Why do you consider yourself a Democrat? Is it because your mother, father and grandparents were Democrats? Is that really a good reason to vote a certain way?

Anyway, the Democrats of their generation are not the Democrats of today.

I would say that John Kennedy would be a Republican today. Martin Luther King was a Republican.

Those are two great Americans.

The Republican Party was founded in 1854 by those who opposed the extension of slavery. Congressman Robert Smalls, an African American from South Carolina, founded the Republican Party of South Carolina.

He is notable as the last Republican to represent South Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District until the election of Mick Mulvaney in 2010.

What do you believe? Do you believe that marriage is between a man and a woman?

The Republican platform does, the Democrats don’t. Do you believe in a women’s right to kill her baby? Republicans don’t, Democrats do. Do you believe a parent has the right to choose where their children are educated?

Republicans do, Democrats don’t. Are you satisfied with the performance of the school system in Fairfield County? Although there are dedicated students, teachers and administrators, most citizens are not satisfied with the results.

Are you for guns rights? Republicans are, Democrats are not.

Do you believe in lower taxes for everyone, including small businesses? Republicans do, Democrats don’t.

Just think, if our South Carolina legislature cut corporate and small business taxes in half, how many companies would move to South Carolina and possibly Fairfield County? How many new businesses would start up in South Carolina?

Again, what do you believe? There are several myths about Republicans you may have heard such as; Republicans are for the rich. I don’t know about you but a poor man never gave me a job.

Republicans are for low taxes for everyone which puts more taxes in your pocket.

This gives you more money to spend in the community.

Republicans would rather teach a man to fish to feed himself for a lifetime instead of giving him a fish for one meal. Republicans believe you can do a better job of spending your money that the government can.

Don’t get me wrong, I won’t say all Democrats are bad and all Republicans are good because that is not true.

For example, I have publicly written that S.C. House Republicans should embrace former Fairfield Democrat Representative Boyd Brown’s plan to decrease the pay of the constitutional officers.

I have also criticized the horrendous voting record on spending of South Carolina (Republican in name only) Senator Jake Knotts.

As a party official I do not mind calling out Republicans when they are wrong. I am glad this is a trait that Congressman Mick Mulvaney and I share.

Fairfield County has been governed/ruled by Democrats …forever. How has that worked out for the residents of Fairfield County?

Rather poorly I and many others would say. Under their rule the unemployment rate in our county hovers around 12 percent and 25 percent of our residents are on food stamps.

Are you satisfied with this? If so, keep voting the same way you have been.

That should be enough right there to vote everyone in Fairfield County out of office this November.

If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got.

I just gave you something to ponder. Had enough? Vote Republican!

Kevin Thomas is the Republican Chairman of the Fairfield County Republican Party and the Vice Chairman of the Fifth ^{Congressional} District Republicans and can be reached at fairfieldcountygop@gmail.com.