Posted on 07/09/2012 8:00:19 PM PDT by neverdem
The GOP candidate should stand for free markets—and align himself with the vast majority of Americans.
A recent New York Times op-ed by Bill Scher, “How Liberals Win,” must be commended for its honesty. Scher presents a compelling historical narrative of how Democrats are happy to ally themselves with big business in a Faustian pact to foster anti-market policies. From Franklin Roosevelt’s National Recovery Act, which promoted the cartelization of industry, to President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, which bought off big pharmaceutical companies by suppressing free trade in the drug market, Scher describes how Democrats have promoted crony capitalism to foster their liberal agenda. They are pro-business—at least certain businesses—but fundamentally anti-market.
This is exactly the opposite of what most Americans want. According to a survey conducted as part of the Financial Trust Index, which I codirect, only 19 percent of Americans reject the free-market system. But 51 percent are suspicious of the excessive power of big business. In other words, they are pro-market, but not necessarily pro-business, especially when business is large and politically powerful.
In fact, by inverting Scher’s argument, one can see that a pro-market, but not pro-big-business, platform would be a winner for Republicans. From Tea Party supporters to Republican-leaning independents, a vast majority of potential Republican voters already hold these positions. The party establishment lags behind, partly for ideological reasons and partly for financial ones.
Ideologically, the Republican establishment doesn’t appreciate the difference between being pro-market and being pro-business. Many businesspeople want free markets only when they’re trying to enter a new market; when they’re already in a market, they lobby for barriers to entry and protection from competition. A pro-market advocate defends freedom of entry in all cases. Failure to understand this distinction makes the Republican establishment too timid in criticizing business when it undermines free markets.
Financially, the Republican establishment is afraid to lose its fundraising edge over the Democrats—especially when it sees Democrats following Scher’s advice and getting cozier with large corporations. Yet the Republicans’ presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, is not a member of the GOP establishment. Can he wage a battle against crony capitalism? At first glance, he might seem like the last person for the job: he is a multimillionaire who made his fortune with the private-equity firm Bain Capital. Yet on closer analysis, Romney might be precisely the right person to lead the effort.
First, only someone very confident of his pro-market credentials can take the risk involved in challenging the power of big business. As it took a Richard Nixon to go to China, it might take a Mitt Romney to rein in excessive corporate political power. Second, Romney’s experience at Bain Capital makes him potentially more attuned to the market’s needs than to the interests of large corporations. His work involved investing in start-ups and established companies to help them grow. So he should know first-hand the obstacles that ordinary businesspeople face in their daily work, and he should understand that many of these obstacles stem from large companies’ political power. Third, his wealth puts him beyond the need to cater to big corporations for a future job or donations to his presidential library.
For all of these reasons, Romney is eminently qualified to make the pro-market case. But his campaign, at least up to now, has lacked vision and followed in George W. Bush’s footsteps. Romney’s pragmatic, technocratic approach reassures people but fails to excite them. The Republican base is thus far uninspired, and independent voters fear a Bush repeat. Romney must differentiate himself from both Bush and Obama, rallying the Republican base while also attracting independents. Pledging a better future for America by defending the American free-market system against a Southern European–style crony capitalism is the perfect way to do it. It’s time for Romney to pick up this flag.
Voter fraud? Intimidation? Declare martial law? Oh, no, that’s Mr. Obama.
Might help if he actually started campaigning.
Taking a week of vacation while Øbama barnstorms basking in the SCOTUS victory seems a like a recipe for failure.
Maybe he really does want to throw the election.
“............Mitt Romney, is not a member of the GOP establishment.”
Says this author.
I like Romney because he supports more taxes but
very cleverly calls them ‘fees’. so it is ok.
My candidate, Mr. RomneyCARE also supports ObamaCARE
and DEATH PANELS
but cleverly calls them ‘RomneyCARE”. so it is ok.
My candidate, Mr. RomneyCARE also supports TARP
and Sharia, but they
are as incoming as tomorrow’s sun, anyway.
So, like the illegals Mr. RomneyCARE invited in
flooding Massachusetts. what the heck. it is ok, too.
My candidate, Mr. RomneyCARE also supports
Global Warming. I think he is right. Don’t you?
And Mr. RomneyCARE supports the 911 Victory Mosque.
Heck, he was involved in the company that sold them
the land. WOW.
Mr. RomneyCARE can make $$$$$$$$ from ANYTHING.
No wonder he has offshore accounts and elevators
in his garage for the cars. WOW!!!!!!
Bush 41 in '92, Dole, McCain, Romney...
OK I wasn’t going to, but here goes:
Romney is our guy. A lot of us aren’t real excited about that, but he’s a HECK of a lot better than Obama.
Just saying...
Because YOU support DEATH PANELS, STATISM, LYING,
the BIG-DIG COVERUP, MORE TAXES, MORE TARP,
SHARIA, VULTURE CORPORATISM, INEPT GOVERNORSHIPS,
USELESS LIBERAL JUDGESHIPS, MORE FEES,
OBAMACARE/ROMNEYCARE, and Romney's unique pandering.
YOU BOW to Romney, like Obama bows to Islam.
What’s wrong with legally having some money overseas and buying an elevator to transport your automobile? How did he hurt you when he spent his hard-earned money that way? I thought the Left was the ones who played the class war and envy game. I want a nice house and money in the bank and don’t begrudge anyone who has those things, but is sounds like you do. Are you sure you’re on the right website?
All he has to do is show up, Obimbo is TOAST!
Well I’ve made my choice.
You’ve decided to bow to Obama.
I most regret, Palin is unavailable for this vote.
Nothing wrong with it. It is perfect for a Depression.
And Romney’s Wall St. Connections are perfect right now, too.
heck, Romney INVENTED gay marriage AND death panels,
so the GOP is going to the BOSS-PARTY for STATISM and
Romney-NewYorkTimes Agendae. Wow.
The timing could not be better, right?
In fact, it Should go great with the GOP’s support,
through Mr. RomneyCARE, for TARP, global warming,
and Sharia.
So, tell me, 2ndDivisionVet, my FRiend, what exactly
IS the difference between the DNC and GOP with RomneyCARE
at the helm?
|
(I know and am disgusted by, as everyone else on this board knows and is disgusted by, the horrendous character, values, and history of Romney. You have no special knowledge nor is your insight unique. You bring nothing to the table endlessly repeating his sins. What I'm asking you is a simple and direct question, please don't change its premise.) |
"Peeking Out From the McCain Wreckage: Mitt Romney"
"Someone's got to say it: IS MITT ROMNEY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBAMA'S VICTORY?"
"Vanity: Team Romney Sabotaged Palin and Continuing to Do So?"
"Romney Supporters Trashing Palin"
"Romney advisors sniping at Palin?"
” - - - Romney is eminently qualified to make the pro-market case.”
Yeah, Marvelous Mitt? Well just give us 3 reasons why we should vote for you.
Take John H. Sununu’s advice and use short, declarative sentences, and NO NUANCES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mitty-Boy, you are dumber than a bag of hammers when it comes to giving it to us straight.
Shape up or you will get DUMPED by a First Ballot Abstain Vote at the Convention.
Recapturing the Lost Genius of American Prosperity
______________________________________________________________
THERE IS ROMNEY’S FRIGGIN’ CAMPAIGN THEME!!!
Might help if he actually started campaigning.
______________________________________________________________
It’s early. Let the guy have a vacation. He’s been campaigning for 2 years. Only us political junkies pay attention during July 4th week.
Give Obama a second term and he’ll TAKE a third
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