2008 Woodie Awards
GOP should not abandon small gov't
Staff Editorial
Issue date: 5/9/07 Section: Opinion
Imagine a table divided into two sections. One side is labeled Strong Federal Government, and the other Limited Federal Government. Now imagine that you have pieces of wood with different political goals engraved on them.
Here are what some of the pieces of wood read: "Constitutional amendment outlawing abortion," "Constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage," and "Government vouchers for private and religious schools."
Now take each piece of wood and carefully consider it in your mind. Is it a goal that would be more in line with a stronger federal government, or a more limited one?
If your understanding of politics is developed well enough, then you should have placed all of these on the side of the table representing a stronger Federal government. However, these political goals are those of the socially conservative right wing, which is supposedly in favor of a more limited Federal government.
At a purely political level, the main difference between the two Democratic and the Republican parties is that the former aims for and supports a large federal government, and the latter aims for and supports a smaller federal government. One philosophy is focused on the society, and the other is focused on the individual.
Therein lies the great confusion which disrupts the current political power structures.
Social conservatism and the Republican party are two concepts that have been wedded together in ignorance. Social conservatives stereotypically push for a federal government that will make constitutional amendments outlawing abortion, same-sex marriage, and vouchers for private and religious schools.
However, for a Republican candidate to make a political push for these goals would be playing false to the true goal of real conservatives: Individual liberty.
True Republicans do not oppose welfare, environmental protection, or gun control because they hate the poor, loathe nature, or seethe with homicidal rage. True Republicans oppose these political goals because they believe that they should be able to choose whether they, as individuals, want to donate money for the poor, protect the environment, or carry a gun.
Here are what some of the pieces of wood read: "Constitutional amendment outlawing abortion," "Constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage," and "Government vouchers for private and religious schools."
Now take each piece of wood and carefully consider it in your mind. Is it a goal that would be more in line with a stronger federal government, or a more limited one?
If your understanding of politics is developed well enough, then you should have placed all of these on the side of the table representing a stronger Federal government. However, these political goals are those of the socially conservative right wing, which is supposedly in favor of a more limited Federal government.
At a purely political level, the main difference between the two Democratic and the Republican parties is that the former aims for and supports a large federal government, and the latter aims for and supports a smaller federal government. One philosophy is focused on the society, and the other is focused on the individual.
Therein lies the great confusion which disrupts the current political power structures.
Social conservatism and the Republican party are two concepts that have been wedded together in ignorance. Social conservatives stereotypically push for a federal government that will make constitutional amendments outlawing abortion, same-sex marriage, and vouchers for private and religious schools.
However, for a Republican candidate to make a political push for these goals would be playing false to the true goal of real conservatives: Individual liberty.
True Republicans do not oppose welfare, environmental protection, or gun control because they hate the poor, loathe nature, or seethe with homicidal rage. True Republicans oppose these political goals because they believe that they should be able to choose whether they, as individuals, want to donate money for the poor, protect the environment, or carry a gun.
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