If you became a millionaire, would you ever consider voting Republican?

[DaveSZ]

Tax breaks aside, I don't think I could ever vote for someone like Bush or Cheney. There are a few liberal Republicans like Pataki and the late John Heinz who are ok.


I care too much though about things like the environment, and I DO NOT believe, like I'm sure many neocons do, that a little girl's life is worth $700:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x720358

I'd probably give much of my money away to charity anyways, or at least I would try to.

:)

[supernova]

1. No, Repubs don't speak

to anything I believe in or any priority that I hold.

[Nashyra]

2. No

Absolutely not

[olddem43]

3. There are a hell of a lot of rich Democrats too

and I would be one of them.

[Birthmark]

4. Nope

I think that it's an honor, not a burden, to help support our country through taxes.

[Ohio Dem]

5. Nope. But if I'd been BORN a millionaire . . .

I guess it would depend on how I was raised. If I'd been born a millionaire with the same parents, I would still be a Dem.

[movonne]

6. Just because you have money don't mean you change your

values. If you do change your values you never had them to begin with.

[Eric J in MN]

7. No. Voting Republican has no appeal to me, and there are

a lot of things more important to me than money.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. I only vote Repub if I think the candidate is a decent person with decent

policies and is, for whatever reason, the best choice for the job.

Mind you, I don't vote Repub often at all. Definitely vote Dem more.

[DaveSZ]

9. Exactly

Some things are more important than money.

;)

[Cha]

10. No! I'd be like the rest of those generous millionaires who

want a better Country not more money in the bank.

[Columbia]

11. Yup

Made you look! <Nelson laugh - Haa haa!>

No. :)

[Still_Loves_John]

12. I'm rich

and I'm a solid Democrat.

This post gives me an opportunity to bring up my favorite poll ever, and so I'm going to do that now. I don't have a link; it was in an old Time, so I don't know the exact numbers, but this is it in a nutshell:

They broke down voters by education and wealth, and every group was basically 50/50 between Democrat and Republican except for one, which was disproportionally Republican.

Do you know that that group was? People who had never graduated high school.

[LittleApple81]

16. Thanks for the clarification. I don't have that much money but

I don't mind paying takes IF THEY ARE USED RIGHT. I want to keep our infrastructure, public transportation, help for the poor and children, health care for everybody, and a justice system that is fairer to all colors.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

17. Don't ever say you are rich

on these boards without that gold star next to your name. Just a heads up.

Personally I'm just waiting on my August paycheck to make a donation to this wonderful place. It's long overdue.

[Unperson 309]

40. I'm Wealthy... but not in $$$

I have a nice apartment, a loving lifemate, this computer, a great car...

Tomorrow may be horrible, it may be great... but for now, I'm happy.

309

[whistle]

20. I believe it, but now republicans too can be college graduates....

...thanks to democrats.

[elf]

52. donate!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm missing your star!

In case you don't know, you can donate to this board and you get a golden star, if you donate at least $50.......so, if you are on the "better side" you should donate to this very importand board -- then you get your little golden star...........





:toast:

[Sugarbleus]

13. Never ever would I vote republican even if I became wealthy..never!

I am dedicated from the depth of my soul to liberal/democratic values...always have been and always will be.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

14. Nope

sorry, no way, no how. Nothing doin'. EVER. Unless the Republican party were to BECOME the Democratic party or something and it's a matter of semantics.

But just one look at the republican party platform tells me never, no matter how much money I have.

[xxqqqzme]

15. a CFO I once worked

with said it was his ambition 2 B the largest taxpayer in the US. I thought that was an admirable goal.

[Sporadicus]

18. HELL, No!

My social conscience wouldn't vanish with wealth. I could see myself setting up a foundation for helping laid-off workers or the homeless. I also envision aiding progressive candidates getting elected. And providing seed money for alternative-energy startups.

[2Design]

19. never, never, never, ever again....

[Shopaholic]

22. No--hell no--and no again. . .I would never vote Republican

And I always remember reading where David Geffen (a billionaire and a Democrat) said it was an honor to him to pay his taxes. And that lets me know that there are millionaires and billionaires out there who do vote Democratic!

[salvorhardin]

21. On one condition only

If and only if the Democratic party even became as vile and corrupt as the current Republican party and then only if the Republican party had another Lincoln to offer.

[sundancekid]

23. No, never, nope, nyet and hell no! Republican is way too Repugnant.

[DemoTex]

24. On paper I am, and the answer is "hell no!"

And I do give a lot to my selected charities and my favorite candidates, political parties, and others (like the ACLU).

[DaveSZ]

27. True

I'm a poor student, and I've given money and volunteer time to the sierra club, nature conservency, aclu, etc.

I wouldn't see that changing even if I became rich.

Every bit helps, and those organizations do great work.

[cally]

25. I know many first or second generation wealthy folks

who are staunchly democratic. I think we are stereotyping the wealthy to think they are all all Republican. Many vote and support their conscious. You would be surprised about conversations I've had with Texans, Loisianans, and other stereotypical Republican supporters. Many are against greed and realize the opportunities, and the policies behind it, that they had.

[mikehiggins]

26. NO

I might get rich but I will always be an American first.

[DaveSZ]

29. I didn't intend for this to be a "bash the wealthy thread"

I'm sorry if it came off that way.

:)

[yardwork]

28. Of course not.

What a silly question.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

30. No.. unless...

the parties change in the future.

[Crunchy Frog]

31. No,

nothing short of a frontal lobotomy would ever induce me to vote for Repugs in their current incarnation. I would have voted for someone like Lowel Wieker in the past, but they don't make those kind anymore.

I would probably just give huge amounts of money to Democratic candidates and progressive organizations.

[KelleyKramer]

32. People making over 100k tripled thier income under Clinton

And people with over a million in assets invest.

Sooo ...

For the last 100 years, almost every single time the stock market has gone down with a Repub president and up with a Dem president.

Unless you are a corporate criminal who wants to cheat the system, the answer is easy and proven over time.

[Skittles]

33. no, because I'm not a greedy, uncaring asshole

nt

[seabeyond]

34. i vote on person, just seems the best is always democratic

depends on person and what needs to be done and what he/she is saying

[Booster]

35. I wouldn't say ever, but it would have to be one Hell

of a good Republican for me to vote for them. I'm close to a million on paper, never graduated from high school, and haven't been the best citizen in the world, but, dammit, I'm mad this time so I've donated as much as I can to Kerry/Edwards and I'll vote if I have to crawl to the polling place to get rid of Bush. He's done more harm to this counry than any one I have ever seen in my 6l years and he's got to go and we'll have to fight just as hard to keep Jeb out in 2008. I would vote for a Republican who was like Teddy Roosevelt, but that's about it.

[Pachamama]

36. Never - I'd rather be Poor than consider voting Republican & DIE if BU$H

...was my only option....

Actually, before I made my wealth, I was a registered Republican who voted for Papa Bush....(sorry)...but I then voted for Clinton and Nader....

Here is a thread I started yesterday with a question out there on a similar topic related to wealth and tax cuts:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2116721

[DaveSZ]

38. me too

Teddy Roosevelt and Lincoln are all but a distant memory though.

[Sirveri]

37. Probably not.

Democrats have better economic policies which allow the rich to continue to survive without a class warfare strugle breaking out.

[Unperson 309]

39. I pay $3,000.00 or more each year in Taxes and I STILL vote Democratic!

Being self employed, I have no withholding on what I earn. So on about $12,000 annual income, I pay the full 25%!

And you know what? I am DAMNED GLAD TO PAY IT!

Why? Because I CAN. Because my 3K paves roads, feeds kids, saves older people from losing housing... and more.

Yes, it means that I'm pinched in the spring. Yes, it means I eat out less, have an older car, have fewer options... but even as I am, I am blessed to live in a country where there ARE tax funds to help others.

I could NEVER vote Republican, even if I *were* to be a millionaire! I could not vote against my interests as a free person and NEVER against the interests of the poor.

Here in our town, there is a church. A WEALTHY church which was deeded a group of 4 duplex houses. They were given these houses, free, in order for them to house the poor and elderly in them.

This wealthy church is planning to SELL the houses, to EVICT the elderly and disabled tenants (who have been there almost two decades!) and to take the estimated 2.5 MILLION DOLLARS the houses will fetch on the market... and put the money into its own endowment fund! They say "Oh, we'll have counselors to help the folks relocate!" but in this tight market, there is FUCK ALL in terms of low-rent housing!

The church claims that it will cost them $170,000.00 to fix the properties, but they have not even LOOKED INTO options such as donated labor to make repairs, Habitat for Humanity, HUD funding... NOTHING!

I could NEVER do this! Were I the wealthiest person in the world, I could NOT look down on the poor and disposessed and turn the back of my hand to them!

By the way, should those of you who dislike Xtians rail against fundamentalists, the church that's doing this crap is EPISCOPALIAN!

SHAME on them!

309

[elf]

54. we paid in 2002 $40 million taxes

and we didn't think it hurts us!

We think, as members of this society we have to give our share!!

We rather pay more taxes, than get a reduction UNDER BUSH!!!!

But if Bush get's reelected, we leave and can't say anymore that these things happened under THIS ADMINISTRATION,

then we have to say, the American People don't know better and they deserve what they think they want........it all comes down to education.......

BUT this time is different..........

I met two "all time Republicans" one is CEO regional of Meryll Lynch, the other one is "Top sales person" from Mercedes Benz, all time Republican!

Both told us, this time first in their lives they will vote "against Bush"

THEY VOTE AGAINST BUSH, not for Kerry!!!

This is, what I think will happen a lot and they don't talk about it openly.

These two guys told us, because they know, where we are standing. I truly believe, that a lot of old Republicans will vote Democratis this time, but won't tell their friends,they will do it in secret in the voting booth.

[TexasBushwhacker]

41. I could never vote for the Neocan agenda

or anyone that supported it. If I had the good fortune to get a good fortune, even with taxes, I'd have more in my pocket than most people. That doesn't mean I wouldn't plan my finances to minimize my taxes, but I believe in noblesse oblige.

[samplegirl]

42. NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Liberal is a way of life!!!!!!! Once a lib always a Lib

[samplegirl]

44. My father in law was Rep.

I hope hes turning in his grave as i type this!!!
Greediest Bastard in the world. He poisoned me right away.
He passed away this past December was a millionare......
and still controlling his money from the grave.
Cant wait for Minimum wage to hike........that always made him
cringe. Let the worms go in an out!!!!

[Tight_rope]

51. Boy...no doubt you disliked your father-in-law!

[samplegirl]

57. to say the least

I have never really disliked or hated anyone.........to the exception of my father in law.
My husband was adopted by him.at age 1 it was his real mother.
24yrs. he went without knowing.as a child....everyday the bus left him
off at the business to work....while his other brother who was
a natural born son to his real mother and adopted father went
home to milk and cookies......my husband worked 2 jobs 3 shifts
at a factory and for his father all his life ..guess who inherited the business and all the money??????? Mr. Natural!!!!!

[Swede]

43. Yes. Then I would register at Free Republic.

Unfortunately I have this thing called empathy,I really do feel others pain. Empathy and rightwing don't go together.

[AspenRose]

45. Not only NO....

Satan would be wearing a parka and building snowmen in hell before I'd vote Republican.

[Tight_rope]

46. NO AMOUNT OF MONEY WOULD MAKE ME SELL MY SOUL TO THE DEVIL!

[LTR]

47. No way!

Dems know how to spend my money and protect it more than Republicans do.

What good is a token tax cut when my monetary inflow decreases?

[NNadir]

48. I'd be giving money to the Democratic Party.

I think there is more than one rich person in the United States who wonder if they'll still be rich if the hyper-inflation and economic collapse that usually accompany vast deficits occur again.

Were I rich, I would be voting Democratic both out of a sense of decency and out of a sense of covering my own ass.

[elf]

49. I will pay taxes, doesn't matter how much

better than a reduction under Bush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(We belong to the one %!!!):grouphug:

[samplegirl]

50. NO WAY.....ONCE A LIB ALWAYS A LIB

MY FATHER IN LAW WAS REP. HE POISONED ME RIGHT AWAY.
HE DIED THIS PAST DECEMBER GREEDIEST BASTARD IN THE WORLD
DIED A MILLIONARE.......STILL CONTROLLING HIS MONEY FROM HIS
GRAVE. CANT WAIT FOR MINIMUM WAGE TO GO UP THAT ALWAYS MADE
HIM CRINGE!!!!!!!! HE'LL BE ROLLING IN HIS GRAVE.......
LET THE WORMS GO IN AND OUT!!!!!!!!!

[elf]

55. sad for you

[gauguin57]

53. No effing way.

If I had a million dollars, I'd pretty soon have half a million dollars, because I'd be so thrilled that I FINALLY had money to give away to charity, arts organizations, Democratic candidates, etc. I'd start or contribute to foundations that deal with diseases that have affected my family and friends. The last thing I'd do is get a big house or a fancy car or a boat.

If I were rich, I'd retire and do volunteer work -- for charity AND Democratic candidates. And I'd vote DEMOCRAT!

And, if I were rich, I'd be writing to Bush, telling him PLEASE RESCIND my tax cut so that the lower economic classes could have a fighting CHANCE in this country.

I have no respect for Democrats who become Republicans once they earn scads of money, and want to protect it and their new lifestyle. Pheh!

[genius]

56. No. I would still have to live with myself.

[shanti]

58. no freakin way

n/t

[NightOwwl]

59. Of course not.

Besides, I think it's a good time to stop with the 'Rebugs are rich and greedy/Dems are poor and want handouts' stereotype anyway. It's not about money, it's about your belief system.

Yes, there are some horrendously greedy and corrupt Repugs, but I'm not going to paint them all with the same brush.

[AlFrankenFan]

60. No, I'd use my money to help people...

"Nobility is obligated."

Charities, maybe to help fund some kind of legislation, you name it.

As for voting Republican, even though I am not rich I would always consider voting for a Republican if for some odd reason he was better than the Democrat running...generalizing based on party gets us people like Zell Miller.

[cease_fire]

61. Define Millionare.

I mean, even though I got a huge tax break under Shrub, I don't value money as anthing more than a tool. The quality of my life does not depend on money -- therefore it does not depend on a tax breakk.

[ibegurpard]

62. Hell no.

eom

[Piperay]

63. No, and I can say so assuredly because

I inherited wealth from my aunt, most of it in stocks and property and having money has made me care more about others rather than less. Having wealth/money is no excuse or reason for being a repuke. x(

[SammyBlue]

64. nope.

I'm not that selfish.

[LiberalPersona]

65. If I became

The richest man in the world, I would still be a proud liberal and vote for the right person every time. Not all rich people have to be self-centered heartless people, and I'm sure there's a few bleeding heart liberal rich people out there.

I would finally be able to do all I want to help society progress to something better. I would donate thousands of dollars to the democrat election efforts and all that great stuff.

[schultzee]

66. NEVER! I would spend money to ouste them.

[fujiyama]

67. Nope

because I know that the economy is usually better when democrats are in office anyways. As you said there are so many other issues as well - including the environment, foreign policy. Plus, just because I'd be rich doesn't mean I wouldn't care about those with less money. I'd still want everyone to have health care and opportunities for good education. I'd still have my compassion. Oh and I dislike the religious right and wouldn't have them to have power. Hmmm, thinking about it there's little if anything I agree about the republican platform.

I'd be donating a good amount to democratic candidates though.

[vetwife]

68. Money doesn't change my ethics..Can't be bought or rented.

[Tactical Progressive]

69. Yes, I would vote Republican

because I think I could probably see then how my class really is the driving force behind the advancement of society. We here, or I guess I should say you here, since I wouldn't really be in the same situation any more, certainly do your share of what you can, but monied people like myself know that supply-side 'economics' allocates resource based on who can do the most good. And let's face it, you people don't create jobs. Rich people like myself create jobs. And if I have to send those jobs overseas for exploitation to an even more uncivilized economic configuration to make myself even richer, well, that helps all of us because it is more 'efficient'.

In short, that's my money and I don't see how taking that money from the most 'productive' members of society, even if I got it in a fluke, is either efficient or fair. Sure, I'd still be for social programs and stuff, but I don't think I should have to pay for them.

[TexasSissy]

70. The amt. of $$ I have has no effect on the political party I support,

or which candidate I vote for.

I was a Dem. when I was barely scraping by, paycheck to paycheck. And I am a Dem. now, even though I FINALLY have expendable income and do a little investing (and have a 401K, etc.), which makes me concerned about the stock market.

THE COUNTRY DOES BETTER ECONOMICALLY UNDER THE DEMOCRATS, ANYWAY!

[mmonk]

71. No

and I'm already there in total wealth.

[in_cog_ni_to]

72. HELL NO!. n/t

[MODemocrat]

73. Absolutely not, I love the principles of the Democratic Party

There are many good republicans, and I've even worked for them in my youth, and respected their views. It's just that I can't understand what they stand for anymore, and think it's this reckless hard right wing that has me totally turned off. I believe in the constitution.

[Eurobabe]

74. Phuck no!

I have always said, if I won a lottery or something, I would take a huge chunk of that change and set up a non-profit for some worthy 'democratic' cause. Just because it's the right thing to do.

[skygazer]

75. Most of the Republicans I know

are NOT rich. Most of them are struggling and many of them are undeducated. Judging by my own completely unscientific observations, many poor people buy into the double-speak and really believe that these jerks care about people. The flag waving gets them on a gut level and they hear the simplified pap the GOP feeds.

[salin]

76. not vote but would give money.... ONLY

if in giving the money I would be able to unhijack the gop from the neocons and talibornigans;

AND I would give an equal amount of money to progressive democratic candidates

They are So dangerous - that even if I weren't to ever vote GOP - we would all be much more safe in the opposition party were not adhered to these wacko extremist folks.

[bleedingheart]

77. never...ever

[mainer]

78. The blue states tend to be wealthier

While the staunchly red states (like the deep south) are struggling. So the assumptions on which you base your question are flawed.

And with the Republicans themselves calling Democrats the "wealthy elite", doesn't that say something?

[Gothic Sponge]

79. NEVER!

My ideology is set in very strong social beliefs. I would never sell out!

[meow2u3]

80. I don't mind paying my taxes

If I were a millionaire, even if I have to pay far more than most, it would be my patriotic duty to contribute a much larger percentage of my total income to keep the country solvent, and to run the government.

[Paranoid_Portlander]

81. If the millionaire is gay...

... and/or wants the stock market to go up, it wouldn't make sense to vote Republican. A rising stock market could easily overcome a republican tax cut.

[Robin Hood]

82. Why would I?

I have done nothing but lost monay in republican years. Give me a democrat any day. Republicans just don't know how to govern, even for millionaires like me.

[CaTeacher]

83. I have been a millionaire.

I gave up a huge career to give back to society. There are some things more important than money.

Some of the things that I believe in (there are more):

PEACE--not war. (What is the justification for our military being so much larger than that of Canada?)

No Death Penalty

Gun Control (NO ONE should own a gun EVER)

Rights For Gays--(which MUST include every right afforded to "straights" including marriage and the adoption of children.)

Protecting Abortion--abortion should be easy to obtain (no questions asked) and should be completely subsidized by the government (birth control too--no matter what age the person is).

More Stringent Affirmative Action

Health Care for everyone

Free education for all--which will include mandatory cultural education for everyone (not just those of college age)

Fair taxes that will redistribute wealth and equalize society so that we do not have a large gap between rich and poor.

Penalties (or banning) for any "Christian" church that engages in political activity---yes that includes the pope--his recent proclaimations against feminism and gay rights put him at the very top of the list.

Srict policies that keep corporations from ruining our environment and from sending jobs overseas.

Expanded welfare benefits to include a basic "living wage" to ALL persons, regardless of their employment status.

Jail time for Bush supporters (depending on the extent of their crimes).

I am disappointed that Kerry is not talking about some of these things, however I have plenty of hope that Kerry will pursue a progressive agenda once he takes office. I am eagerly looking forward to electing a more progressive president and changing our society for the better.