by Peggy Molloy

Created on: May 13, 2008   Last Updated: January 02, 2011

I state the happiness factor as being on the side of the right, because in general conservative people are also people of faith. People of faith in general, tithe, and share what they have...thus they are more willing to give. Faith means having faith in the future and our general well-being as individuals and as a Nation. Vice President Cheney donated 80% of his earnings in 2007. He has a history of large charitable giving that does not fit in with the typical media bias against Republicans as evil selfish persons.

I checked out a brochure I received from The California Republican Party. It has many examples of how the philosophies of Republicans and Democrats differ, and I felt that this title was as good as any to share the information. There is also a website Http://www.cagop.org.

Republicans believe that government should be limited to doing for people those things which they cannot do for themselves. Republicans believe governmental power should be kept close to the people, rather than centralized in distant big government.

Democrat administrations have pushed for more and more centralized power in Washington leading to increasingly more federal controls and regimentation, causing a severe erosion of local government across the country.

Republicans believe that each person is responsible for their own place in our society. Democrats are more willing to subordinate individual rights to society collectively. Republicans believe that peace and freedom is protected when America maintains a strong defense force. The Democrats vacillate between isolationism and confrontation.

Republicans believe in free-enterprise, Democrats believe the economy is too complicated and must be subjected to ever increasing control by the federal government. In theory, we are
"entering and era of limitations"...the climate is doomed, our dollar is worthless, let's blame President Bush...

Republicans strive to diminish government spending, relying on the philanthropy and generosity of the faith cultures that have been bedrocks in our society. Democrats believe federal bureaucrats are much more able to control the flow of funds and dictate how and how much state and localities will tax and spend the taxpayers' money.

Republicans believe that the solution to America's problems lies in the greatness of the American people. Democrats tend to stress a powerful, centralized bureaucracy aimed at solving local and national problems from the top down method.

I am not a McCain advocate. It is my hope our democratic system will prevail and there will be more options for all of us on any side, as this very important election unfolds. As a woman of faith, a practicing Catholic, I pray for wisdom and strength as we go forward in our decisions.

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