We just had a morning visit from one of our Republican friends, which made me think of others we have known who consider themselves Republicans. Unfortunately, it dredged up some very unpleasant personalities and experiences.
The fellow who visited today was married to one of the singers back in the day when my husband had a band. So...some of these folks came our way by default. Others are work "friends" and others are my husband's business customers. Mostly our close friends and family are staunch Democrats.
Would you care to meet some of the Republicans?
Charlie is here as I write. Charlie's father was a police captain in a CT city...the rumor went that his father beat up a black man and soon after "retired". He was a brutal father, hated "long hairs" as he called them, blacks, you name it. A real Rush Limbaugh fan. And Charlie is his son. Unfortunately he lives what he learned from his father. But he has every reason to be a Democrat. He has no health care, but is in poor health. He was a carpenter, but can no longer work at his trade, due to a shoulder operation gone bad. (one he couldn't afford in the first place!). He has no savings and is in jeopardy of losing his home...because he has no job. There's more, but I want you to meet Glen.
Glen was a band member of the above mentioned group. He always considered himself the smartest person among his friends. And, in some ways he was. He'd often go down to NYC and ferret out chess games, playing against some of the masters and sometimes beating them. Yes, Glen was smart in some ways. But 3 wives later, with no home of his own, mooching off a new girl friend...Glen is a die-hard Republican. Ironically, he's used unemployment compensation more than anyone we know because his temper seems to have gotten him fired more than I can count. He weighs about 300 pounds and so, he too, is in dire need of health care. The last time we saw Glenn he called my husband an asshole in the midst of a political argument. That was the last straw.
And then there's Susan. I work with Susan in a middle school. She's a 7th grade social studies teacher and is a Republican. That scares me because 7th grade is the year the students study the Constitution and Bill of Rights in depth. From my contact with most of the social studies teachers in our district they tend to teach the curriculum with a heavy dose of "commentary" without solid debate amongst the students. But back to what drives Susan (because I asked her one day before the 2004 election). Her answer: "I dislike the liberal courts and judges. I lost everything to my husband after my divorce because of these liberal judges". OH...so after 10 years this woman is still harboring personal grudges toward the "system" that is soooooo liberal. BTW..this woman lives in a very upscale Fairfield County, CT town so she's really doing quite well. Her kids have all gone to prep school and then on to Boston College. Not bad for an underdog I'd say. Yet she remains a Republican.
Next up: one of the principal's secretaries. Georgianna is the head of the local Republicans. She wouldn't miss a Republican event or state visit from Bush if her life depended on it. She has no problem working for the school system, but has no use for teacher tenure or the teacher's union (or unions in general). And taxes??? Never mind that taxes pay her salary..she doesn't like taxes, period! Her husband has done very well at Eli Lily company, just one of the pharmaceutical companies that have lobbyists working overtime with this administration. Georgie and her husband are looking at quite a luxurious retirement, courtesy of some great deals made with our government.
I could go on and on...but there's one last person for you to meet. Rodger is a recently remarried 60 something year old...his new wife is an heir to American Can Company. Rodger's previous marriage ended,leaving his 2 very angry, drug addicted kids in its wake. Whenever my husband calls Rodger he picks up the phone (and seeing his caller ID, knowing it's my "librul" husband) he answers "Abu Graib". Now, it's a tightrope when you have to be good to a client, but finally my husband told Rodger that he wouldn't stand for something so crass and heartless. So far Rodger has complied, but I know he'll think of some other nutwing response soon enough. This kind of guy just can't resist the temptation to be inappropriate.
So..even though this cast of characters runs the gamut....some are one step away from bankruptcy, others are living the lavish life, they all have certain things in common. They all feel trampled and used by the system, a system they'd prefer would just work for THEM. They all have had personal losses and issues that have hardened them, almost making them unable to reshape their lives and move on. They look at "others" as their problem...blacks, gays, unions, long-hairs, liberal judges, etc. If it weren't for these "others" their lives would be just fine.
And so they cling to the ones who feel as they do, or at least feed their paranoia and needs. What else can explain the draw of the Malkins, Coulters, Limbaughs, O'Reillys,etc.? These are a strange breed of people, indeed. Unfortunately, they vote.