Posted on 11/23/2011 4:52:48 AM PST by Kaslin
One of the most disappointing things about the last three decades of American government are the opportunities that politicians have missed to set the country back on the path of prosperity and fiscal sanity.
We’ve had a lot of opportunities, but fumbled the chance in the same type of skirmishing that went on in the Super Committee, which is the same type of skirmishing we got with the debt ceiling, which is the same type…you get the idea.
Now, in a form of poetic justice that shows that God has a sense of humor and a long memory, the GOP just may be given back that moment of opportunity in 1994 when the Contract with America propelled the House to a Republican majority for the first time in 40 years; back to a time when freshman congressmen pledged self-imposed term-limits; before a time when many of those same congressmen took back that pledge- and many other pledges.
And while the Contract was a collaborative effort, no name was more strongly attached to it than current presidential candidate Newt Gingrich’s.
The Contract was a document that captured the imagination of the believers in limited government and self-reliance and capital markets. It told us the American people had an advocate who took small government seriously. The Contract still is a powerful image in the minds of small government, free market conservatives.
And that is why I would relish a Newt Gingrich presidency as a chance at redeeming that lost opportunity.
The Contract contained provisions that would have included a balanced budget amendment, term limits for Congress, tort reform, the elimination of legislation by regulation- made practically an art form by our current administration.
In fact, I think it’s safe to say that had the Contract with America been fully implemented we would have not faced decades of boom and bust policies emanating from the federal government. At the very least, we certainly would not be facing the super deficits, the spiraling economic crisis, out-of-control federal spending and un-helpful entanglements with the UN had we heeded the advice of then House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Like Winston Churchill, who spent much of two decades in the political wilderness because he wanted to be right rather than powerful, Gingrich has proven to be prescient when it comes to what kills our economy.
This week Gingrich released major details of his new contract called a 21st Century Contract with America.
In the new contract, the campaign vows to “[liberate] the poor from the trap of the Welfare Empire through new programs that are tailored to local communities, that promote work and that incentivize lifelong study. Building on the success of the 1996 welfare reforms, block-granting all federal means tested welfare programs back to the states would help millions move from dependency to prosperity while saving taxpayers trillions.”
Gingrich says that we have three choices when it comes to entitlement reform: 1) The Fantasy option- an option which I think best describes the Democrats’ approach to government; 2) The Austerity option- an option which we see Europe being forced into because of dawdling too long on Fantasy Island with the Democrats; and 3) the Growth and Innovation option- an option which plays to America’s strength as the global economic powerhouse that our traditional reliance on free markets and innovation used to secure for us.
But first Americans have to come to terms with the failures of their approach to government over the last four decades.
“The current system is broken,” says Gingrich. “Schools do not adequately prepare young Americans for adulthood and the workforce. Americans pay into Social Security their entire lifetimes to receive dismal, inadequate returns. Medicare dramatically limits options for retired Americans. And the welfare empire that has grown since the1960s is the greatest engine of inequality of all, trapping millions of Americans in a cycle of poverty.”
While the campaign acknowledges that changing the system will be “controversial,” the reforms once enacted will be like the welfare reform of the 1990s: so successful that even Democrats will have to embrace them.
Obama has governed under the philosophy of not letting our current crisis go to waste to force unpopular “transformation” of American society. Republicans should respond by not letting this great opportunity go to waste to reestablish a traditional small government, free market approach that has been opened up by Democrat overreach and mismanagement.
Because this could be our last chance.
Wonder if The Little Professror can tell is how much his Amnesty Dream Scheme will cost us legal citizens. Once these illegal families become legal they will be lining up at every federal and state agency for their entitlement freebies.
BTW what about State’s Rights? What a slap in the face to Arizona, Alabama and potentially a half dozen more states with illegal immigration laws before their State Legislatons? More Power to the Federal Government that Newt can sell his historical insight to the lawyers defending millions of illegals .
Geez = you’re the same guy who said that “immigration won’t be a big deal in the elections” about both the 2008 and 2010 elections. lol
You are lost MN. I’m not a newt voter - no way have i decided. But, that’s beside the point. The point was that it is not helpful to one’s success if the only strategy is to bring others down.
You are so stuck in said unsuccessful strategy you can’t even analyze posts properly. I’m not a newt voter. Your myopic strategy to bring others down is not successful. Dolt.
Awesome - putting info out there about a candidate is helpful. So put it out there. What is your experience with newt's promises versus his wanderings?
That is so insulting to any constitutional fundamentalist it ain't funny!
What is it about RINOs and Liberals that they cannot comprehend ENFORCE or CHANGE a law!
Cain keeps saying to enforce current laws to deal with illegal aliens—that is such a given I am shocked other “conservatives” haven't pick up on it.
I just wish they’d post information in lieu of tear-down comments that they think will help their candidate. Does their candidate have what it takes or is their candidate just “not as bad” as they try to make out others to be?
Not such an endorsement of one’s candidate.
In short—if you meet certain arbitrary conditions the law will not apply to you.
That is so insulting to any constitutional fundamentalist it ain't funny!
What is it about RINOs and Liberals that they cannot comprehend ENFORCE or CHANGE a law!
Cain keeps saying to enforce current laws to deal with illegal aliens—that is such a given I am shocked other “conservatives” haven't pick up on it.
Oh, put a sock in it, “Johnnie One Note!”
Gingrich is proposing a comprehensive immigration reform. He is the ONLY candidate to have had the guts to do that.
If you want to keep the same non-functional system that has existed for decades and has resulted in the problems that we have, fine. But nobody except Gingrich is proposing concrete alternatives and a way forward.
Yup and I think he said something like "I know I'm going to take a hit for this but ...."
I like a man that gives his truthful opinion even thou his knows it may not be popular. Mitt and Bachmann jumped on Newt but both of them know that every word Newt said was correct. Particularly the part about nothing will happen until the boarder is controlled. Big plus for Newt, big minus for Mitt and Bachmann. Minor plus for Paul also telling the truth (mass deportations) "it's not going to happen".
Good summary.
Reagan had a deal with the Democrats—amnesty in exchange for a secure border—he got screwed and was the last Real Conservative to fall for such amnesty scams.
Reagan learned a lesson all of us learned from...oh,except you that is.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.