How "pure" am I?

Neocons are livid. Obama is driving them nuts. With the growing polarization of American society in general and within the Republican Party in particular conservative activists today issued a proclamation of tenets meant to weed out "false" conservatives from "true" ones. Supposedly, you have to score at least 7 out of 10 to pass. Let's see how I do based on the exact wording of their proposed resolution...

(1) We support smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama’s “stimulus” bill;

As stated in earlier posts, I'm all for this.

(2) We support market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run healthcare;

If we haven't had "market-based health care reform" by now, when will we have it? This country has had decades to straighten out this mess and it is only getting worse. Still, things could get even worse. And the shortest rout to that is "government-run healthcare." But, I don't know what the Republicans are talking about. No one wants to address COSTS that are largely "market-driven." Everybody gets this issue wrong.

(3) We support market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation;

There is no evidence in more than 150 years of industrialization of even a hint of "market-based energy reforms." Give me three examples. You can't. That's just naive. Think Lake Erie. Think black lungs in impoverished manufacturing conditions. Think child worker abuse. All before cap and trade and other beneficial government mandates. The market will not manage the environmental consequences of its actions because it costs more money, it doesn't generate money, and there's no direct risk to the business itself for mucking up the our finite resources. This is a historical fact.

(4) We support workers’ right to secret ballot by opposing card check;

Huh? This sounds like a red herring.

(5) We support legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants;

I agree. No amnesty. ¿Hablas inglés?

(6) We support victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges;

Hmmm. I'm not sure what victory means. Iraq was a mistake. Period. We need more troops in Afghanistan. I'm so-so on this one.

(7) We support containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat;

Absolutely. In fact, I think we should bomb any nuclear plant that isn't being used for peaceful purposes in nations not in compliance with the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Here, I'm more aggressive than your average neocon.

(8) We support retention of the Defense of Marriage Act;

Marriage needs defending from the mockery heterosexuals make of it with the never-ending cultural acceptance of regimented polygamy (otherwise known as divorce). Loving couples, regardless of their gender, should be able to marry. If it's a sin then God can take care of that later. Neither you nor the government need to get involved.

(9) We support protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing, denial of health care and government funding of abortion;

This is another way of saying we can talk about the cost of healthcare but only some of the costs. Republicans (like most political parties) love to sound lofty while avoiding hard choices. A beating heart does not a human being make.

(10) We support the right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership;

No problem with that. But, I do think if you have to register your automobile you should register your guns. People who think gun registration is the first step to government confiscation of guns are extremists. Is the government going to take your car, your home, your indentity? Individual liberty does not always trump collective responsibility. A common error among all political parties.

So, how did I score as a Republican? 3 solid agreements. 3 qualified so-so's. 4 yougottabekiddinme's. Guess I fail the Republican litmus test. But, I already knew that. Thanks to the conservative Republican activists for verifying this, and to the Republican Party in general for leaning so far right that socialism has become an acceptable alternative.

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