I’ve been asked many times in my life why I am not a Democrat. The question usually comes from people who do not know me well and who have heard me talk about the priority of the poor or perhaps how being pro-free market is not the same as being pro-big business. I’ve also disagreed with some of America’s military incursions in recent decades. This leads casual acquaintances to make some kind but uninformed assumptions about my politics.
Of course, if they knew my thoughts on defense, the First Amendment, taxation, federalism, and limited government, they would not have many doubts. Still, I take it as confirmation of my attempt to be more biblical than I am political that friends even have questions. My politics lean libertarian right up to the boundaries of scripture and this is certain to be confusing to a culture angrily divided between left and right.
As much regard as I have for my Democrat friends, there are two primary reasons—among others—that I cannot join them. Take a look below at the platform positions of the two parties on two different issues of great moral concern. You’ll see there is a difference between the political parties and this is why, whatever commonality I might have with my more left-leaning friends, the positions below determine the entire matter of party affiliation for me.
Once you’ve read these, you might also want to peruse the complete platforms of both parties. I’ve provided links.
On the Issue of Unborn Human Life
Democrat Platform: “The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay.”
Republican Platform: “Faithful to the ‘self-evident’ truths enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, we assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed.”
On the Issue of Traditional Marriage
Democrat Platform: “We support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples. We also support the freedom of churches and religious entities to decide how to administer marriage as a religious sacrament without government interference.”
Republican Platform: “The institution of marriage is the foundation of civil society. Its success as an institution will determine our success as a nation. It has been proven by both experience and endless social science studies that traditional marriage is best for children.” “We reaffirm our support for a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.”
