Moderates vs the Movement
Monday, October 19, 2009 at 02:20PM I've been thinking a lot about Republican moderates, trying to figure out their disdain for what they call movement conservatives, or the conservative base, or the Limbaugh/Beck conservative faction, or whatever else it's called. I've read different analyses regarding the cause of this disdain -- elitism, envy of Limbaugh's and Beck's popularity and wealth, disgust with the movement's tactics, fear of division, anti-ideology, etc., and any of these might be true for some moderates, but none succeed in fully explaining the animosity.
Perhaps it's a combination of causes which orginate in the Washington D.C. culture. The most visible moderates are firmly entrenched in the political class -- there's something odd about people who've always been in politics. I don't think that "going into politics" was ever supposed to be a career path, just something to do temporarily to serve the country. Professional politicans and political pundits seem insulated from the private sector, immersed in government mechanics, political spinning and partisan games with no understanding of what most private citizens think or do on a daily basis.
I'm sure there are many private citizens who are classified as Republican moderates, but I never hear from them or much about them. Is there a group of moderates similar to the conservative base groups? There's the Main Street Republican Partnership, but they appear to be made up of politicians. I noticed on their simple website they claim to be the "real" conservatives (I thought this is what they criticize the movement conservatives for claiming). I never hear anything about them, though, so I suspect they are irrelevant. The same goes for the Republican Majority for Choice who advertise "true" Republican values -- plus they have a blog which, of course, has a recent obligatory post showing how Limbaugh doesn't represent "true" Republican values.
These groups don't appear to have much support from the private sector, if any, and I certainly haven't seen activity from moderates comparable to the 912 Washington march made up of private citizens from all over the country. A recent Democrat study performed by James Carville (!) showed that movement conservatives are disconnected from reality -- I have to ask, which reality? The reality in Washington D.C., or the reality across America (which is experienced in diversity)?
There is definitely a disconnect between the private sphere and the political class. I think we can now say that the majority of American citizens have a problem with what's going on in government, if the polls are correct. Congress has a 21% approval rating. Where do the moderates stand in this disconnect between American citizens and government? It's difficult to tell by looking at the Main Street Republican Partnership site under "What We Stand For" -- they are pro this and that, but the statements are vague --
Pro-Alternative Energy
We believe that stabilizing our energy supply will benefit the consumer, strengthen our businesses, and enhance the security of our country.
We encourage and support the use of renewable energy sources such as biomass, wind, solar, and geothermal.
We must reduce the environmental impact of traditional sources of energy.
Well, yes, I think everyone can agree with this, but what about our oil needs until alternative energy is viable? This is the big problem. The moderates are big on practical solutions, so what's the practical solution -- can we compromise on drilling now as we make alternative energy sources valid options?
Pro-Education
We believe children and teachers have a right to a safe learning and working environment.
We believe parents deserve accountability and qualified teachers in the classroom for their children.
We must strengthen and invest in our math and science programs to ensure our students have the building blocks necessary to compete and lead globally.
We recognize that a college education is an investment in one's future -- Congress must help make this investment as affordable and accessible as possible regardless of economic background.
This doesn't tell us anything about the failures of public education or whether we should consider private solutions. This is generic, safe and weak.
Pro-Retirement Security
We should continue to enhance the opportunities and provide incentives for Americans to save for their retirement years and reform Social Security.
What does this mean? Providing incentives sounds like social engineering -- reforming social security sounds like tinkering with a problem that's a huge time-bomb. It's hard to tell because it's so vague. The problem with all the issues under "What We Stand For" is that I still don't know what they stand for. This is the problem with the moderates -- they are reluctant to take a stance -- they seem to be straddling a fence, waiting to see which way popularity leads them. Nowhere on the site does it tell me what they think about limited government, the wars, individual rights -- what they think about bailouts and stimulus -- what they think about the proposed healthcare reform -- what they think about public education. The vagueness of their positions leaves me uninspired and doubtful that they have any intentions to limit government power. It appears all they stand for is compromise, survival by playing the game, trying when they can to slow down change.
The moderates are too entrenched in the political class and too enmeshed in policy issues, shared power, compromise, avoiding risk -- too comfortable with the status quo which favors political power and connected corporations.
America is a dynamic country held back by progressives who want to change the dynamism to social stasis, and moderates who want to share power within the political class and protect the status quo. The private sector is caught between these two forces and it's struggling to free itself so the dynamism continues in the form of innovation, economic growth, better jobs, technological progress and prosperity. The moderates are helping the progressives achieve their goals by failing to take a stand against state power.
The moderates see it all slipping away, and they are trying to quiet the movement conservatives and libertarians who seek radical change. They want the Republican Party to help guide the progressive agenda so that conservatism has a say, if possible, but not create waves by requesting extreme roll-back of power. The problem with the moderates is they think America is on the side of the progressives, that history is moving toward progressivism, a more powerful and active State, social engineering and central planning, and they want a piece of the action so that traditional values aren't forgotten, although even the values need re-assessment to create inclusion rather than exclusion.
The moderates see the movement conservatives as reactionary, on the wrong side of history, wild-eyed radicals who don't know what they're doing, ideologues bent on exclusion, incapable of building the future without a strong, interventionist State.
The moderates are misreading the momentum -- they misunderstand the dynamic movement of the liberty-inspired private sphere, and they underestimate the power, ingenuity, diversity and will of the American people. We were never meant to be under the wise guidance of State gurus and managers, and we will resist it. The moderates have obviously never spent enough time in the private sector to understand the amazing connections, cooperation and competition which make this country run -- or to understand individuality, the nuances within different regions, north, south, east and west. The moderates have been immersed in political culture to the point they can't see outside to the complex mechanisms and relationships which surround them.
Political activists might have organized the latest victories, but as the private sphere wakes up politically and moves its energy and attention, which has been absorbed by family, community and private enterprise, to political activism, you'll begin to see what can be achieved by people now disgusted with a government too powerful, to deaf and much too arrogant.
If the moderates don't wake up, they will be left behind.



