Ronald Reagan: Let Them Go Their Way

Since our last meeting we have been through a disastrous election. It is easy for us to be discouraged, as pundits hail that election as a repudiation of our philosophy and even as a mandate of some kind or other. But the significance of the election was not registered by those who voted, but by those who stayed home. If there was anything like a mandate it will be found among almost two-thirds of the citizens who refused to participate.

Bitter as it is to accept the results of the November election, we should have reason for some optimism. For many years now we have preached “the gospel,” in opposition to the philosophy of so-called liberalism which was, in truth, a call to collectivism.

Now, it is possible we have been persuasive to a greater degree than we had ever realized. Few, if any, Democratic party candidates in the last election ran as liberals. Listening to them I had the eerie feeling we were hearing reruns of Goldwater speeches. I even thought I heard a few of my own.

Bureaucracy was assailed and fiscal responsibility hailed. Even George McGovern donned sackcloth and ashes and did penance for the good people of South Dakota.

But let’s not be so naive as to think we are witnessing a mass conversion to the principles of conservatism. Once sworn into office, the victors reverted to type. In their view, apparently, the ends justified the means.

The “Young Turks” had campaigned against “evil politicians.” They turned against committee chairmen of their own party, displaying a taste and talent as cutthroat power politicians quite in contrast to their campaign rhetoric and idealism. Still, we must not forget that they molded their campaigning to fit what even they recognized was the mood of the majority.

And we must see to it that the people are reminded of this as they now pursue their ideological goals—and pursue them they will.

I know you are aware of the national polls which show that a greater (and increasing) number of Americans—Republicans, Democrats and independents—classify themselves as “conservatives” than ever before. And a poll of rank-and-file union members reveals dissatisfaction with the amount of power their own leaders have assumed, and a resentment of their use of that power for partisan politics. Would it shock you to know that in that poll 68 percent of rank-and-file union members of this country came out endorsing right-to-work legislation?

These polls give cause for some optimism, but at the same time reveal a confusion that exists and the need for a continued effort to “spread the word.”

In another recent survey, of 35,000 college and university students polled, three-fourths blame American business and industry for all of our economic and social ills. The same three-fourths think the answer is more (and virtually complete) regimentation and government control of all phases of business—including the imposition of wage and price controls. Yet, 80 percent in the same poll want less government interference in their own lives!

In 1972 the people of this country had a clear-cut choice, based on the issues—to a greater extent than any election in half a century. In overwhelming numbers they ignored party labels, not so much to vote for a man or even a policy as to repudiate a philosophy. In doing so they repudiated that final step into the welfare state—that call for the confiscation and redistribution of their earnings on a scale far greater than what we now have. They repudiated the abandonment of national honor and a weakening of this nation’s ability to protect itself.

A study has been made that is so revealing that I’m not surprised it has been ignored by a certain number of political commentators and columnists. The political science department of Georgetown University researched the mandate of the 1972 election and recently presented its findings at a seminar.

Taking several major issues which, incidentally, are still the issues of the day, they polled rank-and-file members of the Democratic party on their approach to these problems. Then they polled the delegates to the two major national conventions—the leaders of the parties.

They found the delegates to the Republican convention almost identical in their responses to those of the rank-and-file Republicans. Yet, the delegates to the Democratic convention were miles apart from the thinking of their own party members.

The mandate of 1972 still exists. The people of America have been confused and disturbed by events since that election, but they hold an unchanged philosophy.

Our task is to make them see that what we represent is identical to their own hopes and dreams of what America can and should be. If there are questions as to whether the principles of conservatism hold up in practice, we have the answers to them. Where conservative principles have been tried, they have worked. Gov. Meldrim Thomson is making them work in New Hampshire; so is Arch Moore in West Virginia and Mills Godwin in Virginia. Jack Williams made them work in Arizona and I’m sure Jim Edwards will in South Carolina.

When I went to Sacramento eight years ago, I had the belief that government was no deep, dark mystery, that it could be operated efficiently by using the same common sense practiced in our everyday life, in our homes, in business and private affairs.

The “lab test” of my theory – California—was pretty messed up after eight years of a road show version of the Great Society. Our first and only briefing came from the outgoing director of finance, who said: “We’re spending $1 million more a day than we’re taking in. I have a golf date. Good luck!” That was the most cheerful news we were to hear for quite some time.

California state government was increasing by about 5,000 new employees a year. We were the welfare capital of the world with 16 percent of the nation’s caseload. Soon, California’s caseload was increasing by 40,000 a month.

We turned to the people themselves for help. Two hundred and fifty experts in the various fields volunteered to serve on task forces at no cost to the taxpayers. They went into every department of state government and came back with 1,800 recommendations on how modern business practices could be used to make government more efficient. We adopted 1,600 of them.

We instituted a policy of “cut, squeeze and trim” and froze the hiring of employees as replacements for retiring employees or others leaving state service.

After a few years of struggling with the professional welfarists, we again turned to the people. First, we obtained another task force and, when the legislature refused to help implement its recommendations, we presented the recommendations to the electorate.

It still took some doing. The legislature insisted our reforms would not work; that the needy would starve in the streets; that the workload would be dumped on the counties; that property taxes would go up and that we’d run up a deficit the first year of $750 million.

That was four years ago. Today, the needy have had an average increase of 43 percent in welfare grants in California, but the taxpayers have saved $2 billion by the caseload not increasing that 40,000 a month. Instead, there are some 400,000 fewer on welfare today

Forty of the state’s 58 counties have reduced property taxes for two years in a row (some for three). That $750-million deficit turned into an $850-million surplus which we returned to the people in a one-time tax rebate. That wasn’t easy. One state senator described that rebate as “an unnecessary expenditure of public funds.”

For more than two decades governments—federal, state, local—have been increasing in size two-and-a-half times faster than the population increase. In the last 10 years they have increased the cost in payroll seven times as fast as the increase in numbers.

We have just turned over to a new administration in Sacramento a government virtually the same size it was eight years ago. With the state’s growth rate, this means that government absorbed a workload increase, in some departments as much as 66 percent.

We also turned over—for the first time in almost a quarter of a century—a balanced budget and a surplus of $500 million. In these eight years just passed, we returned to the people in rebates, tax reductions and bridge toll reductions $5.7 billion. All of this is contrary to the will of those who deplore conservatism and profess to be liberals, yet all of it is pleasing to its citizenry.

Make no mistake, the leadership of the Democratic party is still out of step with the majority of Americans.

Speaker Carl Albert recently was quoted as saying that our problem is “60 percent recession, 30 percent inflation and 10 percent energy.” That makes as much sense as saying two and two make 22.

Without inflation there would be no recession. And unless we curb inflation we can see the end of our society and economic system. The painful fact is we can only halt inflation by undergoing a period of economic dislocation—a recession, if you will.

We can take steps to ease the suffering of some who will be hurt more than others, but if we turn from fighting inflation and adopt a program only to fight recession we are on the road to disaster.

In his first address to Congress, the president asked Congress to join him in an all-out effort to balance the budget. I think all of us wish that he had re-issued that speech instead of this year’s budget message.

What side can be taken in a debate over whether the deficit should be $52 billion or $70 billion or $80 billion preferred by the profligate Congress?

Inflation has one cause and one cause only: government spending more than government takes in. And the cure to inflation is a balanced budget. We know, of course, that after 40 years of social tinkering and Keynesian experimentation that we can’t do this all at once, but it can be achieved. Balancing the budget is like protecting your virtue: you have to learn to say “no.”

This is no time to repeat the shopworn panaceas of the New Deal, the Fair Deal and the Great Society. John Kenneth Galbraith, who, in my opinion, is living proof that economics is an inexact science, has written a new book. It is called “Economics and the Public Purpose.” In it, he asserts that market arrangements in our economy have given us inadequate housing, terrible mass transit, poor health care and a host of other miseries. And then, for the first time to my knowledge, he advances socialism as the answer to our problems.

Shorn of all side issues and extraneous matter, the problem underlying all others is the worldwide contest for the hearts and minds of mankind. Do we find the answers to human misery in freedom as it is known, or do we sink into the deadly dullness of the Socialist ant heap?

Those who suggest that the latter is some kind of solution are, I think, open to challenge. Let’s have no more theorizing when actual comparison is possible. There is in the world a great nation, larger than ours in territory and populated with 250 million capable people. It is rich in resources and has had more than 50 uninterrupted years to practice socialism without opposition.

We could match them, but it would take a little doing on our part. We’d have to cut our paychecks back by 75 percent; move 60 million workers back to the farm; abandon two-thirds of our steel-making capacity; destroy 40 million television sets; tear up 14 of every 15 miles of highway; junk 19 of every 20 automobiles; tear up two-thirds of our railroad track; knock down 70 percent of our houses; and rip out nine out of every 10 telephones. Then, all we have to do is find a capitalist country to sell us wheat on credit to keep us from starving!

Our people are in a time of discontent. Our vital energy supplies are threatened by possibly the most powerful cartel in human history. Our traditional allies in Western Europe are experiencing political and economic instability bordering on chaos.

We seem to be increasingly alone in a world grown more hostile, but we let our defenses shrink to pre-Pearl Harbor levels. And we are conscious that in Moscow the crash build-up of arms continues. The SALT II agreement in Vladivostok, if not re-negotiated, guarantees the Soviets a clear missile superiority sufficient to make a “first strike” possible, with little fear of reprisal. Yet, too many congressmen demand further cuts in our own defenses, including delay if not cancellation of the B-1 bomber.

I realize that millions of Americans are sick of hearing about Indochina, and perhaps it is politically unwise to talk of our obligation to Cambodia and South Vietnam. But we pledged—in an agreement that brought our men home and freed our prisoners—to give our allies arms and ammunition to replace on a one-for-one basis what they expend in resisting the aggression of the Communists who are violating the cease-fire and are fully aided by their Soviet and Red Chinese allies. Congress has already reduced the appropriation to half of what they need and threatens to reduce it even more.

Can we live with ourselves if we, as a nation, betray our friends and ignore our pledged word? And, if we do, who would ever trust us again? To consider committing such an act so contrary to our deepest ideals is symptomatic of the erosion of standards and values. And this adds to our discontent.

We did not seek world leadership; it was thrust upon us. It has been our destiny almost from the first moment this land was settled. If we fail to keep our rendezvous with destiny or, as John Winthrop said in 1630, “Deal falsely with our God,” we shall be made “a story and byword throughout the world.”

I don ‘t know about you, but I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, “We must broaden the base of our party”—when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.

It was a feeling that there was not a sufficient difference now between the parties that kept a majority of the voters away from the polls. When have we ever advocated a closed-door policy? Who has ever been barred from participating?

Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?

Let us show that we stand for fiscal integrity and sound money and above all for an end to deficit spending, with ultimate retirement of the national debt.

Let us also include a permanent limit on the percentage of the people’s earnings government can take without their consent.

Let our banner proclaim a genuine tax reform that will begin by simplifying the income tax so that workers can compute their obligation without having to employ legal help.

And let it provide indexing—adjusting the brackets to the cost of living—so that an increase in salary merely to keep pace with inflation does not move the taxpayer into a surtax bracket. Failure to provide this means an increase in government’s share and would make the worker worse off than he was before he got the raise.

Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.

Let us also call for an end to the nit-picking, the harassment and over-regulation of business and industry which restricts expansion and our ability to compete in world markets.

Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government’s coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.

Our banner must recognize the responsibility of government to protect the law-abiding, holding those who commit misdeeds personally accountable.

And we must make it plain to international adventurers that our love of peace stops short of “peace at any price.”

We will maintain whatever level of strength is necessary to preserve our free way of life.

A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.

I do not believe I have proposed anything that is contrary to what has been considered Republican principle. It is at the same time the very basis of conservatism. It is time to reassert that principle and raise it to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way.

Sure there are. Pence is one, but he is in the House right now. Most say House members do not get elected. He is only one, there are others, the GOP just needs to put them forward, and not moderates.

Dear, Mike Pence is no longer in the House....he’s now Gov of Indiana.

He’s not proving to be much of a conservative, either, with his rebranding of 0CommieCore, excepting federal funds for 0Care expansion and he has called for “middle ground” on amnesty.

You know folks, it’s interesting.

It’s interesting that Reagan says there, all those years ago, exactly the same crap we see today. And it’s interesting that so many freepers who claim to revere him and the founders, find so very many ways to (try to) refute them every single day.

They want to broaden the base through moderation. Some have pushed for easing off on homo/gay/immigration. Some got the zot, others continue spouting their liberalism in post after post. And rather than look to Reagan and the founders for guidance...from the very men who founded and BEST LED this country, they say no. Different time, not the same,dems are evil, blahblahblah...

But here we are with the same issues, the same evil democrats and the same Cheshire Conservatives wanting us to be more like democrats electing their preferred RINOs.

It is tiring to see stupidity repeat so often. And it is tiring to watch the same people repeat the same nonsense. We all have access to the same info. Conservatism isn’t rocket surgery. It is very basic.

People have to start applying that info. Things cannot be two ways. People like Rand Paul cannot be out there fully backing people like Mitch and being called conservative. People like Perry cannot one day fight against border fences during invasions and then stand there bitching about the Obama policies the fences would have prevented from even allowing to be proposed...there would be far fewer illegals for him to use against America.

This is all material that is documented daily on FR. Has been for years. Openly. On the front page. So when you see a freeper posting how Paul is really a conservative worth voting for, or a Perry is a potential candidate, what you are seeing in reality is one of the people that Reagan says should go their own way. they are not conservative when they push for liberals. A 2 year old can figure that much out.

The other thing we have to accept is that there are no magic bullets. We are going to lose some. It will suck. But those screaming “purist” and the like do not want what we want. They want moderation.

The sooner we rid ourselves of the people blocking our progress, the sooner we can return to principle and move ahead rather than fighting this war within.

The best and most incisive part of that was the last sentence...and if there are those who can’t subscribe to these principles, then let them go their own way.

I think about the amount of time, effort, and resources that we spend as conservatives in a vain effort to make pigs sing. A large portion of the population, maybe a majority, subscribe to the idea that there IS a free lunch and have no problem with the idea that peacekeepers with guns should rob others to pay for that free lunch. That’s just the way it is.
And I don’t say that out of despair but actually one of optimism. Because once you start to accept things as they are and not as you wish they were, strategies to do better for you and yours begin to emerge.

My tagline offers one positive strategy for a better future. There are others.

“I think about the amount of time, effort, and resources that we spend as conservatives in a vain effort to make pigs sing.”

For an eye opening experience, pick several contentious posts at random. You will find 2-3ish people pushing moderation/liberal/non-conservative ideas and often screaming ‘Purist” or the lates one as I learned yesterday from Johnny, “Absolutist”

Then count up the man hours by everyone else on the thread, myself included, trying to teach that pig to sing.

Then realize that all those hours are wasted and all those are hours we could have used to either further educate ourselves or to help promote/elect a conservative.

THEN ponder whether or not some of those people are not paid or otherwise willing GOPers there for that very purpose.

Yep. And I’m as guilty as any of allowing myself to get bogged down in a useless exercise of trying to get pigs to sing opera. FR is a little different though in who you’re trying to appeal to are not so much the posters but the lurkers.

That said, I’m looking at moving my efforts elsewhere. I’m more than happy to debate folks but I would like to start with more or less shared goals. I got into an extremely contentious discussion a few weeks ago with a few people who are just rabidly anti libertarian. While I don’t consider myself a libertarian, I am sympathetic to some of their goals. And I really had to ask myself...is this worth my time? Are the few lurkers I might reach worth the effort if takes to reach them?

All in all i’d rather build things than interminably discuss what should be built. And like the line in the movie, if you build it they will come. Or not.

This is as true today as it was thirty years ago.

Amazingly so.

He even asks the same question:

"Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?"

I think we need a second party. Whether or not its name is "Republican" is another question.

Excellently well said.

... the same Cheshire Conservatives wanting us to be more like democrats electing their preferred RINOs. It is tiring to see stupidity repeat so often. And it is tiring to watch the same people repeat the same nonsense. We all have access to the same info. Conservatism isn’t rocket surgery. It is very basic.

So true that Reagan in this speech boils down those basics and they are absolutely as timely and current today as they were nearly 40 years ago. IT IS THAT BASIC.

We had BETTER ANTICIPATE NOW being in the same position as we were in Nov, 2012, because it's totally unrealistic to think that the GOP won't end up fielding a leftist "moderate" Republican ala Romney in 2016. That's two years away. Only a miracle would turn the GOP power players around in that short of time. I think all of us, including Rush, Levin, and any other self-defined conservative, should be seeing that one coming a mile away and considering strategies now to make the best of it.

We need a 2nd Party. Americans are yearning for a 2nd Party. Reagan nails it so gently, so sweetly -- Americans see the two major parties as being one and the same, and are voting OR NOT accordingly.

Personally, I think the term SECOND PARTY is doubly apropos because the support for the 2nd Amendment is probably the most shared issue between left and right-thinking folks; a lot of Democrats are as pro-gun as so many conservatives and Republicans.

I like Black Elk's philosophy. God loves us yet.

Back when I still identified as Republican I cannot tell you how many people I talked to that refused to listen simply because they did not trust “Republicans”. And that was before this crew of closeted Democrats was on the scene. they have good reason not to trust them. We see how quickly they turned on us as do they. For one glaring example.

Many indys and as you say, even Dems are still marginally conservative by our standards and flat out Right wingers by lib standards. Those people do indeed stay where they are for lack of anything better.

Conservatism is better. We know that. They know that. But as long as we have the albatross legacy of the post Reagan republicans, we will never get them no matter what we say or Obama does. And as long as we let the lesser evil/no matter what types continue to run rampant, that ain’t changing. Because that is part of what they see as the problem.

One of the excuses we all hear is that it’s the MSM that twists the truth and frames the GOP.

Yes, there is some of that. No question. What does the GOP do in response? What do they do to set the record straight and go on offense? Not one damn thing. They bend over and take it like a gay man.

People are not either completely stupid nor are they completely blind. But what person, of any political belief, is going to saddle up the weak horse? Not even liberals on DU are that stupid. ...OK, usually ;)

But in all seriousness, what book of strategy, warfare, self help or success in business ever advises that one side with failure? With WILLFUL failure?

The GOP shows it wants to lose every time it fields a Dole, a Romney, or any closeted Democrat. Then they get on TV and choke. They give interviews filled with empty words or assaults on their own.

WHAT FOOL WANTS TO JOIN THAT???

No one.

The Cheshires can scream all they want. I have been going at it with a leftover Romneybot for 2 days now and of course, all he has is the same tired crap we are sick to death of hearing. His whole thing is The Dem is worse.

People out there see two evils. They do not see greater and lesser. In that way they are miles ahead of some of us. Because with no dog in the fight they see with a clarity some of us do not.

As I have said in the past, at this point, there is no excuse for any of us here on FR. There are Conservatives and as Reagan said, there are those that need to go their own way. There are a whole bunch of replacements waiting for them in the wings.

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