Texas GOP Platform
What would happen if we had elected leadership in Texas that would lead based on the conservative principles stated in the Texas Republican Party Platform? You would have leadership like Louisiana's Governor Bobby Jindal.
Jindal was elected in 2007 to replace an incumbent who let the state nearly collapse financially. Hurricane Katrina is the easy blame for Louisiana's economic state of affairs, but in reality, it has been 40 years of welfare, liberal policies, environmental regulations, and a mind-set that individuals are owed something by the government.
In just 3 months as Louisiana's governor, Jindal has pushed through a school voucher program, made sweeping welfare reform, is working on a comprehensive school finance reform package, reduced the size of state government, and encouraged businesses to build new infrastructure through economic incentives.
There is no reason these same opportunities cannot be seized on in Texas. We just need leaders who will dare to lead instead of allowing the people to dictate their principles. We need leaders who will not just follow the Republican Party Platform but will also share the principles espoused in the platform to inspire others to become problem solvers.
I don't want to wait for a category 5 hurricane and 40 years of failed liberal policies to move towards a conservative agenda. Conservative principles are viewed by many as a last ditch effort for success. Bobby Jindal, like Ronald Reagan, is proving that wrong. True conservative principles are the backbone of our society.
Texas needs a leader like Governor Bobby Jindal.
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4 comments:
The RPT hasn't done a very good job in leading by example. If we want leadership that actually sticks to party ideals, it would be wise to not be so quick in shutting off debate within the party whenever it arises.
Jindhal is a great example of active conservative leadership.
We see 3 breeds elected to office - the best are the active conservatives, who pursue a conservative-based reform agenda; the next group are conservatives, but are either ineffective or simply inactive; and then the non-conservatives, who end up catering to the polls and not to conservative principles.
We have a lot of 'conservatives' who are not doing enough to challenge the status quo and improve things. Newt has a "real change" mantra, which is about not letting the liberals take the 'change' label and addressing our current challenges with Real Change(TM) based on good conservative governance principles - markets, choice, liberty, and science.
We need to acknowledge that the last category (non-conservative leadership) is as much due to the people than to our own party. It's due to media bias and academia and our culture inculcating liberal mind-set among voters. As a result, good conservatives lose to bad liberals and even our primary choice was a non-conservative leader, moderate John McCain.
Inactive conservatives - look at Texas lege. We have solid GOP majorities, we have majorities of minority voters for school choice, but we cant even get experimental school choice ... yet we can waste billions on bilingual education and even *force* kids into spanish-speaking programs against their will. That makes no sense!
Jindhal and activist conservative leadership represents the best hope for the future of our party and country. I am pleased that he is doing so much good and yet is so young.
Let me add one more thing: Ron Paul strikes me as one of those principled but ineffective types. He's been there a while in Congress, but why hasnt he joined with the conservative caucus and put forth a lower-spending budget? Why hasnt he been active in getting support for fundamental tax reform?
There are far too many conservatives who are far too happy being losers in political battles, willing to lose to the socialists while standing on principles, rather than taking and pursuing real change policies based on those principles.
Or to put it another way: What has Ron Paul actually accomplished in his years in Congress on behalf of liberty, lower taxes and less government?
A better model to go with is Sen Tom Coburn, who keeps his principles intact ... but who works issues and who fights and WINS a few.
Jindal is exactly what the GOP needs - he's a breath of fresh air. I've heard his name come up in conversations about who should be the VP candidate, and I must say I'd rather he stick it out in Louisiana awhile longer - they certainly need his kind of leadership!
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