Ideology Versus Party

Chairman Bill, William F. Buckley Jr., the founder of the conservative magazine The National Review and the once undisputed guru of American conservative thought, cautioned against any acceptance of a universal definition for conservatism.  It has been established over the years that the same can be said for liberalism, Libertarianism, Socialism Or any other…”ism.”  In reading any attempted definitions you will, in all probably, gain far greater insight into the author than you will the ideology.  

 Another key element to Buckley’s thinking cautioned against placing party before ideology.  He was quick to write and point out that the devils of deception were always lurking under party banners and to beware of those false gods.  He demonstrated a strong conviction to these principles when he ran as an independent in the New York City Mayoral election in 1965.  His brother James also ran as an independent winning a U.S. Senate seat in 1970.  Buckley could be as harsh with Republicans as he could be generous with lavish praise for Democrats.  He was committed to finding, what he believed, was the truth in these murkiest of waters. He made every effort to employ sound rational thought in combination with an ideological purity. 

Confident these teachings had taken hold and equally as confident they had been crafted into finely honed guidelines for political thought, you can imagine my surprise when recently asked if I was now a Democrat.   The inquiry came from an acquaintance of some forty years with whom I had lost contact.  Confusion had arisen from our conversation having reached a virtual standstill.  

 The question did however prompt thought and evaluation.   After reflection, I concluded I had not changed, but that the political landscape – political parties - and culture had changed, which may have been the primary cause for this obvious confusion.

 This self-examination first led me to realize it is impossible for me to embraced the philosophies and principles that define Republicans today for which, quite frankly, there is very limited sound rational.

 This clarification extended to Republicans like Ronald Reagan who stated; 

Where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost.”  As well as; “We are going to close the unproductive tax loopholes that allow some of the truly wealthy to avoid paying their fair share.  In theory some of those loopholes were understandable but in practice they sometimes make it possible for millionaires to pay nothing while a bus driver pays ten per cent of his salary and that’s crazy.” 

 

I pointed to Barry Goldwater who said; “you don’t have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shot straight.”  As well as; “I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in "A," "B," "C" and "D." Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?” 

I reemphasized that proud Republican support was given to those like President Dwight David Eisenhower who believed; “Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history.  There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things…Their number is negligible and they are stupid.”  

Then, of course, there was Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen.  In 1964 Dirksen’s influence ended the senate filibuster holding up civil rights legislation thus paving the way for the bill’s passage.

 It also reminded me that Mr. Buckley, with the aid of other Republicans, were responsible for discrediting the John Birch Society.  The modern-day John Birch Society, now known as “The Tea Party,” is warmly embraced by the Republican Party.

None of these principles or ideals can be found within today’s GOP.  

Further contemplation led to the realization that Democratic Party evolution has redefined their priorities.  The corporate Democrat doctrine has supplanted the more than forty years of the humane Roosevelt, Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson doctrines, programs and priorities. 

 The transformation occurred with President Carter.  To strengthen the Democratic Party brand which was badly tarnished by the embarrassing defeat of George McGovern, President Carter politically positioned himself as a moderate Democrat.  This maneuver was orchestrated to escape the perception that Democrats were far left, extremist fanatics.    

 Large financial concerns within our country then began pouring vast sums of money into Democratic Party coffers. Carter Deregulated the airline and trucking industries.  Bill Clinton, with a single stroke of his pen, signed the “Gramm Leach Bliley Act” into law in 1999 which repealed the “Glass Steagall Act” and acted as the single most influential piece of deregulation in that it ushered in the great recession of 2008.  This gave great credence to Clinton’s pronouncement; “The era of big government is over.”   With these actions and this pronouncement, the poor, underprivileged, disadvantaged and middle-class lost their political influence. 

 Greed and corporate collectivism have paralyzed our country over the last forty years.  Our government has conspired in providing greater protections to a handful of very wealthy citizens who argue for the survival of the fittest.  This has been done at the expense of commitments to educate our children, provide for the elderly, the sick, the homeless and hungry - in a country that has the means to end it all.  This has not only been inhumane but stifled growth and the common good of the nation. 

 

Those who buy into liberal, conservative, Republican, Democratic and etc. labeling and propaganda, are far more interested in promoting a self-serving agenda than problem solving.  The objective of all these distinctions is to create voting blocs - classes of people.  These blocs all have the same aspects in common. They use fear and hatred to create mistrust of our fellow citizens – to unite through bitterness – to polarize us.  As such, they should be dismissed and ignored wherever they are put before us.  These labels are never a viable, rational argument in defining our difficulties nor can they ever suffice as rational arguments either in support of, or opposition to, initiatives and solutions for those maladies.  If we continue in this vein, we will most assuredly accomplish what Hitler, Russia and Bin Laden couldn’t.  We will destroy ourselves.

 In conclusion; Mr. Buckley’s influence and wisdom, while NOT universal, has left its impact on my thinking.  It is irrational to conclude that because someone is unable to find a home among Grover Norguist’s and Karl Rove’s merry band of GOP lunatics, that that someone must be a Democrat.  It would further be irrational to assume that because that same someone may have supported GOP candidates in the past that he would remain a lifelong Republican.  

Like Mr. Buckley, I hold to a strong set of believes and am committed to that ideology which is not enthusiastically embraced by either political party.  I therefore must conclude that I am a man with an ideology and without a party.  But then, as I was taught by a sage who I still greatly admire, that is one of those summits of wisdom which, in all probability, will be instrumental in sustaining and even possibly saving our Republic.