Where's the Party for Me?

The other day I posted a link on my facebook page to an article calling for an American Capitalist Party. Within the last week, during a political conversation, I was once again called a RINO, (Republican in name only). This comment came in a conversation about abortion. Being pro-choice on abortion and very moderate on most other social issues championed by many in the Republican Party, I and many others, have been marginalized in my party activities. I believe there is a very "Republican", limited government argument in favor of abortion rights. I've never felt that government as the "morals" nanny was any better than government as the "economic" nanny, but that will be left for another blog. Over the last several years I've felt that if a 3rd major political party appeared on the scene in the US, it would be a split in the Republican Party between what I have called the "traditional" Republicans and the social conservatives. The social issues have never been the "holy grail" of politics for what I call the "traditional" Republicans. Their major concern has been the economics of government. Some of those "traditional" Republicans agree with the social conservatives, some do not. In any event over the last several years most of the Republicans, at least in elective office, seem to have gotten away from the economic conservative aspects which draws me that direction.

Although there are signs that the Republicans are moving back to the core values of fiscal conservatism which they seem to have abandoned over the last several years, it may be too little too late. None of the current political parties seem to stand for those values that I find important. I know over long years of my political involvement there are lots of people that agree with me on basic points of what I am viewing as needed in a new political party.

While I certainly am borrowing part of these values from the American Capitalist party article, I am adding some more of what I feel needs to be there.

On the economic front the government should be very limited. Both individual and corporate taxes should be low. There should be effective support of the infrastructure in order to promote economic growth. There should be a strong belief in and support of the freedom and meritocracy that has been the foundation of what makes this country great. There should be a recognition that the government may be called on for situational help when things get bad, but such help should never be institutionalized.

On foreign affairs and military issues, there needs to be a strong support for the military and for providing the military with the appropriate tools and weapons in the event their services are necessary. There needs to be a recognition and willingness to utilize that military power when necessary because we live in a dangerous world with lots of bad actors that would like to see nothing better than our destruction. We need to be engaged and work with other governments around the world on these issues, but recognize that to protect our interests we will act on our own if necessary. There needs to be a recognition that while not the first choice, military force is the only way to solve some situations. The military needs to be equipped and supported to fully do whatever job is needed, with the hope they aren't needed. Basically the old philosophy of Theodore Roosevelt should be in play, "Speak softly, but carry a big stick." The US must act to protect our interests no matter what.

The final issues are the "social" issues like abortion and gay rights. I've never quite understood how many of the people who contend, rightfully so, that the government fails miserably when meddling in economic matters are more than willing to let that same government meddle in private matters. Some of the same people that are arguing in the current health care debate that the government shouldn't come between a patient and doctor turn around and argue that same government should step in and regulate what happens between a woman and her doctor if she is considering an abortion. Unfortunately through the years, the 10th Amendment which reserves rights to the people not specifically enumerated to the government has been largely ignored. I believe that amendment provides a strong foundation for basic privacy rights. Similarly with gay marriage, the same people that don't trust the government on most things want them to step in and actively discriminate against a certain class of people. Not only do they advocate discrimination by the government, they want to enshrine that discrimination in law. Basically, if the government is going to be in the business of advocating marriage, through the passage of tax laws, inheritance laws and custody laws, etc., they shouldn't be in the business of denying those benefits to certain classes of people who would otherwise qualify.

Currently, the Democrats fail miserably on the economic and foreign policy/military aspects. The Republicans fail miserably on the social issues and for the last several years on the economic issues. The Libertarians, at least recently have failed on the foreign/policy aspects. They also fail with the lack of support of infrastructure and education that I find important.

So where does a anti-tax and spend, pro-choice, pro-gay rights, pro-national defense person go for a political party? Certainly none of the parties that exist now fit that bill. It seems like every choice I am having to make forces me to compromise on a major factor that I consider important. Maybe, just maybe one of the existing parties will evolve into something I'm looking for, or a new party will develop. I'm hoping so.