Why I'm a Republican

Why do I lean towards the right side of the political spectrum? For a long time, it was mostly because my parents did. Over time, I developed some opinions on gun control, abortion, marriage, etc. However, for a time I considered myself a moderate. That was during my disillusioned high school days in the IB programme. I supported gay marriage to a certain extent--I mean, my church didn't have to allow it, so why couldn't the U.S.? I changed my opinion by the time I got to college. I still hated gun control.

When I got to college, I sort of lost touch with the political arena. This was mostly because I was trying to focus on school and felt like I didn't have time to acquaint myself with politics.

Since this election, however, I have tried to become more knowledgeable about politics. I am still a Republican. Why? (this list is in no particular order)

1. I am against gun control

I think gun control is flat out the dumbest thing ever. Does anyone remember what happened during prohibition? That's right, the drinking problem got a lot worse! That's what will probably happen if the government decides to take away our right to own firearms. I stand by the mantra "It's not the gun that kills; it's the hand that pulls the trigger". I like having the right to defend myself, thank you very much. And think of it this way: would you try to rob someone if you knew that everyone had a gun? I think not. And having the right to weapons is in the Bill of Rights: the right to bear arms.

2. I am against abortion

I believe that everyone has a right to life. Sure, the woman has a choice to kill the baby inside of her, but does the baby have any say in the matter? No! If you don't want to get pregnant, there are ways to prevent pregnancy: birth control pills, condoms, etc. And there's the best way yet to not get pregnant: don't have sex in the first place. Now, I do support abortion in cases of rape, incest, or if the mother's life is in jeopardy. My mother has a cousin who had to have an abortion because there was a problem that would not only kill the baby but would also kill her. Even in these cases, I don't think the decision to have an abortion is a decision to be made lightly. Abortion has always been legal in these instances. If it interests you, of all the abortions that are performed in this country, very few are for cases of rape, incest, and life-threatening conditions.

3. I am against gay marriage

I support the traditional family. Now, when I say that I am against gay marriage, I am not saying that I am against gays. Far from it. I know people who are gay and bisexual, but I do not hate them. The reason I am against gay marriage is on the basis that marriage should be exclusive to being between a man and a woman. If gay marriage is legalized, who says that a man cannot marry two women? Or a woman marry two men? "But they love each other" one may say. Well, two thirteen-year-olds can profess to be in love, but should they get married? No!
Since it seems that even those who voted for Obama voted for measures to keep marriage between men and women, I guess this is somewhat irrelevant.

4. I don't like socialist medicine

I was born in a country that had socialist medicine, and it stinks. When my mom was having babies, she and my dad had to pay for the epidural separately and the clinic had to call in an anesthesiologist to administer it. The anesthesiologist came when it was almost too late when my brother Craig was born, and he didn't come in time for me. I was born quickly, so that had something to do with it.
Now, the idea of everyone being able to have health insurance is a great idea, hypothetically. It would probably work in a small country with not very many people, but it would be disastrous in the United States. Who likes waiting in line at the DMV to get a license renewed? Well, that's what it would be like to go the doctor, only worse. In countries such as Japan and Canada that have government-sponsored health programs, people have to wait months for simple medical procedures and sometimes people die. Or if they have money, they'll come to the United States for quick healthcare. I have a friend who served his mission in Montreal but had to come home early because he had to have surgery. Recovering from the surgery he needed would already take months, but it would take even longer in Canada because he would have to wait longer (and he really needed the surgery). He chose to come home for that reason.


What it all boils down to is that I don't want the government to control every aspect of my life. That's what conservatism is all about: limited government. It's what our Founding Fathers fought for. I also want a goverment that supports morality and good values.

Thank you, that is all.