|
By Paul M. Weyrich
January 10, 2006
Because the next conservatism seeks to restore the American
republic, it should want a Democratic Party that offers a
viable alternative to the Republican Party. No political party
can remain in power for long without becoming at least somewhat
corrupt and also losing sight of its agenda. In fact, as I
will argue in my next column, our political system needs third
parties as well as two serious major parties if our republic
is really to work.
At present, the Democratic Party does not
constitute a viable alternative, as many Democrats recognize.
While it criticizes President Bush, it has virtually no ideas
of its own to offer. Even on the war in Iraq, an adventure
which many conservatives criticized from the outset, the Democrats'
voice has been muted and incoherent.
As someone who has observed and participated
in national politics for four decades, here is my prescription
for reviving the Democratic Party. What I recommend here does
not necessarily reflect my own views on specific issues. In
effect, I am playing the role of "political doctor,"
offering what I think would work for my "patient,"
the Democrats.
First, if the Democratic Party wants to
be able once again to appeal to a majority of Americans, not
just a collection of special interest groups, it needs to
dump Political Correctness. Political Correctness, which is
really the cultural Marxism of the Frankfurt School, condemns
whites, Christians, men and non-Feminist women. They represent
a majority of American voters. So long as these people know
the Democratic Party sees them as enemies, they will not vote
for it, which means that even if bad times get the Democrats
in once, they will soon be out again. Political Correctness
condemns the Democratic Party to long-term minority status.
Then, the Democrats need a new platform,
one that amounts to more than whining about the Republicans.
I would recommend their new platform include the following
planks:
o A realistic foreign policy based on interests
and prudence. With the Republicans adopting Wilsonianism and
the war in Iraq not going too well, the Democrats have an
opportunity to appeal to a majority of voters by opposing
adventurism in foreign affairs.
o Military reform, which looks not just at how much we spend
on defense but what the money actually buys and whether it
is relevant to future wars.
o A policy of long-term financial soundness for the federal
government. The programs Democrats favor, like Social Security
and Medicare, depend on this. Republicans' imprudence on government
spending opens a door for the Democrats here.
o A pro-growth economic policy, but one that focuses on jobs
rather than Wall Street's profits. The quality of new jobs,
which means whether they pay enough to raise a family on,
needs to be central. That in turn means the Democratic Party
should become the party that works to restore America's industry
and manufacturing. If that brings free trade into question,
so be it; the Democrats can leave free trade to the Republicans.
Most Americans would rather have fair trade than free trade.
o A pro-growth policy on population also, which means the
Democratic Party would once again favor large families. On
abortion, the Democrats would say abortion should be legal
but rare and mean it. The best way to do that is adopt the
"95/10 Plan" promoted by Democrats for Life, which
says that within ten years we should provide alternatives
to abortion in 95% of all cases.
o Restrictions on immigration and also on out-sourcing jobs
overseas. Immigration and out-sourcing are the two biggest
threats to jobs middle and lower-middle class Americans need.
o Instead of the "multi-culturalism" demanded by
Political Correctness, the Democratic Party should once again
become the party of racial integration, which means acculturating
blacks and immigrants into standard middle-class American
values. That is the only way blacks and immigrants can hope
to become members of the middle class economically. Movements
such as that to make English America's official language should
be welcomed and supported by the Democratic Party as ways
to help its minority constituents.
Again, the fact that I am recommending
these positions to the Democratic Party does not mean I agree
with all of them personally. I strongly believe that abortion
should be against the law.
But I think that a platform like this could
make the Democratic Party a potential majority party once
more, so long as it is coupled with showing Political Correctness
the door. That will be the toughest challenge for the Democrats,
because so much of their party's money comes from elites that
hate traditional American culture and the Christian religion.
The Democrats face a choice: that money or the votes of average
Americans? I doubt they can get both.
Paul M. Weyrich is the Chairman and CEO of the Free Congress
Foundation.
|
