Posted by
Playful Walrus on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 3:21:32 PM
We have a two party system. Yes, although there are times where Democrats and Republicans are too similar, there are many times when the differences are clear. Third parties were irrelevant in the 2008 Presidential Election, despite the wariness of libertarians and many conservatives about the GOP nominee. It will be better to reform the GOP than build a whole new organization, so I favor working towards a GOP that consistently promotes limited government through conservatism, free market capitalism, and federalism.
One of the difficulties we have is that we’re electing people into positions of power, and then hoping they will vote themselves less power. It is very tempting for someone to attempt to the use the force of government to "do something”"to make a perceived ill better, or to spend money taken from others. Still, I believe it is possible to elect people who will restrain themselves and each other, bringing true reform, focusing on protecting our actual rights.
It should not be the role of our government to attempt to cure every social and moral ill through a law or a government program. It is possible to elect people who understand that and will fight for limited government, but we have to work hard and work well to do it. We can't just have candidates who are committed to limiting government – we have to get them elected and hold them accountable in order for them to be able to do any good.
Here are some of my other entries relevant to this issue:
Why Do People Vote Democrat?
Why McCain Lost
One Way to Win in 2010 and 2012
More Ways to Win in 2010 and 2012
Winning the Voters
Why Social and Fiscal Conservatives Belong Together in the GOP
Different Republican Camps Need Each Other
Conservative Christians Must Have Sensible Priorities
Conservatives Can’t Influence If They Sit on Their Hands
Six Lessons Republican Politicians and Pundits Need to Learn
Is the Battle Lost?