The Looming Republican Crisis
By Tony DiPasquale (06/24/03)
Confusion is running amuck in Washington. It seems Republicans have forgotten which side of the aisle they are sitting on. No longer are they espousing the virtues of the traditional family or limited government. Instead they are trying to out-socialize the Democrats.
Under the Bush administration, a significant increase in funding has gone to the Department of Education, a department that was once slated for extinction. But today's Republicans apparently have done an about face. Despite obscene amounts of money spent per student in areas such as Washington D.C., New York, and New Jersey, just to name a few, schools exist that will continue to fail our children. In fact, during the 1999-2000 school year, nearly $10,000 was spent per student in Washington D.C. alone. With plenty of private and parochial schools offering education at a fraction of this amount, why is more funding thought to be the solution?
Increased funding for education raises another question. Whatever happened to the debate on school vouchers? A possible step in the right direction towards improving our children's education has presumably been sidelined because Republicans now control Congress. Does this mean Republican legislators can spend money more effectively than Democrats? Of course not. It seems that the Republican Party has been sidetracked by the enticement of spending taxpayer money as well.
Unfortunately, their liberal extravagance does not end with education. In early January, the Republican majority, perhaps caving to political pressures, decided to extend unemployment benefits an additional five months. Is this what President Bush meant when he talked about compassionate "conservatism"? With benefits approaching a year in duration, it sounds more like unemployment is being turned into a welfare program.
Now there have been some positives during this administration, namely the passage of tax cuts. Sadly, the sizes of these cuts are piddling when compared to the increases made in spending.
So after a brief re-acquaintance with the tax-cutting portion of the platform, Republicans felt the need to once again turn sharply Left. New on the agenda is a way to expand Medicare by giving prescription drug coverage to seniors. And we must not forget their "dedication" to traditional family values as we watch them cozying up to the homosexual community in an effort to win their vote. Are the Republicans supposed to be the party of convictions or such a big tent that they stand for nothing?
If the Republicans are to be leaders, then they should be explaining to the public the benefits of their beliefs, not trying to beat the Democrats at their own game.
A more cynical approach would suggest that the only reason for this behavior amongst the Republicans is their own political gain. Certainly compromise has to exist in politics, especially with the small margins in Congress, but it seems as if the Republicans have left the camp altogether.
So what do the Republicans believe they will gain with this move towards the Left? Some suggest that they will pick up some independent voters and even some moderate Democrats. This could prove to be true, but what will the ramifications be? The Republicans should remember from past experience that the conservative base will sit out elections if they believe their agenda is being ignored. Perhaps there is a thought that there is nowhere else for conservatives to go.
Of course there are some voters that get caught up in their party's electoral successes and as such put aside their own convictions, but this can only be expected to happen for so long. Sooner or later, it will become self-evident that while Republicans are winning at the polls, their constituents are losing legislatively. At this point, true conservatives will have to decide if they want to continue picking their representatives as they would a football team; based on who is favored to win, or choose to support those who will further their ideals.
In this day and age, it seems unlikely that a third party could ever gain acceptance as the Republican Party did with the ascent of Lincoln, but there can be other consequences. Conservatives, aside from staying home on Election Day, which I believe is likely to happen, may choose to make a statement with their vote. Just as liberals made a statement in the 2000 election by voting for Nader, Republicans may witness a small defection to both the Constitution and Libertarian Party. Some will point to any defection as costing the party seats in Congress, but what is gained if your party wins and legislates like the opposition?
It is imperative that the conservative base awakens from its slumber and demands that Republicans in Congress take notice and begin to defend the platform that put them into the majority in the first place.
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