What is the future of conservatism? Writers, thinkers discuss at Commentary Magazine
Associated Press
The business of conservatives in the coming years will be to "restrain democracy to what is good, not abstractly, but to what is the common good of a democracy," Harvard University professor Harvey Mansfield said.
Left to its own devices, democracy can exaggerate itself, going too far, and bringing trouble on itself, Mansfield wrote. "In demanding equality, it tries to level differences, claiming to raise the low but often actually lowering the high," he said. Instead, conservatives are needed to "stand for greatness against democratic mediocrity," persuading others to see why it is necessary to admire "the best among us and to restrain the extension of equality."
Wilfred McClay of the University of Tennessee said that Republicans should focus on articulating "higher and better and more unifying principles," including growth, opportunity, sensible restraints on taxes and spending, a strong dollar, economic and religious freedom, military strength, patriotism, individual empowerment and responsibility, the dignity of work and the need for educational reforms.
Left to its own devices, democracy can exaggerate itself, going too far, and bringing trouble on itself, Mansfield wrote. "In demanding equality, it tries to level differences, claiming to raise the low but often actually lowering the high," he said. Instead, conservatives are needed to "stand for greatness against democratic mediocrity," persuading others to see why it is necessary to admire "the best among us and to restrain the extension of equality."
Wilfred McClay of the University of Tennessee said that Republicans should focus on articulating "higher and better and more unifying principles," including growth, opportunity, sensible restraints on taxes and spending, a strong dollar, economic and religious freedom, military strength, patriotism, individual empowerment and responsibility, the dignity of work and the need for educational reforms.
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Unless conservatism can shove religion and the tea party under the bus, it's future is on the margins.
The biggest issue is to drop the position on immigration. It makes no sense, it is hostile to good people and it is costing us lots of votes.
Probably second is to tone down the rhetoric on the finances. Almost everyone knows there must be some restraint on spending, but conservatives will always lose the debate if we are so easily painted as no taxes on millionaires. We look like we are protecting rich people instead of protecting the country with reasonable and responsible answers to real and pressing questions. You change those two issues and advertise a little bit in June - Aug and we win that election.
Right now the gut nut t-party has control it seems and is messing with anarchy if they don't get their way. They either have no real conviction of their rhetoric or they actually are preparing for a civil war over god, guns and gold.
A return to common sense would help.
republiconservatives should continue to do exactly what they have been doing.
The demographics are in their corner.
When their base realizes they will be sacrificed to fend for themselves by cuts in SS and Medicare, it will make the republicons in congress even more popular than they are now.
Perfect.
And Reagan would be considered a RINO today by the GOP.
See item #9...
Republicans should stop hunting all RINOs.
I'm the same man I was 30 years ago - albeit, older and wiser.
I'm was Center Left then, and I'm Center-left now and I voted for Reagan, twice.
I didn't leave the GOP,
The GOP left me.
The future of Conservatism?
None.