I view weakness very negatively. Most R’s exemplify it and therefore don’t provide much in the way of motivation to vote for them. I suppose, however, that voting for people who do nothing and/or endlessly seek “bipartisanship” as an excuse to do the opposite of what they said they would do can be justified as the lesser of two evils.
If you give some serious thought to the range of consequences stemming from an oversized and overbearing government you may come to the conclusion (as I have) that the only people really worth voting for would be those who are committed to downsizing government and upsizing the individual. I firmly believe that the bigger government gets the smaller the individual is. There is a singular solution to this.
The problem, unfortunately, is that both parties love big government. If a new party were to arise that subscribes to our founding principles (i.e., limited government) it would offer millions of disaffected voters a new choice. JMHO
I’ve given it serious thought don’t think I haven’t! I arrived at a different conclusion on how to proceed then you.
I just don’t take an all or nothing approach. We got into this mess incrementally and that’s how we will get out! To look for a candidate that’s 100% congruent with oneself is a fool’s errand. For example, the only candidate 100% congruent with me is me! I am not running, anywhere! So, I immediately have to start saying “Which one’s good enough!”. Keeping people like Zero & Hellary away from the levers of power far outweighs perfection in conservative ideology. We half failed on that one.
In 2016 I voted for Trump to keep Hellary out of power! I expected no more from Trump then I would from any New York Republican. I expected him to govern like the Rockefeller administration that never was. He wouldn’t advance the conservative ball much but at worse he would lose little to no ground. Why would I think anything different? His history was one of being sometimes a Republican and sometimes a Rat, perfect description of a New York Republican. Imagine my surprise when he governed better then Reagan. The New York Republican out-Reaganed Reagan!
The problem is the voters also love oversize, overbearing big government as long as it’s cheap (No tax increases!) & delivers the pork. They want something that basically can not be! They want a square circle! Don’t believe me? Start a discussion on Social Security. Try to tell people (Try to convince them!) what it actually is - a Ponzi Scheme! Discuss how to change it and evolve the government out of it. You will soon find this site full of “don’t-break-my-rice-bowl-socialists”. There are other topics (e.g., Article 5 convention!) that can evoke a similar response. And this site is far far to the right of the average voter!
The only rational way forward is incrementally and educate the voters with each step. Where possible throw the RINOs out of office but do it in the primary. If you fail at that don’t do the voting equivalent of “running-off-and-holding-your-breath-until-your-face-turns-blue” and let a leftist Rat win. Plot to get rid of the RINO the next time. The good news is most of them are old farts and Father Time will soon take care of them. Above all go out and help take control of your local GOP like Trump said to do!