MY ADVICE TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
Become the party of limited government and fiscal responsibility again. Despite what you may think of yourself, you are not those things. Allow me do illustrate the shortcomings on both fronts.
Limited government means just what it says. It does not mean that government can dictate to people what they put into their bodies. It does not mean that the government can dictate to women what they do with their bodies. It does not mean increasing spending just because you think military spending is okay. Stop treating the military as some sort of federal jobs program. Limited government does not mean establishing and increasing the size and scope of new federal law enforcement agencies. Limited government does not mean creating and extending the PATRIOT Act, NDAA and Fusion Centers. Limited government does not allow drone surveillance over U.S. citizens on U.S. soil. I understand many of these issues came about under Obama, but that’s part of my point, where was the outrage from the Republican Party? Limited government absolutely does not tell consenting adults who they can and cannot marry.
Increasing military spending and foreign presence is not fiscally responsible, especially when doing so creates more enemies than would have otherwise existed. Arguing with a Democrat about which party will give more to seniors is not fiscally responsible. Creating new Medicare prescription drug plans is not fiscally responsible. Planning to balance the budget 6, 10, 20 years from now, assuming growth, is not fiscally responsible. Balance the budget now. Protecting corporate interests in the form of subsidies, regulation which limits competition, foreign occupation, and military spending is not fiscally responsible.
The Path Forward
The Democrats will say this was about demographics, but most people don’t vote based on their particular demographic. People vote on the issues that are important to them. Your social conservatism is killing the GOP. Your reckless spending with no plan to balance the budget has cost you your credibility. Address both those items and come up with a reasonable immigration plan which offers at least some degree of humanity, and you may find yourself relevant again. In four years the majority is not going to believe in the notion that government can be everything to everybody. Stop trying. You will alienate many seniors and Christian conservatives, but when you stand on the principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility, you will gain so much more.