Why do I treat Republicans like they are the scum of the earth? Because the majority of the party's platform stands on the backs of pushing people like me down. I refuse to play nice with a party whose platform as it stands now is based on fear and privilege. So no, I will continue to be extremely critical of the entirety of the Republican Party. Especially of young Republicans because I believe in the power of the youth vote, and I want it to be the most informed vote possible.
America these days is all about treating people fairly, but it is ironic to feel like you are being treated unfairly as a Republican since a lot of laws passed by Republicans treat a lot of people unfairly. Just this past week, the Republican governors of North Carolina and Kansas signed bills that make it legal to treat LGBT+ individuals unfairly. So, sorry if you feel like you are being treated unfairly because people want to fight on the Fox News posts you share on Facebook, but that's the beauty of free speech in America. We are allowed to voice differences in political opinions and argue about them until we are blue in the face (or would you rather be red in the face?).
Your parents may not have raised you explicitly saying they will disown you if you don't vote Republican, but the ideas you were raised on are extremely similar to the ideas spoken about in Republican campaign speeches. There have been studies done that show young adults tend to hold the same political beliefs as their parents, liberal or conservative. So, your parents teaching you not "to accept handouts" puts the idea in your head that giving and receiving handouts is bad which falls in line perfectly with Republican ideology.
Also, accepting the fact that you need help is not a character flaw. Studies show that a majority of people receiving government assistance (or handouts as you like to call them) actually have jobs. They are just as hardworking as you. What they lack is the privilege you have, be it the privilege of your college education, the privilege of your race, or the privilege of the socio-economic background you grew up in.
Of the three (well, two of the three since Trump has never held any office) remaining Republican candidates, they hold a combined total of 35 years of public service (with 30 of those years being elected officials). The two remaining Democratic candidates, on the other hand, have a combined total of 49 years experience in political offices (with 45 of those years being elected officials and Bernie Sanders with 33 of those years all elected). In my opinion, and in the opinion of most Democrats I know, this year's Democratic primary is far better than this year's Republican race. Also, Bernie Sanders is a democratic socialist not a socialist. There is a difference. Since you say you are educated and read the articles, you should know not to simplify and vilify social democracy.
And I do think anyone who would vote for Trump is crazy. Or a bigot. Or ignorant. It's not just because he has said "mean things," but because of the violence and hate committed by his supporters in his name. A trend that does not look likely to end if he becomes the party nominee. What Trump says goes beyond mean. It's sexist, racist, and xenophobic. Ted Cruz, your candidate of choice, isn't much better. However, there is one thing we do agree on, Ms. Russell, there is no perfect presidential candidate, but by comparison, the two frontrunners on the GOP ticket are much further from perfect than the two remaining Democrats.
I do think you are selfish, but more than selfish you are misinformed. Raising taxes to fund things such as education and healthcare is for the benefit of society. In the long run, some people may pay more in taxes, but you will have more money to your name because less will be coming directly out of your pocket for healthcare and student loans. Also, can you live without the government? Can you live without roads? Can you live without law enforcement? Can the general population live without public schools and libraries? Social security? I think everyone would like to control where their tax dollars go, but that is ultimately impractical, and at the end of the day, most Americans want their money to go to education and healthcare. There is room in society for both charity and government assistance. Just like there is room for private enterprise and government in society.
And I am a Democrat for one of the reasons you are a Republican. I want my rights to be my rights. I want the right to access birth control and abortion. I want the right to marry whoever I want regardless of gender. I want the right to keep my job regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. I believe healthcare is a right, so I want my right to have healthcare that doesn't put me in debt. However, I highly doubt we agree on what rights we want to keep our rights.
You say society changes the meaning of "fair" when it comes to minorities, but that just isn't true. I think you are confusing the meanings of equal and fair. Here is a handy graphic to sort out the difference!
When it comes to immigration, the process of immigration is broken, complicated, and extremely long. Immigrants who are here illegally, are not taking jobs that most Americans want to take. They are taking jobs often lower than the minimum wage. They pay taxes, but they are not able to receive all of the benefits.
I find it curious that you don't back up any of the claims you make with sources outside of personal experience and the Bible. You say you "can justify" all of the points you are making, but where are your sources? What polls do you follow? What articles do you read? I am not ignorant for accusing you of ignorance. When I see an article written on political issues that does not have any sourcing, I tend to be wary of just how much expertise the author has on said issue.
I will not thank you for voting Republican, but once again, that is the beauty of free speech. You are allowed to say that you are voting for freedom, and I am allowed to say that you are voting for restricting freedom for millions of Americans. We are allowed to disagree on interpretations of the Constitution. And we are allowed to use our voices on media like Facebook and the Odyssey to reach others so they can see our viewpoints. And we are allowed to express our differing opinions at the polling place. But don't you think for a second that I will thank you for voting Republican or stop arguing against Republicans and Republican ideology.
