So-called solutions to the housing issue have spawned some heated debate on our pages. I’m not weighing in on that here. What I am doing is using it to talk about a different problem. Republicans are getting mad at people who expect them to adhere more closely to traditional Republican principles.
To be clear, I understand. Sometimes, there has to be room for compromise to get points on the board. The 24-week abortion ban is probably the most mainstream example. It mirrors not only what most Americans think is sensible but most of the world, but some who oppose abortion see it as a failure to adhere to principles. I object to abortion with few rare exceptions, but I accept that given where we are, the 24-week ban is a huge improvement. It might be the best we can do, given where we are at this time. but abortion isn’t the only place where moving the ball even a little bit would be a win.
Low taxes, small government, limited regulatory interference, protecting individual rights, healthcare freedom, the second amendment, election integrity, border security (even at the state level if you are a border state), equal justice under the law (as written, not as imagined), all need to advance toward liberty. And yes, there are a lot of moving political parts, too many, and not everyone will understand the what for and whys which is as much or more a problem than having to listen to someone explain them.
It’s not supposed to be this complicated, but boiled down to its core, supporters of Republican candidates whom they thought would fight for traditional Republican principles feel like you’ve cheated on them when you do or say something that contradicts those principles. Given that the relationship is at least ideologically close, the failure feels like a betrayal, more so now that we feel like we’re losing from all sides.
Elected officials who get mad about that need to understand as much as constituents that while you are not married, it feels like you’re being asked to thank someone for cheating on you. No, it is not the same, but the sense of it is, and the response to that is often not much different.
Our Policy – What of It There Is
We’ve always had a bi-partisan thank them or spank them policy here, so yes, we do, on occasion – contrary to good advice – show politicians some appreciation for doing the right thing, but political pain is always the better motivator. It also leads to some very interesting conversations. And no, it doesn’t always improve the general character of the offending official, but free speech is a political thing, and when our political “spouse” appears to cheat on the principles, we don’t necessarily have anywhere else to go.
Becoming an independent doesn’t fix it. Someone running for office is the only cure. Replacing leadership. Developing new donors who are not paying to move Oveton’s window further left. That journey and the conflict are never going to be easy. People are going to say things, and not everyone is going to agree.
We do need to agree that the Democrats will always be worse and then agree to do our best until we can do better. Agree to disagree and that it doesn’t have to end in divorce.
And then find a way to do better even if it is just a little better than yesterday.
Note: This is another one of those posts that started out in my head going one way and ended somewhere else. Rather than wrestle it into submission, if that were even possible, I’ve published it as is.
The post So, When They “Cheat on You,” You’re Supposed to Say, Thank You appeared first on Granite Grok.
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Author: Steve MacDonald
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