Sunday, January 6, 2013

Divided Republican Soul Searching

The New York Times article linked below, shows a Florida Tea Party activist with the poster:

Mission

Fiscal Responsibility

Smaller Government

Free Market

As a libertarian, I agree as I expect Republicans do as well until we dig into the details.  For example, fiscal responsibility is an issue where the GOP has sinned greatly. If a war is necessary, then taxes must be raised to fight that war.  If agreement to raise taxes is not possible then the war was not necessary.  
Big government comes from wars, military and drug, and a Republican's call for smaller government rings hollow until I see some real cut back on those fronts.  Another Big Government issue is Big Brother morality.  If Republicans are to save themselves from extinction then they have to separate Church from State. That means educating their Evangelical supporters not to push for legislation dealing with morality.  Anytime a Republican Politician is asked about religion in any aspect they must repeat a carefully crafted mantra stating "my religious beliefs are personal and exclusively shared with my family and church."  When confronted with an issue such as Gay Marriage the response should be that our Declaration of Independence clearly states "the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and as an American I will do the necessary to make sure this country lives up to that promise no matter how distasteful I may consider the pursuit to be.
Finally, free markets are not to be considered free if there is government intervention saving the bankrupt.  From my NTBTF blog I rant a rave that the only government regulated banks to be allowed are those small enough to be under the FDIC's wing.  The others should be let go to prosper or fail.  Dodd Frank is a big bank's dream act because only they have the resources to outwardly comply and inwardly rig.  Republican's are going to have to deal with their big buck consitutents in the same manner that I suggest with the Evangelicals.  There is a precedent in Teddy Roosevelt's Trust Busting at the beginning of the previous century's gilded age which the GOP should re-acquaint itself with.
I am Libertarian because I doubt the GOP as well as the Florida Tea Party promoter holding the placard have thought through many of these devilish details that on the surface place us 180 political degrees apart.

Divided Republican Soul Searching


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