The GOP's Forgotten Pledge
There is no idea more integral to Republican success in 2012 than “addition by subtraction.” This is the fundamental concept that prosperity can come from restraining state action – that by having a government that spends less and acts less, we as a nation can in fact achieve more. This pitch certainly isn’t new – many, like Milton Friedman, have made it their life’s work. Unfortunately, however, this idea seems to have largely fallen on deaf ears. As one looks over the trajectory of government over the last fifty years, conservatives seem to largely resemble the futility of Prometheus than the success of true reformers.
This story is very much still true today. The left has drawn the same battle lines. We have seen Paul Ryan pushing grandma off the cliff and fiscally conscious governors, like Walker, Christie or Cuomo, quickly demonized all under the shallow explanation of conservative greed and brashness.
The left’s success is simple. It hinges on basic intuition – problems can be solved with increased attention and funding. Conservatives cautioning against the breadth of unforeseen consequences from state action are too frequently dampened by the appeal of seemingly “free” government programs and services.
“Addition by subtraction” is a principle – one that could be internalized through an intellectual domino effect if the original impetus was tenable enough. The primary duty of whoever gets the GOP’s 2012 nod is discovering where that force lies. I fear that purely fiscal issues, entrenched in the rhetorical swamplands surrounding the debt crisis and entitlement reform, will fail to do this. Americans will be tired out and uninspired after over two years of debate. It seems to me that conservatives need to look to an old plank to accomplish this goal – abolish the Department of Education.
Polls show that Americans consistently respond positively when politicians discuss education. And for good reason – it is an issue essential to both our national vitality and prosperity. Nevertheless, despite its regular attention, it is a dismal failure. It costs us currently three times as much to educate each American student as it did in 1970 and we are producing the same results. Our educational system’s stasis of accomplishment should be the GOP’s primary domestic pillar in 2012, in which both the principles of small government and the preservation of our future can be salvaged.
The failure of our education system can easily be linked to President Obama if Republicans simply bring to light his intimate connection to national teachers unions, the single greatest detriment to our ability to educate. If President Obama is pictured as the status quo of education – that is centralized management of what should be purely state issues – the GOP will become the newly embraced force of hope and change.
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Apr '11
Re: The GOP's Forgotten Pledge
I haven't heard of Cuomo being demonized. You know you're really in trouble when the liberals start going after reformist guys in their own party.
Harry Graver, Intern:
This story is very much still true today. The left has drawn the same battle lines. We have seen Paul Ryan pushing grandma off the cliff and fiscally conscious governors, like Walker, Christie or Cuomo, quickly demonized all under the shallow explanation of conservative greed and brashness.
Jul '10
Re: The GOP's Forgotten Pledge
"Education" is but one issue.
If You want to rouse real Americans, You discuss Freedom. Abolishing the Department of Education falls under that subject.
Oct '10
Re: The GOP's Forgotten Pledge
Harry Graver, Intern:
The failure of our education system can easily be linked to President Obama if Republicans simply bring to light his intimate connection to national teachers unions, the single greatest detriment to our ability to educate. If President Obama is pictured as the status quo of education – that is centralized management of what should be purely state issues – the GOP will become the newly embraced force of hope and change. ·
I agree with you sir. Put Obama on the defensive.
Edited on Jun 5, 2011 at 12:44amAug '10
Re: The GOP's Forgotten Pledge
Hmmm Education. It seems that I debunked the President on this very same topic, here.
You cannot buy good test scores, the data is clear on that subject. The best you can do is change the methods by which education is done, meaning infrastructure, personnel, and funding. Everything that is a human endeavor can be reduced to the concepts of people, money and stuff. My conversation shows that money is not the problem, therefore we have to fix the people and stuff portions.
Jun '10
Re: The GOP's Forgotten Pledge
The Dept. of Education is a good first -- and necessary -- step, but the real problem is the unions. The DOE is a symptom, really.
The National Labor Relations laws must be repealed and replaced. There should be no laws allowed that take power away from companies and give it to the most scummy, anti-American, anti-liberty crowd in history. Unions didn't have to be un-American -- they became un-American because the cretins who started this movement were rewarded with power taken from one legitimate entity (companies) and given to bullies who were threatening violence to get it. How can we say millions for defense but not one penny for tribute in foreign policy and not also similarly protect against our internal enemies.
This is an old problem that is at the center of most of America's fiscal troubles. I know this is tilting at windmills but the sordid history of unions in this country must not be papered over. Simple experiment: make the case against the legitimacy of the NLRB and associated laws to a union thug and watch how quickly the conversation turns to talk (or threats) of violence.
Repeal and Replace the NLRA.
Nov '10
Re: The GOP's Forgotten Pledge
Harry Graver, Intern:
The failure of our education system can easily be linked to President Obama if Republicans simply bring to light his intimate connection to national teachers unions, the single greatest detriment to our ability to educate. If President Obama is pictured as the status quo of education – that is centralized management of what should be purely state issues – the GOP will become the newly embraced force of hope and change.
The failure of the system is linked primarily to the failure of parents to indoctrinate their children that education, homework, GPA and respect for teachers are the important issues of the day. Teachers unions have been allowed to run wild because private citizens have not been enforcing their civic responsibilities.
BTW, why is such a nice young Manhattanite a Cubs fan? :-)
May '11
Re: The GOP's Forgotten Pledge
The easiest way to beat Obama in the next election is to constantly, loudly, forcefully remind everyone of the REAL unemployment figures. 9.1% my eye! How about counting everyone that wants to be working? How about counting everyone that SHOULD be working? Everyone knows the unemployment rate is way higher that the govt says it is. Publish the real number and watch the fireworks.
Jun '10
Re: The GOP's Forgotten Pledge
Elizabeth Dunn ...
The failure of the system is linked primarily to the failure of parents to indoctrinate their children that education, homework, GPA and respect for teachers are the important issues of the day. Teachers unions have been allowed to run wild because private citizens have not been enforcing their civic responsibilities.
...
I think you are wrong about the parents direct influence that is causing the problem. Indirectly, because they don't get their children out of these failing systems -- maybe more culpability.
I've read of Maria Montessori teaching the street urchins of Rome to be top scholars. This country has a long history of using the education to lift children from the squalor of their families. Now it is using those children for their own ends. Children are 3rd on the list of priorities for the teachers and their evil unions. These unions are in cahoots with people like Obama and Bill Ayers and other anti-Americans. They mean us harm and they are each day going about it -- they lie, they demean the parents, they brain wash the very most important asset that any country has or will ever have, our children. Our children are their pawns.
Nov '10
Re: The GOP's Forgotten Pledge
Larry Koler
Elizabeth Dunn ...
The failure of the system is linked primarily to the failure of parents to indoctrinate their children that education, homework, GPA and respect for teachers are the important issues of the day. Teachers unions have been allowed to run wild because private citizens have not been enforcing their civic responsibilities.
I think you are wrong about the parents direct influence that is causing the problem. Indirectly, because they don't get their children out of these failing systems -- maybe more culpability.
Larry, sorry for the late response, because I enjoy and look forward to reading your comments.
On this subject, we may have to agree to disagree. I think a lot of public school systems fail because teachers are forced to act as national guardsmen/parole officers and the emphasis is placed upon security, not learning. Too many parents send children to school to simply "take them off the streets."
My parents made it perfectly clear from the beginning (nursery school) that teachers were always right and that any rebellious behavior would only compromise my mastery of the RRRs.
Radical thought, that!
Jun '10
Re: The GOP's Forgotten Pledge
Elizabeth: We probably don't disagree that much. I do consider the parents to be part of the problem but good school systems wouldn't be as affected by that as they are by the unions and the loss of common sense in running schools.
These simple memes have absolutely destroyed any chance of having good schools: 1) passing children to the next grade whether they have learned their lessons or not -- this. is. criminal. ; 2) forcing schools to keep kids who are disruptive and/or who don't want to learn -- never used to happen and it is destructive of respect for teachers; 3) second guessing principals -- principals should have the bulk of decision making and the responsibility for those decisions and they should be strongly backed by the administration; 4) the unions have forced good teachers out and kept the sheep -- you think that the teachers have fought any of these things? or the items that you mention? 5) change of teacher ethics such that politics intrudes into the classroom or worse yet, outright political indoctrination.
Nov '10
Re: The GOP's Forgotten Pledge
LK: good points, all...
Where is the PTA when you need them?
Jun '10
Re: The GOP's Forgotten Pledge
Elizabeth: The PTA is an auxiliary operation. The teachers want help in doing their stupid things. The unions and the administration don't ask for help from the parents in planning the main strategy (what do parents know?) -- they fight them. Unfortunately, the unions don't ask for much help from the teachers either -- they are too busy getting missives from Bill Ayers and the state and federal busybodies. The orientation is away from kids and towards bureaucrats and the new idea of the month. It is a downward spiral. Their ideas always seem to generate more jobs in the bureaucracy.
Another worrying thing is the consolidation of school systems into fewer and larger units. This is done to make the administration easier not to make the schools better. They think that it's an efficiency issue -- get fewer levels from the idea people to the children. They will never admit (they can't) that the idea people are the problem.