It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
The Republican establishment had a definite strategy. Stay away from controversial issues, focus on jobs and the economy, look high-minded, moderate, and presidential. Romney did that, brilliantly. Social cons went along. We implicitly agreed to lie low and vote, as long as our candidate discretely mentioned he was pro-life and pro-marriage. Then we crossed our fingers, said our prayers, and hoped the silent majority would arise.
Turns out, we're not a majority anymore. Turns out that social issues trump economic issues for the left. They don't care if the economy is in the toilet. They want abortion and free birth control and same-sex marriage. Like Marx, they're out to marginalize the Church and break down the family. Their voters want hand-outs, not personal responsibility.
The cultural and moral aggressions of the left have gone much farther than we'd hoped in eroding the foundations of the civil society.
Now we're facing, I fear, the break-up of the Republican Party. The establishment types will walk away from this defeat convinced that they have to further stifle and marginalize the social conservatives. And the social conservatives will be deeply persuaded that they have done far too much accommodating.
I, for one, think we have hardly begun to resist the evil and injustice of abortion and SSM. I now think we would have done better to lose decrying those than pretending they're side issues.
I also haven't been religious enough. I've put too much hope in princes. God forgive me.
Last night was a sleepless one for me. As usual, I tried to remedy the insomnia by listening to Wittaker Chambers' Witness. Because my worry was worse than usual, I heard more of it than I usually do. It is a masterpiece. Here is just one of countless gems:
When man tries to organize society without God, he ends up organizing it against man.
The economic crisis we face is only a symptom of a deeper spiritual and moral crisis. We'll get nowhere good unless we address that first and foremost.
- Comment (125)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (16)
Comments:
Apr '11
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
This Katie, is the thing that most hurts me the most about where America is headed. No one argues that unemployment, poverty and welfare aren't bad, yet they voted for Obamafor selfish reasons. Remember, even if 15% of Americans are unemployed/underemployed, that means 85% are employed! They see the suffering all around them and still vote for the guy responsible for selfish reasons. Young people can't get work after colloege, yet they still vote for the guy responsible for selfish reasons (gay rights, free contraceptives, etc).
I'm not the most religious guy, but this harkens to a loss of our collective soul. Shame on us!
May '12
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
It was the economy, unfortunately voters are still blaming Bush. There was an election not too long ago that the GOP went totally culture warfare, it was 2006, Nancy Pelosi was made speaker of the house.
By the way, SSM opponents did terrible yesterday. It looks like 0-4 in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington. It kind of confirms the polling data that suggests the tide has turned on that issue.
Mar '11
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
katievs: The cultural and moral aggressions of the left have gone much farther than we'd hoped in eroding the foundations of the civil society.
The economic crisis we face is only a symptom of a deeper spiritual and moral crisis. We'll get nowhere good unless we address that first and foremost. · · 7 minutes ago
I fear you may be right on the break up of the Republican Party. You are certainly right that the long spiritual decline of the West has penetrated America deeply, and is coming home to roost.
All the lessons of this election haven't been learned yet, some we're just beginning to ponder. But here's two that strike me immediately:
- A number of moderate Republican candidates lost in big races. George Allen, Tommy Thompson, Scott Brown, Connie Mack. If they cannot win these races, they are of no use to us.
- Some socially conservative candidates who were lousy candidates also got destroyed in big races: Akin in MO. It's not only the message: the messenger matters, now more than ever.
Jun '10
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
What would you say, dear sister, if you were invited to join a virtual republic of virtuous citizens? A parallel society so to speak. We must live in this world, but that doesn't mean we need to embrace it. There is a movement afoot. It's called the Common Sense Resistance, but it is not a revolutionary movement. When confronted with a juggernaut that is vertical in nature, you do not resist. You move horizontally and get out of its way. When these threads finally cool, I will introduce the concept here at Ricochet. And I will introduce you to a leader who sees the way ahead, and he has a plan.
May '10
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
My husband remarked on his way out the door this morning how ominous it is that a majority are so unconcerned about the federal government trampling on the religious liberty of Catholics. They think their "right" to free birth control trumps our right not to have our consciences coerced.
May '10
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
Richard: It was the economy, unfortunately voters are still blaming Bush. There was an election not too long ago that the GOP went totally culture warfare, it was 2006, Nancy Pelosi was made speaker of the house.
By the way, SSM opponents did terrible yesterday. It looks like 0-4 in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington. It kind of confirms the polling data that suggests the tide has turned on that issue. · 11 minutes ago
Yes, that's what I mean. We were too passive, and now the tide has turned. Soc cons like me will be convinced that it's better to lose elections fighting for right than to lose elections accommodating evil and wrong.
The legalization of SSM, like the legalization of abortion, will do much greater harm, longer term than any single election.
More importantly, we'll be convinced that the real fight is on the level of culture, not politics. And we'll be gearing up for persecution.
Jan '12
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
I couldn't agree more. I think I am going to spend some time strengthening my own faith and then move on from there.
May '12
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
Crow's Nest
- A number of moderate Republican candidates lost in big races. George Allen, Tommy Thompson, Scott Brown, Connie Mack. If they cannot win these races, they are of no use to us.
- Some socially conservative candidates who were lousy candidates also got destroyed in big races: Akin in MO. It's not only the message: the messenger matters, now more than ever. · 6 minutes ago
I think most of those losses have little to do with where on the Conservative spectrum the candidates stood. We all care about ideology know it is important when it comes to governing and like to think it is important for everything else, but it is actually a bit overrated when it comes to winning elective office.
The GOP does need to shift in certain areas, emphasizing certain elements of Conservatism a little more. They also need to run Marco Rubio in 2016 and hope he can alter the electorate like Reagan did.
May '10
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
Paules, I will be open to all kinds of ideas. But I will be skeptical about the value of virtual communities, which are no adequate substitute for real communities and actual relationships.
At the moment, I'm thinking the best I can do is (as Blake put it yesterday) go to Church more, pray more, serve those around me more, and get much more forceful in my opposition to the culture of death and destruction, especially the evil of SSM.
May '10
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
Richard
The GOP does need to shift in certain areas, emphasizing certain elements of Conservatism a little more. They also need to run Marco Rubio in 2016 and hope he can alter the electorate like Reagan did.
I'd like a Jindal/Rubio or Walker/Rubio ticket. We need an experience red state governor at the top.
May '10
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
Richard, the reason I don't believe it was the economy is that I don't believe anyone who paid the least attention to the respective plans and qualifications of the two candidates could conclude that Obama was the better bet. "It's Bush's fault" was the lie the fanatical left used to pretend they cared about the economy. They don't.
Jun '10
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
A virtual community is a real community. It's built on relationships like any other. It's just not limited by geography. It will eventually manifest in material form as a network of trading relationships. But by all means go to church and pray. Even if society turns its back on God, He will not turn his back on us.
Aug '12
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
I would largely agree with the proposition that both the messenger and the message matter, and only emphasize the point that timidity on social issues is not a winning strategy. Romney/Ryan didn't emphasize their positions on social issues, and the RNC played "shoot the wounded" with Akin and Mourdock (sp?) instead of helping them recover from their gaffes, as the Democrats do. Bright spots? Ted Cruz. We expanded our hold of the House.
Mar '11
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
katievs
Richard
The GOP does need to shift in certain areas, emphasizing certain elements of Conservatism a little more. They also need to run Marco Rubio in 2016 and hope he can alter the electorate like Reagan did.
I'd like a Jindal/Rubio or Walker/Rubio ticket. We need an experience red state governor at the top. · 12 minutes ago
Would strongly support either of those tickets.
Jun '12
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
ctruppi: This Katie, is the thing that most hurts me the most about where America is headed. No one argues that unemployment, poverty and welfare aren't bad, yet they voted for Obamafor selfish reasons. Remember, even if 15% of Americans are unemployed/underemployed, that means 85% are employed! They see the suffering all around them and still vote for the guy responsible for selfish reasons. Young people can't get work after colloege, yet they still vote for the guy responsible for selfish reasons (gay rights, free contraceptives, etc).
I'm not the most religious guy, but this harkens to a loss of our collective soul. Shame on us! · 37 minutes ago
It is not bad enough. No one is really hungry and cold yet and the shelves in the stores are not empty yet.
May '12
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
katievs
Yes, that's what I mean. We were too passive, and now the tide has turned. Soc cons like me will be convinced that it's better to lose elections fighting for right than to lose elections accommodating evil and wrong.
The legalization of SSM, like the legalization of abortion, will do much greater harm, longer term than any single election.
More importantly, we'll be convinced that the real fight is on the level of culture, not politics. And we'll be gearing up for persecution. ·
I still think running on social issues is a loser n most of the country. Abortion is not something that anyone elected can do much about besides appoint judges who won't say what they would do on the matter. And I think you have a losing argument on SSM. Which is not in any way as damaging as abortion is, saying so strikes me as ridiculous.
If you believe that abortion involves the taking of a human life, how can you compare that to government recognition of gay marriage? It's silly.
Mar '11
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
Richard
Crow's Nest
- A number of moderate Republican candidates lost in big races. George Allen, Tommy Thompson, Scott Brown, Connie Mack. If they cannot win these races, they are of no use to us.
- Some socially conservative candidates who were lousy candidates also got destroyed in big races: Akin in MO. It's not only the message: the messenger matters, now more than ever. · 6 minutes ago
I think most of those losses have little to do with where on the Conservative spectrum the candidates stood. We all care about ideology know it is important when it comes to governing and like to think it is important for everything else, but it is actually a bit overrated when it comes to winning elective office.
I don't totally disagree--in all of these races there were unforced errors or sloppy campaigns. As I said, the messenger matters.
But so does the message, and we're going to have to retool to convince our neighbors. We're no longer the "default setting".
We've got to get serious about cultivating candidates who can defend their positions cogently and thoroughly in public, who are persuasive, principled and convincing.
Apr '11
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
Another bright spot. Keith Rothfus beat the avatar of John Murtha in western PA's 12th district.
Edited on November 7, 2012 at 4:18pmAug '10
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
katievs:
Turns out that social issues trump economic issues for the left. They don't care if the economy is in the toilet.
I know where you're coming from, but don't forget that a lot of people voted for FDR because the economy was in the toilet.
In retrospect, FDR's policies prolonged the Great Depression, but FDR's rhetoric was that you can take sides in an economy, and he was on the side of the little guy. FDR's massive government projects also gave many people the comfort of feeling "we're all in this together" during economically tough times. Obama knows these things.
A lot of Obama voters I know are convinced that the only way the little guy can be protected from the ravages of Wall Street and Big Business is by giving the government more control over the economy, not less. They're not well-schooled in the logic of unintended consequences; they don't sense that government can only overpower Big Business by becoming the Biggest Business of them all. And they really did see Mitt Romney as a plutocrat who doesn't know how to care for the little guy.
Edited on November 7, 2012 at 5:17pmApr '11
Re: It's Not the Economy After All, Is It?
The Tea Party has the right model for the Republican Party. The Tea Party is a big tent coalition of social conservatives and libertarians. The split is about 50/50.
But, the Tea Party avoids social issues. It's about reducing government spending and limiting government powers. that's what the GOP should do, too.