The Republican Party is most assuredly going through an identity struggle, and the pundits obfuscate the issues by speaking in only the most general terms. The controversy within the party is whether it should become more conservative, faulting moderation for its losses, or whether to become more “centrist”, adapting its message for the new demographics and polls.

It is fine to call for free markets, but that does not mean unregulated markets, and their message must contain a realistic measure of freedom and oversight. Financial institutions central to our well being should no more be totally unrestricted than our civil institutions. Even our most precious freedoms do have limits. Every town has courts and jails.

The party could start with an honest discussion of foreign policy- what has worked and what has not. Realism is a good word to bring to bear. We must address the relationship between a profligate economy and our place in the world. It is time for Johnny to cut up his credit cards and live within his means.

It is time to realize that promised benefits must be paid for. Sacrifice is sellable if it is shared.

It is time to realize that America’s strength is in its ideas, not wealth nor military power. It is not coincidence that America has originated so many inventions that have been a source of wealth and power. But our ideas did not originate here because of the soil and water content. We struggle to provide better and better safety nets without destroying the human power that has created our nation.

But the Republican Party’s message of freedom must be consistent. We can not ask our soldiers to die for the freedoms of others and then refuse to sell them liquor on Sundays.

It will be harder to justify some choice but not others. Individual freedom means allowing others to make choices that you may not approve of. The tent must be widened to include pro choice and pro life candidates, acknowledging the legitimate concerns of each. Republicans suffer from disparate groups who each have a litmus test.

Democrats have their divisions but they generally disappear for a few weeks in early November.

The perfect is the enemy of the good and suicide is a poor growth strategy.

Yet …..

All who wander are not lost.

print