NYT Editorial - The GOP, A Tent Divided

11/15/2005

OK, I’ll bite.  Here’s my formula for taking advantage of the situation.

First and foremost, the Democratic Party must become the party of Peace and a responsible, realist, non-interventionist foreign policy.  We must articulate the message, “Never again!” There must never again be a Vietnam, a Gulf War II or even a Gulf War I with its ensuing sanctions. There are vast numbers of libertarian, federalist and traditional conservative Republicans who are ripe for such a message.  Take a look out at
http://antiwar.com/
http://www.antiwarleague.com/ or
http://www.lewrockwell.com/

Democrats need to understand that imperialism/militarism is the paramount issue of our times.  Most grass-roots Democrats know our imperialism and militarism is not just morally wrong, but bankrupting us as well.  The libertarians and conservatives who dominate the above three websites understand and agree with both these objections, but it’s the fiscal problems that obviate the differences that loom on other issues.  As long as we are spending over $400 billion/yr on the military, we will be unable to afford health care or education whether we fund it privately or publicly.  After we rein in the military and foreign policy establishments, we’ll be able to fund our real needs whether privately or through government.

Once Democrats have welcomed these fair-minded libertarians, conservatives and moderate Republicans into the Party, we can begin a dialogue from which all can learn.  Perhaps Democrats can teach libertarians that limited liability corporations are created by the State, and if they are not to be abolished then at least they should be regulated along with their securities.  Maybe through this dialogue Democrats can even convince some conservatives that publicly owned natural monopolies are really not inherently worse than privately owned ones.  Perhaps libertarians can clue Democrats in to the onerous effects licensing, zoning and other regulations have on small businesses, small- and micro-cap corporations, and how these regulations drive small business out in favor of large corporations and franchising.

Here are some specific areas where I think Democrats can make common cause with fair-minded libertarians, conservatives and moderate (former) Republicans:

o Swift withdrawal from Iraq.
o Prohibit deployment or make it easier for governors to refuse deployment of our National Guard overseas.
o Require upgraded equipment if Guardsmen are forced to deploy overseas.
o Authorize DU testing of returned Guardsmen at Pentagon expense
o Large cuts to military spending.  Close many foreign bases. They are a prime reason for our trade deficit.
o A non-interventionist foreign policy will reduce “blowback”, including terrorism.
o Withold aid to Israel until it deals fairly with Palestinians by either 1) withdrawing to pre-1967 borders or 2) granting Israeli citizenship and voting rights to all residents of the occupied territories.  Israel’s choice.
o Abolish the Federal Department of Education and repeal NCLB. Conservatives have wanted to abolish the Department of Education for a long time.  With No-Child-Left-Unrecruited, I think liberals may now see the wisdom of this.
o Get money out of politics.
o Promote Constitutional Amendments to reduce the power of the Federal government, especially the executive and judiciary, and to allow more than two political parties.  Prohibit Federal blackmail through witholding of funds.  Streamline impeachment/recall of both executive and judiciary.

-Bill Rood