'Tis Only My Opinion!

November 1998 - Volume 18, Number 11

Can the Republican Party be Saved from Itself?

Newt Gingrich’s resignation in answer to the failure to send a clear message to the American voting public and the Republican’s ineptness in dealing with themes that resonant with the voting public has left the right in disarray.

The Republicans swept to power in 1994 with a clear and concise message - the Contract with America. And in the first few weeks of the 104th Congress, major portions of the contract were enacted. But then, something funny happened. They forgot to continue to lead and began to backslide and eventually, the furor over Gingrich’s ethics and his $6,000,000 book contract with Rupert Murdoch stole much of his moral authority won in the convincing 1994 elections.

The various factions within the party have seen the "religious right" dominate the body politic until decisions on almost any issue have an abortion rider amendment attached. This small body has turned off a significant portion of the Republican critical mass in their zeal to impose their moral beliefs on all of society. They also have energized significant opposition elements, the pro-choice crowd, feminists and others who don’t quite believe that abortion is absolutely wrong.

The Party must clearly state its goals!

What does the Republican Party clearly stand for? During the past three years, the message sent to the voters has lost its meaning as time and again, the party leadership led by Gingrich and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott have caved in repeatedly on their positions. Until the Party stands up for its goals and refuses to compromise, its message will not resonant with the voters and its leadership will be perceived to be weak.

Fighting the Wrong Battles.

Many Republicans are after Clinton's scalp for the Monica Lewinsky affair. While sex might titillate the masses, in the end focusing on this tawdry affair may backfire if impeachment fails. For his more substantial abuses of power and obstruction of justice, the issuance of executive orders to defy the will of Congress and the possibility of major transfers of military information to the Chinese in exchange for campaign funds might well go unpunished.

The truth is that the Republicans still control the Senate and House of Representatives.

The only question is whether they will act like leaders or continue to placate the Democrats in an effort to seem bi-partisan, an effort doomed to failure! If they attempt to placate the Democrats, the end result will be a party with no agenda, a leadership seen to be ineffectual, and a group of politicians who can barely be distinguished from the opposition.

Much ado is made about the Republican Party being a tool of the religious right by the media. While they were elected to their current positions within the Republican Party, those who believe in the principles of the Republican Party must become involved in local, state and national politics to take back the party apparatus.

So what are the principles the Republicans should champion to the masses!

This is my K.I.S.S. list.

Eliminate the marriage tax penalty and provide a marriage tax bonus for filing a joint return.
Take the Social Security tax revenues off the Federal Government Operating Budget. Of course, this will immediately turn the $70 billion surplus for fiscal 1999 into a budget deficit. But it will forestall the demise of social security. Eliminate the requirement that a person receiving social security can only have earned income of $14,400 before they have to pay back $2 in social security for every incremental $1 earned. Why should there be a distinction between earned income, dividends, and interest?
Eliminate the Education department and send to the states based upon student enrollment the funds this department consumes for each of the next five years decreasing the amount by 20% each year. Make the states responsible for educating their students.
Close down the Energy department. Put the funds used by this department into paying down the federal debt.
Set up a Sunset law that requires each department to justify its existence every five years.
Eliminate all tax brackets over 25%
Eliminate the Estate Tax. After all, all the money that is there has already been taxed at least once.
Revoke the Asset Forfeiture Laws.
Go to a Value Added Tax and/or flat tax and eliminate the Federal Income Tax.
Eliminate any form of discrimination based upon quotas. Merit should be the only qualification for loans, advancement, hiring, etc.
For all first-time offenders, make sure that they can read and write at the 10th grade level before being released to society. Provide them with a job either in the private or public sectors that enables them to earn a living, perhaps, away from their peers for a period of time.
Decriminalize all so-called victimless crimes.
Treat the mentally-ill in institutions that are not prisons.
Revise the Medicare and Medicaid programs to provide for the terminally ill and allow individuals to contribute to a tax-free savings account for medical expenses which when not used will become a part of the individuals estate. Allow total doctor choice by the individual and have the price for any procedure set by the relationship between the doctor, hospital and patient and not by government or insurance company fiat.
Stop the Executive Branch from issuing Executive Orders without the approval of Congress.
Reduce each federal departments budget for FY 2000 by 10% except for the Defense Department which would remain the same.
Use any government surplus to pay down the federal debt.
Pay any exporter of goods a 5 - 15% incentive based upon the competition to enable them to compete overseas. Our national trade deficit must be reduced and our manufacturing base must be rebuilt.
Revoke NAFTA. It only costs the American people jobs.

Focus on the REPUBLICAN MESSAGE!

The Republican leaders must focus daily on their message to the populace. It needs to be stated over and over. The issues must be seen to be their issues and not co-opted by Clinton and his supporters.

The Contract with America resonated with the Populace in 1954. It carried the Party to Victory despite the Polls. The Republicans must clearly state what they are for, highlight their differences with the Democratic Party, show tolerance for all people and have the will to win!

They can not rest upon their laurels or the possibility of an impeachment of this President to win in the year 2000. They have to take the campaign to the people and win their hearts and minds, organize to get their supporters to the polls in record numbers and find a candidate that appeals to the voters. A tired "Bob Dole" was the Party's candidate in 1996 because he "deserved the nomination" but he failed to energize not only his campaign. For the year 2000, the Party needs fresh blood, and probably a name not associated with any of the old party leaders.

The Party will only win if its nominee has no baggage based upon family ties, and its message is clearly stated and repeated over and over and over!

But then . . 'Tis Only My Opinion!

Fred Richards
November 1998

This issue of 'Tis Only My Opinion was copyrighted by Adrich Corporation in November 1998.

Tis Only My Opinion is intended to provoke thinking, then dialogue among our readers.

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