Freedom in the Bluegrass
columnist: Josh Koch

Topic: Presidential Campaign 2008
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Christian

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An open letter to the abused Christian Right.

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by Josh Koch
(Libertarian)
Sunday, July 6, 2008

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Christian,

We probably should have had this chat some time ago. I apologize for not bringing it up sooner, but I am hesitant and reluctant to mix religion with campaign-year politics. Circumstance has forced my hand, though, and I think you deserve to know the truth about your so-called friends in the Republican Party.

Remember back when the GOP stood for fighting abortion, gay rights, and the Department of Education? I'm sure you remember those days fondly. Unfortunately for you, the GOP is using those memories to trick you into supporting the "compassionate" conservative (neoconservative) agenda this year. Oh, I know, they love to whisper sweet nothings into your ears about protecting life, making government smaller, and fighting the "pink menace," but somehow you always get the short end of the stick, don't you?

Maybe the reasons never bothered you. Maybe you just figured it all would work itself out when the right people got elected. The simple fact of the matter is that you've been losing ground on every single social issue since the 1960's, whether you voted for the GOP nominees or not. It's time you faced the cold, hard facts about your friends.

They aren't your friends. If you doubt this, go take a look at what they are writing about you, your faith, and your beliefs, even as they pretend to revere your icons. Note how they bury your leaders like Jesse Helms with great pomp and circumstance, while they tear down what you and Senator Helms fought for over the decades. It'll take about three minutes to load, but go take a look. I'll wait.

Back? Note that they don't just disagree with you. They despise you, and they assume that you need them so much that they can mock you and your faith. To make matters worse, they're not just content maligning your beliefs; they want your kids to be subjected to evolutionary indoctrination at government schools. No wonder they won't get rid of the Department of Government Indoctrination! They know how to raise your kids better than you do, and state schools are an acceptable means to their ends...eliminating your religious beliefs from your kids' education altogether.

That's right, Mr. & Mrs. Christian, they have been lying to you all along. They don't want states or parents to have rights. They don't want you interfering in your own kids' education. You don't know what is best for your kids, and they're not ashamed to force it on you. This isn't conservatism, religious or otherwise. They think they are conservatives because they support endless wars of conquest in obscure countries, but they are the same people who sent troops into battle without armor and brought them home without medical care. Think about it a little bit. You've heard this before, and you know what it is. This is socialism, and the GOP has devolved into that totalitarian mindset that you thought was once the sole province of the Democrats.

There are other options open to you. I'm a Christian libertarian. Basically, I agree with you about abortion, gun rights, and education, but I think that social issues like gay marriage and abortion should be decided by the states. If you're willing to coexist with pagans, gays, and other lifestyles in exchange for abolishing tyrannical federal rule, you might consider joining us. Sure, we support esoteric stuff like legalizing marijuana and abolishing the Federal Reserve, but we won't be throwing crack at your kids, and we DEFINITELY would never dream of using your tax dollars to brainwash your kids in beliefs with which you disagree. If you can accept us as we are, vote for Bob Barr in November.

If you need to be with people who agree with you almost 100%, then the Constitution Party might be your cup of tea. They're like Reagan Republicans fiscally, but they aren't quite as free-wheeling on some issues as we libertarians are. They cling to the faith and the Constitution, and they are strong advocates in traditional conservative causes.

This has been an awkward letter for me to write because I grew up with you. You were always strict with me, and we often didn't see eye to eye. Now that I have grown up, I agree with a lot of what I was taught, though not on all the finer points. Our close relationship has caused me to worry over your current company quite a bit in recent years.

You deserve better than to be used spitefully. I'm asking you to set aside your prejudices this year and consider Bob Barr or Chuck Baldwin. The first step to getting out of an abusive relationship is to refuse to be victimized any more. Unfortunately, I can't do that for you. You have to decide to leave the Republican Party that abandoned you. You have to decide not to throw your vote away on John McCain, which will just give these villains another four years of political power.

I know this is upsetting to you, and I assure you that I wish there were some other way. Sadly, this is the state of affairs that you face today. Whatever you choose, I'll be here for you. Remember, the neoconservatives can only beat you and take you for granted as long as you let them do it unanswered.

Sincerely,

Josh

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2008 Josh Koch, all rights reserved.
Published: Sunday, July 6, 2008
Last modified: Sunday, July 6, 2008

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