Posted on 02/04/2007 10:33:24 PM PST by Jim Robinson
GulfCoastNews.com February 1 2007
In 1994, the Republicans gained a majority in Congress for the first time in 40 years by offering a set of reforms contained in the Contract with America. Those common sense reforms cleaned up the way the House did its business including making Congress subject to the very laws it passes where they had routinely exempted themselves before. It also contained the first tax cuts in 16 years and provided for the child tax credit we have today. It increased intelligence and defense spending. The Contract led to the first balanced budget in a generation by actually cutting spending in real terms that created surpluses used to pay down the national debt. Of all the reforms, however, the most positive and powerful change for America was welfare reform which moved people off of welfare and into work or school.
In the 1996 election, when the Republican Party was reelected to the majority for the first time since 1928, we knew we had the approval of the American people. It would be hard to argue that the Contract with America was anything but a great success.
However, today we face even greater challenges than the ones we dealt with in 1994, and many of those challenges are indeed a threat to our survival.
In a rapidly changing world with new threats and new competitors, we must implement policies that will ensure America’s leadership, safety, and prosperity. And we must reinvigorate the core values that have made America an exceptional civilization.
The traditional instruments of government will not reform themselves fast enough and thoroughly enough for the information age.
The entrenched lobbyists and bureaucracies will do all they can to minimize the changes no matter how vital those changes are to America’s future. Self interest has and will continue to dominate the national interest if the normal political system operates in its business as usual style. The pressure of daily events will keep both the news media and most politicians focused on the immediate and the trivial rather than the long-term and the profoundly important.
Only a grassroots citizens’ movement can insist on the level of change that is needed for our children and grandchildren to have a successful future. Real change requires real change.
What is needed today more than in 1994 is a comprehensive set of solutions for the 21st Century. We must fight to win the future for the next generation of Americans with the same intensity previous generations fought for ours. We need a generation of solutions big enough to ensure the future for our children and grandchildren. I wrote Winning the Future to begin to chart a path toward meeting the challenges we face and to offer an outline of a 21st Century Contract with America.
Outline of a 21st Century Contract with America
I. To keep Americans safe both home and abroad, we will defend America and her allies from those who would destroy us. To achieve this, we will develop the intelligence, diplomatic, information, defense, and homeland security systems and resources necessary to defeat our enemies and defend our shores.
II. Consistent with our founding document – the Declaration of Independence, we will seek to re-center America on the Creator from Whom all our liberties come. We will insist on a judiciary that understands the centrality of God in American history and reasserts the legitimacy of recognizing the Creator in public life.
III. To strengthen our American culture, we will establish patriotic education for our children and patriotic immigration for new Americans. To achieve this, we will renew our commitment to education about American citizenship based on American history and an understanding of the Founding Fathers and the core values of American civilization. We will insist that both our children and immigrants learn the key values and key facts of American history as the foundation of their growth as citizens. And we will make English the official language of government to ensure a unified American culture.
IV. To meet the triple economic challenges of an explosion in scientific and technological knowledge, an increasingly competitive world market, and the rise of China and India we will implement:
1. A dramatically simplified tax code that favors savings, entrepreneurship, investment, and constant modernization of equipment and technology.
2. Investment in the scientific revolutions that are going to transform our world—particularly in energy, space, and the environment.
3. Math and science learning equal to any in the world and educating enough young Americans to both discover the science of the future and to compete successfully in national security and the economy with other well-educated societies.
4. Transform health care into a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that improves our health while lowering costs dramatically. In the process, American health care will become our highest value export and foreign exchange earning sector.
5. A new system of civil justice to reduce the burden of lawsuits.
V. To ensure that no American retires into poverty, we will transform the Social Security system starting with younger workers who should have the right to choose a personal Social Security Savings Retirement Accounts that will enable them to accumulate the wealth needed for a prosperous retirement while preserving Social Security for today’s retirees and near-retirees.
VI. In order to permit every American the opportunity to pursue happiness their entire life, we will:
1. Develop a system in which those who wish to stay economically active are encouraged and incentivized to do so because active people live longer and healthier and have a greater opportunity to pursue happiness;
2. Develop a system of independent living and assisted living that increases the years in which people can be on their own and in most cases enables people to live their entire lives with freedom and dignity;
3. Develop a new model of quality long-term care in which both the care and the quality of life are compatible with a twenty-first century American expectation of progress and innovation.
4. Use the new technologies and new scientific knowledge to turn disabilities into capabilities and change government regulations and programs to help every American achieve the fullest possible ability to pursue happiness.
VII. To change the mindset of big government in Washington, we will insist upon replacing bureaucratic public administration with entrepreneurial public management so government can operate with the speed, effectiveness, and efficiency of the information age.
VIII. To balance the federal budget, we will insist on the economic policies that foster a lean government, low taxes, and a low interest rate economy to maximize growth in a competitive world.
IX. To create a citizen-centered government, we will insist on congressional reform including the repeal of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance censorship law to make the legislative branch responsive to its voters and not Washington’s entrenched special interests.
X. To protect and ensure the integrity of the election process, we will insist that it is honest, accountable, accurate, and free from the threat of illegal votes or gratuitous litigation.
There is a lot to be done and every American can play an active role in winning the future for the next generation. I invite you to become involved and share your ideas for solutions to our great challenges by visiting and joining American Solutions for Winning the Future. (www.americansolutions.com)
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is author of Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America and chairman of American Solutions for Winning the Future.
Editor's Note: GCN requested an article by Gingrich for our readers on the subject of a new Contract for America. Gingrich was largely the architect of the first Contract for America in the 1990's when he was in Congress. He was kind enough to respond with the article above.
This is the work of a genius at his best. Deserves SERIOUS consideration!
As a matter of fact, try reading our whole exchange, in light of Newt's proposal, and maybe you'll see what I was trying to get at. The GOP brand name needs to stand for something, not just be an ad hoc coalition of politicians running on whatever platform suits their whim. That just invites defeat in detail, instead of presenting a unified message.
What core agenda defines the GOP? If they want to be the Party of the Middle, then why not say so? Let them define a new platform and stick to it.
And nowhere in that exchange did you:
suggested a week ago that the GOP needed a set of stated ideals to run on, similar to the CwA
You weren't exactly suggesting that the GOP should put out a new CWA; you were mocking the MIDDLE voters, the ones you all disdain so much.
My #54: "The more the Party refuses to have a unified agenda, the more votes are going to swing on individual candidates. As the Contract with America shows, a unified, objective agenda is a winning strategy. As the failure to follow through on it and becoming Beltway Drones shows, 535 different agendas is not. You still haven't answered my question: what does the Republican Party stand for, unequivocally?"
Your reply #55: "Look, you can talk and talk and post and post and rationalize and rationalize; the fact remains that there are only two parties in the running.
If you want to leave the GOP, leave.
But the GOP is NOT going to move farther to the right than it is right now -- especially since it cannot count on the far rights vote."
My #56: "You still haven't answered my question: what does the Republican Party stand for, unequivocally? Can't think of any? I listed a whole raft of things to pick from [ viz.#37, same thread ], many of which are hardly "far right". Surely at least a few must be Republican Core Values."
That help your recall any?
Yeah, I see it; but I don't see where you and I were arguing over the CWA.
And, btw, I made replies on this thread to questions that were ASKED of me; I am not in any way, shape, or form, advocating this route.
I was trying to engage on the idea of establishing a bona fied GOP agenda that means something. You just assumed I was advocating something else, like protest voting or leaving the party.
Regardless of the specific planks that are adopted, an agenda gives something to grab onto. Then, if folks climb aboard or abandon ship, at least you know why, instead of having Dick Morris types deconstructing the election.
And, btw, I made replies on this thread to questions that were ASKED of me; I am not in any way, shape, or form, advocating this route.
Okay, fair enough. What route ARE you advocating for? Ken Melman's tactics of 2006?
Don't blame Ken Mehlman for 2006. He can't force people to the polls.
BTW, you do realize that the first CWA had no mention of social issues in it, don't you?
Sure it did. It just addressed them with certain concrete steps that illustrated the underlying issue. Fiscal responsibility, personal responsibility, punishing criminal behavior, strengthening traditional families, etc.
None of the social issues were gonna completely be solved by it, but it was a concrete demonstration of the willingness to address the issues from a conservative viewpoint. It was also a way of presenting a united front.
No, but he could sure drive them away.
Thanks for a great post. I can't find a anyone with a better sense of how to get stuff done and be in agreement on a public level with my conservative principals. *Unless Jeb steps up to the plate).
Wow, okay.
I love that tag line... EternalVigilance (With Republicans like these, who needs Democrats?)
Here is my contract and hopefully you will find it easier to figure out.
1. the Fairtax passed
2. secure borders
3. permanant tax cuts
4. decrease spending except for defense
5. victory on terrorists (kick ass war, get it done then get out)
6. sunset social programs
7. constitutional Judges
8. Energy independance (drill ANWR, TX, OK, FL and CA)
9. English as official language
10. a picture voter ID card (proof of citizenship but not a universal US ID card)
11. School Choice
I agree, I'm just not willing to overlook his affairs. Besides, it's happened twice that we know of, How do we know it won't happen again? I don't want a president that makes a joke out of marriage.
Let's GET'ER DONE!
VERY wise words from Mr. Weyrich! We should ALL take them to heart as there is only one candidate with whom we would agree 100% and that person isn't running!
With that in mind, here are suggestions of a single voter:
Outline of a 21st Century Contract with America
I. To keep Americans safe both home and abroad, we will defend America and her allies from those who would destroy us. To achieve this, we will develop the intelligence, diplomatic, information, defense, and homeland security systems and resources necessary to defeat our enemies and defend our shores. – Good start, it is imperative that this section define the enforcement of our borders and coastlines.
II. Consistent with our founding document – the Declaration of Independence, we will seek to re-center America on the Creator from Whom all our liberties come. We will insist on a judiciary that understands the centrality of God in American history and reasserts the legitimacy of recognizing the Creator in public life. – Ok, a bit of a distraction, but ought to be included.
III. To strengthen our American culture, we will establish patriotic education for our children and patriotic immigration for new Americans. To achieve this, we will renew our commitment to education about American citizenship based on American history and an understanding of the Founding Fathers and the core values of American civilization. We will insist that both our children and immigrants learn the key values and key facts of American history as the foundation of their growth as citizens. And we will make English the official language of government to ensure a unified American culture. – While this is a terrific concept, in practical application, this smells like an augmentation of the “no child left behind bill” which increased the role of the federal government in public education and had a minimal positive effect at best.
IV. To meet the triple economic challenges of an explosion in scientific and technological knowledge, an increasingly competitive world market, and the rise of China and India we will implement:
1. A dramatically simplified tax code that favors savings, entrepreneurship, investment, and constant modernization of equipment and technology. – This section must be well defined and specific in its implementation. The administration has already attempted to pacify US by conducting a “study” and reporting “findings” that suggest that the current method of taxing productivity is just fine. Lip service is no longer acceptable.
2. Investment in the scientific revolutions that are going to transform our world—particularly in energy, space, and the environment. – Investment? This is the word used by bureaucrats when they want to create “earmarks” and big government programs. Further specific clarification is required.
3. Math and science learning equal to any in the world and educating enough young Americans to both discover the science of the future and to compete successfully in national security and the economy with other well-educated societies. – More federal intrusion in public education. Haven’t we been hearing about how the education budget must continually be increased to make US more competitive? Has it worked yet?
4. Transform health care into a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that improves our health while lowering costs dramatically. In the process, American health care will become our highest value export and foreign exchange earning sector. – Nice mission statement. Bring on the details of HOW this will be done.
5. A new system of civil justice to reduce the burden of lawsuits. – Didn’t the last contract call this tort reform? I guess they haven’t gotten around to it yet.
V. To ensure that no American retires into poverty, we will transform the Social Security system starting with younger workers who should have the right to choose a personal Social Security Savings Retirement Accounts that will enable them to accumulate the wealth needed for a prosperous retirement while preserving Social Security for today’s retirees and near-retirees. – Excellent! But start by eliminating the practice of transferring the excess SS taxes collected to the general fund, then move on.
VI. In order to permit every American the opportunity to pursue happiness their entire life, we will:
1. Develop a system in which those who wish to stay economically active are encouraged and incentivized to do so because active people live longer and healthier and have a greater opportunity to pursue happiness; – Seriously, what kind of a system does he mean? Encourage people to stay economically active? How about this, get government out of our lives, compare the constitutional limits of government to our reality.
2. Develop a system of independent living and assisted living that increases the years in which people can be on their own and in most cases enables people to live their entire lives with freedom and dignity; – Yeah, again with developing a system. Why not say “form a blue-ribbon committee” to explore options? SSDD
3. Develop a new model of quality long-term care in which both the care and the quality of life are compatible with a twenty-first century American expectation of progress and innovation. – Long term care? What is meant here, hillarycare?
4. Use the new technologies and new scientific knowledge to turn disabilities into capabilities and change government regulations and programs to help every American achieve the fullest possible ability to pursue happiness. – They already did that, Americans with disabilities act, cost US a fortune.
VII. To change the mindset of big government in Washington, we will insist upon replacing bureaucratic public administration with entrepreneurial public management so government can operate with the speed, effectiveness, and efficiency of the information age. – Interesting choice of words, sounds like he’s advocating the outsourcing of public jobs to private companies. Sort of like the defense contractors and their multiple levels of waste and cost overruns. What if he just said, “To reduce the size, scope, and cost of government, we’re going to cut spending by 20% across the board.” – That’s a lot simpler.
VIII. To balance the federal budget, we will insist on the economic policies that foster a lean government, low taxes, and a low interest rate economy to maximize growth in a competitive world. – Did he get this stuff from www.mission-statement.com?? See section VII above.
IX. To create a citizen-centered government, we will insist on congressional reform including the repeal of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance censorship law to make the legislative branch responsive to its voters and not Washington’s entrenched special interests. – Nine items, first clear proposal, repeal MF. Good!
X. To protect and ensure the integrity of the election process, we will insist that it is honest, accountable, accurate, and free from the threat of illegal votes or gratuitous litigation. – Yes, INSIST! Right! And stomp your little feet when you don’t get your way! C’mon, this one is so easy it’s funny. Get serious.
Surely this contract can be revised and simplified to set forth specific objectives that are quantifiable and attainable. Wait and see.
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