# Stupid Republican idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897 "2009-03-26T18:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 111
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2201 "2010-10-10T16:27:01Z")
> [@CannyDan](#): > > I blame **Digital Stimulus**. Already accepted it; I consider having read the thing my due penance. In fact, subjecting myself to multiple readings should be enough to knock a few eons off my time in purgatory… ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2202 "2010-10-10T16:38:04Z")
Purgatory? Ever the optimist, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2203 "2010-10-10T17:24:44Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Purgatory? Ever the optimist, eh? Actually, being of an atheist bent (not to mention never baptized), I’d expect the very best I’d do is eternal vestibule residency. But, through the pain of subjecting myself to opinion pieces found on Fox, I’m angling for a teeny-tiny easement – say, access to an iPod every so often. Surely it’s worth that, right? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2204 "2010-10-10T18:25:06Z")
Depends. I have it on good authority that earthly penance and good works may provide some benefit. Specificly, it can come from recognizing the eternal wisdom and motherwit of the Goddess, as represented by Her nearest available incarnation. TL:DR “Yes, dear.” ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2205 "2010-10-10T19:43:00Z")
We need a “Stupid Pseudo-intellectual Elucidator Post of the Day” thread. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2206 "2010-10-10T19:54:21Z")
Pit away, buttmunchkin. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2207 "2010-10-10T21:38:25Z")
> [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > We need a “Stupid Pseudo-intellectual Elucidator Post of the Day” thread. That would be awesome I’d love to read a post each day from Elucidator, his being some of the best on the board. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2208 "2010-10-10T22:07:45Z")
> [@Alienhand](#): > > > [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > > > Wasn’t “right to property” in the first draft of the Declaration? I believe some damn libs forced them to take it out … part of a 200+ year socialist plot. > > > > (actually, I’m pretty certain that RtP was in the original draft and some of the underpinning writings) > > I think it was (John or George?) Locke’s idea of “life, liberty and property” that Jefferson adapted to “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness”. I have some recollection that Locke’s idea of property included self or self-determination. I have no idea if Jefferson adapted it at the time or had pondered it before drafting the DoI. > > (I really should have pulled out my Founding Fathers books again this July 4th.) Sooo, the Founding Fathers (cue echo effect) that some jerkoffs like to dress as, and who are assumed to be infallible chose to NOT put it in there? Like, deliberately? For the infallible type that’s sure a huge mistake. I hope Glenn Beck finishes his time machine soon so he can go fix that. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2209 "2010-10-11T03:52:44Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > …That would be awesome I’d love to read a post each day from Elucidator, his being some of the best on the board. It appears I have lost all capacity to blush. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2210 "2010-10-12T01:10:03Z")
And from the sunny skies of New York State, we have Candidate Paladino. First he said it[sup]1[/sup]. Then he didn’t say it, even though it was written[sup]2[/sup]. But he didn’t write it. But then he wrote one of them, but someone else wrote the other one. But he did have some input into it. Oh, and he [stands by it](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/12/nyregion/12rabbis.html). But he’s not anti-gay. Heck, he’d have no problem [hiring a gay guy](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5guozqoCrqWM6lt7j1zgnNMqJ7jdgD9IPGIL83?docId=D9IPGIL83). And I can’t believe no one brought up his [pit bull attacking a Lab](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/nyregion/05trailer.html) just days after Carl threatened to [“take out”](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/carl-paladino-threatens-reporter-suggests-cuomo-affair/story?id=11768513) a New York Post editor. Presumably for an ice cream sundae. [sup]1[/sup]“…I don’t want [children] brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option. It isn’t.” [sup]2[/sup]“There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual.” ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2211 "2010-10-12T01:24:16Z")
Bah, and now I find **Cisco** [started a whole thread for it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=581440). ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2212 "2010-10-12T13:58:42Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > From the October 10 _Harper’s_: > > _From the 387-plank platform of the Republican Party of Iowa, posted on their website this year:_ > > The function of law is to protect the free exercise of a person’s God-given rights: _life, liberty, and the right to property (pursuit of happiness)._ > > We call for the repeal of all mandatory minimum-wage laws. > > We call for reinstating, with proper safeguards, the death penalty for murderers, rapists, kidnappers, and drug dealers, with a firm limit of twenty-four months for appeals and no intrusion of federal authorities. > > We believe that claims of human-caused global warming are based on fraudulent, inaccurate information, and that legislation and policy based on this information are detrimental to the well-being of the United States. > > We believe all individuals and business owners have the freedom to choose the quality of air in their homes and establishments. > > We call for the elimination of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. > > We support the elimination of the Iowa Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education. > > We support the abolition of the IRS. > > We call for the repeal of the Federal Reserve Act, eliminating the Federal Reserve, and we support returning to the gold and/or silver standard. > > We believe candidates running as Republicans for any local or state office should be required to complete and return to the Republican Party of Iowa a signed questionnaire indicating whether the candidate agrees, disagrees, or is undecided about each plank of the current party platform. This makes the existence of Rep. Steve King make more sense, huh. and why do they always tout getting rid of the IRS as a good idea? You will still have a Federal Government. It will still need to be funded. You will still have taxes (even if they will be disproportionately skewed to the poor) and you will still have to collect them and will need an agency of the governemnt to do this. Whether your tax code is 4000+ words or 4000+ volumes you will still have cheats and frauds trying to skirt them and you will still need an agency to go after those people. So basically their position is they want to destroy the wheel so they can reinvent the wheel. On our dime. ---
**Author:** ![Morella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Morella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morella)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2213 "2010-10-12T14:07:08Z")
> [@](#): > > and why do they always tout getting rid of the IRS as a good idea? You will still have a Federal Government. It will still need to be funded. You will still have taxes (even if they will be disproportionately skewed to the poor) and you will still have to collect them and will need an agency of the governemnt to do this. Do you believe that taxes are disproportionally skewed to the poor now? ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2214 "2010-10-13T03:04:11Z")
According to [this video](http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/09/29/white-house-white-board-cea-chair-austan-goolsbee-explains-tax-cut-fight?utm_source=email78&utm_medium=image&utm_campaign=economy), that’s the case, and also what the pubbies hope to continue. ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2215 "2010-10-13T03:28:48Z")
Pretty ballsy to be against OSHA. Is there a single non-insane American who thinks that workers should have LESS safety?? How can they get votes from “real Americans” who everyone knows only work with their hands with that sort of platform??? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2216 "2010-10-13T04:02:17Z")
> [@rogerbox](#): > > Pretty ballsy to be against OSHA. Is there a single non-insane American who thinks that workers should have LESS safety?? How can they get votes from “real Americans” who everyone knows only work with their hands with that sort of platform??? Simply declare that the OSHA is part of Obama’s evil plan to increase government through Socialism while at the same time increasing your taxes and creating death panels. Most people will have no idea what OHSA is, other than they should be against it. I will place a bet with you that with the right advertising strategy and the right placement with the usual talking heads, I could have more than 50% of the voting public strongly opposed to OSHA. “Down with OHSA” signs would mysteriously appear at Tea Party Rallies. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2217 "2010-10-13T04:20:36Z")
> [@rogerbox](#): > > Pretty ballsy to be against OSHA. Is there a single non-insane American who thinks that workers should have LESS safety?? It’s just part of the whole property rights thing. They should be allowed to run their business as they see fit, and the free market will sort things out. After all, you don’t see the Triangle Shirtwaist Company around anymore, do you? ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2218 "2010-10-13T06:24:54Z")
It’s just insane to know what factory work was like when there was no requirements for safety…how many thousands of child laborors lost limbs and workers died in fires due to inadequate escape routes etc… why would anyone but the top 0.1% of business owners who also happen to be completely EVIL as well want that? In other words, I think that the run-of-the-mill republican is an unknowing tool of big business interests, but trying to convince the public that OSHA should be eliminated is so blatantly, transparently in the best interests of the elite and NO ONE ELSE that I am shocked that they would state that in writing. It’s almost as if they know how many republicans they have brainwashed to vote against their own interests that they don’t bother pulling the strings anymore, they just chuck the puppets at the correct polling booth lever now. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2219 "2010-10-13T12:03:54Z")
What people don’t understand is that most of these people are absolutely convinced that the only thing keeping them from being billionaires today is government regulation. They’re absolutely sure that IF they could start their own business tomorrow without having to deal with OSHA or ADA or non-discrimination laws, they could be living a life of luxury in ten years. There is no more delusional human being than a blue-collar pro-business Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2220 "2010-10-13T12:54:10Z")
Anecdotal: From a working man’s perspective (I worked in a warehouse for a long time as younger man), OSHA is generally not looked upon as providing benevolent oversight to insure the safety of America’s hard working men and women, but the pains in the ass that come around and drop fines all over the place when we don’t use the goddamned safety harnesses, like I need that shit, I know what I’m doing, goddamnit. Getting the hoi-polloi on the right to vote against their own interests? Nah, it’ll never happen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=110) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=112)