The ruling party in the U.S. these days is particularly proud of its "pro-life" stance. Their steadfast stance against abortion, in favor of life, leaves them in a superior moral position. Why would anyone vote for candidates who oppose the preservation of human life?
Thing is, it's all a big lie. The GOP's "pro-life" stance is an illusion. If you're voting Republican in the hope of preventing needless death, you're voting the wrong way...
It starts with the health care crisis. Millions of Americans are without health insurance. They're putting off medical care they know they can't afford - often delaying treatment to the point where it's no longer possible. Others seek care and are denied for inability to pay. Or fail to take necessary medication as they can't afford it. The result is, all too often, death.
How is this the GOP's fault? (well, it isn't entirely their fault - altogether too many Democrats have gone along with the fatal policies - but it's hardly honest to claim to be pro-life when you're spearheading policies that kill people...)
Which party has led a tax revolt? Which has forced states to slash spending on health programs? Here in Tennessee, an innovative program that tried to provide health care for those unable to obtain private insurance is being forced by the tax revolt to cut off several hundred thousand adults. Some will die. In Alabama, cuts resulting from the GOP tax revolt are denying AIDS patients the drugs they need to survive. Some will die.
Quite simply, the GOP believes low taxes are more important than human life.
Which party more strongly pushes free trade? (a policy which forces American workers to compete with workers in countries where laws protecting employee health and safety are not enforced if they exist at all... For the American worker to compete, they must either accept wages well below Third World values, or demand the relaxation of laws that protect their safety in the workplace.) Some will die.)
Is it possible our economy is simply incapable of providing medical care to everyone? Certainly. Especially with new procedures, the cost is staggering. But let's be honest: let's not call a politician "pro-life" while they're making decisions that will result in death.
But the GOP's big lie isn't just in regard to health care.
How about capital punishment? Which party more steadfastly supports this practice?
Which party claims to follow Biblical principles? Recently lauded the leadership of the late John Paul II? What is the position of the Holy Father's church? Compare and contrast to the position of the Republican Party...
Which party supports the execution even of those who were minors at the time of the crime? (a practice considered a grevious violation of human rights in every other free country. But I guess last November we decided we weren't interested in being a free country anymore...)
And then there's Iraq.
There is, of course, no doubt that people are dying in Iraq. If Saddam had been allowed to remain in power, certainly, he would have killed many Iraqis - but there is no doubt that the war has killed more Iraqis than Saddam would have slaughtered. There is even less doubt that virtually all the 1,500+ Americans killed in this war would still be around if we hadn't gone to war.
It would all have been worth it (even the Iraqi civilian deaths) if the war had prevented Saddam from launching attacks that would have killed more than 1,500 innocent Americans.
Thing is, we now have evidence that the threat to America never existed. This war is being fought to eliminate a threat that never was.
Might it have been a mistake? Might the White House have honestly believed that a threat existed? That's certainly possible.
Let's say you work in a foundry. You're walking through the shop with a vat of molten aluminum, to pour into a mold, when you see that new cute secretary. Watching her instead of the shop floor, you trip over a grate and spill the molten aluminum on a co-worker. He dies of severe burns.
Think you're still going to have a job the next day?
Well, someone in the Bush administration made a mistake that cost more than 50,000 lives, more than 1,500 of them American. And that someone didn't lose their job.
Pro-life???
I'll say it again: The GOP believes low taxes and corporate profits are more important than human life. Shame on them for claiming to be pro-life: THEY AREN'T.