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Originally Posted by Titan2
I am genuinely curious about this point. Leaving partisanship aside what is the current R party good for? Obviously, very good for the ultra rich. Past that?
Like, if we were to build a platform on the best ideas from both parties, how many would have an R beside them. I literally can't think of one.
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Here are some. Obviously up for debate.
1. They provide a voice to a large segment of society that is afraid of the change away from a traditional way of life, and thinks it's happening too fast. This isn't an irrational position, many things are lumped together as "change" and not all of them are positive. Even those that are net positive involve losing other values and confusion in the short term, and so Republicans' interests in opposing them is legitimate. A lot of Democrats don't even take these interests seriously. They think change is inevitable and if you're not on the train, you're stupid.
2. They also represent people who've won under the present and recently past systems, and are afraid they may have to disgorge their wins. You can argue whether or not their wins were fair, but it's theirs now. It's only reasonable that they'll try to protect it.
3. Republicans are well organized politically, and do a better job advancing their agenda. They also do a better job promoting from within their own ranks. They have a good ground game and get the vote out. See how progressive Democrats are pissed about their party's direction, ie Israel. Less Republicans are upset about the Republican party because they're more aligned. The Democratic party is too 'big tent'.
4. Republicans don't instinctively think that every systematic problem is solvable by government in simple, straightforward ways. So it helps restrain Democrats and bureaucrats who are more inclined to think so.
5. They also don't instinctively distrust all forms of authority other than governments. That's necessary in order for there to be a balanced civil society, where the govt is not the only power or even the predominant power. There are great CEOs who run companies. They don't believe every rich guy is evil. For example, when Kamala responded to the Trump-Musk interview, she had to call them 'two rich guys', which was the least relevant to the crazyness of that interview.
And I haven't even mentioned their 4 main pillars, taxes, immigration, guns and religion