Unhelpful High School Teacher

I get that all the time; the parties switched platforms in the 20th century.

I love it when conservatives try to claim Teddy

The moment conservatives realise that FDR was a republican

Not quite, whistlelock. Hell, you've even got your centuries wrong!

To be fair, it was only about 55 years from when slavery ended to when income tax started. So, I suppose using liberal logic and liberal mentality, the 1860s and the early 1900's are in the "same era", right?

Google terms: Republicans, income tax, and Civil War.

Learn some history, sport.

Look at the dates, sport. The dates I used are accurate.

The only chance you have of making your "same era" statement hold up, is if you link the end of slavery, in 1865 and the start of federal income tax, in 1913. On a long enough time scale, sure. But from a realistic historical perspective, at least today, nope.

No. The Republicans were debating it in the 1850s and enacted it into law in 1861. Along with the Federal property tax. And several excise taxes. And a national currency. And a means to collect those taxes.

1861.

Remind me...when did the Civil War start?

Was slavery already over before the Civil War started?

You know what you should do? You should read this book: To Make Men Free: A History of the Republican Party by Heather Cox Richardson

You can get it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Make-Men-Free-History-Republican-ebook/dp/B00L4FSSZY

But I recommend going to your local library and borrowing their copy.

You'll actually learn some things. About how Republicans used to be super progressive. And some even thought that private property was bullshit, and all property belonged to the Federal Government.

I understand the point you're trying to make. However, I think a reasonable person would likely agree that just because something happened at a non-federal level, it's not the same as a national party being in favor of it.

But that' s not really the issue here, is it? So let's just agree that we view that differently, and get to the real issue.

What's really at issue is the fact that you want to dismiss the fact that it was democrats who were the party of slavery, and for what is a very legitimate reason imo, meaning it was long ago and the party as well as the times have changed.

Yet at the same time, you're trying to hang something that *some* republicans were involved with at a similar time, on republicans today. In particular, this looks to be just another example of petty, ineffective Trump bashing.

So which is it? Because you have to be consistent... right? Either we hold both parties accountable for their actions in the 1860's, or we hol neither.

Well, if you're a liberal, there's no requirement for intellectual consistency, nor honesty, so maybe that's a waste of my time to try to hold you to that concept.

Actually, I think you're missing my point.

My point, is that to reach back into history to say "oh, yeah! Well, X did this thing way back then so that means X is still like that today!!! hahahah!" is meaningless.

At one time the Republicans were the progressive party by proposing taxes, universal healthcare, and the abolition of slavery.

If I were alive then, I'd be a Republican. Because they were the progressive party.

Were.

Just like the Democrats used to be the conservative party. Yes, they were 100% in on slavery. And the power of the states over the federal government. And no taxes.

If I were alive back then, I wouldn't vote for Democrats. Ever.

Would the Republicans of today support introducing an income tax? No. Clearly, not.
Would the Democrats of today support denying rights to a specific group? No. Clearly, not.

Why do I have to keep repeating this? It was the RIGHT who were pro-slavery and pro-segregation, they just changed their name/color (from Democrat to Republican).