Why do so many otherwsie-decent Americans vote Republican?

Question

Americans I meet, in the States as well as elsewhere, seem to be mostly decent sensible likable people. Yet some of them vote Republican. I see the Republicans sending troops to occupy other people's countries (Iraq, Afghanistan), supporting occupation (Israel's in Palestine), and at home cutting taxes to help the rich and doing little or nothing to help the poor, and opposing scientific progress like stem cell research from a place of prejudice.

I can understand the rich and Christian fundamentalists and other nutcases voting Republican, but what good do ordinary folk with common-sense and compassion see in the GOP?

Answer 1

1st... We are not occupying Iraq and Afghanistan..... we are assisting those countries while they set up their governments and helping them to try and gain security and control as they do so

2nd.... Israel is not occupying Palestine. Israel is a sovereign nation that rightfully 'owns' the land it has.

3rd... Tax cuts have helped the economy greatly, they are also not (as liberals like to spew) 'just for the rich'.

4th... The job of the federal government is NOT to be a crutch giving handouts to the lazy. In this country, you have the right to fail just as you have the right to be able to succeed.

5th... Republicans do NOT oppose stem cell research as a whole. Most republican simply oppose harvesting of HUMAN embryos to be carved up for such research.

I pride myself on my wisdom and common sense, and I will continue to probably vote mostly Republican (though I do not just vote straight party line. I look at the candidates and judge carefully, regardless of party affiliation). Maybe you should turn that microscope back on to the Democrat party and realize that you are standing in a glass house all the while you are throwing those stones.

Answer 2

You are suffering from a classic liberal's quandry.

On one hand, you see people voting Republican, and not only that, but in majority numbers, and have trouble understanding why. On the other hand, you see that many people, Republican voters included, are decent people. Some would come to the conclusion that they are not really decent people. I see you aren't one of those which means there may be hope for you.
The truth of the matter is that you have to let go of your pre-concieved notions that "liberal ideology= decency" and realize that not everyone thinks like you. To think that anyone who is decent should naturally support tax hikes instead of tax cuts, should support the leftist anti war agenda, should support government funding of things better left to the private sector, etc. etc. is the height of arrogance.

There are in fact, many strong arguments in favour of the things you are against. Disagree? Of course you do. But your disagreement with that does not make you any more or less decent than someone with right of centre views.

For the record, I do not live in the USA and in my own country (that would be Canada) we also have a right and a left and many of us voted to the right. Its called democracy.

(And as a middle class Canadian who is taxed more than an American in similar circumstances I'm actually getting sick and tired of the "tax cuts are for the rich" nonsense. But that is a discussion for another day.)

Answer 3

DiamondDave and Justthefacts pretty much covered everything for me.
What's wrong with voting Republican?
We are NOT "occupying" Iraq OR Afghanistan.
Israel is the rightful owner of that land!
Cutting taxes has stimulated the economy, and continues to do so. I'm very happy with the larger tax returns my husband and I have been getting, and we are NOT rich.
Little or nothing to help the poor? Bull. Republicans just don't want their money taken from them involuntarily to support those who don't want to support themselves. I don't mind giving to the poor, and I don't mind supporting those who need a hand-UP. But when some people use government programs for more than three years, without looking for a job, or trying to go to school, and continue to have kids, there's an issue.
Republicans support stem-cell research. They just do not support EMBRYONIC stem-cell research, which has not yielded as many results as adult stem-cell research.
I don't know, harvesting aborted fetuses reminds me of Soylent Green, you know, that Charlton Heston movie? Sick and wrong.

FYI, I'm not a Republican, although sometimes my ideals seem to line up more closely with the Republican party. I've voted Democrat as well. I don't limit myself to just one party.
It seems to me that your view of the Republican party is from a biased perspective.
BOTH of the major political parties have their shortcomings. That's why I vote based on the candidate (and their voting record), not their party.

Answer 4

They are very intelligent people and there is a war going on against Islamo-Fascism. The Republican Party is pro-Military and more for defending the United States of America. Lowering taxes was not for the "rich"people and the USA is doing lots of things for the "poor" by providing jobs for them and providing food and shelter for them.

Answer 5

The truth is that the Liberals are not much better and action needs to taken against foreign aggressors. The U.S. department of defence happens to produce very good strategies to combat enemies of freedom It is no lie that there are certain groups out there who do their darndest to make the more people as oppressed as they are in some nations. It is easy to sit back and damn the 'war on terror' but you would have a different line if you lived in one of those countries (think Iran, Afganistan).

Answer 6

Because the average American has limited access (primarily due to time) to information, getting most of it from local newscasts and publications. Many vote for Republicans wholly on the partie's past reputation and are not even aware that the it has been hijacked by the neo-cons or what the true neo-con agenda consists of.

Answer 7

Republican is the way to go...but I think that we should just vote for who is the best. Yes the country does it's best to aid those who need help.

Answer 8

People are selfish. They may have morals but at the end of the da they just want to get on with their own lives and don't really care about others.

Then there are the cynics. These are actually scared people who are frightened and manipulated by government propoganda. They will tell you they are realists but actually their view of the World is distorted by the media and they understand very little of whaat is going on.

And some people are just liars, they'll lie to anyone and pretend to agree with you for a variety of reasons.

Answer 9

one reason is that republicans feel like you should have to work to provide for yourself before they start handing out government help while the democrats want to give, give, give. i and most feel this lack of self worth contributes to the frustration of the lower class i.e. france. the democrats would lead this country to a socialist government. talk about loosing your freedoms. and for a side note, for every two democrats there are three republicans.

Answer 10

Yeah. I am with whatever farcas said.

It is just like the UK where you still get scum voting Tory. After all they have done with the miners, poll-tax, NHS and other debarcles still toffs are begging for more..