What's a Republican?

I suggested on the Minnesota Politics mailing list (and repeat here), that since the era of the "big tent" party might be wheezing to a close, perhaps the GOP needs to focus on the "small tent" issues that truly separate it from the Democrats.

I suggested these issues were:

• Economic Growth - the freedom from confiscatory taxes, the freedom to start a business without government oppression, the right to keep what you earn (within the bounds of paying for a legitimate, limited government), and
• Personal Freedom - freedom from government prying into your wallet, bedroom, gun locker, kids' brains or whatever.
• Safety. Safe streets, safe world, safe homes. As in , safe from evildoers, not safe from ourselves.

A correspondent wrote me back, saying " If what you were proposing were reality, then I would be a Republican. But it's not, and never will be. That's why I'm IP [Minnesota's Ventura...er, Independence Party]".

Interesting concept. But the IP has historically aligned itself with "moderate" (meaning soft-liberal, albeit not blinkeredly-so) policies - coddling the teachers' union, belief in government fiscal activism (albeit not so profligate as in the DFL), and a general mushiness on social disintervention on the part of the state government.

There are times I wonder if any of Minnesota's parties know what they're about. The DFL is lock-step-left, at least as far as endorsed candidates - but they can't seem to get elected to the important posts, and get regularly trounced by unendorsed DFL and even GOP candidates. The GOP is in the midst of a serious identity crisis. And the Independence Party, despite the presence of thinkers like Tim Penny and Dan Barkley, pretty much revolves on Jesse Ventura's whims.

Which is why I think the GOP needs to focus on its money message - less government BS, more money in your pocket, safer streets.

And, I hate to say it, but the GOP needs to get tough on officials who don't support at least those three broad goals. Disagree on abortion, or on gay marriage - but for G-d's sake, close ranks on taxes.

Posted by Mitch at February 8, 2002 04:28 PM