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This is an excellent piece by Yuval Levoin in National Affairs that lays out a conservative guidline so that conservatives nlonger just say no but instead offer alternatives to the nanny-state democrats. Beyond the Welfare State It is a long piece but well worth reading. Particularly gripping was the graph of federal debt from 1790 to 2050.
So the author argues that all the welfare expansion under the left, and the steep rise in it over the past few years, is actually going to cause the demise of the left's plan. I hope that is true.This was a good quote:
Conservatives should therefore not expect to ever simply win the argument. Our challenge, rather, is to dominate the argument ? to offer the vision that implicitly sets the tone for our common life. The key to doing so is the emergence of a policy-oriented conservatism, one able to make gainful compromises not because it is ambivalent about its own aims or tentative in its commitment to them but because it knows exactly what it wants ? a thriving free society with a market economy, strong families, a devotion to country, and a commitment to the value of every life ? and knows that this can (indeed must) be obtained gradually, by a mix of persuasion and proof. Such an approach must always remain grounded in the principles of American life ? the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, of the Western tradition and of classical liberalism. But it must also translate those principles into policy particulars. In our politics, battles over ideas are won in practice, not in theory.
If ever there was an argument for Judeo-Christian principles as the basis of our country, I think this is it. Many of the people who put O in office were the young - dare I say, those who generally speaking share less of the Judeo-Christian morality than the generations that precede them. I cannot picture someone on the left advocating rather secular aims such as "a thriving free society with a market economy, strong families, a devotion to country, and a commitment to the value of every life," but it seems to be something that is part and parcel of those on the right. Therefore, there seems to be a connection between one's spiritual morality and the way national goals are conceived in one's mind.
So the author argues that all the welfare expansion under the left, and the steep rise in it over the past few years, is actually going to cause the demise of the left's plan. I hope that is true.
Yes, but until that happens, until people realize this and admit their mistakes, it will be too late because every single one of us will be affected.
I didn't want to interfere in your disappointment following the election. I modified my former post leaving a simple comment. In fact I first posted a viewpoint by Rod Deher. Try to read it in full, I called it : Politics, Religion and Hope. You know that I don't share all of your political views but don't take it as provocation.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20257611
In regard to that article, I think it's easy to say “you need to compromise”. The real questions – on what issues? We'll be hearing calls now at MSNBC and by liberals about how Republicans need to adopt liberal policies. As if liberals adopted conservative policies when Kerry lost in '04! The fact of the matter is that there are certain issues that cannot be compromised; ask the abolitionists of the 1850s if they should have “compromised” in their opposition to slavery.No, the way I see it, compromise is of some value on some issues (e.g. immigration), but not on others. The real opportunity is in persuasion. Right now, the Democrats have the upper hand since they have "stuff to offer" - that is free stuff - to the American people. This upper hand will no doubt come to an end when it comes time to pay the piper; when the debt becomes too great, or when China stops lending money, we will see the fruits of the Democratic deception. Republicans can try to press this message in hopes of convincing voters. The problem is that the voters don't seem to want to listen.
I think every Republican in Congress should just resign. Let the Democrats run the show and have their way. Would that matter, though? They'll still blame Republicans and the idiots in this country will still believe them. I'm really beginning to believe there is only one option left - civil war.
Look, now. We're all a bit numb from this. Not only is it frustrating, but it's depressing knowing that the Republic, built on the sweat of generations and the blood of soldiers who died in battle to protect our freedoms, is dying a slow death because people like to elect the guy who gives out free phones and birth control. However, the more I study history, the more it strikes me how the course of things ebbs and flows, so what is bleak one day is bright the next. We have truth on our side, and that should give us a tremendous amount of confidence. We all need to hold in there and not give up the ship quite yet. While is seems like the next election is an eternity away, there is hope that things will get better then.
You're correct, but I think at this point it's going to take something drastic to wake people up. I wonder how many people in NY and NJ still without electricity are liking the president right now. Is the media covering it up? I was thinking about it today. Where's the Federal Gov't? FEMA took a day off becaue of teh weather (what?!?!) Why isn't the Army Corp of Eng installing power to these major urban areas? They say this hurricane helped Obama. If this was Bush, he'd be skewered. I'm just afraid this drastic thing needed to wake people up will be economic in nature. I'm very concerned with my finances and job right now as many of us are. I'm totally angry at Obama voters for electing someone who made it this way and whose policies will make it worse. My 24 yr old daughter voted for Romney, yet many of her friends voted for Obama because he was really cool with Jay Z or whatever. I mentioned to some of her Obama supporting friends today that they should start saving money because gas and food prices are going to get higher. Then I told them why. Wish I saw them before the election. :-
