Republicans: The Story of Us

(An essay inspired by the recently History Channel multi-part series, "Mankind, The Story of Us".)

The Republicans have always represented the job makers, the providers, the builders, the corporations, and the military: the hunters and warriors that kept America safe, strong, productive, and innovative. The Democrats have thrived on those back at the camp: the unions, government employees, the unemployed, the poor, the needy, the old, and the entitled.

Long ago in a more primitive time, the hunter left the safety of the camp to hunt for food to bring back to his family. His mate distributed the food among their children according to each one's needs. If food was left over, it could be shared with others. Being a good provider was the mark of successful hunter. His family thrived; he gave much to others.

It was important that the hunter be the father of the children he fed. The genes of the good hunter were the most likely to survive. The tribe and mankind could grow to be stronger and more resourceful. To this end, bonding between the hunter and his mate was encouraged and supported by the tribe through religious ritual and public ceremony. Bonding and mating for life also helped keep guys from killing each other over mating rights. This adaptation became "marriage."

The camp became a village. Man learned he could bring home more food to his family if he joined with others in the hunt. The hunters chose the best among them to be the leader: the Master of the Hunt. They developed strategies to maximize the bounty. The Huntmaster implemented them. Their survival depended on each hunter executing his assigned tasks with skill and bravery. Dependability, honesty and loyalty were traits that were reinforced through successful hunting.

The Huntmaster also came to decide how the kill was divided. The most effective hunter was offered first choice of shares. Generosity among hunters was common and admired. Modern hunting clubs still conduct deer and bear hunts on this system.

The Huntmaster soon became the Master or Chief of the tribe. As the village grew into a city-state, he needed counselors, administrators, and enforcers --- these became government. Today he would be elected by all members of the tribal nation to the office of President of the USA.

The hunters became the military, the farmers, the companies, and the self-employed: the providers and warriors largely represented by the Republicans.

The Democrats include the weak, the sick, the old, the women, and the young, who in early times waited safely in the cave, camp or village while the hunters and later farmers brought back the food. The hunter gave his share to his family first. It was given according to each family members need. He also gave to others as he or his mate judged them worthy. The providers had final say in how their bounty was distributed.

The number and influence of the camp dwellers increased as fewer providers were needed to support larger populations. Through government and the court system, they have established enforceable rights to shares of the bounty.

Here we are the hunters, warriors, companies and the self-employed. We are outnumbered. The camp dwellers are voting themselves more and more of our earnings in the form of welfare, food stamps, free medical care, disability, longer unemployment insurance payments, subsidized housing, public schooling, more government employees and free childcare that starts in infancy.

"When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."

-- Benjamin Franklin.

By C.M. Phillips