Earth to GOP: start talking about real solutions
The media, and the Republicans, have been gleefully obsessed with self-flagellation. If the GOP is going to regain respect, it has to have distinctive answers to the big problems of the day. Here are some examples.
Is Colin Powell still a Republican? Is Rush the leader of the GOP? Are the Democrats really socialists? Is Michael Steele an embarrassment or a courageous leader? Should the Party become more “moderate” or more “conservative?” Dick Cheney. Newt Gingrich. Karl Rove. Sarah Palin. On and on and on.
The mainstream media are gleefully obsessed with the future of the GOP, while Republican talking heads continue the navel gazing and self-flagellation. Enough already. No one in the real world cares. Really.
Real live American voters couldn’t care less whether the Republican Party lives or dies. They don’t care about some banal argument between Colin Powell and Rush Limbaugh. Words like “conservative,” “liberal,” “moderate,” “capitalism,” and “socialism” don’t concern them.
What voters are worried about is finding and keeping a job. They are worried that they can’t afford to go to the doctor because the deductible on their health insurance plan is prohibitively high, and that they have lost half their retirement and all the equity in their house. They don’t think about Iran or climate change every day, but they know those are both real concerns.
Eventually President Obama’s popularity will recede, and the natural pendulum of politics will swing back towards the party out of power. But for Republicans to once again become the nation’s governing party they have got to stop talking about themselves and start offering specific solutions to real problems.
Republicans love to talk about their past. Good. In this case they need to emulate their two most successful change agents: Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich. Both the 1980 and 1994 Republican landslides were driven by leaders who offered specifics. Reagan built his campaign on a short list of specific proposals, while Gingrich united the entire Republican team around his Contract With America. Today’s GOP congressional leadership needs to do exactly the same thing.
It appears that Republicans are beginning that process. They offered an alternative budget proposal that included some interesting elements on entitlement reform, and they have launched the classic “listening tour,” through something called the National Council for a New America. What the Republicans haven’t done yet is to unite behind a few key specific proposals, and make it unmistakably clear to voters that these proposals are their alternative to what is being offered by Obama and the Democrats. Getting that done won’t be easy.
Getting a group of politicians to agree on specific policy is never easy or painless. If you accomplish that, then you need to drown out all the competing voices who seek to define the Republican Party and cut through with a clear message to voters. Not easy, but it must be done.
In terms of substance, Republicans must focus on the core issues: spending and entitlement reform, health care, energy and the environment, national security. Let me offer some suggestions where to start.
Spending is out of control. Deficits are doubling and tripling. Our economy is surviving on credit, and our entitlement programs are generational ponzi schemes that would make Bernie Madoff blush. Yes, earmark pork is bad and Republicans need to really be against it; but the real money and the real crisis is in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Medicare will be broke in nine years, and Social Security isn't far behind. There are only two choices: raise taxes or reduce spending. Republicans must reject higher taxes and instead offer specific plans to bring spending in line with revenue, while preserving the safety net for those who need it.
The future of health care is tied to this debate. Democrats are moving towards higher taxes, and a system of government rationing to control costs. Republicans must offer an alternative package that reduces costs to both employers and insurance companies, making health insurance more affordable and preserving our private sector-based system. Reduce paperwork, regulation, and overhead.
Another component in health care is the need to reform the tort liability system. Encourage businesses to band together to offer coverage. And most importantly, remove the mandated coverage requirements that make it impossible for health insurance carriers to offer low cost plans to healthy young workers – the segment of our population who make up the bulk of the uninsured. Rather than the health care revolution the Democrats propose, Republicans need to advocate for targeted reforms that lower costs while preserving the best parts of our current system.
Similarly, Republicans need to have an alternative to the radical ideas the Democrats have on energy and the environment. Americans are undeniably concerned about pollution, global warming, and the cost of energy. But the Democrats’ answer, a massive tax increase called cap and trade, is a political non-starter. Republicans need to do more than chant, “drill baby drill!” They need to put together a comprehensive plan that uses technology, like hybrid cars, and carbon capture at power plants to protect the climate, while at the same time increasing the use American and Canadian oil, coal, nuclear, wind, and solar power. Americans want to protect the planet without destroying their quality of life. Republicans need to show how that can be done.
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Comments:
Posted Thu, May 28, 7:46 a.m. inappropriate
I read that Medicare actually ran a deficit in 2008, and I guess paid for it by drawing down the so-called trust fund. You're right: the Ponzi schemes Congress has in place far dwarf anything Madoff or anyone else has done. The approach of Congress seems to be the same as the person falling off a 100 story building: at the 40th floor he shouted "so far so good."
Here's the article about the deficit in Medicare:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124212734686110365.html
The Medicare fund for hospital care will be depleted in 2017, two years earlier than government actuaries estimated a year ago. Last year marked the first time that Medicare ran a deficit, paying out more in benefits than it generates from taxes and other revenue.
Posted Thu, May 28, 9:17 a.m. inappropriate
Many of the "priorities" you list are in fact intractable problems stretching back 30, 40, and 50 years--a game of generational kick the can. Neither Reagan, nor Newt managed to address these issues; instead opting for the spectacle, chasing shadows, and pitching snake-oil. You, on the other hand, are like a xerox copy of water colors; not an original--merely a poor facsimile lacking depth.
Debt has already spun out of control. We opt to ignore it. The first indication was the moment we began financing operations. Debt--in the collective sense--is set to explode. The very nature of it is to shift costs into the future. The compounded future is here. Obama blames Bush for trillion dollar deficits; his predecessor will put him on the hook for 2, 3 or ever 4 trillion; Who's going to pay it? Certainly not Obama's cabinet members based on past behavior--namely, tax returns.
Posted Thu, May 28, 9:39 a.m. inappropriate
Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security . . . it always seems to come down to these things for Republicans. These are popular programs that will never be done away with. These things are not the problem. Finding reliable funding for them is the problem. Reducing spending elsewhere in the budget is not the same thing as funding these popular programs. The GOP needs to find a way to FUND these popular and necessary programs, not to "cut spending." Talk about DOING something rather than STOPPING doing something.
The American people do not want employer-based health insurance any more. Poll after poll supports this. Employers don't want it any more either because of the costs to them--administrative costs alone are ridiculous. It's a big part of what has driven GM to bankruptcy. We all are recognizing how stupid an insurance system is that is based on employment. The minute you lose your job, switch jobs, or become self-employed, you lose your insurance--and we know from COBRA that the costs are outrageous. Self-employed people have very few options, to boot. Americans (and American employers) want universal health care that is portable and not tied to a particular job. This is the business-savvy way to do health insurance, as it is both economical and efficient and it puts responsibility into the consumer's hands directly. The GOP needs to find a way to PROMOTE universal health care as a business-friendly solution to our problems as a nation. Spreading the risk maximally and having EVERYONE covered is the only sensible and business-friendly solution to this. Ask any conservative in any other industrialized country.
Incidentally, Republicans ought to spend way more time outside of the United States in Canada, Japan, Germany, and Norway to see how universal health care works in those places. Don't just read about them; go and see first-hand. Ideally, live for a spell in those countries and experience universal health care yourself: covered preventative care, no bills or invoices to deal with, doctors focused on patients and not on the bottom line. Once you go universal health care, you don't willingly go back
As far as the deficit goes, if the Republicans are authentically interested in cutting wasteful spending, they will not look at Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, or universal health care first. It will look at these things very last and cut everything else first. I won't hold my breath for Republicans to get up to speed with conservatives in other industrialized countries, because that will be a long time . . .
Posted Thu, May 28, 12:36 p.m. inappropriate
Rather than burning mental energy trying to solve tough problems and fighting the administration's and congressional Democrat's "radical ideas", there is a much easier way as pointed out by the Republican Party's leading spokesperson. Sit back and bet on failure. As Rush said: "I hope he (referring to Obama) fails." Then Republicans can claim victory, and go for a comeback in an election or two or three.
Posted Fri, May 29, 5:46 a.m. inappropriate
No political force in this country has any chance of doing right by the American people until they can get the corporate monkeys out of the machine room. Government spending outflows to corporations, through defense spending, through "bailouts", through a vast array of contracting and outright cash payments, will continue unabated as they have since 1980.
The public may or may not once again be fooled into believing the Republican spin about smaller government, reduced spending etc. They may or may not continue to believe in the Democratic lies about having your corporate welfare and not paying for it too.
Regardless of what political brand the voting public chooses, the trillions of dollars currently lost on corporate handouts must be dealt with before the government's financial house is put back in order. If the Republicans want to be hired again, they might consider putting some honesty into their resume on that particular issue.
Posted Fri, May 29, 9:04 a.m. inappropriate
Agree with dn, Republicans have developed a culture of failure.
For example, note the idea that to address global warming, Republicans should "put together a comprehensive plan that uses technology, like hybrid cars". If they can't deny the problem, they want to hand out corporate welfare while pretending to care.
Of course, cap and trade IS the comprehensive plan that will drive an unlimited variety of technological improvements.
Posted Fri, May 29, 10:39 a.m. inappropriate
Both wings have their false issue distractions. For the left it is "corporate welfare."
We have decided to pay for everyone's retirement, and everyone's health care if they are over 65, but we haven't decided whether or not to raise taxes high enough to actually cover the costs. We either raise taxes or reform entitlements. That is the real debate this country needs to have, but no one in either party has the courage to tell America the truth.
Posted Fri, May 29, 2:46 p.m. inappropriate
If corporate welfare is a false issue distraction then it is at least a $7.7 trillion false issue distraction, for that is the amount paid or pledged to bail out for-profit corporations to rescue the financial system. In virtually all of these cases, insured depositors were never at risk -- the full losses could have been borne by unsecured creditors.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=an3k2rZMNgDw&pid;=20601109
Also, if you believe "no one in either party has the courage to tell America the truth" that we must raise taxes or reform entitlements, then why be committed to the Republican party, which consistently promotes CUTTING taxes as a prime pillar in its platform? We Democrats welcome you if you want to switch over.
I think "raise taxes or reform entitlements" is a false dichotomy. In addition to the financial bailouts, consider the huge cost of needless and criminal wars, the G.W. Bush Medicare changes which are prime examples of corporate welfare in themselves, etc.
And, I will tell America the truth as many progressives are doing: we should raise taxes.
Posted Fri, May 29, 2:53 p.m. inappropriate
If we took all the funds currently spent on provision of medical services to people -- Health Care for the insured and Illness Care for the uninsured -- and devoted it to Health Care for All, wouldn't existing spending be enough?
By this I mean, divert all the funds now sucked up by middlemen (e.g. the insurance industry) and devote it to Health Care. If we did something like this, why would we have to also infuse great volumes of additional revenue? You know, the bases for all the fear cries about "Higher Taxes!" and "Bigger Deficits!"?
Posted Mon, Jun 1, 12:13 p.m. inappropriate
The number is 30%. 30% of every medical care dollar goes to the administrative costs of supporting the insurance industry. This doesn't include the costs system incurs by making sure that the federal government handles ONLY the those populations that utilize health care the most: the elderly, the poor and veterans (Medicare, Medicaid and the V.A.). Let's balance things out a bit. Who among you thinks you're getting better healthcare by spending TWICE as much (16% of gdp) as the nearest competitor (Switzerland) who spends 8% of gdp. And we don't even cover everyone. I'm for cutting the insurance companies loose. I can't afford them anymore...
Posted Fri, Jun 5, 11:10 a.m. inappropriate
Americans want freedom of choice, not mandates. That includes the choice of health care, of the vehicles we drive, and of the food we eat. I personally don't want health insurance because I have the assets to pay for it. Americans want energy independences which means from ALL viable sources. That includes drilling for our own oil. America sits on over $40 TRILLION in assets mostly put off limits by Congress. Most Americans want our country to survive and prosper, and not collapse through unfulfilled and overburdening government promises as seems to be the current direction. Most Americans want smaller and less intrusive government. Most Americans want our representatives to be honest and actually read what they vote on. Want to lower education costs, while improving course availability and performance? - dramatically expand blended online public education. Harvard says half of all high school students will get some or all their education online by 2019. My boys have first hand experience with this - it works great! Want to reduce the influence of oil funded tyrants? and want a better foreign policy? Then we MUST become energy independent. For those who claim we are in the Middle East to protect the oil, nothing will change the dynamics more than not needing their oil. Want a better direction? Vote out the scoundrels in local, state, and federal offices, starting in 2009, and put into place honest people who think of their constituents before themselves.