We Need a ‘Conservative’ Party - Friedman
(yes, just like we need a truly progressive party. The lack of both can be traced back to the on-going push of this country to the right. Limbaugh, Hannity and that ilk have done serious damage to the body politic of this country. gd)
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There has been lots of talk that Paul Ryans nomination ensures that well now have a real debate about the role of government. Thats actually funny. The bar for this campaign is so low that we celebrate the fact that it might include a serious debate about one of the four great issues of the day, though even that is not clear yet. And even if Ryans entry does spark a meaningful debate about one of the great issues facing America the nexus of debt, taxes and entitlements there is little sign that well seriously debate our other three major challenges: how to generate growth and upgrade the skills of every American in an age when the merger of globalization and the information technology revolution means every good job requires more education; how to meet our energy and climate challenges; and how to create an immigration policy that will treat those who are here illegally humanely, while opening America to the worlds most talented immigrants, whom we need to remain the worlds most innovative economy.
But whats even more troubling is that we need more than debates. Thats all weve been having. We need deals on all four issues as soon as this election is over, and I just dont see that happening unless conservatives retake the Republican Party from the radicals that is, the Tea Party base. America today desperately needs a serious, thoughtful, credible 21st-century conservative opposition to President Obama, and we dont have that, even though the voices are out there.
Imagine if the G.O.P.s position on debt was set by Senator Tom Coburn, the Oklahoma Republican who has challenged the no-tax lunacy of Grover Norquist and served on the Simpson-Bowles commission and voted for its final plan (unlike Ryan). That plan included both increased tax revenues and spending cuts as the only way to fix our long-term fiscal imbalances. Give me a Republican Party that says we have to put real tax revenues and spending cuts on the table to solve this problem, and youll get a deal with Obama, who has already offered both, although not at the scale we need. True conservatives know that both Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush used both tax revenue and spending cuts to fix budget shortfalls. Ryan-led G.O.P. radicals say no new taxes, find all the savings through spending cuts. Thats never going to happen and shouldnt.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/opinion/friedman-we-need-a-conservative-party.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120822
n2doc
(47,953 posts)Unfortunately for him and his fellow 'centrist' op ed wankers, the Oligarchy likes things just like they are, and don't want to sacrifice anything. And everyone else has sacrificed too much.
groovedaddy
(6,229 posts)Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)Friedman can go "suck on this"..
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)We also have an insane party..
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)marmar
(77,086 posts)nt