Arguing for the independents

Let me start by saying I’m a registered independent, so the Democratic Party will probably not pick me to debate the Stompers [“The Liberal Smackdown Expands,” Letters, Jan. 16]. However, there is little to debate. The purpose of “the war on terror” is to grab and occupy [the source of] an antiquated fossil fuel. This has cost many lives, [caused] much environmental degradation, [and produced] growing disdain of the U.S. worldwide. It has stretched our military and our economy, so I would say we are not safer because of the Republican-led strategy.

Was this country founded on Christianity? Essentially, our founders were well-read men who were standing on the shoulders of giants. Christian law is a statement of the obvious to conscious people, and a re-statement of laws predating Christianity, i.e. Hebrew, Greek, Roman.

As for who puts more money in your pocket, just look at what the last eight years of “conservatism” have done for the economy. What good is lowering taxes while the dollar plummets and inflation sores? Unemployment is down, but people can’t support families with low-paying jobs and high cost-of-living. In short, conservatism has been responsible for the death of the middle-class and the return of the robber-baron state.

The future of Buncombe County? Creating jobs, protecting the environment, and providing health care sound like the platform of the Democratic Party. Republicans are notorious for putting the needs of developers ahead of the environment. As for lowering taxes, this is the first time in our history we have waged a war and not raised taxes. On the local level, you can thank the influx of wealthy out-of-towners (whom I assume to be predominately Republican) for your increased property taxes.

Is the way you have sex a civil right? No, but should the government regulate how people have sex and how they wish to name their relationship? As a conservative, in favor of small government, I’m sure Chad would agree: Sex isn’t a right, it’s a choice—just like marriage.

As for the champion of minorities in America: The majority of minorities, by far, are registered independent and Democratic. Chad implies that the poor, uneducated minorities are not capable of discerning the truth in the complex arena of politics—unlike Chad (who has blogged that people think of him as a religious “zellick”). Minorities vote Democratic because they see the party as a leader in civil rights for minorities and women, while Republicans strip our rights with laws like the PATRIOT Act and laws that restrict women’s rights.

— Joe Dawson
Asheville