Feet to the fire
Random mullings on America's post-election reclamation. We now have work to do. Will it be business as usual or a resurgence of constitutional sanity and American ideals?
More than eighteen months ago, we Americans witnessed the birth of an honest, grassroots uprising of average citizens aimed at influencing government to again honor the basic provisions of the Constitution. Why?
After nearly a century of subterfuge and subversion cloaked in the guise of reform, those who participated in the movement could no longer tolerate what they saw as the latest and most repressive version of unconstitutional intrusions by an over-reaching federal government. The movement gained traction with the American people and ultimately prevailed in the recent mid-term elections. Throughout the nation, much of government control at all levels changed ideological direction - a direction which many think was applied in the proverbial nick of time.
New is not so new
Now that we are heading into a new congressional session, now that the dust of the election has settled, it should be pointed out that this has happened before - most recently in 1968, 1980, and 1994. Most Americans are familiar with liberalism and the growth of government: Regulatory, spending, and taxing carousals followed by conservative ascendancies. Unfortunately, we are also familiar with the eventual co-opting of moderate Republicans and the establishment GOP Old Guard by the Circe-like allure of power, spending, and the resulting growth of government.
The Republican-to-Democrat power swap of 2006 and its reinforcement in 2008 were merely the latest in the series; Direct consequences of a GOP gone giddy with spending and wobbly on curtailing the nation's incremental march toward statism.
However, unlike previous instances, the United States is now faced with consequences of near-unimaginable scope. We must now deal with adversity most of us could never have envisioned just a decade ago.
Undoing damage
America is broke, broken, and rudderless. The Republican Party has been entrusted by the electorate to take up the challenges of restoration. This time, there can be no back-sliding or accommodation. Our nation and the principles upon which it was founded are now at risk.
The challenge for conservative leaders within the Republican Party is to present Americans with a clear vision - and then proceed with immediate action for economic resurgence. That means unshackling small businesses, cutting the fetters from industries, and an immediate moratorium on our runaway Keynesian madness of spending, borrowing, and printing money.
Economy is Job One - we must achieve stability before all of our myriad social mistakes can be mitigated or eliminated. Without enticing healthy private sector businesses to invest, expand, and offer employment and relieve a suffering citizenry, there will be no recovery. Government cannot and will never create economically viable jobs, except for bureaucrats tracking growing debt.
Enough
We have shining examples from our recent past on how to do it right. Use proven means to grow the economy and jobs, cut spending, and reduce the size of government. While doing so, however, Conservatives must not lose their way this time. They must lead the GOP by example and not waver from their principles.
Americans have witnessed what happens when those they entrust with their prosperity and familial well-being fail to keep their oaths, obey the Constitution, or ignore the will of the people. This past election was a national referendum, a primer on accountability. Conservatives are back in power because the electorate has chosen to trust them one more time. Conservative leaders and their moderate colleagues must understand that Americans have had enough.
This time, do not fail because the America we love will not survive.
America Held Hostage: 797 Days to Freedom.