Lauren Mayer: Partisanship Run Amok

I’ve always prided myself on both keeping an open mind and having strong opinions – sure, it’s a tough balance, but as a former high school debater I still remember the skills we developed having to argue on both sides of any issue.  And while I believe I’m in the right about most things, I have always tried to consider the opposite point of view.

Until now . . . the GOP antics about the debt ceiling and government funding have left me unable to comprehend how they can simultaneously argue that it’s already destroyed the economy and killed people while also insisting we have to stop it now before people get addicted to it.  And don’t get me started on the congresspeople who have compared it to Naziism, the Fugitive Slave Act or a mass outbreak of cellulite in Hollywood.  (Yes, I made up that last one but it makes just as much sense as the others!)

When I contemplated writing a song about the latest from the GOP, I started to worry that I might offend people.  And yes, some of my best friends actually ARE Republicans.  Of course, I’m in the San Francisco area, so Republicans here tend to be pretty moderate, particularly about social issues like marriage equality, medical marijuana, and reproductive choice.  (One of my favorite New Yorker cartoons shows a woman telling her friend about her last date: “He says he’s a fiscal conservative and a social liberal – that means he’s cheap and he sleeps around!” – but I do believe my friends who describe themself the same way . . . )

However, when the subject of politics came up, a friend of mine said, “I’m a registered Republican, and I’m thoroughly disgusted with my party these days!,” and I don’t think she’s alone.  So if you look at it that way, making fun of the GOP actually IS bi-partisan . . . .

“The GOP Says No!”