What now for Republicans?
We might begin by asking why we lost. Taxes, first, is the easy one, and there is no need for a Republican mea culpa here. We've cut taxes, and Americans and the economy are better off for it. But recently we've been satisfied with putting Democrats "on record" supporting higher taxes. We need to do more. We will soon be bumping up against the deadlines to either repeal or extend the Bush tax cuts on income, estates, capital gains and dividends. This presents an excellent opportunity to rebuild momentum. Our congressional leadership should travel around the country -- concert tour style -- explaining why individuals spend their money better than the government.
Second, spending. This one is more difficult because it requires not just a mea culpa but abject apology. Not the politician-style -- "I'm sorry if you were offended by spending that our opponents have misinterpreted as offensive" -- but rather: "We've overspent, badly, and it was offensive to you as well as our conservative principles. We're sorry, and we're going to do better."
It is not only the level of spending, of course, that has been offensive. It is the manner of spending. Pork-barrel earmarks, or "member projects" (as we preferred to call them so as not to offend our own sensibilities), greatly multiplied under Republican rule. The Democrats were happy as long as enough crumbs fell from the Republican appropriators' table. Now that we are in the minority, will we be similarly satisfied or will we seek to change the practice?
On this issue, our constituents need no convincing. They know it is wrong. We need the courage to enact meaningful reforms, doubly difficult because of the present situation. But if we are chastened -- we ought to be -- perhaps we will emerge stronger for it. If Republicans are serious about changing direction, there will be ample opportunities in the next two years to translate our dormant beliefs into action.
Exactly.
