In this day and age the conservative viewpoint is more needed than ever. As a liberal Democrat, it is vital to me that there be a rational alternative to my party’s politics in order to keep our nation headed in the right direction. It is my belief that too much of one party’s policy in action only hurts the nation as a whole. That is why I am calling on my conservative friends to reclaim their party.
The GOP as of late has had nothing to offer the nation. With a banner reading the simple word “NO” it is hard to tell what they truly represent. The truth is, the Republican party has no message because the President has moved so far to the center, the Republicans are having a hard time distinguishing themselves. The President took a clear stance during his 2008 campaign that he was going to change D.C. politics and govern from the center, which is exactly what he did.
Regardless of what you hear from the candidates today, Obama’s mandate was the Republican Party’s choice in the 1990s, when Clinton was pushing the single-payer healthcare system. This single-payer system is what is used in Canada and throughout Europe, which truly represents the Liberal ideal. Instead, Obama chose the path that both of the GOP frontrunners backed in the 1990s in hopes of building consensus amongst both parties in congress.
Instead, the President met gridlock. By moving the goal posts to the center, the GOP had to oppose his policy suggestion just out of principle; and oppose they did. It wasn’t long before the mandate, which was formerly the GOP healthcare overhaul Mecca, was being associated with “European socialism” and “death panels.” Just to oppose the President, the Party of Lincoln turned their back on their own policy ideas as well as the American people.
The list of moderate policies from the President does not end with healthcare. Barack Obama is currently supporting an extension of the payroll tax holiday, as well as funding this extension with a modest increase on taxpayers making over $2 million/year. This was the exact same proposal made by President Reagan during his recession in 1983. Yes, the same Reagan that has been figuratively dug-up and paraded around the floors of congress in hopes of invoking a fictitious, more simpler times in US government.
But long gone is the party of Reagan. In fact, the current Republican party has gone too conservative to accommodate the late President’s policies. It is my hope that the yin to the Democratic Party’s yang will return soon. There is too much work to be done.
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