Democracy

So I've read the first chapter of my poli sci and I'm discouraged as ever. Every time I begin a discussion on politics, it seems like my conservative father sends me an e-mail. I don't know if he has a feeling I'm discussing politics or if it's coincidence. I'm going to post it on here so everyone can read it:

"A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so
many others her age, she considered herself to be a very Liberal
Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in Favor of
higher taxes to support more government programs, in other Words
redistribution of wealth.

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch
Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the Lectures that
she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she
felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to
keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to Higher
taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs. The
self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to Be the
truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by Asking how
she was doing in school.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and
let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that She was
taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which
left her no time to go out and party like other people She knew. She
didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many
college friends,  because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked , 'How is your friend Audrey
doing?' She replied, ' Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are
Easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She Is
so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited
to all the parties and lots of times she doesn't even show up for
classes because she's too hung over.'

Her wise father asked his daughter, 'Why don't you go to the Dean's
office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your
friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA,  and
certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.' The
daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired
back, 'That's a crazy idea, how would that be fair! I've worked really
hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard
work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played
while I worked my tail off!'

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, 'Welcome to The
Republican party.' If anyone has a better explanation of the difference
between
Republican and Democrat I'm all ears.

If you ever wondered what side of the fence you sit on, this is a great
test!

If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat..
If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for
everyone.

If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his
situation.
A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.
(Unless it's a foreign religion, of course!)

If a conservative reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have
a good laugh.
A liberal will delete it because he's "offended". "

I will post other political emails I get from father as well. My father raised me for most of my life as a conservative. My mother on the other hand is very liberal (they were divorced when I was very young). My discouragement comes from the fact that my father truly believes that he is right and is not willing to listen to any other ideas. I believe that I discourage him as well since I am as stubborn as he is. My biggest problem with my father's beliefs has to do with the fact that we were very poor when I was young and the political agenda of the time (Reaganomics) did not help us when we needed it. He does not believe in welfare and is very biased towards the immigration problems we are dealing with today. 

  I don't hold any ill will towards Republicans, but I do believe that many Republicans have lost touch with the problems we deal with today. We are on course to lose our standing as "the most powerful country in the world" because we are not willing to change with the times. I do believe in the Constitution but I also believe that the Constitution was created with change in mind. I believe that our Forefathers created a set of rules that would stand forever but gave legislators the ability to modify the law based on the issues of the time. The Forefathers I speak of were farmers, merchants, lawyers, soldiers, doctors and scientists. These men were well educated and had foresight to realize that our nation was going to be great one day. With that foresight came the knowledge that our country would change. The Constitution has to change with it.

 If you can't tell by now I am very liberal in my ideals. Again I am not socialist but we need to take care of our own. According to the Washington Post over $4 billion was spent on the mid-term elections. Do you know how many political projects that could fund? Do you know how many students could be given a college education with that kind of money? Do you know how many homeless children that would feed? In The Politics of Power, Katznelson, Kesselman and Draper state "Money has become vastly more important to political debate and outcomes." I feel it is ridiculous that this is the case. The institute of Democracy that is the U.S.A. was not founded on the idea that only the rich have a say in our government, yet that is the direction we are headed. Our representatives are elected to govern all the people in this country not just the wealthiest 20%.

I love this country and I love our Democracy, but mostly I love that I have the ability to speak my mind. Please post any comments that you have (I promise I won't get angry) so that I may see a different opinion of what you think our Democracy and Constitution stand for.