Hello Black Republicans/Conservatives? What are we doing?
So, naturally, if liberals were so "evil" the only place left for me to go was the other side, right?
I've openly identified as a Conservative Republican for a little over 2 1/2 years. I'm almost 26, and I realize that my opinions will continue to evolve. I don't "co-sign" on everything Republicans say or do. I think independently. However, I find that most of my views align more perfectly with Conservatism, especially as it relates to the family-and the importance of keeping the mother-father nuclear family intact-something that liberals all too often negate. Liberals seem to think that government can supplant a married mommy and daddy and the human capital that is produced when children are raised in said family. Just ask anyone whose worked in "the hood" for years, like myself, and they'll tell you that government cannot compensate for broken families that all too often produce broken people.
However, the last few months, I've found myself increasingly annoyed and gravely concerned with Republicans and Conservatives especially Black Republicans and Conservatives. It's so easy to Bash Obama, and his followers. I've done my fair share of that. After a while, that gets old. What alternatives are we bringing to the table? The unemployment rate is hovering around 10 % nationally and runs even higher than that in certain areas in the US. If someone is out of a job and a Republican or Conservative calls Obama a "Socialist" or says he's about "Spreading the wealth" most people who don't understand the dangers of confiscatory government will simply say, "Hey, Obama better spread some of that wealth my way! I'm B-R-O-K-E!"
The question for Republicans, especially BLACK Republicans is: What are we doing for the people in the hood? What are our policy proposals that will help bring jobs to people so they can get off of "government"? I have respect for most of the tea party people-especially because I have friends who participate in them religiously. However, let's keep it real, Tea party goers don't care about the hood. What policies do we have for high-crime, low educational attainment, and the other social pathologies we see in the inner city.
According to many studies, and a recent Pew Research Survey, Black people's views align almost perfectly with the Republican party-YET STILL only 2-3% of us identify as such? Something is terribly wrong.
So what's causing the disconnect?
Well, for starters, I believe that there is a self-hatred problem we refuse to talk about. I believe that there are many of us on this side who are trying to brown nose to White people because we feel this inherent sense of inferiority. We bash our brothers and sisters, look down on them, and end up being part of a different plantation. Yeah, I said it. There's a plantation mentality on this side too. Just the other day, a Black Conservative woman on facebook posted a picture of a defaced Michele Obama likening her to a gorilla. Again, not all of us (Black Republicans) behave this way, but many of us have identity issues and the rest of our Black brothers and sisters can see through it.
The other problem is the way we package the message. We live in a mixed economy. Most Americans are MODERATE. I heard Glenn Beck say that the other day! You think Rush Limbaugh isn't a moderate? A few months back, when he was on Jay Leno, and Jay asked him if he wanted to get rid of Social Security and Medicare (FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS) altogether, Rush responded an unabashed, "No!" How moderate of him. Scott Brown is a Pro-choice Moderate. Michael Steele is a moderate too, and he constantly gets flack about it! Go figure! Americans are not extremely to the right, nor are they extremely to the left.
We, the people, believe in government regulation and taxation- but not to the point where it stifles creativity that produces economic growth. That's the "right-wing" message people should hear. Ironically enough, I heard this lady on Rush Limbaugh's radio show a few weeks ago vilifying welfare recipients-but she worked in the welfare office for over 20 years! All I kept thinking was, this lady has been able to pay her bills for 20 years and will collect a pension because of tax payer dollars that fund welfare programs and she's complaining? I'm not advocating dependence by any means, I just find the hypocrisy a little alarming. Other people do too.
I used FEDERAL financial AID when I went for my undergraduate and graduate degrees! In 2007-2008, 66 % of all undergraduates used Financial Aid for college. As Republicans/Conservatives, we need to articulate what this "limited government" catch-phrase slogan signifies as applied in real life. When we talk about limited government, are we advocating that we cut off all financial AID? Even uber-right wing libertarians have conflicting messages of what exactly constitutes limited government. We can't simply say, "We need limited government!" as a reactionary response to every proposal made by liberals!
One of the main issues in the inner city is educational attainment after broken families. It's not just about offering inner city students vouchers. It's more than talking about dilapidated schools, unmotivated kids, and/or antiquated teaching styles. What urban policy platforms are we drafting? I've slowed down my writing because I refuse to lose my identity in the Republican Party. I'm doing more than listening to talk radio and Fox News for this week's talking points. I want to understand economic policy so I have an alternative when Liberal Democrat's present theirs. We can criticize people on the left all we want for coming up short when it comes to urban renewal, job creation, and health care reform, but what are we presenting as viable alternatives? It's time to elevate the dialogue. Who's with the Afroconservative AKA NAPPY HEAD REPUBLICAN?
I must say you have grown quite a bit since I first started reading your blog. This post was well reasoned, well thought out and completely lacked in political rhetoric. Thanks it was a great read.
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I like the look of your new blog. I think the Replubicans want blacks to pick themselves up by their boot straps. Sorry it is true. The party is still not right and very out of touch. Just because they brought in Michael Steele doesn't mean they know and understand Black person views and why they exist.
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Looks like the worm has turned for you my friend, time to look at the Republican party the same way you do the Democrats and re register yourself as an Independent.
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