Vague and Generic Reaganism?
Reid Wilson’s column on the GOP’s path to reformation and relevance included something that I found extremely odd. Here’s what caught my attention:
The soul-searching is nothing new for the Republican Party, an organization of individuals with a reputation for self-flagellation. And the party has largely settled on an answer, however vague and generic the concept of “Reaganism” may be.
There’s nothing vague or generic about Reaganism. It’s extremely flexible and scalable but vague or generic it isn’t. I suspect it’s more misunderstood than anything.
Last fall and winter, GOP presidential candidates tried claiming Reagan’s mantle, each describing themselves as Reagan conservatives. Each time I’d hear Sen. McCain, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee talk about being a Reagan conservative, I’d frown, then laugh at the notion.
Reaganism is just policies. There were criteria upon which Reagan’s policies rested. That set of criteria was simple: If it didn’t make us more prosperous, more secure or more free, then the legislation wasn’t a priority. Reagan’s vision of prosperity was rooted in libertarianism. Reagan shared that belief with Sen. Barry Goldwater.
Another reason why Reaganism is thought to be dead is because we haven’t applied the underlying principles of Reaganism to today’s issues. If we consistently applied those principles to today’s problems, Reaganism would be just as relevant today as it’s ever been.
It’s vitally important to remember that the hole we’re in isn’t because people got fed up with government keeping taxes low. Voters didn’t get upset that we’ve gone 2,620 days without another terrorist attack.
Voters did get tired of Republicans abandoning the principles of Reaganism. Voters stopped trusting Republicans because we bought into the Washington media’s mantra that America craved more moderates.
What’s needed most is large doses of common sense and more politicians with titanium spines. Accept the fact that conservatives won’t be popular in DC. Wear their contempt of Reagan’s conservatism as a badge of honor. Take the time to explain Reaganite conservatism.
If you explain Reaganite conservatism correctly, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how many people buy into it.
Technorati Tags: Reagan, Goldwater, Libertarianism, Conservatism, Prosperity, National Security, Liberty
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog
November 13th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Reagan conservatism, is still be relevant, but it will take more than titanium spines, and common sense to keep it alive. It will, as you hint, take outspoken and cogent spokesmen, and gumption on the rest of us to get off our collectives sorry asses and work for it.
To those who say, as Ive read here and other places recently, “just let the country get a taste of four years of Obama socialism, and they’ll come around”; who the hell are you trying to kid!
The same UAW handout mentality thats killing Ford, GM, and Chrysler, is what elected Obama, and what IS killing us as the one place in the world worth leaving an oppressive state behind and coming to.
The same people that can tell you all the problems that necessitate bailout after bailout, cant give you one good reason why no one saw it coming in the first place.
But whose asking the hard questions?
No one.
If we really think we want to be like Europe, fine all we have to do is continue getting fat, dumb and happy waiting for big nanny to come blow our nose, keep the TV on, and the beer coming.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:19 am
i think Barack Obama has restored Reaganism,
He demonstrates that education, eloquence, and elegance trump lingering racial bias.
he admires him(Reagen).
I think reagansim is what we need nowadays