Back a few months ago during the primary season I had a conversation with a co-worker who was an ardent McCain supporter who told me that McCain was our only hope for the presidency. At that point I told him McCain would lose because he is just as liberal as the opposition and you cant out liberal a liberal. Flash forward a few months and I still haven’t been able to find him at the office. I think he is still sleeping off the hangover he earned drinking away his sorrows.
After last week the realization of something I already knew set in, as young Libertarian/Conservatives there is no one who actually speaks for me. There are few if any politicians who speak for us and our values. There are even fewer groups or grass roots organizations that offer us the chance to organize with other like minded people to put forward a representative that does actually speak for us. Is this because people like me who value hard work and individuality are too busy making a living or being self dependent to organize?
What I do know though is that there are people we have considered our allies who have got to go, we can no longer hold our noses and vote for the lesser of two evils. That very philosophy has done nothing but grind under my skin for years because the lesser of two evils supposes a couple things #1 The only choices we have are evil and #2 If I choose the lesser of two evils I am still choosing evil. Ayn Rand said and rightly so that “In any compromise between food and poison, it is only death that can win. In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil that can profit.” (FYI if you have not heard of Ayn Rand you need to read Atlas Shrugged.) How long as “Republicans” have we sold our values to those who desire nothing more then the power our votes give them?
Take for example Arnold Schwarzenegger. Prop 8 passed in California last week and is clearly a “conservative Republican” driven issue. Does the governor back up the people who got him elected? No he comes out with this insight “It's unfortunate, obviously, but it's not the end, I think that we will again maybe undo that, if the court is willing to do that, and then move forward from there and again lead in that area." So now he fights against his base on global warming, spending, tax increases and now gay marriage. How long will we suffer these people?
It’s high time we ride “Republicans” like this out on the rails. We as young conservatives and librarians need to organize ourselves so that our voice can not only be heard but so we can find politicians that actually speak for us. We are the ones who tell them what to do and not the other way around. If Republicans want to represent us they can as long as they get in line and actually fight for what we believe. If not they need to be steam rolled.
there is no longer a party available that accurately represents my views on how this country should be run. I have often commented that it would be nice to have another mainstream political party that actually stuck to party platform and that wasn't right of left wing.
ReplyDeleteIf it were up to me to organize the party it would be called the "correct party." Yes, that would piss off everyone not in my party, but in conference it was spoken over and over, how members of the church must voice and stand for the truth no matter how the world despises them.
First off, once I had decided the ideals for the party, officials running for election, must agree to uphold those ideals. Saves voters a lot of worrying over how the candidate actually feels on any given topic. Plus extremists would be avoided.
James says it would never work. three major parties is impossible, but I think its worth a try.
As for getting rid of "conservatives like Schwarzenegger" it won't ever happen because politicians are the only people worse than actors in their need for approval from the world.
M. Galt--
ReplyDeleteWell said. I have several "conservative" friends who often tell me I'm too extreme in my views.
I respond with "I am sorry that inspired men such as Washington, Jefferson, Madison are apparently too conservative for you."
That usually gets me not much more than a blank stare.
When I am asked what party affiliation I am, I respond, "I don't have a party. I am neither Republican nor Democrat. I am an American."
So as not to highjack your post with long commentary, check out my blog here for a proposed Declaration of Principles.
Part of the problem is all this labeling of policy by party. It really pigeon holes politicians into stupid choices just for the sake of what they are "supposed to follow" either by stereotype or formal policy expectations.
ReplyDeleteI don't mean the usual argument of labeling people, I mean even when saying something is conservative it means that if you vote for something that is good and sound policy for the environment you become this bad horrible person. No, it doesn't mean it was bad or good BECAUSE it was conservative or liberal, it was good because it was good for the country.
Perhaps this pack mentality is the only way things can get done in a country this size, but for me, I like voting for things like judges and more local offices that have very little to do if anything on party and more for what they are capable of doing.
I am not opposed to a multiple party system crayon face. To be more fair, I am not really in favor of an any party system. But for now, I am a realist and think that it is going to take a huge group to try and change the other two huge groups.
Well spoken! I have a list of things that I hate and distain and choose to never partake in again. #1 George Lucas #2 The Republican Party #3 Grapefruit...You need to be careful because I put things on this list for offending my intelligence...And yes the grapefruit has offended my intelligence
ReplyDeleteI agree Grapefruits can go away.
ReplyDelete