Why People Vote Republican

Given the dismal failure of the Republicans over the past eight years, you would expect the voters to send them a loud and clear message.

Yet the Republican presidential candidate received 46% nationally, 56% in Texas, and 70% in my county.

Why?

Through the years, I've listened to co-workers, friends and family explain their reasons.  Here are the top five from that group.  (There are more and other reasons, but these are the top five from the people around me.)

1. I was raised Republican.  OK ... but don't you have a mind and free will of your own?

2. The federal government is evil.  OK ... but the founder of the Republican party (Lincoln) waged a civil war to keep the country together, and establish the supremacy of the federal law over state law.

3. The desire to establish a theocratic totalitarian state.  OK ... but did you forget or not know that the first settlers came from England to escape such state run religion?

4. Racial chauvinism. OK ... but having read Jesus' two commandments, why do you have such a narrow view of who is your neighbor? 

5. Peer pressure brought on by willful ignorance.  OK ... but it's better to be informed than entertained.

My experience is that no facts, evidence or reason will move these views.  The proof is in the percentages given at the beginning of this post.

Therefore, I will vote with my ballot and my credit card to prevent these people from getting into office.