Sunday, December 23, 2012

Response to Dionne's "Which path for the right?"


EJ Dionne’s faith in Republicans’ need to refresh and reinvent their image is welcome. Immigration reform and decriminalization will assist this shift toward the center. Dionne’s argument that Republicans have pursued “insidious” anti-democratic measures in Michigan is patently untrue.

A free market of ideas means nothing for individual employees if they are forced to pay dues into a union, whether they want to join or not. Furthermore, these dues inevitably fund Democratic candidates and causes, much of the time without the permission of the compelled employees. Those same candidates and causes then hurt state legislatures’ ability to manage debt and negotiate manageable and responsible contracts with public sector unions. My home state of California is hemorrhaging billions of dollars every year because of pension obligations, yet the newly-installed Democratic supermajority has neither will or interest in curbing the generous pensions and benefits driving my state into bankruptcy and default.

While Republicans must retool their message and reassess their values to reach out to minorities, women and youth, they can also relax and witness the demise of Democratic talking points, including higher taxes which discourage investment and economic growth, along with excessive spending and regulations which kill jobs and increase unemployment.

No comments:

Post a Comment