Replies

Well, since we only have a chance of achieving any of our goals if we get our side elected, and since a large chunk of the population doesn't want to pare down government, the trick is to go slowly.

Yes, the ultimate goal is a smaller government, but in the meanwhile we have to maintain a viable foreign policy, prosecute a war, and make sure that the government doesn't do anything to mess up the economy.

Most Americans LIKE Social Security. Most think that the government should be doing lots of things that we don't think it should.

It is going to take a generation of incremental wins before we will get the voters to change their minds on some of this stuff. We have been pretty successful on tax policy; I don't think the democrats will be able to convince people that raising taxes will solve problems.

But on a variety of conservative goals, we have to keep moving in small steps, all the while educating people. And if we blow it, and we lose our majorities and the presidency, then we will be back at square one.

Do I have days when I wish I could wave a magic wand and get rid of all the bloated government? Sure! But then reality tells me that we are going to have to shrink it slowly, and that there will be times when we have to compromise because of other, more immediate goals. Patience and persistence is what is required.