I'd LOVE to know what you think about that, you should write a blog about it.
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I agree with you Shiana.
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Thanks! I was so angry about this topic, i typed it so fast I forgot to check for spelling errors. But its very true. I think black people look for this miracle fix to all of their problems, and when it doesn't come, they blame it on 'whitey' or them living in the 'ghetto'. Im from Haiti, i wish some of these black people would go there and see a real ghetto. They wouldn't last a week. Thats why minorities (including blacks) from other countries do better in school and in the work place here in the US because they know what its like to CANT go to school. There IS NO foodstamp program or family first. In some place no matter how smart you are you CANT get ANY scholorship to anywhere. I think american blacks are very spoiled. I can say that because i see it from both angles. My mother is Southern and my father is Haitian. We are willing to give evry piece of money we have for a miracle fix to everything in our lives, when all god is asking for is something we can give him for free; our souls.
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I came to your blog through a friend who has been reading it. I am not sure what I expected, but what I got was not it. I think it is wonderful to hear for once, someone who not only believes in a view point, but has the intelligence to back it up with straight facts. I am so tired of listening to the "30-40" year old crowd of people who are only able to spew out what they hear on the television, and throw it around as if it were fact. No one seems to want to dig into anything, to find out if it is truly fact or rhetoric.
As for the economy, my husband and I have been paying down our bills and getting out of debt for the last 2 years, on the assumption that this day would come. Yes, there is a down turn in the country, and our community. We all need accountability here, to learn to stop spending what we don't have and to make proper financial decisions. We feel it will be even more important in the coming months, as we believe we shall see a huge inflationary time by next fall, making this recession seem like child's play. The public needs to learn to live within their means, to be conscience about what they are purchasing, and to stop living in an era of entitlement.
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It is truly embarassing that the African-American community continues to buy the liberal left and their failed policies which only distracts and harms our community.
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