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Will it be a bad thing if Republicans re-take congress?

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BRG253

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I'm thinking about the ideological effects of a Republican congress. Even though the Democrats cause more direct damage to the economy, the Republicans may cause more intellectual damage by having control of the congress as the economy continues to worsen, thus making it easier for the public to blame the percieved "free market" or "trickle down" policies of the right. If further deterioration is inevitable, as Peter Schiff predicts, I would rather that Democracts were in power so that it would be clear to everyone that government is to blame. Thoughts?

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Absolutely. I predict that they will fail to deliver in the view of public opinion an end to the crisis and will further discredit capitalism. I think at "best" (meaning if they are able to successfully push through their program) they will essentially carry on the Keynesian program, add some supply-side tax cuts and deregulation, maybe cut some spending by pushing the Social Security age out or something like that, speak some noble words about it being morning in America, perhaps attempt some kind of rights-violating social policy, and make our foreign affairs worse, keeping us in Afghanistan. They won't repeal Obamacare.

That is if they win anyway.

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Absolutely. I predict that they will fail to deliver in the view of public opinion an end to the crisis and will further discredit capitalism. I think at "best" (meaning if they are able to successfully push through their program) they will essentially carry on the Keynesian program, add some supply-side tax cuts and deregulation, maybe cut some spending by pushing the Social Security age out or something like that, speak some noble words about it being morning in America, perhaps attempt some kind of rights-violating social policy, and make our foreign affairs worse, keeping us in Afghanistan. They won't repeal Obamacare.

That is if they win anyway.

Interesting. The chief problem with Republicans is that they have lost the Calvin Coolidge spirit long ago. So many Republicans claim to want smaller government, but in reality they desire an unecessary amount of the national budget to be dedicated to the military, or to maintaining various welfare programs.

Now, as far as I'm concerned, there's nothing wrong with having a good military which is well armed and ready to defend the country. However, at this time in our history, the possibility of a military invasion is very unlikely. Certain times call for different approaches based on differing circumstances, but there is no reason at present to keep our military as it stands today, though there are those on the Right and Left who both argue for the disbanding of the military, which I'm against, as well. Finding a way to minimize our military while still ensuring it is sufficient for defense purposes would be ideal, for me.

Terrorism is still a threat to this country and will always be. But we need not send our military in to deal with our enemies, and thus unduly put lives at risk and spend taxpayer money which should not be spent. Sending spies into their countries, practicing subversion, and dividing our enemies against each other--as have been our previous foreign policies--seems more to me than engaging in one war after another every time we're attacked. Intelligence wars, when absolutely, are prefferable to, on the one hand, isolationism, and on the other, wars and occupation.

Reducing the military budget seems like violating some sacred principle to many a Republican, but a true Conservative Republican, things like this ought to be judged on a case-by-case basis, with time provided to make the most prudent decision on the specific cases. There is no reason to supporse, for instance, that China will attack us, that would be irrational at present. Most of the Communists in North Korea and Cuba, while they might pose a military, will, in all likelihood, not seek a fight. The majority of our threats are those ideological Leftwing plots which invade us through university indocrination and political "social justice rhetoric," not terrorists. Sadly, the war in Iraq distracted the nation from Bush's runaway spending, neoconservative spending, which is also a problem.

But I digress, my Objectist allies, pardon. Is it best if the Democrats continue to run the country. It's difficult for me to say. You should able to conclude from that statement that I'm not exactly thrilled about being a Republican right now. It's all we Conservatives can try to do to take back our party from neoconservatives and liberals and begin to head back to a government more ressembling the Coolidge Administration. We've got a lot of work to do.

But anway, well, on the one hand, as long as Obama and his fascist thugs (his policies strike me as more facist than anything else) maintain control of the country, we will become more and more Collectivistic at a more rapid pace than we would under a Republican regime of fiscal irresponsibility. So that could be a good thing is this sense: what has happened ocassionally in our hsitory is that the more Left we move, the greater the backlash when the Right wrests control.

So, for instance, FDR continually defeated conservative and libertarian Republicans over and over again, frustrating the Right's efforts. However, while little was done from the 1930s to the 1980s to regain control at the national levels, numerous states became increasingly more moderate, then conservative. Obviously, not every state adopted Right perspectives on all issues.

But much progress has been made at the state and local level nonethless. As an example, while the country is nationally heading to the Left, my state, Arizona, is heading to the Right, interestingly enough. As of July 29, 2010, AZ is now an unrestricted carry state in regards to persons over 21 carrying concealed handguns. Prior to this bill in April, a person was compelled to obtain a costly state permit. Now, while the state will still issue permits, they will not be compulsory.

What's more, the country wide state trends of the dreaded "gun control" laws are heading out the door gradually, being replaced with more gun owner friendly laws. The movement really took a leap in the early 1980s following high crime rates from the 60s and 70s. Since the 80s, "gun control" laws country wide have been incredibly relaxed (albiet cities like New York Ciity and Chicago have been hard eggs to crack. But essentially, there has been much success here, and it should be noted and that 9/10 times, these deregulation efforts were led by Republicans, not Democrats.

There does appear to be a state level backlash at federal attempts at hegomony. We can see this with certain states refusing "stimulus mone." Also, in 2008, Nebraska voters voted an Affirmative Action ban, which has also been done in two or three other states. Many more states have become closer and closer to ending Affirmative Action on the ballets in the past five years, as well.

Pardon, I'm sorry for not getting to the point. What I'm saying is in one sense, a Democratic regime has forced those on the Right who are prone to complacency under a Republican regime to really wake up to the dangers that Collectivism poses. Because the national of politics is so entrenched, people have been venting their just anger on their Left leaning states. None of this proves that a Democratic regime is better for the country in the long run, however.

I hate the Republican Party, and hate the Democratic Party even more, so while I can understand that many of you feel justly betrayed by past Republican assualts on the Free Market, you are still more likely more likely to vote retain freedom if you vote Republican as opposed to not voting and 'letting the chips fall where they may.' Like you, I hope that there will be a backlash under the radical Collectivism that will wake people up. But you can't refuse to back the Republicans this year for resentment then become irate as the country heads further and further Left when Republicans lose. No offense to third party advocates, but this is a waste of energy. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

The Republicans might swinging be swinging Left themselves, but it's a choice between two currupt systems, one of which we have a fighting chance of regaining control over, and other, which will keep rolling and rolling till we arrive at Euroepan-style-Socialism.

There are a few Republicans willing to stand up for the Free Market, as compared to fewer Democrats. And third parties will not be able to get enough traction to make a difference. Actually--correction, they can make a difference. They can idiotically split the Republican vote, ensuring a victory to the unified Democrats. We've seen it over and over again. You Independents out there, need I bring up Ross Perot?

Anway, this is basically my two cents in a nutshell. Yes, in the short term, peple will be angered by Obama's policies--more so than they would have been under a Let's Go Ever So Slowly Left John McCain. But in the long run? Simply stated, if we don't at least get the Republicans back in office for now, we're in big trouble. All of the progress we've made at the state and local levels could easily be undermined by an increasingly dangerous Obama Administration which is creeping closer and closer toward federal hegemomy. As much as the Republicans have always let us down, we'll be more likely to help the Free Market with them in office than their Democratic counterparts.

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Absolutely. I predict that they will fail to deliver in the view of public opinion an end to the crisis and will further discredit capitalism. I think at "best" (meaning if they are able to successfully push through their program) they will essentially carry on the Keynesian program, add some supply-side tax cuts and deregulation, maybe cut some spending by pushing the Social Security age out or something like that, speak some noble words about it being morning in America, perhaps attempt some kind of rights-violating social policy, and make our foreign affairs worse, keeping us in Afghanistan. They won't repeal Obamacare.

That is if they win anyway.

Unfortunately, this is, in my Conservative opinion, a very accurate depiction of what Republicans will do if we re-take Congress. But that said, please know that there are candidates across this country in the GOP who have been gradually pulling at the moderate Republican establishment. There are many candidates at my state level who want to destroy Social Security, repeal the Healthcare law, get us out of Afghanistan and Iraq, and lower and cuts taxes without making new ones to replace them. But since they're at the state level they're not in a position to effect much naitonal chnage. But you'll pardon me if I seem a little aggitated that you don't seem to realize the importance of Repuublicans being able to take back Congress. No, the Republicans aren't our saviors *disappointed Republican*, but you'll sure be able to pressure the political machine Right easier if they're in control than if the Democrats prevail IN THE LONG RUN.

On the national level, it's hard to get a lot of ground in convincing people to go further Right. Most people in the United States are moderates. They want a little bit of government intervention, but not an outright Socialist society. They want Big Business with booms yet no busts. They foolishly think they can have it both ways. They cling to the middle and almost invetivably, get pulled further and further Left incrementally without realizing it. But in any case, as a result of this whole "I want to be in the Center" approach, the moderate Republicans have pretty much ruled the party for 50 years at the national level.

We made a lot of progress and got our (meaning the fiscal con. agenda pretty far.) 1964 was going to be our year. God only knows Goldwater and his regime would have repealed New Deal legislation, destroyed Social Security, and cut taxes like no one's business. Heck, we got all the way to the general election. That could NEVER happen today. It was a miracle when Goldwater won the primary. But as much as I hate to admit it, it wasn't the Leftests who always supported LBJ that sunk Goldwater. It was the moderate Republicans at the GOP convention that got scared and changed to Democrats. And it was all of those people in the US who were "benefiting" from government programs who viewed Goldwater as a threat to their free lunch. Not to mention the blacks who voted LBJ because Goldwater opposed the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Damn, that alone made him look incredibly bad. Have any of you seen the popular and electoral counts of the 1964 general election? It's not pretty. One of the worst defeats in any election in US history. He won a few southern states for the electoral college, and he won Arizona. THAT WAS IT. What is particularly sad is that Goldwater was not a racist, even though he was painted that way. Interestingly, his opposition to the bill had nothing to do any opposition to blacks. He did not support the Civil Rights Act because he feared the growth of the power the Federal Gov't and the authority of it to supplant State laws. He was severely defeated, which proved that in 1964 most Americans were moderates. Not much have changed--accept that what was once identified as liberal is now considered moderate.

But anyway, I just want to impress upon you, lest you think we're just sitting on our hands, that there are Republicans trying to force the party in our direction and yours. But it's an uphill battle, not only within the party, but with the many moderates in America who want to flirt with conservatism from time to time but never want to risk committing to a truly Free Market. So it would be nice to have your help by at least showing up in November. As I stressed last time, sorry the GOP has acted so Democratic lately under Bush and others, but nothing will ever change in your favor if you don't at least vote for Republicans. I'll also add that I would find it almost hypocrtical for one of you to be complaining about the situation and yet not show up at the polls. For that matter, keep in mind that the primary is the place to really voice your concerns and change the direction of the party from within. So how many of showed up at the primaries to vote for Right candidates? Just curious.

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