Of late, I’ve been wandering around the wilderness, so to speak, reevaluating years of political loyalty to the Republican Party. Quite awhile ago, I came to the realization that the Republican Party has, in a wholesale fashion, abandoned any semblance of the principles I’ve always held dear: The enhancement of individual liberty, the promotion of dynamic entrepreneurial capitalism, the defense of the concepts private property, the defense of the right to bear arms, enforcement of the rule of law, and constitutionally limited government.
Recently, I’ve found an interesting group here in Virginia, and I was wondering if other states are growing their equivalents. Tertium Quids is aligned with no party; it exists to promote it’s legislative agenda in the Commonwealth, and does a pretty good job at it.
I know much of the focus on the future of conservatism has been at the national level, but I’m wondering if that’s really the place to begin. At the national level, there is complete chaos, with the “wise” men fighting over the battered body of Republican politics like so many jackals.
I’m beginning to think that the time in the wilderness would be well spent working on the local and state level, and shoring up the foundations of conservatism in those areas.
At the Tertium Quids site, there’s a nice little barn burner of a speech that was delivered in ‘06. It sums up how my political beliefs have evolved over the last few years, and where they’re headed in the future. An exerpt:
As parents we know that we cannot discipline children without first explaining:
* what the rules are, and
* what the consequences will be for inappropriate behavior.With a national election one week behind us, and the entire General Assembly up for reelection in November of next year, now is the perfect time to explain to our elected representatives:
* what the rules are, and
* what the consequences will be for inappropriate behavior.1st principle - Never, Never, Again.
* I will never go to the polls again to vote for someone who does not share, and who is not actively advancing, my principles and values.
* I will never go to the polls again because this candidate is slightly more competent than that candidate.
* I will never go to the polls again because, “Sure my candidate stinks, but he’s a [add the name of a political party here].”
Let’s get something straight. It is not our job to support political candidates. It is their job to earn our support. Period.
It’s worth reading the whole thing.
Once again, I’m wondering if their are movements in other states that reflect these principles, and whether we should not be doing everything we can to nourish these movements.
Submit to Stumbled Upon!
i love the message and the attitude. it’s perfect. let them come to us or f*ck them.
I, too, have been evaluating my party options. I took a look at the ‘Modern Whig’ party. It’s platform isn’t too bad, and it looks like it is trying to get set as a National third party. I also looked at Bill’s American Conservative Party.
I came to the same conclusion, I needed to look locally. I have contacted a couple old-guard republicans who are disgusted. I checked out the Alaskan options for a party. (If I complete a form and get 10,000 people to register for the party it will be a recognized party in Alaska.) The nice thing about it is that it will allow us to affiliate with any national organization that develops ‘legs.’
Third parties are crap. okay?
That being said, even I, who have advocated voting for the lesser evil if, by your vote, you hinder the greater evil–even just a bit–can sympathize with the sentiment(though I suspect that this will result, sadly, in ‘I will never go to the polls again”)
What about taking over an existing party? Get in at the precinct level in large numbers and start making changes–I saw that suggested today and it seems a good idea–better than trying to cobble together a ’savior’ party in 2-4 years.
Thoughts?
I dunno, Jack. How ’bout, “fuck off?”
Read for comprehension, moron. This post is not about 3rd parties. It’s not about parties at all.
Jack, every time you comment here, you betray yourself as a goddamn rank amateur when it comes to this subject.
I’m not worried about a “’savior’ party in 2-4 years.” Not my concern. I’m talking about the development of long term movements outside the existing structure of American polity. This will take time and perseverance. And patience.
I’m talking about supplanting existing parties as they begin to wither on the vine of irrelevance. In other words, Jack, I’m taking the long view.
That’s utter crap, Jack. And you know it. Or if you don’t, you betray yourself as the usual lockstep, ignorant sonofabitch who keeps smiling and whistling past the cemetery.
I’ll keep voting. Never missed an election. I’m just not going to vote for an unprincipled crapweasel again. Fuck it. I’ll vote, even if it means I have to get myself on the local ballot.
Jack, you’ve shown on plenty of occasions here that you prefer to wrap yourself in the shrouds of dogmatic politics. Politically, you’re nothing but a corpse. You just haven’t figured it out yet. I would tell you to really start taking the long view, but, somehow, I don’t think you really get it.
Now, if through my efforts, I’m able to bring the Republican party of the Commonwealth of Virginia around to my way of thinking, then more power to me. Otherwise, I’m headed in another direction.
I don’t think I can support the first quote unless the second quote is explicitly appended to it.
A couple of years ago I hoped that those voting with their feet would have told the GOP something. The democrats won congress primarily because about ten percent of the fiscal conservative voters could not in good conscience vote for a democrat but were tired of the wild spending of the GOP.
But instead of learning from this the GOP run a democrat light for president. Yeah, I voted for him as the lessor of two evils and I am not sure that in fact McCain is the lessor of the two evils…had it all over to do again I think I would cast for Ron Paul…he comes across as an angry as hell….but so am I right now.
I agree that if we are to ever take back the republic it will have to be at the grass roots level…but I fear it is already too late.