[untenured]

Just as a thought experiment, suppose the GOP had for seven years or so the sort of dominance in DC that the Democrats had when LBJ was in power -- RINO-proof majorities in both houses, the White House, the ability to reshape the Supreme Court. What would they do? How, a decade later, would the country be different?

[goldstategop]

We'll find out next year if Fred Barnes' theory holds up. I think that in liberal states, the GOP can competitive if it grabs conservatives who are moderate to liberal on cultural issues. The Democrats don't have any one to make social conservatives feel welcome in their party. The Republicans have figured how to occupy the center and advance conservative principles without looking like they want to tell people what to do in their bedrooms or being hung up on gays. We've moved past that. Give us 40 years in power and the country will be a lot different than it is today.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Probably grow government at an even bigger rate than now.

[Monty22]

"What would they do? How, a decade later, would the country be different?"

Republicans tend to get kinda complacent without competition. I'm not sure it's good that we have TOO much of a majority :)

Lets see how the AWB ban goes, that'll be a big sign of if they'll do what they need to when in control.

[sphinx]

Just as a thought experiment, suppose the GOP had for seven years or so the sort of dominance in DC that the Democrats had when LBJ was in power -- RINO-proof majorities in both houses, the White House, the ability to reshape the Supreme Court. What would they do? How, a decade later, would the country be different?

(1) We would fix Social Security with immediate partial privatization and a long-term transition plan to full privatization. Probability of achievement: 90%.

(2) We would enact health care reform with full national coverage and freedom of choice based on an income support system for low income people. (The MSA model.) This would include vouchering Medicare and Medicaid. Probability of achievement: 85%.

(3) We would dramatically expand parental choice in schools. I don't know that we would move to full vouchering of the system, largely because the schools are still primarily state and local responsibilities, but we would nudge the system in that direction. Probability of achievement: 100% for expanded options; 66% for full vouchering in D.C., as a test case; 50% that at least one state would move to full vouchers within ten years, given a fully supportive climate in Washington.

(4) We would do serious tort reform. Probability: 95%.

(5) We would do major tax reform. I don't know which of the Officially Preferred Conservative Options would win out, but in the end the top rates would be lower and the system would be simpler, friendlier to families with children, and friendlier to savings and investment. Probability: 100%.

(6) I would give immigration reform a 60-40 chance.

(7) The social issues are tougher because they divide the country and the Party, but a GOP dominated Congress would at least be more sympathetic to traditional values and state and local initiatives in support thereof. We would give a much longer leash to local choices and local variations. Perhaps most important, we would change the complexion of the courts.

I am, in general, more sanguine about the economic issues. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid would certainly be dealt with because virtually all Republicans recognize the default option is massively higher taxation down the road if we fail to enact reform now. That default option is, in fact, precisely why the Democrats prefer to lie about these issues: they see higher taxes as an opportunity, not a threat.

I would, at any rate, like to make the experiment. So how do we get two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate?

[q_an_a]

power corrupts and absolute power...

The only saving grace may be that delay and a few others are small gov people and in time they MAY change the size of government bu reorganizing what government does.

[Publius6961]

GOP, DC, LBJ, RINO...
For me this is the clearest symptom of the disease.

Label me at your peril, feed me acronyms as a sure fire way of being ignored. Wee need thought, not BS.

[Porterville]

Once the Dems are gone- the party of Jackson the Cherokee murderer- then a third party stronger to the right can emerge.