Thanks to everyone who responded to the four excellent questions that make up the subject appeal for insight. Carol summed up our mess in America by saying "its a puzzlement that these questions have to be asked." I have posted 12 of the responses that add something to the discussion on ReturnToExcellence.net - go to the April 23 posting on the blog & click on "comments" @ the end of the posting. Check again in a few days because I believe more will be coming. I am just sorry that we can't all get together to discuss the Q & A in person. My own personal response is below. Thanks again to the questioner for thinking of the questions & to the responders - I truly appreciate the time you spent answering these four important questions that can only help preserve America for ourselves & our Posterity.
1. What can we do to re-limit government after decades in which restraint has been cast off?
Government spending has been expanding for years as we move down the stages of Death Of Democracy - America is currently in the Apathy to Dependence stage. People who let their patriotism be known @ Tea Parties & Town Hall meetings are our last line of defense - they have inspired a much larger than normal number of people to run for the first time ever in primaries against entrenched politicians from both major parties.
To re-limit government we have to find these new politicians & support, work, & vote for them after we determine they are for real. The great SC Senator Jim DeMint would rather have 30 senators like himself than 70 like Specter - me too. Senator DeMint's approach is "I'm @ the point where it doesn't matter if we win if we don't believe in anything. There is no need to nursemaid somebody to the general election if they're just going to come up here & vote like the Democrats." You can call Senator DeMint to get a list of candidates he is supporting - they are quite a bit different from the standard Republican Party line.
Also re-check this blog starting December 8, 2009 for a series of postings on "How To Vote The Bums Out." The FairTax is the litmus test & NJ has three House candidates running in support of the FairTax with two more just about ready to sign on. These are the people who will re-limit government.
2. How can we convince the many Americans who have grown dependent of the welfare state to sympathize with the conservative ideals?
This sell could get harder the more dependent the people are. Also, the more dependent the less educated they will be. But if they are living in poverty or deep poverty they have to know in their heart of hearts that there is a better life for them. If we get them to think this way we (& more importantly they) have a chance. Trying to improve their education & training is one main key. The other is for them to be honest with themselves & shun the things that they know are really keeping them down. The dignity of work will replace the sorrow of being in the welfare state.
3. What do we say to non-conservatives who consider themselves pro-free enterprise and pro-constitution, but do not agree with or even recognize the conservative ideology?
This question is the most theoretical of the four & really is a natural subset of the last question below. If the person is really pro-free enterprise & pro-constitution they are well on their way to being a conservative - they may classify themselves as an independent hating any other label for good reason. See answer to #4 below for how to proceed.
4. Finally, how can we constructively educate those who do not have the same ideals as us?
To constructively educate anyone, including ourselves, we have to get into the arena of ideas with an open mind where everyone learns. Take every issue one @ a time with no predetermined conclusions & see where the discussions go. Ask them to read a blog like this one for a while & if our questioner is on to something he will not only have made someone more conservative like himself but even better he will have found that in reality the person he is working with has become more libertarian.
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