|
|
||
 |
FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
|
|
|
It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
||
Posted on 10/10/2003 10:17:18 AM PDT by twittle
I remember a campaign quote from the days of George Wallace that went something like this, “There’s not a dimes worth of difference between the Republicans and Democrats.” That statement is truer today than it ever was in 1968.
In 2003, I’d say that dime has shrunk to what is now worth less than a nickel. That nickels worth of difference however isn’t near enough to convince me to align myself with the inept, gutless, Constitution ignoring, big government Republicans in order to fight the conniving, disingenuous, Constitution ignoring, big government Democrats.
From where I sit, it’s time to abandon both major parties en masse and throw our support behind a third choice. For me, that third choice is The Constitution Party.
Although there are multiple third parties, the largest and most prominent today is obviously the Libertarian Party. Given that it is better than either of the two major parties and currently has the best chance of making a near term impact on either the GOP or Democrats at the national level, why have I not thrown my support to them? For me, one major drawback is the LP’s adherence to a philosophy of open borders.
Any nation that can’t or won’t control its borders is not long a nation. We’ve seen the results of just such an open border philosophy and I’m here to tell you that is a terminally dangerous philosophy indeed.
I am an unapologetically staunch advocate of closed borders and highly restricted legal immigration with no hyphenated American titles officially recognized once citizenship is earned. You notice I used the word “earned” not “given.”
As I see it, if an immigrant is unwilling to adopt our culture, language and ways, leaving behind those of his former country and will not work to earn the right to live in real freedom as a pure American, they have not earned the right to be called an American -- just the view from my saddle…
What is the Constitutional Party platform? It’s simply the Constitution of the United States as authored by our founding fathers and focused on inalienable individual and states rights over the federal behemoth we now have in Washington DC. It’s no more complicated than that.
If we simply followed the precepts of our original Constitution, America’s level of freedom, fiscal health and strength of national character would be enhanced tremendously. The expectation and prominence of personal responsibility and freedom would replace big brother oversight and smothering federal control in all areas of our lives.
America would be open to commerce with all, but have foreign political entanglements with none. Better yet, 95% of the governing would be done at the state and local level with only about 5% at the federal level.
The federal government would be focused primarily on national defense of the several states instead of every aspect of people’s lives from the amount of money they can put aside for retirement to the amount of water in their toilets! Basically, if it could not be found and specifically authorized unambiguously within the Constitution, the federal government would have no say in it -- whatever “it” was… period.
Sound good? Then how do we build support and grow such a party? Personally, I think it’s best accomplished from the bottom up rather than the top down. In other words, we should build on a foundation of local and state victories before we can think seriously about tackling the challenge at the national level. I’m certainly not implying we ignore national politics, but we must first unite in building a solid foundation before starting on the roof.
Local and state elections are by far the more easily won. By building a firm foundation, brick by local brick, we establish that growing base of committed support needed to climb, step by step, to those higher levels until eventually we broaden that base wide enough and strong enough to effectively meet the national challenge.
A long, hard road ahead? You bet. But ask yourself what the alternative is for our American posterity? The alternative as I see it is to mindlessly follow the GOP and Democrat path that takes us increasingly farther away from the basic principles this country was originally founded upon until it inevitably dead ends at the intersection of Failure and Oppression.
Have doubts about the ultimate success of such a challenge? Thomas Paine addressed similar doubts over 225 years ago in his pamphlet Common Sense.
“It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies; yet our present numbers are sufficient to repel the force of all the world.”
Admittedly, third party membership numbers are very small compared to the GOP or Democrats. However, with unity comes strength and ultimately greater numbers, nurturing an enthusiastic fervor for America’s future, solidly rooted in the venerable principles of her past.
Some will argue, as does Rush Limbaugh, that a vote for any party other than the GOP helps the Democrats. But as I told both Rush and my good friend Charley Reese, I intend to vote my Constitutional principles. Someone has to stand on American principles these days because one thing is clear, the Republicans and Democrats certainly haven’t.
Think it over, and if you’re committed to the ideal of constitutional traditionalism and have a spiritual kinship with our founding fathers, you might check it out.
Just the view from my saddle…
2. What is their winning strategy?
|
|
||
|
|
FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
|
|
|
It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
||
Do you have principles, or do you just jump on the bandwagon? 2. What is their winning strategy?
principles
The premise is wrong.
The differences are greater today than then.
The Dems have gone far left. There used to be a large anti-Communist pro-freedom component in the Dems.
So I'll reask the question: What is their winning strategy?
Thomas Paine (1737–1809). Common Sense. 1776.
Some convenient tree will afford them a State-House, under the branches of which, the whole colony may assemble to deliberate on public matters. It is more than probable that their first laws will have the title only of REGULATIONS, and be enforced by no other penalty than public disesteem. In this first parliament every man, by natural right, will have a seat.
But as the colony increases, the public concerns will increase likewise, and the distance at which the members may be separated, will render it too inconvenient for all of them to meet on every occasion as at first, when their number was small, their habitations near, and the public concerns few and trifling.
This will point out the convenience of their consenting to leave the legislative part to be managed by a select number chosen from the whole body, who are supposed to have the same concerns at stake which those have who appointed them, and who will act in the same manner as the whole body would act were they present. If the colony continues increasing, it will become necessary to augment the number of the representatives, and that the interest of every part of the colony may be attended to, it will be found best to divide the whole into convenient parts, each part sending its proper number; and that the elected might never form to themselves an interest separate from the electors, prudence will point out the propriety of having elections often; because as the elected might by that means return and mix again with the general body of the electors in a few months, their fidelity to the public will be secured by the prudent reflexion of not making a rod for themselves. And as this frequent interchange will establish a common interest with every part of the community, they will mutually and naturally support each other, and on this (not on the unmeaning name of king) depends the strength of government, and the happiness of the governed.
---------------------
That one word "SUPPOSED" just jumps out.
An elected dog catcher doesn't really count, IMO.
Well, I hate to answer a question with a question, but what is the Republican's strategy for governing this country in a constitutional manner?
First comes principle. Then comes winning the elections.
You side-stepped my question. The Constitution Party is what I'm talking about. What is it's strategy for winning? Leave everyone else out of it.
And for the record, I hold no party affiliation.
As far as I know, the Constitution party is not opposed to federally funded space exploration. This is really a minor issue.
From reading the article it sounds like:
Then how do we build support and grow such a party? Personally, I think it’s best accomplished from the bottom up rather than the top down. In other words, we should build on a foundation of local and state victories before we can think seriously about tackling the challenge at the national level.
Whether it's a 'winning' strategy, only time will tell.
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.