Present Discontent

The elections are over and the votes have been counted. Obama and the Democratic Party, under far-left rule have won. And they don’t hesitate to remind us of that with the passing of each and every day. As we conservatives turn towards the next round of elections and to the still distant 2012 Presidential elections, we are looking for a strong candidate to take the lead and don the mantle of conservatism. So that begs the question; just what would we look for in a conservative candidate?

Well, let’s see. First of all our candidate would need to be fiscally conservative, wanting to reign in the run away spending of the Obama administration and this Democratically controlled congress. He would need to look at tax cuts. Our candidate would show that the present rates not only check consumption but discourage investment and encourage…the avoidance of taxes rather than the production of goods. And that our present tax system…reduces the financial incentives for personal effort, investment, and risk-taking.  Our candidate would know that a tax cut means higher family income and higher business profits and a balanced federal budget. Every taxpayer and his family will have more money left over after taxes for a new car, a new home, new conveniences, education and investment. Every businessman can keep a higher percentage of his profits in his cash register or put it to work expanding or improving his business, and as the national income grows, the federal government will ultimately end up with more revenues.

Our candidate should realize that the government does not owe each individual an education, or free health care, or even instant citizenship. No, our candidate will have to take on this entitlement mentality and put back into motion the idea that self reliance and hard work is the order of the day for every American. He should further state that our economy hinges on the work ethic of all Americans, so it is in everyone’s best interest that the entitlement mentality be excised from the American conscience.

On foreign policy, our candidate should make it known that America will vigorously defend herself to all enemies of the world. That America is a great and vital nation, not one among many, but a vast wealth of freedom, spirit and independence that can lead the world instead of trying to placate it. Totalitarianism in whatever form cannot be tolerated and our candidate will be vigilant in his effort to protect America from all her enemies. And in his foreign policy there needs to be a place for Israel so that our vitally important ally can know that we appreciate their position in this world. That we honor Israel’s determination and spirit, but that we do not forget our close ally’s peril, for no other nation in this world lives out its days in an atmosphere of such constant tension and fear. Israel needs to know we realize that no other nation in this world is surrounded on every side by such violent hate and prejudice.

Lastly, our candidate will need to truly be a uniter, and not a divider; for although that is easily said, it is hard to come by. Our candidate must seek not the Republican or Democratic answer, but the correct answer and in doing so our candidate must not place blame, but he must accept responsibility for our future. It is easy to spout catchy phrases and sound bites that the media will lap up and repeat over and over. What is truly hard to do, but well worth the effort is to reach across that aisle and work with congress in its entirety, not just with one party.

I know that many of my liberal readers will be saying that this message is nothing new, just the same old right wing rhetoric being rehashed and repackaged again. But I think it might be worth mentioning that on all my major points, I was working from a previous source. See, what I did was to go back and do a bit of studying of a former President. This President was known to be fiscally conservative, expansive on the military, at times a hard liner on foreign policy, he never apologized for America, instead he spot lighted her greatness. This man I speak of knew the importance of working with our allies, not placating our enemies, for only through strength can peace be achieved. This man knew that in order to stimulate the economy of America, you needed to cut back on taxes and also on the size and scope of government. This man knew that it was better to show a man how to do something, rather than have the government provide it for him.

The President I speak of is not a Republican. He is a Democrat and his name was John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Funny isn’t it how what he represented more closely resembles what a conservative stands for, rather than what a liberal is? Yet JFK is often thought of as the poster boy, if you will, for liberalism. I have taken great care to include in my narrative some of JFK’s quotes. I did not cite them for obvious reasons, but do want it known that I used them in part or in whole to illustrate the point I was trying to make.

So now my liberal readers I ask you; how hard is it to admit that what I have laid out here today could be the bridge we need to stop this petty bickering and unproductive division in our country? If I, a conservative can admire a great man who just happened to be a Democrat, why cannot we all see that the change we have so recently been promised comes not from one side of the aisle only, but from both sides?