Hope and Change

All things, naturally drift "left". It is an inescapable result of the fallen nature of mankind. In the history of the two-party system, (which isn't constitutional, but is an inevitable result) the only way what we call "conservative values" reappear is when the populace gets fed up enough with having a false choice between two "leftist" parties. Then, when they have enough following for the two major parties to feel threatened, one or both of the parties shifts their stance to attempt to co-opt the movement. Or the third party becomes larger until it replaces one of the two major parties and the old party fades out of existence.

Ross Perot's Party was co-opted by the major parties, which resulted in Washington almost becoming fiscally responsible for a few years. And now, with a Socialist on the the throne, as it were, pushing policies that inflame a very large segment of the country, it might finally be time for a third party to rise up and take the place of one of the two parties. The Democratic leadership has painted itself into a very far left corner, and the Republican Party leadership is hot on their heels! There is a wide band of conservative through moderate liberal voters who feel disenfranchised by both parties. Basically anyone who was (or would have been) a Reagan Democrat and to the right are at some level of discontent.

Reagan was successful because he promised to "stand for those common values that made us great" and "would make us great once again". In the aftermath of the failed Ford-Carter Socialist regimes, (which were a response to the disaster of Nixon demolishing the public trust) the American Spirit was at a deep low. The people were largely despondent with mistrust of government; both parties had mishandled the management of the Federal government. Out of that crisis arose a man who promised hope and change. Hope that was born of empowering the common American to lift himself up by his own hard work by removing the excessive tax burden. And change by promising to turn the economic model on its head by raising revenue by growing the economy, instead of taxing it into oblivion to pay for ever increasing social programs.

Obama was successful in his campaign because he said the words that many Americans wanted to hear; "There is Hope" "We need Change" without being specific about what that "Hope and Change" really meant. His "Hope" is the hope you have that you can go buy some food when the government gives you a check. His "Change" is to nationalize the largest part of the economy so that the political elites can protect us from the excesses of companies seeking to make a profit for their employees and stock holders.

What the successful Third Party candidate will do, which will separate him or her from the other minor party contenders, is make a stand on the basic "conservative values" that even most liberals believe in in their heart, even if they choose to vote for "progressive" social issues. To stand for the Reagan-style of "Hope and Change" and kick the Obama-esque "Hope and Change" back to the third world abyss from which it has arisen.