VansOpinion - THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS TO REBUILD

There is a lot of positive value in a "two party system" at both the state and federal levels. Unfortunately the good solid conservative Democrats and their political party have been relegated to "back-burner" status by the liberal mis-fits and malcontents. Franklin Roosevelt and others of his kind would be ashamed of what some are doing to destroy their party. "Happy Days" are not "Here Again." Here are a few areas where, in my opinion, the Democratic Party is bent out of shape.

To be a modern liberal Democrat:

You have to believe the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of funding.

You have to be against capital punishment, but for abortion on demand, protecting the guilty and killing the innocent.

You have to believe that the same public school teacher who can't teach 4th graders how to read is qualified to teach those same kids about sex.

You have to believe that trial lawyers are selfless heroes and doctors are overpaid.

You have to believe that guns in the hands of law- abiding Americans are more of a threat than nuclear weapons in the hands of the Red Chinese.

You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical, documented changes in the Sun, and more affected by SUVs.

You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being gay is natural.

You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.

You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature but animal rights activists who've never been outside Seattle do.

You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.

You have to believe there was no art before federal funding.

You have to believe that taxes are too low but ATM fees are too high.

You have to believe that Harriet Tubman, Cesar Chavez, and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Robert E. Lee or Thomas Edison.

You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides aren't.

You have to believe that second-hand smoke is more dangerous than HIV.

You have to believe that conservatives are racists, but that African-Americans couldn't make it without your help.