Conservatism is dead. The ideas of Goldwater and Reagan have seen better days as they fall on deaf ears with America. The vehicle for conservatism in the United States has been the Republican Party. The party’s message of conservatism; her ideals, values and goals, have created gaps within America. Since the Contract with America, conservatives have put too much emphasis on party and not enough on country. Our message has been commandeered by demagogues, who have taken the country in a downward spiral since 2004.

What does it mean to be a conservative? What are the goals and ideas of a conservative?

Conservatives believe in five things; strong national defense, limited government, individualism, citizens rights, and free markets. These ideas have served the foundation and support of a movement that held not only the government accountable, but also the governed.

Strong National Defense
• Diplomacy
• Provision for the Armed Forces
• Support of Allies
• Support of Democracy and Liberties Abroad

Diplomacy

The cornerstone of any democracy is not diplomacy, but the readiness to exercise diplomacy. The United States must exercise diplomacy under the most stringent conditions. We cannot easily justify our actions for war without exhausting diplomatic talks. Violence should not be an accepted answer to a problem where consideration and courtesy will go farther than force. Force should be the last mechanism used in any civilized society.

Provision for the Armed Forces

A strong defense must come from a strong offense. The men and women of the Armed Forces, who volunteer life and limb for country, must be well prepared. They are the ambassadors of the United States in extending freedom and we must hold them in the highest regard not just in combat, but also in peacetime.

The preparation of the military must come from support of the government in trusting the capable minds of the leaders and the capable hands of the soldiers. We must allow them the benefit in executing decisions concerning troop preparedness, troop deployment, and troop withdrawal. Such support comes from Congress allowing the military discretion over their budget, and comes from a leader trusting not just the advisor, but knowing that the advisor is also a soldier.

We must allow the Armed Forces easy procurement of tools for the battlefield, deliver the best technology to their hands, and allow them to perfect the techniques necessary to protect not only America, but their person.

Support of Allies

The United States would not have gotten far without the help of those who supported our message of democracy. Our efforts in maintaining good relations with our friends must continue and must make efforts to support their goals in reasonable assistance.

Support of Democracy and Liberties Abroad

The American Revolution sparked a chain of events that led many countries to throw off the bonds of oppression and engage government and governed to cooperate in efforts that respected the rights of each other. The United States will be there to support fledgling democracies that are pushing for a brighter future, in the respect of government for its citizens and citizens for its government.

Limited Government

In our federalist system, a governing body, merely supports not dictates. The government must begin to respect the privacy of the people and rights of the states, by removing itself from the large to smaller aspects of state governments. The ideal of citizen legislators is the right of the people to govern their persons, free of intrusion. The municipalities and states have far better thermometer of feelings than government intervention provides.

The federal government must remain behind the scenes, by only guiding the states and citizens through actions that encourage, and not mandate. When government sees a clear interest to protect the state; the citizen, then government may intervene. But government must allow individualism to grow.

Individualism

Liberty guides us to believe that we are free, from unnecessary and necessary force, to perform actions according to personal will. To begin a better country, we must begin to respect the opinions of fellow Americans and their actions, and trust to them, that their goodwill and judgment extends beyond commonplace idiocracy.

The rights of the individual, to be protected from harm, extend not just from civil law, but also from the respect of their fellow citizens. Our laws should be fair and consummate with all citizenry, with no special preferences set before one another. 

Citizen Rights

As an American citizen, we believe that we are born with certain inalienable rights that create a bond between God, man, and country. We should be cognizant of the diversity of citizenry within our borders and accept them as purely American, without special subtext. We must also realize that while the state and country have a special interest in protecting the citizenry, it is ultimately the citizen that holds special rights that cannot be violated by man or country. These rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in all things that are good and productive to their person and country.

Free Markets
• Lower Taxes

Lower Taxes

One of the founding reasons of the United States was to free itself from the taxes imposed by Great Britain. These taxes, under the Intolerable Acts, taxed colonist for goods and services that they used for a charge of little to nothing. The average American is taxed three-ways, by the local, state, and federal government. Often feeling the pinch when purchasing basic goods and services to live their lives.

The government should focus on a smaller government by collecting fewer taxes. Leaving the money in the hands of the people who earn their dollar, individualism and responsibility will be encouraged through simple savings and spending, working to make the average American savings rate a positive and not a negative. 

The corporate tax rate is entirely too high. For the services provided by the federal government and the high taxes on corporations, Americans aren’t seeing better government, but job loss, as corporations find it too expensive to conduct business within the United States. In principle, to make better business, you must make limited government. In lowering our corporate tax rate, we’re encouraging jobs to stay home, production to grow, and jobs to grow. 

At the very brink of history, America stands renewed in its confidence that it is a progressive country, undaunted in its attempts to show what “one person, one vote” can accomplish. On November 4, America spoke in volume by casting their God given, natural right in electing Illinois Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

At that point the United States, and the world, celebrated the beacon of democracy; where through determination, hard work, and faith, one can achieve their dreams. Senator Obama, through his message of better politics, grabbed the public’s imagination and illustrated a time in American politics where consensus building, and conciliatory attitudes were not just the de rigueur, but were shared values of the members in the institutions of government

He grabbed America’s attention by presenting the absolute ideal of the Founding Fathers; that government is at the command of the governed, and that the populous can voice, free from discouragement or threat, their approval and disapproval. That the essential count of the people is their voice, and that their voice will become thunderous.

His victory isn’t just personal, nor does it belong to his supporters. His victory goes to the American spirit, showing what one person can accomplish; given the opportunity,and that no one’s personal circumstances can circumvent him or her from achieving their goals.

President-elect Obama will endure hardships through his presidency. The sea of troubles he will encounter will plot the course of his presidency. Some of these hardships, he has already traversed and will sail them again with a better eye. Others will come and present new challenges. May he traverse those will a clear and level mind.

What does this mean for the Republican Party?

This election, this campaign, should show just how the American spirit is ever changing, being the true genius of individualism. It should also show us that the politics of fear would never prevail over the politics of hope. And finally, it should show us that we, like America, must change.

The people have spoken and made their choice clear.

This election has exhausted us, and left us weak. We will come back one day, not soon; but when we are ready to lead, by example and not by definition. When that time comes, may we present a message, led by our actions, that will resound to the highest mountains and lowest valleys, cherishing individualism and the true American spirit, where no one remains outside, but still holds a place at the table of the American family. May our message move forward as progressive, extending to all Americans and not the special few. It is my hope that we stand a party united with all America.

Let us move forward with our good faith and support of President-elect Obama. And may he lead through example of good faith and strong integrity.