Saw the Fork, Took It, Got Lost

Viewers of recent history wouldn’t have trouble acknowledging that Ronald Reagan forged a grand coalition of conservatism which capture the pride of the American people and swept the Republican Party into power. On the crest of the wave of free-market economic proponents, patriotic defense advocates, and ethical American families, he took the presidency and recaptured the Congress with what looked like a fundamental shift in the political landscape.

The belief that successful business of all sizes, big and small, creates wealth, jobs, stability, growth and quality of life benefiting everyone wasn’t a tough sell. The concept of America as a golden city on a hill which was worth defending didn’t take much effort either. It wasn’t colonial expansion but rather a role-model and inspiration for the rest of the world. The renewal of a moral society which could be proud of raising children, going to church, and comfortable with what is right rather than that which is crude and base empowered a previously silent majority. Who could argue against any of it?

What then happened? Where did they go wrong? Why does it appear that conservatives have lost their way?

They simply went to Washington and forgot who they were. Maybe they weren’t who they said they were in the first place. Maybe they simply told us they were different from the politicians we had been watching before but they really weren’t. What do they need to do to regain credibility with the electorate? Or, is it too late?

Walk the walk: When you run as a moral and ethical individual standing for what is good in America you actually have to live your life in accordance with those principles. You can’t send raunchy emails to Congressional pages, solicit sex in airport bathrooms or cavort with a series of long-legged, beautiful secretaries and lobbyists while the loyal wife stays home in the district taking care of the kids. Keep your libido in check for the duration.

Live within OUR means: Embrace the principles of fiscal conservatism. Learn exactly how the Laffer curve works and then apply that knowledge to your legislative behavior. You know that the people demand that government give them everything, but your ideology says that they don’t NEED everything. Set priorities and defend them. Don’t cave in to the tendency to buy your way into re-election. You will succeed without disbursing favors if you keep taxes low and the economy strong.

Live within YOUR means: You know what a Congressman makes. It is public knowledge. You get a budget to staff your office and you get a lot of perks for your position. You don’t need to let power go to your head and start riding the kickback gravy train. Randy Cunningham knew better, but he began to think he could get away with it. He’s now in federal prison. Ted Stevens knew better, but he became too arrogant to remember his duty and now he’s a convicted felon facing the same federal room and board as Duke. The public will reward your honesty with tenure. When you leave office your future financial well-being will be assured and you will look in the mirror and know you kept the public trust.

Get a backbone: Stand up for what is right. Learn what is important and what is fluff. Resist the pork barrel and wean yourself off of earmarks. Take a look at Rep. Jeb Hensarling or Mike Pence. They are among the few and their seats seems pretty secure these days despite not gorging at the trough. The people appreciate that and the position is defensible.

Stay out of the gutter: Everyone claims they campaign on the issues, but the reality is that everyone gets into the pig fight. The fighter pilot rule is to never wrestle with a pig. You can’t win, you both get muddy and the pig loves it. Give the opposition no dirt (see “walk the walk” above), and they won’t have any mud to throw. What they make up will be obviously false. Establish positions consistent with your conservative principles and present them when you defend your votes. Act as though you are making the decisions to govern a great nation rather than enrich your district and yourself. It’s not that tough and the voters will be refreshed by your behavior.

Raise the lowest, don’t lower the highest: We know the opposition runs on class warfare. They embrace the politics of envy. The rich must be brought down so that the poor can benefit. Conservatism finds nothing wrong with success and should be devoted to making success achievable for those with less. Help the working class aspire to wealth and create the stable, sustainable economic environment that makes that possible. It’s the better way.

Maybe America has deteriorated too far for this to work. I don’t think so. I still believe in the middle class; those people who prepare themselves, who work hard, who raise families and strive for success. They don’t want a handout, they just want the opportunity to be better. They want government to create the situation in which they can do that. Defend the nation, enable business, preserve our infrastructure, and then get out of the way and let the free market show us success.