Article link: http://www.smallgovtimes.com/story/07may17.gop.falling.apart/

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#2 - From ripnbang on 2007-05-19
I think you had a good idea going, but you got way off track. Yes, the Republican party is looking less and less conservative. I also agree that it may be time for a third party like the Constitution Party to take the lead, however, we must be realists. It takes a great deal of money and name recognition to be a front runner candidate. Voting third party in this election just for a protest may very well have much worse deleterious consequences (re: Hillary or Barack presidency). McCain, Giuliani, Romney, etc. are much better candidates than either of the aforementioned (though I hold my nose saying that). And I agree with you that Duncan Hunter is the best of all of them.

Additionally, I think you enjoy (as we all do) the cheaper costs related to products that are produced in a highly competitive environment. Yes, Free Trade has it's faults, the loss of industrialization in this country is a major fault, however, remember, we are a free market economy. If we truly believe in these economic principles, then we have to realize that a private company is going to do what is in it's best interest (make more money for shareholders) and it can only do that by keep costs low and profits high. If we engage in protectionism, then our economy will suffer. I know it is not as simple as that, but there has to be a balance between free trade and protecting vital industries. Perhaps if the free trade rules were fair to all, not just all other countries to the exclusion of the US.

I do, however, agree with you on the immigration issue. We need to enforce the borders, penalize companies that higher illegals, and stop ignoring those that break the laws. We are a nation of laws and if we ignore immigration laws, what's next.

I do not agree with you that we need to stay out of the middle east. Like it or not, we are stuck there. Our very national interest is based on oil. We are a high consumer of petroleum products and unless alternative fuel sources can be created out of the blue, our demand is not going to go down. It is in our vital interest to ensure that there is a "stable" Middle East, and with the current Jihad against the US and our way of life, it is imperative that we keep the fight off our shores. It is infantile to think that if we leave the Middle East, they will leave us alone. It is much bigger than that.

In summary, I agree with your premise, but I don't think we can totally withdraw and isolate ourselves. We have been given much, and much is expected of us. We just need to strike the right balance of isolation, intervention, border protection, legal immigration, protectionism and free trade. Easier said than done, huh?

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#1 - From Frans Nijs on 2007-05-18
Very good article indeed. Thank you very much. And may your party have as much success as we here in Vlaanderen do.

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