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PUBLISHED: 10-13-08
Conservatives must return to their core values
After 26 years in Congress, you would think Sen. John McCain would have had things figured out.
Instead of being all over the map on issues in the past-including a threat to leave the Republican Party in 2001-maybe he could have taken a stand on bringing back real conservative values to the party. So far, he has come up with few conservative solutions to our economic problems and leaves us with the impression that he will spend more money than we can afford to if he becomes president.
Then he chooses the woman who runs Alaska as a running mate, who puts his conservatism to shame. It’s too bad Gov. Sarah Palin doesn’t have more experience in the national spotlight because she would represent the Republican Party with much more respect than McCain. She reduced spending and stopped relying so heavily on federal dollars in her home state, cut taxes for home and business owners and still had money left to implement social services for her people. This seemingly simple attitude seems to be forgotten by many conservatives in our federal government. She is extremely conservative when it comes to social issues and has no problem owning up to and defending her beliefs, unlike McCain.
When it comes down to standing up for the party and its for core values, somewhere the lines were skewed. There was a point in time when conservatives could stand proud in the United States. Post-World War II success under President Dwight Eisenhower was the perfect embodiment of what “Made in America” was all about. People didn’t struggle to find jobs-more workers created more tax revenue without having to punish the middle and upper classes for more of their income to support federal programs. Our country didn’t have to worry about social security being around for future generations, and federal spending, including pork barrel, was at a minimum.
What has happened since then? Well, the conservatives fell off track. No longer are we worried about prosperity created on the backs of Americans for Americans. Now conservatives only seem to be concerned with selling out the heart and soul of the average American to protect their own pocketbooks. It is time for conservatives
to stop using social issues reserved to state judgment as a way to troll for votes and start pushing concrete economic issues, like using the falling value of the dollar to our advantage to bring jobs back home. Depending less on foreign products and oil is key to reviving our economy, not bailing it out with more borrowed money.
One of the biggest concerns with the true right wing is the spending of money that we do not have to fund expensive wars. Voters on the right have seemed to accept these practices because of deep-seeded allegiances without thinking of their repercussions on the country and the party’s future.
Even more disheartening are potential voters on both sides lowering themselves to issues like who is wearing a flag pin. Who looks better on camera?
Whose running mate has more experience than who may potentially be in charge? Sure, experience is a big deal, but comparing a No. 1’s experience to a distant No. 2’s experience isn’t good form.
We have a chance to take advantage of the falling dollar and increased prices of imported goods to bring jobs back into the U.S. It is no longer cheap to buy from China or an incentive to outsource when our own currency is taking a hit and other countries are experiencing inflation. “Made in America” can make a comeback. The dream of reducing our multi-billion dollar trade deficit can become a reality within the next few years. At the same time, Republicans need to get back to reducing
taxes on companies in order to ease up on their outsourcing.
The initial threat of crude oil drilling and the eventual expedition of the process can curb speculation in the short term. When energy sources are launched into the mainstream, we will reap the benefits when we can centralize a bigger piece of the crude oil market. The threat to the environment as a result of drilling in Alaska hasn’t surfaced the way environmentalists said that it would, and there is no reason to think that any additional lines would do the same.
There has been strong opposition to privatizing social security. However, something needs to be done to fix our failing system.
The amount of workers paying into the system has been cut in half since 1960. This will be detrimental to younger workers. If maintenance fees for the program can be regulated to a reasonable percentage and the investment percentages can be left open-ended to the worker, it could be successful. Additionally, you do not have the government telling you when you can collect, unlike the current social
security system.
The United States can regain economic stability and it can still be the superpower it was in the past if we stop selling out and start to rebuild using examples of the past.
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Oct 15th 2008
You offer a good start but I think conservatives that really want to get back to their roots should turn to Congressman Ron Paul. He attracted 10,000 people to St. Paul for a counter-convention when the GOP was holding their convention. The GOP refused to give him speaking time and have chosen to ignore his conservative ideas, values, and solutions for getting America back on track. As a result, he has become an argonaut for true conservatives and disenchanted conservatives who have turned libertarian.
You are correct to mention the spending of money we do not have for expensive wars, but I would say that a bigger problem (and this applies to Democrats too) is spending money we do not have for ILLEGAL wars.
Conservatives have become pitiful when it comes to defending civil liberties. They support the PATRIOT Act and its expansions and amendments to FISA. Democrats aren’t much better.
Conservatives should fight for a balanced budget.
Conservatives should oppose giving taxpayer money for corporate welfare.
Conservatives should be less concerned with “Made in America” and be more concerned with free trade agreements. They should oppose WTO and NAFTA and expansions of NAFTA, which “regulate” free trade.
Why do you have to regulate free trade if it is free? Widespread belief is that this does not level the playing field and instead has a reverse effect on nations all over the world.
Conservatives shouldn’t focus on the Bush push to privatize Social Security but should worry about forfeiting tradition and values by supporting a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street. This is socialism of the worst kind.
Conservatives are now “conservatives” and liberals are now “liberals.”
They are racing each other to see who can subvert their party’s values and traditions the fastest (it seems).
Ralph Nader and Bob Barr are the real conservative options for this presidential election. Chuck Baldwin is too.
Any other candidate possesses utter disregard for conservative values and really utter disregard for our nation’s Constitution.
Oct 20th 2008
All I can say is that I want someone who will truly do what they say they will. Alternative energy sources have been there for a long time and it seems these solutions are simply being left on the shelf. Not sure why, maybe because they’re less profitable? And as far as trade goes, China’s had quite a bit of egg on their face as of late between lead and dairy products, that should be a sign that we need to start relying on US more.
And as far as the bailout goes - A. Someone’s footing the bill, and B. Is this what we’re going to do every time we need to boost our economy? Banks need to be more responsible and quit handing out credit to any Joe that comes along. I also believe that we need to stop the finger-wagging at other countries when we do the same damn thing - like telling Russia they can’t invade Georgia when it’s basically the same thing we’re doing. I don’t think we are in any position to tell other countries how to do things, because we’ve gotten our own country into quite a mess.
Oct 21st 2008
Brad-
In a perfect world we would have politicians that would do what they say they intend to. Even when they have the best intentions, there is always someone blocking the pathway - usually congress.
I know what you are saying with alternative energy, they are out there for the taking and I believe that these companies who control them will find them profitable when oil falls through the floor, but who knows when that is going to be.
I have a hard time accepting the fact that McCain had no resistance to the bailout. If he supports these socialist programs that allow the government more influence in the private sector befor election, what does that mean if he gets into office? The banks should pay the price for their maliciousness and the people who cannot live within their means should pay for their poor choices. It was bad enough that McCain did nothing to contest this bailout, but then suggest a mortgage bailout as well? McCain calling himself a Republican is a joke.
Kevin -
I agree with everything you say, but I will contest that something has to be done for or against businesses that outsource jobs. Watching other countries who do have unfair labor practices and make dollars hand over fist on us is saddening. We really need to find a way isolate ourselves better and give big businesses an incentive to bring these jobs back.
This I believe this is a big reason that only half of the workers are paying into the SS system today and why our dollar is going down the tubes.