Poll results from the last presidential election claim that the vote was about something vaguely termed "values". The polls don't say what "values" means, so let's take a look at some traditional American "values".Americans are the descendants of immigrants, most of whom came here to make a better life for their children. So making a better life for our children is probably the number one traditional American value. But when we break down that overarching concept into its parts, we discover that the current administration, and the Republican party in general, doesn't support that value.
Let's take a look at various values, and see how closely the Republicans mirror the American value system:
Value #1: Jobs.
Let's face it, if Americans aren't working, then nothing else matters. Without good, stable jobs, along with the decent pay and benefits they bring, we can't afford anything else. Yet, under the last three Republican presidents, job creation was stagnant, barely able, even in the best of times, to keep up with demand. The other day, in his State of the Union address, George W. Bush touted the creation of 2.3 million jobs last year, as if it were some sort of miracle. The truth is, that's the best he could do, and it's not enough.
Jobs aren't a Republican value.
Value #2: Balanced Budget.
Back in 1980, Ronald Reagan was swept into office by promising to balance the budget. Over the long term, a balanced federal budget is absolutely necessary; saddling our children with debt is no way to provide them with a better life. The sad truth, however, is that the last five Republican presidents have saddled us with more and more debt. And the current Republican occupant of the Oval Office is the worst of the lot. By contrast, the last two Democratic presidents have worked to reduce that deficit, and President Clinton actually succeeded in balancing the budget.
Balanced budgets aren't a Republican value.
Value #3: Education
Education has been called the "magic bullet", giving children of rich and poor alike the opportunity to get good jobs and pull themselves up. Republicans, however, consistently try to cut spending on education. In New York, the supposedly "moderate" Republican governor actually went to court to stop school funding by claiming that an 8th grade education was enough.
Republicans for a generation have tried to create "voucher" systems, in which the wealthiest families, many of whom already send their children to private schools, would get money back. All any voucher system will do, however, is cut the funds available to public schools. Meanwhile, private schools will raise their tuition, as more money becomes available. Those students most in need of good public education will see their school systems decline, killing any chance those children have of getting the good jobs and advancement.
Now, George W. Bush has concocted a scheme whereby schools are forced to spend millions of dollars on standardized tests that don't test most subjects, and punish schools that don't successfully waste their meager resources on this boondoggle. Once again, schools suffer, and children are left behind.
Education is not a Republican value.
Value #4: Health Care
It is no coincidence that health care costs, which rose significantly during the Republican-controlled 1980s, slowed when Bill Clinton became President. It is also no coincidence that health care costs are skyrocketing again under Republican leadership.
The only significant health care plan passed by George W. Bush and the Republicans was little more than a windfall for drug companies. The Medicare drug bill forbade Medicare from negotiating better prices. It prevents senior citizens from getting the help they need. And just to make things even more fun, it adds a new marriage penalty.
Meanwhile, millions of people have lost their coverage, and George W. Bush and the Republicans are doing nothing to solve the problem.
Health Care is not a Republican value.
Value #5: The Environment
In his last week as President, Bill Clinton signed several executive orders designed to protect the environment. These orders were designed to ensure that the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we live on, and the food we eat won't make us sick or, worse, kill us. Unfortunately, George W. Bush has reversed most of these orders.
Meanwhile, George W. Bush, with the full backing of the powers that be in the Republican party, has sought to reduce protections from various sources of pollution. He has sought to allow more mercury poisoning, increase production of greenhouse gases, stop the trend toward fuel-efficient hybrid cars and trucks, stimulate deforestation of our national parks, and systematically dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency.
This is nothing new. Those who remember Ronald Reagan's first Interior Secretary can only shake their heads at the Republicans and say, "There you go again."
The Environment is not a Republican value.
Value #6: Families
Generally, this value is expressed by Republicans as being against abortion rights, against gay marriage, and against equality for women. It's hard to understand just what Republicans are for. In fact, it's hard to believe that the Republicans are really against what they claim to be against.
The abortion rate rose during the Reagan and elder Bush terms, fell during the Clinton years, and is rising again under another Republican. If Republican power means higher abortion rates, doesn't that mean Republicans are in favor of abortion? In fact, the Republicans consistently cut funding for family planning, education, proper health care, and other programs that help lower the number of abortions. This is because the Republican value at work here is, quite simply, anti-women.
Regarding gay couples, every study available shows that gay couples tend to be more stable and long-lasting than straight couples. Studies also show that children brought up by gay couples, on average, are healthier, do better in school, make friends more easily, and adjust to adulthood and its societal demands better.
Meanwhile, Republicans bluster about protecting the "sacred institution" of marriage, but red states have a higher divorce rate than blue states.
Families are not a Republican value.
Take a quick look at these American values: Jobs, Balanced Budget, Education, Health Care, The Environment, and Families. Every one of these values falls under the general value of making a better life for our children. Yet, despite all of the Republicans' chatter about "values", it turns out that American values are not Republican values.
Copyright 2005, Dan Jacoby
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