Posted on 11/14/2008 5:53:14 PM PST by tj21807
A new conservative movement that takes libertarian ideas seriously could use the inertia created by the nation's new progressivism to slingshot itself into the future on a platform of reduced government, lower taxes, and limited interventionism, while also respecting climate change (adjusting the tax code to encourage green reform without any expense to taxpayers) and reforming the immigration system (opening the borders as the market demands labor without sacrificing security).
The Republican Party has a chance to transform itself into something it has never been: a party of small government based on classical liberal principles. It doesn't have to be one of David Brooks' visions of the GOP. In fact, if the Republican Party wants to return to power it will recognize the flaws in both approaches, avoid them like Road Runner toying with Wile E. Coyote, and embrace libertarianism instead.
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
Do I like gay marriage? No, but I don't think we should ban it.
As far as immigration, I don't like or support the massive influx, but we clearly have a problem and some guest worker type status may be the best solution.
No, but I don't think we should ban morons.
A Republican party based on the U.S. Constitution would gain traction. Challenge the Supreme Court on a wide range of issues, including Social Security, gun laws, freedom of speech, property rights. Add a campaign to get rid of the federal income tax, and replace it with a national sales tax. Add some emphasis on states’ rights.
It describes an alternative to the dichotomy of a Communist totalitarian approach or a classic liberal free market approach.
Tony's Third Way was socialism.
I'm surprised the author wasn't aware of this.
The long-run solution is to eliminate the welfare state and its redistributionist entitlement system, to maintain the rule of law, and then to establish "Ellis Island" checkpoint systems at ports of entry. Then, as new immigrants arrive, let the States pick and choose who they want to sponsor and welcome to their respective States.
As for amnesty, it's just plain wrong because it violates the rule of law, a fundamental principle of American society and government.
I am in favor of Reagan’s form of Conservatism.
Naturally this was expected. Libertarians always want to undermine modern conservative ideology. Trash the military, open the borders and let women kill their unborn children. A general call for anarchy.
No thanks.
In the somewhat abridged words of Thomas Sowell, Heterosexuals who want to marry to make a point, can not do so either..so, there is no discrimination. Maybe lesbians can't marry lesbians, but hetero females can't either.
As far as immigration, I don't like or support the massive influx, but we clearly have a problem and some guest worker type status may be the best solution.
A legal way to work i this Country already exists.
Replace the current graduated and progressive rate income tax with a single-rate wage and royalty income tax of ten percent, with the first $100,000 of household income free from taxation. (In other words, tax an individual once and only once: no income taxation on dividends, interest, and capital gains.) Remove all the credits and deductions used for social engineering.
Yep me too, I am sticking with Reagan and his proven formula.
The nonsense is nonsense no matter how you explain it.
I stopped reading there.
The idea that man-made global warming is a threat to the earth is political science, not real science. Those who talk about “climate change” are politicians who don’t want to utter “global warming”, but they are talking about the same BS. McCain talked about “climate change”, as have other Republican “Congresspersons”.
The Republican Party should be telling the public the facts, not pandering to the Borons.
Fact: greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, and without them the earth would be too cold for humans. A major “greenhouse gas” is water vapor. The public thinks that “greenhouse gases” are evil, when in fact they are essential.
ETC. ETC. ETC.
Regarding immigration, the Swiss model is one to look at. Unlike other European countries, the Swiss have far less problems with immigration. Unlike for example Holland, the Swiss don’t require guest workers to pay into social services, such as public health and social security. Once a guest worker loses his/her job, they are given a short time to get a new job, or otherwise are required to leave.
The Dutch required guest workers to pay into social services, and as a result these guests became the guests who never left, and are a major drain on the social services structure, because many never put in what they are taking out.
The head-line sounded promising…
I know it sounds bizarre but I honestly believe that the change rhetoric of progressives and liberals is so inherently vacuous that we should take all the dumb alternative labels being thrown at us “reform” “progressive” “third way” and say ‘yup that’s us’ and then explain the policies of pro-life, pro social conservative, less taxes, pro military, pro America, pro capitalism as if that is exactly what those terms mean.
Then say, yeah we are tired of ‘traditional Republican party politics,’ this is something new.
I don’t think 40% of Obama supporters know whether Palin is the VP or not. This is so ridiculous when people pretend there is a substantive reason that Republicans lost and therefore we have to become like libertarians or liberals to win.
I say Bull.
McCain was not particularly conservative. Dole was not particularly conservative. Bush was barely conservative enough. In some ways, I don’t even think Reagan was as fully conservative as might be ideal.
let’s just say traditional conservatism is the new progressivism. Until we annihilate this stupid language game we will keep getting busted on the silly “change” meme. That is how dems win. Clinton did it and then Obama did it.
There is no substance.
Its sad but true.
For as long as I have been in FreeRepublic, there have always been libertarians who have jumped at this kind of bait.
I have news for them. The liberty guaranteed by the Constitution involves such freedoms as the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The right to bear arms and defend yourself. Freedom of religion. Freedom of speech. The right to raise your children as you think best.
It does NOT mean doing whatever the hell you want, regardless of others and regardless of the fact that healthy and moral families are the foundation of any free republic.
At LEAST half of those who call themselves libertarians vote Democrat, because they want abortions, dope, and free sex.
Whenever a libertarian candidate has run without the support of social and religious conservatives, they have been lucky to get 3 or 4 percent of the vote.
Forget it. It’s not only immoral and destructive to our country, it’s a political loser.
There is no need need for a “marriage” of people of the same sex.
The idea is ridiculous. It always was, and always will be.
I cannot accept it under any terms.
just sayin’....
A new Libertarian movement that takes libertarian ideas seriously
The Atlantic Monthly | March 2003
QUESTION:
What is the current state of “Third Way” thinking internationally? With Bill Clinton out of office and with Al Gore not succeeding him, and with the current emphasis on post September 11 policies and politics, how much is left of the “Third Way” movement?
BLAIR:
We recently held an international seminar here on the Third Way which drew political figures and policy makers from all over the world including, I’m delighted to say, President Clinton. I’m giving no secrets away by saying his contribution was, for many people, the highlight of the weekend.
I think anyone who attended would know that there is plenty of life left in the Third Way and that it is influencing policy strongly across the world. No one should be surprised about this.
There has never been a time when it has been more important that we have thinking and policies which combine the need for addressing global security and global poverty, or for tackling social injustice and promoting business. What the Third Way is showing is that these goals are not in conflict, as some have suggested in the past, but must be achieved together.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/899839/posts?page=118#118
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