With the incoming Republican controlled house in the new year, I thought I would take a shot at the party that put them there and see what my readers think. Yea, I know, surprise surprise, I'm taking a stab at the Republican party again.
The way I'll structure this is a simple question posed to my hypothetical Republican reader.
Why do you vote Republican?
I vote Republican because I believe in small government and fiscal responsibility.
Once upon a time Republicans believed these things, but those days seem long gone. No matter what you think the role of government should be, Republican administration has done nothing but increase the size and cost of government since Ronald Reagan. Conservatives tend to get lost in this truth by trying to make distinctions between military and domestic policy, the allocation of tax dollars to 'necessary' and 'unnecessary' projects and over-reach, but at the end of the day, government has ended up bigger and more expensive on Republican than ever before. Even squinting hard, you can't see the values above in the initiation of two wars, the creation of the expansive Homeland Security bureaucracy, and non-defense discretionary outlays under George H.W. Bush increasing 36% just in his first term.
On the Republican social agenda, whether you agree with it or not, is NOT small government or cheap. Positions restricting marriage to specific couples including lawsuit costs and ad campaigns, seeking to make abortion illegal, and the constant and uncritical prosecution of the drug war all insert the government heavily into the individual lives of citizens. Right or wrong, these policies cannot be seen as small government.
Finally with the Citizens United decision allowing them to do so, Republican candidates are outspending Democrats often 5:1 and pouring money into advertisement nationally that dwarfs their competition. Is this the 'fiscal responsibility' they intend to bring to office?
The only place Republican leadership seems to hold the line on small government and lower costs is in the reduction of taxation, oversight and regulation of business. Is this what you mean when you say 'small government'? Most conservatives would say no, they meant something more comprehensive.
I vote Republican because the private sector does it better.
But the Republicans don't pass laws that reduce restrictions on private companies much at all. In fact most businesses saw the greatest gains to their tax status under Clinton. Republican business policy has focused almost entirely on top end financial deregulation, tax loopholes for large corporations and mufti-nationals, and the reduction of workers unions and rights. What's important to understand here is even if you prefer tax cuts to businesses and free negotiation with employees free of government enforcement, unless you are a business employing thousands of workers or making millions each quarter, the bills championed by the Republican party in the last decade haven't done a thing for you or your business.
Republicans like to use 'small business' as a word to draw in retailers, mom and pop stores, and local chains under their umbrella, but none of these kinds of businesses would benefit much from the their legislation. The 'small business' actual Republican policy has benefited are multimillion dollar corporations and holding companies with a small number of stock holders who register s-corp for tax reasons. So are you a million dollar plus quarterly revenue s-corp? If not, then the private sector they think 'does it better' does not include you.
I vote Republican because I am a conservative Christian and I believe in their social values.
Nothing wrong with this on the surface. Picking a political candidate for their values is a time honored and justifiable reason to honor them with your vote. However beware: The Republican party has recently spent a lot of time using social issues to generate outrage, fear, and anger, but hasn't actually done very much on the actual legislative side to change any of it if the issue doesn't immediately threaten them. I ask you this: If you voted your candidate in because Republicans are anti-abortion, what has that candidate DONE to stop abortion in their tenure? What bills have the put on the floor? What measures have they enacted to champion that cause?
If you look at the record, the answer is usually 'not much.' The Republican platform may be in line with a lot you believe in, but if the candidate doesn't actually do anything to further those values, you haven't voted for a legislator, you've voted for a commercial. Hell, I'll tell you I'll give you a ten pound sack of cut diamonds if you put me into office if I'm sure you'll never collect. Don't vote Republican because they SAY they are for or against something. Vote for someone who actually does promote your values. If they haven't or don't, then why again are you voting Republican?
If you've read this far, you might have noticed a couple things. First, the only mention I made of the Democrats was to highlight comparative spending for campaigns – to raise the question of whether or not it was reasonable to run as fiscally responsible not just to meet the advertisement of your opponent but to vastly exceed it. Second, that I do not claim these problems are Conservative.
They are not.
The question all of this raises boils down to a simple one: When did Republicans stop representing American conservatives and fight exclusively for large corporations? When will American conservatives realize this, and take their party back or create their own.
Right now, my friends, the Republicans are not yours no matter what politics you believe in.
The way I'll structure this is a simple question posed to my hypothetical Republican reader.
Why do you vote Republican?
I vote Republican because I believe in small government and fiscal responsibility.
Once upon a time Republicans believed these things, but those days seem long gone. No matter what you think the role of government should be, Republican administration has done nothing but increase the size and cost of government since Ronald Reagan. Conservatives tend to get lost in this truth by trying to make distinctions between military and domestic policy, the allocation of tax dollars to 'necessary' and 'unnecessary' projects and over-reach, but at the end of the day, government has ended up bigger and more expensive on Republican than ever before. Even squinting hard, you can't see the values above in the initiation of two wars, the creation of the expansive Homeland Security bureaucracy, and non-defense discretionary outlays under George H.W. Bush increasing 36% just in his first term.
On the Republican social agenda, whether you agree with it or not, is NOT small government or cheap. Positions restricting marriage to specific couples including lawsuit costs and ad campaigns, seeking to make abortion illegal, and the constant and uncritical prosecution of the drug war all insert the government heavily into the individual lives of citizens. Right or wrong, these policies cannot be seen as small government.
Finally with the Citizens United decision allowing them to do so, Republican candidates are outspending Democrats often 5:1 and pouring money into advertisement nationally that dwarfs their competition. Is this the 'fiscal responsibility' they intend to bring to office?
The only place Republican leadership seems to hold the line on small government and lower costs is in the reduction of taxation, oversight and regulation of business. Is this what you mean when you say 'small government'? Most conservatives would say no, they meant something more comprehensive.
I vote Republican because the private sector does it better.
But the Republicans don't pass laws that reduce restrictions on private companies much at all. In fact most businesses saw the greatest gains to their tax status under Clinton. Republican business policy has focused almost entirely on top end financial deregulation, tax loopholes for large corporations and mufti-nationals, and the reduction of workers unions and rights. What's important to understand here is even if you prefer tax cuts to businesses and free negotiation with employees free of government enforcement, unless you are a business employing thousands of workers or making millions each quarter, the bills championed by the Republican party in the last decade haven't done a thing for you or your business.
Republicans like to use 'small business' as a word to draw in retailers, mom and pop stores, and local chains under their umbrella, but none of these kinds of businesses would benefit much from the their legislation. The 'small business' actual Republican policy has benefited are multimillion dollar corporations and holding companies with a small number of stock holders who register s-corp for tax reasons. So are you a million dollar plus quarterly revenue s-corp? If not, then the private sector they think 'does it better' does not include you.
I vote Republican because I am a conservative Christian and I believe in their social values.
Nothing wrong with this on the surface. Picking a political candidate for their values is a time honored and justifiable reason to honor them with your vote. However beware: The Republican party has recently spent a lot of time using social issues to generate outrage, fear, and anger, but hasn't actually done very much on the actual legislative side to change any of it if the issue doesn't immediately threaten them. I ask you this: If you voted your candidate in because Republicans are anti-abortion, what has that candidate DONE to stop abortion in their tenure? What bills have the put on the floor? What measures have they enacted to champion that cause?
If you look at the record, the answer is usually 'not much.' The Republican platform may be in line with a lot you believe in, but if the candidate doesn't actually do anything to further those values, you haven't voted for a legislator, you've voted for a commercial. Hell, I'll tell you I'll give you a ten pound sack of cut diamonds if you put me into office if I'm sure you'll never collect. Don't vote Republican because they SAY they are for or against something. Vote for someone who actually does promote your values. If they haven't or don't, then why again are you voting Republican?
If you've read this far, you might have noticed a couple things. First, the only mention I made of the Democrats was to highlight comparative spending for campaigns – to raise the question of whether or not it was reasonable to run as fiscally responsible not just to meet the advertisement of your opponent but to vastly exceed it. Second, that I do not claim these problems are Conservative.
They are not.
The question all of this raises boils down to a simple one: When did Republicans stop representing American conservatives and fight exclusively for large corporations? When will American conservatives realize this, and take their party back or create their own.
Right now, my friends, the Republicans are not yours no matter what politics you believe in.
Originally I was going to edit this in, but I think a response is good enough.
ReplyDeleteIf your answer to this question includes "But the Democrats..." or "Democrats are just as bad..." or "Democrats are worse..." then you are missing the point entirely.
It is a form of cowardice to define your politics by pure comparison to the other side. This allows you to have no ideas, no plans, no stance, no principles, and no leadership. All you have to do is nitpick at the opponent and say "but we're not them." While this may be politically expedient against an unpopular candidate, it offers your family, your job, your business and your future nothing in the way of ideas or convictions on which to build.
So again, Republicans, why do YOU vote REPUBLICAN? Not why do you vote conservative or why are the Democrats worse. I'm not asking you to like the opposition, I'm asking you why you stand with a party that has abandoned you. Why do you support a party that DOES NOT support you?
I'd edit that in rather than leave it as a comment if I were you. I for one missed it the first time through, and there's really no reason not to.
ReplyDeleteJust a small aside here. You don't ACTUALLY expect an honest answer from any Republicans, do you? Because you have put anyone who ever considered themselves a Republican on the defensive with this post, and with the fact that you have consistently ripped on the Right, all the while paying little attention to the Left. If that's your goal, then cool. But state that. Don't open your whole blog with the "I'll get to ripping both sides" sentiment. Because it's just not the truth. You're an unashamed Liberal and a Democrat. Be proud and just say it openly. :)
ReplyDeleteTom, you're making exactly the mistake in your characterization of my politics that I urge people to avoid.
ReplyDeleteThis post is not about criticism of the Right.
This post is about criticism of the Republican party. The fact that the Right equates conservative politics and Republicans is what's costing American conservatives their souls. They're voting for people that aren't really doing anything to represent them.
So yes, my blog has been very aggressive against the Republicans - but it's because I think the American conservative is critical to our national health and the party that was once their champion has new masters and a new agenda that leave conservatives out in the cold.
No, you're missing my point. The fact is, in this day and age, the Right and the Republican Party are more or less inseparable. Which is the problem. In a perfect world, people could seperate the two concepts. But it's not that way.
ReplyDeleteI'm just saying that even though you make good points, the fact is, if someone who is conservative/Republican/Right-wingered reads this, they are going to be defensive. And putting someone on the defensive immediately upon opening a discussion will negate any free and open discussion from then on. This is the tactic that all pundits, professional and amateur alike, use, whether consciously or not.
I'm not actually commenting on your blog subject, it's more about your presentation. Personally, I still consider myself a Republican in many ways, and somewhat Conservative. But this last election I voted for a lot of Democrats. So, I can't actually address your points directly this time.