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RePost: In Response to Another Blog Written on May 20, 2009, by Ron.

I wrote this a few weeks ago, but I believe so strongly in many of the things it cites and I feel it is a good read - so I’m re-posting it here. You can check out the original post at Project Logic Ga.

Towery only has it half right. We do need new blood in my party, but we need new ideas. I missed it, but apparently the GOP use to be a party of “new ideas.”

I’m not calling for a purge, nor a witchhunt – but frankly it is time for some of the old guard to lay down. Then there are others who have yet to rise. And then there are those who can adapt, and despite their seniority they are capable of innovating and guiding.

For example, we have some people who are absolutely on fire like Paul Ryan and Eric Cantor in the House. We have people who have been around for awhile, but have yet to reach maximum potential – such as Gov Mark Sanford and Gov Mitch Daniels. There’s the old guard who can adapt, such as Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, and Jeff Sessions. Then you have those who’s time is simply up; John McCain, Saxby Chambliss,

The 2012 field is a lot better than many are willing to admit. I think Senator John Thune could be the next Robert Taft, except pulling out the win. Senator Taft was a Republican when they were in a very small minority, but through careful maneuvering he paved a way in the Senate. Thune is a young guy, much like President Obama and just as well spoken. The two would be a great match up. Gov. Sanford is another prime candidate, representing the more Ron Paul inclined members of the party – he’s a perfect avatar of the fiscal Republican movement. Gov. Daniels won re-election last year in the anti-Republican environment, in a state that went blue and voted for mostly Democrat Congressmen. He’s doing something right in Indiana. Finally, Newt could come in and be a golden wrecking ball. Slyram, you’ve met him and I have not – but everything I have ever heard about him is that he is a genuinely brilliant. Obama is a smart guy too, can you imagine those debates? Perhaps the first time we would ever hear an analysis of nanotechnology in a Presidential debate.

The old guard has to stand down and become elder statesmen. I developed a respect for Senator John Edwards in 2004 when he resigned from the Senate to run for VP. It’s a thing about honor, and I think McCain should take heed of that. The GOP Bench is all aging at a rate that is unhealthy for the party, it is time to infuse new blood.

With new blood comes new ideas. New ideas is how we get this party and this country back on track.

It’s very easy to define a national agenda.

1. Environment – I’ve never understood why this is not a Conservative issue. As much as the GOP is called a pro-business party, it is completely false in relation to the environment. Chevrolet designed the Volt, but it’s being canceled despite the environmental benefits it would bring and the profits it could bring General Motors. Think about this; if the GOP is so for businesses why not channel that to eco-friendly solutions? It’s time to stop giving subsidies to oil companies without results. I understand that research is best when it is serendipitous, but after years of research there is no benefit – that means it is time for new minds. The GOP could become the party of environmental concern if they direct tax cuts to the right companies. it fits in perfectly with the mindset of Conservatives. This is our country, it is our duty to protect from invaders from the inside and out – including our own reckless abandon.

2. RESPONSIBLE Spending – I have said many times that I have yet to meet a person who is not a fiscal conservative at heart. I’m starting to tread into what my Pastor calls “corn bread language”, but bear with me – we all know what it is like to live on a budget. Who hasn’t been faced with the dilemma of having to be a smart shopper? Most of us have faced hard times when that pay check window wasn’t open. America is in hard times. Let’s not worry about blame, we can blame later – it’s time to fix it. America has to learn to live on a budget. If something doesn’t work, then cut it. If I have a headache and I buy a bottle of Asprin and they don’t work, I don’t keep taking them. I don’t go back to the store and buy another bottle and a bottle of Tylenol and take both. I cut out the Asprin and go buy the Tylenol. i see our government leave outdated, inefficient, and malfunctioning programs intact all the time. If it doesn’t work, then replace it. Cut the waste out. We have to be responsible with our money.

3. Common Sense Solutions – This is the point where I diverge with Libertarians. I’d love to live in a country where everyone is responsible for themselves, but it is not practical for America right now. When you start talking about eliminating SS and welfare you upset a lot of people, and allow everyone else to exploit those groups. It’s time for some common sense solutions. How about requiring those on Welfare to have to adopt a portion of a local highway to cleanup? or requiring them to work at a local food bank? Why not put the power to watch over citizens in the hands of the state and local governments, you know the people who understand what their citizens are like. A man in New York City can’t tell you what a little boy living in Rhine Georgia needs, and a law student in Sumter County can’t tell you what an elderly African American woman in Harlem needs. Some government subsidy is needed – I wish it weren’t, but it is needed. Here’s another common sense solution – why not send all the peanuts we pay farmers to destroy in Georgia to a country that needs food supplies? We could make some money off of it and they would get enough protein for a year off a single crop.

4. Security and Prosperity – These two words go hand in hand. Our country is faced by challenges inside and out; prosperity is dependent upon our country being secure. What do I mean by security? Economic security, that means handling our debt. Environmental Security, finding alternative power sources while trying to protect our natural surroundings. Traditional Security, we need to revamp our military to a modern force – smaller units that are better trained. Cultural Security, this one will upset a few – and boy do I have some gall saying this here – but our educational system is a huge mess. Vouchers would be nice, but let’s cut deeper than that. Have you seen what kids get taught these days? Let’s cut out the National Board of Education, let the States control things unless they prove they can’t. Give teachers a voice in the direction of the schools. Let’s cut out Black History Month; I know this won’t be so popular here but hear me out. We shouldn’t limit ourselves to studying black history in one month. Our children should be taught history – white, black, Hispanic, Asian – all of it all year long. Certainly it is ok to have a month to focus on black history, but too often schools limit themselves to this. Perhaps the alternative is to simply rename it African Culture Appreciation Month, to encourage the inclusion of African American leaders year round. And it shouldn’t be a history of despair. We have had dark spots in our history and bright shining spots, our teachers shouldn’t run down our country simply because we made mistakes. Who hasn’t made a mistake? We can really trransform our educational system, but it is going to take a lot of work and innovation.

5. Healthcare – The 500 pound elephant sitting in the corner. We know it is a problem, but how do we fix it? Back in the 1970s you could go to the Doctor cheap. Why not now? We need to make it so that Insurance companies can’t gouge prices, and that Doctors can earn a profit without charging outrageous prices. Malpractice suits have to be controlled. What about drugs? Walmart sells generics for 4 dollars a month – looks like the private sector can come up with some ideas huh? We need to make more programs like this available, which will likely require FDA changes.

6. Social Issues – The GOP must divorce itself from the mentality that we are simply a party of social morals. We have them, but so do Democrats. So do Libertarians. We shouldn’t exclude people for their social beliefs, but rather we should encourage their support for returning decisions over these matters to the rightful executors – the State governments.

7. Balancing Free Trade and Union Control – I’m going to refrain from throwing out ideas, but you get the gist of what I’m aiming at here.

We need innovations like the ones I have listed above. We need to think smart. We need to convince the American public that politicians aren’t just here to “lie to me and kiss my butt” as Bill Murray says in Ghostbusters 2.

These new Republicans are out there, I know it. And hopefully soon they will be a force to be reckoned with.

Open the Floodgates Written on May 18, 2009, by Ron.

This may seem like an out-of-the-ordinary story for me to comment on, but bear with me. It will all make sense.

In Minnesota, a Judge has ruled that a 13 year old boy must undergo chemotherapy. The boy has refused said treatment before, and his family has also refused before - both citing religious reasons and a desire to pursue natural remedies.

Let’s cut through all of the pleasantries, hypotheticals, and nonsense - this is, at the core, an invasion of the government into the private lives of American citizens. These sort of actions frighten me greatly, for where will they end? If the government does have a right to step in and tell us what sort of medications and treatments we are to use, at what point do we draw the line? I have seen how inefficient the government can be and presently is.

Let’s consider the case of a diabetic. Would the government simply mandate that he needed an insulin pump and would be given no other alternative? In this situation, simple dieting can be effective and can control many of the problems. I concede the point that cancer is a bit more difficult to understand and treat, but there has been numerous cases where people were treated with natural remedies.

That’s the small picture - the larger picture is hard to grasp. When we secede control over or lives like this to the government, we are simply making it easier for them to take more control at a later date. Freedom is under attack by a beast that will feed on our freedom until there is none left - government.

Jim Marshall - Again Written on April 3, 2009, by Ron.

I have made numerous posts about Rep. Jim Marshall, mostly supporting his general election challenger Rick Goddard - today I make a different sort of post.

Congressman Marshall voted against Obama’s budget, breaking party lines. For that, I thank him. We have experienced enough generational theft in the past six months to last me a lifetime, and while Rep. Marshall has in the past voted for spending proposals he did at least stand up to this one.

The Obama Budget will most likely pass the Senate and be made into law, and MoveOn.org will scream and scream when Conservatives, Democrat and Republican like, oppose it.

But just a few years ago they had a different tune…

What’s so different now? Why isn’t MoveOn.org asking this question now? I, personally, have griped numerous times about Republican spending under Bush - much like many Democrats did. But now spending apparently does not matter? Shame. Shame on you all.

Status Check Written on March 26, 2009, by Ron.

So I haven’t really blogged in awhile. Many of are aware why. I have had what can best be described as an up and down year.

I found my grandfather in late January. I checked on him an hour before and he was fine; I’m not sure why but I feel as if I cannot escape this single event. Like an endless loop it runs over and over in my mind, But that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

At the same time, I am in the process of finishing up my undergraduate degree. My Senior Research project on the Republican Contract With America has become a heavy burden and despite all my prior excitement, has become a project extremely difficult for me to progress on. Microeconomics, however, has proven to be fun.

I considered putting school off till the summer, however I accepted a scholarship at the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer, which is only worth 75k over the next three years. Yeah, chump change - eh?

So blogging and politics in general has taken somewhat of a backseat I guess. Which is odd considering the huge political events going on around us. I’ll get back in the game soon enough.

The Glenn Beck Program Written on January 21, 2009, by Ron.

On Monday, FoxNews launched a new show hosted by Glenn Beck. Now I am no FoxNews Trooper, but I am really enjoying this show.

Beck, who got me watching CNN again after Crossfire ended, is conservative but not a Republican-Soldier like Sean Hannity and such. He has a quasi-Libertarian steak that I quite enjoy. He approaches issues very pragmatically and he has an excellent control over the power of sarcasm.

The guests thus far have been great. He even had Dr. Ron Paul on today. In my opinion the show is a great replacement for this time slot, but I think Beck could be better utilized. One almost has to wonder if they are grooming him to take over the eight or nine o’clock spot one day.

Of the past three new shows FoxNews has launched, this is my favorite. Huckabee is interesting at times, but it seems cheaply produced. Hannity; well they should have kept the old format and added in someone like Bob Beckel. However, The Glenn Beck Program is just right.

If you haven’t got a chance to watch it yet, please tune in. Unfortunately I miss portions of the episodes due to my class schedule, but what I have seen is great.

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