A Massachusetts Republican

Issue #44

Last Update March 2, 2006

National A Massachusetts Republican by Todd Gillenwater Following is the review and commentary related to Governor Schwarzenegger's (R - CA) address to the the RNC. I'm sure the addressed audience will take savage exception to any conciliatory thoughts, but such is what defines a republic.

An extremely well written and delivered presentation. With the exception of the "Nixon" lull and uncomfortable moment a third of the way in, it was a powerful speech.

Personable, interesting, inspirational - a finely delivered speech.

A masterfully delivered list of "You might be a Republican, if....". The semi-interesting (well, not to others) observation is I tend to agree with most of the points. Not the glitz. Not the delivery. Not the seductive pomp and circumstance.

The troubling dichotomy that is Me:

I'm a social liberal, but an "organizational" and philosophical conservative. I'm what used to be classically be defined as a Republican, before that became mean spirited, dishonest, exclusionary, and corrupt.

I'm a firm believer that local people understand and, given sufficient resources, can solve local problems. I honestly believe that each and every individual should be given a fair opportunity, and if that requires that the more affluent help bootstrap the less affluent - the common good is served.

How would a Washington program that takes years to implement or redirect be better able to run my local school district than I? Except of course, its ability to fund.

But now we need to address the "given sufficient resources" point of my quandry.

Schools go unfunded. Vital social programs go unfunded. A massively centralized national government is misdirecting resources. Socially exclusive, restrictive, and elitist programs gain purchase at the expense of clear, locally obvious agendas.

I'm Classically Republican - not of the party "Republican", but an advocate of the Republic form of government - a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them - first on local levels, then a collection of local entities into a state body,...and then into a collection of states into a federal government - A Republic. The Jeffersonian model of a republic - admittedly, a model not electable since 1830.

This also defines how meaningful and lasting decisions can be made - local citizens first, then local governments, then states, then the Federation. The government of and by the people - the government of Jefferson and Lincoln.

The would-be claimed successors are the Libertarians - but they have only one half of the required equation: They're clear about the "Leave me to my own best decisions" part, but lack the resource transfer ability of a Republic.

I'm a voice in the wilderness - particularly in Massachusetts. The choices available are selections between the unpalatable and the more unpalatable.

I object to the entire modern organization of our government. I am an anachronism.