Posted by
stevo on Sunday, October 22, 2006 3:18:31 AM
Continuing a series of five posts before Election Day that will evaluate how Republicans can reattach with the American public, I today write of two opposing political postures: proactivism and reactionism.
The conservative ideology that largely undegirds Republican politics has largely been characterized as a reaction to progress and advancement. Abiding in William F. Buckley's historic line: "Standing athwart history, yelling 'Stop!'", the modern conservative Republican movement has been known for rejecting the postmodern morality that has accompanied our "advanced" age. Thus, the Republican posture could best be summarized as reactionary.
Whereas there are many valuable presuppositions and principles at work in the reactionary posture employed by Republicans, the posture itself proves such a detriment to these principles that their message is left largely unheard. Perhaps, this belies the fact that the communication of core Republican principles (largely conservative) so often falls upon deaf ears in the public-at-large.
Contrary to most current proposals, Republicans should not redefine their principles, but rather, their posture. Setting aside military policies, the programs set forth by Republicans in the past decade, when defined positively, have been warmly received and proven successful. The reform of welfare in 1996 shows this point surely enough.
The necessary posture for Republicans is a proactive one. To better color this abstract notion, a few issues will be mentioned in this light. Conservative immigration policies, though well-founded, are often viewed as harsh and uncaring. What if Republicans placed a larger emphasis on support for a greater flow of legal immigration that places value upon legal entrants into this country? It must be shown that Republicans care for people as an extention of their principles. In the same way, Republicans speak of the value of life with regard to abortion--often in a way that abstracts principle from people. What if they placed a greater emphasis on parental counseling and adoption care services? This is not to belittle those who already do such services, but to point to the need for a greater push of these proactive approaches.
Proactivism must outweigh reactionism in the Republican posture. The American people, for good or bad, have largely dismissed profound ideas for consistent action. In that light, the profound ideas that emanate from the conservative wing of the Republican party must be shown forth in concrete action of a positive nature. These ideas are founded upon the great notion of supreme truth and compassion upon one's neighbor, why aren't these great truths exhibited in the great spirit of compassion that shape them?