Now that the Republicans have once again been shown that
their current right-wing religious extremism can’t win national elections, even
against a vulnerable opponent, what prescription would a political doctor
prescribe for them to cure the problem?
Here is my prescription:
- Drop the contentious religiously-motivated social issues like abortion and gay rights entirely. Believe what you will, and practice what you believe, but stop trying to force your own beliefs on the rest of the country. An increasing majority of the country doesn’t agree with you, so continuing to push these issues is just alienating the voters you need. If you can’t compromise on these issues, then at least keep quiet about them.
- Drop your inflexible opposition to tax increases. There is no way out of our current deficit situation without raising taxes. Instead push for spending cuts to go along with any tax increases, and try to get as high a ratio of cuts to tax increases as possible, at least $2 in cuts for every $1 in tax increases and more if possible.
- Learn to compromise again. Republicans used to know how to compromise; how to work across the aisle. That is the only way democratic politics works. Give a little to get a little. Be willing to settle for half a loaf rather than nothing. This no-compromise absolutist stand the party has adopted in recent years is just hurting all our futures, and the party’s future in particular, and gaining you almost none of the things you really want.
- Get real about immigration. America needs immigrants. It is immigrants that are helping us avoid the demographic aging that is decimating other countries. It is bright, innovative immigrants that are fueling the innovation and entrepreneurship that makes America the dominant economy in the world. It is just plain dumb to let the world’s best and brightest get their higher education in American universities, and then force them to leave the country. Besides, your stand is alienating the Latino and Asian vote, which is becoming an ever larger share of the population.
- Get real about climate change. It is by now obvious to most people that the climate is changing. Continuing to deny it just makes you look ignorant and stupid. There are reasonable disagreements about just how much humans are contributing to this change, and about what the most effective response would be, but to continue to deny the problem even exists is counterproductive.
- Get real about reducing the federal deficit and debt. People are worried about this. Republicans are supposed to be the fiscally conservative and fiscally responsible party, and you talk about it lot on the campaign trail, but in fact the last time you held the presidency you made the problem worse, not better. You are losing credibility on this issue, when it should be one of your strongest positions.
- Pay attention to demographics. You can’t win national elections with just older white working class male voters and the issues they care about. The demographics of the nation – age, ethnicity, educational level – are changing, and you need to adjust your positions on issues to account for that. You can only win national office if you adequately represent the issues and position of the majority of the nation.
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