Posted by
Ike on Thursday, May 29, 2008 11:44:04 AM
The answer depends in large part on what we - conservatives of several different "flavors" - want to accomplish and how we want to accomplish it. Let me say that my nickel goes toward maximum freedom under the existing Federal Constitution and national structure. No revolution being considered here. Why not opt for some specifics, some hypenated-conservative vision? Good question.
The answer is simple: without a large enough "tent" are votes would be too diluted among groups aiming for specific, narrower, goals. I do not say that such an aim is a bad thing, nor is it not "conservative" to have such aims. What we need is to be able to win elections, at least at the national level and ultimately at state and local levels as well, in order to effect our goals. The maximum of freedom provides each distinguishable variety of conservative thought the opportunity to reach their own goals at the state or local level. Remember? Federalism. "Fifty experiments in democracy, republicanism and freedom". And we watch how it works in - to choose for illustration only - Idaho, and if we like it, we adopt it in our own state. If we don't like it or its consequences, but the folks in - say - Idaho do like it, we smile and wish them good fortune and avoid it in our state. That's what freedom is; the freedom to try things within Constitutional limits and to adopt what we see and believe to be the good while not adopting what we see and believe to be not good for us. Variety. Freedom produces variety, not conformity. So, the goal is to maximize freedom.
What are the parties available for choosing? The Libertarian Party, the Constitution Party, the Conservative Party - although that may only be organized and functioning in New York state, the Green Party, the Socialist Workers - although they may have run their last race eight years ago - and I believe there is still a tiny sliver of the Communist Party U.S.A. out there. Well, we can eliminate the Greens, The Socialists and the Communists, for obvious reasons, chief among them being that they believe in tyranny while we believe in freedom. Let's pause here and get nominations from readers. We have the Libertarian Party, the Constitution Party and the Conservative Party. What other existing parties could we join or support and make a difference? Remember the goal: more freedom as soon as humanly possible, with a view to avoiding the sort of corruption which has made the Republican Party no longer a vehicle of freedom.