Why GOP?

I came to America when Jimmy Carter was President. It wasn’t the best of times- double digit inflation and double digit interest rates. America was tormented by the Iran hostage crisis. Ronald Reagan was the standard bearer of the Republican presidential ticket.
All I knew about American politics then was that there was a Republican Party, and there was a Democratic Party. As I followed the campaign through the media, I learned that the Republican Party was like a synonym for Right, and the Democratic Party was like the synonym for Left. So my first lesson in politics was about the Left and the Right.
I did not have any idea then what the Left and the Right stood for.
I watched the presidential debates very closely. And the more I listened to Ronald Reagan, the more I was reminded of what my parents have been telling me and my brother and sisters. “Spend within your means. Rely on yourself. You can’t survive on the expectation that others will help you. Get an education. Your family will stand by you. That’s your ticket to economic independence.”
On the other hand, the left hand, I got a sense from the Democrats that the government is there to provide for people. To some limited extent, that is possible. Yet if you look at the total needs of man, that Democratic promise is an unreachable illusion that dispenses more false hopes than fulfilled expectations. While government should afford a safety net for those incapable of fending for themselves, it cannot be the ultimate provider of people’s needs. It just does not have the means, unless you tax people to death.
I have come to believe that the best way for government to provide for the needs of man is for government not to impose undue burdens on human activity that creates wealth, then man will have the incentive to produce and provide for man and government.
And so, in the tug of war between two contrasting philosophies, I got pulled to the right. I just followed my core values rooted in fiscal discipline, personal responsibility, family and faith flowing toward the Republican tent. I feel comfortable being on the right side of the equation. Besides, if God did not intend for people to become Republicans, how come he made most of us right handed?
A month ago, I was driving in Fairfax County. On my right and slightly ahead of me was a car with a bumper sticker-Tim Kaine. I pulled up a little bit, accelerating within speed limits and with the exercise of due care, I changed lanes. I was now in front of this vehicle that brandished a Tim Kaine sign. I wanted him to see my rear bumper. It had a Calgary sticker.
That was the day when I read in the Washington Post about Democratic candidate for Virginia Governor Tim Kaine’s plan to spend almost a billion dollars to provide preschool program for all children in the Commonwealth.
To responsible mothers and fathers who are fulfilling their parental obligations, Tim Kaine is saying- if you are thinking of spending for your child, don’t. Just give me the money and trust me, I will spend it for your child. And that’s not all, give me more money and I will spend it for somebody else’s child.
Tim Kaine’s billion dollar proposal assumes that a kid who does not attend pre-school program has no tomorrow. I beg to differ. I am living my tomorrow today. I did not attend any pre-school program outside my home. My pre-school was my family. Yet, I finished high school and college. I turned out to be normal, I think. I hope my wife thinks so.
I wanted the driver sporting the Tim Kaine sticker to know that there is an alternative to a profligate government, that we have a candidate who puts real meaning to fiscal restraint, who would trust parents to care for their children and not lead government to usurp parental functions. My friends, it is bad enough that our sales and real estate taxes keep rising. Tim Kaine’s promises will make it worse. If you are mad as hell of your tax burdens, let us end this madness in November. Jerry Kilgore for Governor, Bill Bolling for Lieutenant Governor, and Bob McDonnell for Attorney General. They share our values. They will listen to our views. A vote for them is a vote for us!