The New Right

Because "neo" has been damaged with terms like neo-conservative and neo-liberal, I'll use New Right to describe what I see as a redemption of the Right. In some ways, the New Right is similar to the Old Right of Frank Chodorov, Murray Rothbard and Roy Childs Jr., just not as libertarian, individualistic and non-interventionist. Rand Paul is representative of this New Right. I'm not too familiar with Mike Lee and Allen West, but both appear to be players outside the Big Government Republican status quo. The Tea Party is responsible for the rise of the New Right, at least the faction that pushes limited government and a free market.

The New Right doesn't lead with social issues, although I'm sure that pro-life and law-and-order are still personally important to most of them. It remains to be seen if this group can form a consistent set of values as they relate to governance, the economy and foreign relations. I hope Rand Paul is not an anamoly, and that the other representatives coming on board who are espousing libertarian ideas are not secret statists with their own list of plans to control and guide society and shape the destiny of other countries.

Many in the status quo political realm, like Harry Reid in congress and Chris Matthews in the media, associate this New Right with the caricature of the Tea Party as naive rubes who have no idea how sophisticated and complex and crucially important the American State has become. Reid believes they'll fade, and even old Republican guards like Trent Lott think they can be co-opted and managed.

During the budget debate the New Right took the brunt of the media's scorn, and they were accused of recklessly driving the government toward shut-down, regardless of the fact that the Democrats should have passed a budget last year. It's also a reality that most Americans want government to cut spending, and if not for the New Right, even the small, insignificant cuts wouldn't have happened. Paul Ryan still has to prove he's a part of the New Right, and his budget at least addresses issues no one else is addressing, except Rand Paul. Now, we'll see if Ryan can be as brave as Paul and call for major dismantling of statism.

Michelle Bachmann is also a question mark when it comes to libertarian values. Bachmann is saying a lot of the right things, but her tendency to bring religious dogma into politics is bothersome. If the New Right is real, it will stick to the serious business of limiting government, creating a free market, and getting us out of the Mid-East. There are plenty of forums in the private sector for the expression of religious values, and the private sector is where it needs to happen, just like the private sector is the place for economic activity and expression. We need economic freedom, spiritual freedom and freedom from overseas entanglements. If the New Right can lead the way, something wonderful can happen in America.