On November 5, 1994, Ronald Wilson Reagan wrote his farewell letter to the American people. Although President Reagan confirmed he had Alzheimer’s disease his inspiring letter reaffirmed his belief in the American people and the future of this great country. America grieved for their great leader yet we were reminded why we became Republicans in the first place.
Three days later millions of Americans swarmed to the polls with the memories of Reagan and the conservative values that made us all proud to be Americans again. The result was the largest earthquake in the history of American politics with the Republicans gaining 52 seats in the House of Representatives, ending 40 years of Democratic socialist control. We had finally done it. This was it: Reagan’s Third Term.
Millions of conservative Americans, who for forty years endured decreased freedoms, increased federal spending and a decline in traditional family values, the message to Washington was clear: COMPLETE THE REAGAN REVOLUTION.
For the hundreds of thousands of Reagan Revolutionaries who spent countless hours listening to Rush, licking envelopes and going door to door to friends and family proclaiming the message of freedom, the fruits of our labor were obvious: the hard part was over. It was time to govern. We knew who we were, what we believed and where we were going.
Incoming Speaker Newt Gingrich proclaimed the Republican majority would show the world "how to end programs, not just create them." From the moment Gingrich was handed the gavel, the flurry of activity that followed was called "a hundred days that shook the world." The 104th Congress proceeded to bring all the items of the Contract With America up for a vote, pass tax cuts, and propose a Federal Budget that eliminated 200 Federal programs and eliminated 3 unconstitutional Federal agencies. Government was going to start shrinking.
The motto of the time was "promises made, promises kept" and they were. Ethics and Budget reform were both taken up. Not long after, Bill Clinton said "The era of Big Government is over." Freedom, in the form of Conservative republicanism, was on the offensive where it belonged. It was a great time to be a conservative, we were on our way.
Then seemingly as quick as it began, the Reagan Revolution stalled. A decade later, all under Republican control, nearly all of the 200 programs and all three cabinet Agencies slated for termination still exist and with a significant increase in funding. The last year under Clinton, government spending as a percentage of GDP was 18.5%. In 2005 it grew to 20.3%. We now have a $350 Billion deficit. Our national debt has increased 2 trillion dollars.
Instead of eliminating the Department of Education as promised, Republicans increased funding by at least 50%, giving more power to the NEA and less power to local school districts and parents. Instead of cutting entitlement spending as advertised, we added the largest entitlement programs since LBJ with a universal prescription drug plan under Medicare that does nothing but drag us into Socialized healthcare and send a bill in the trillions of dollars to our children and grandchildren. Millionaires getting free drugs from the federal government was not supposed to be a part of the Republican revolution.
Conservatives know fundamental truths about government: government that governs least governs best. As government expands, freedom contracts. When Republicans gained power in 1995 our Federal budget was $1.86 trillion. A decade later our budget was at $2.48 trillion. Under a “conservative” House, a “conservative” Senate, and a “Conservative” President we increased government spending 33%. That does not include the Medicare Prescription Drug program that will cost at least $840 billion over 10 years.
What has happened? Why have Republicans seemingly sold out the values that they held dear and that cemented our majority? Other than Lord Acton’s obviously true axiom, the answer was a lack of courage and careerism.
Republicans came to our capital to change Washington but Washington changed them instead. Many found it was easier to worry about their careers then fight the liberal establishment day in and day out. Their values were not worth the struggle when it was so easy to cave and become part of the system.
Our party is in danger. The problem the conservative movement faces in 2008 is not the same as what we faced in 1964 or 76. The battle is no longer over political rhetoric, but rather over political action. Almost all in our party agree with conservative principals in THEORY. Almost all ‘08 contenders will be racing to the right proclaiming their belief in limited government, a secure border, and traditional family values.
The question is how many of these men will implement a conservative agenda? How many truly believe what they are saying? The lesson of ‘94 is that it takes someone ideologically committed to the cause of Freedom and not concerned with personal adulation and careerism. To the 30 or so Republicans in the House who always stayed true to the principles of Reagan, it is time to redouble our efforts.
Our movement has drifted into the uncharted waters of “Big Government Republicanism” as our ideas and principles have been sacrificed on the alter of preserving our governing majority. We must be courageous enough to demand bold leadership in the face of these trialing times as we might not get another chance such as this to set our ship back on course. We need a leader who will speak and act like this…
“I believe in my heart that this generation of Americans is going to produce leadership that will sit in the Oval Office and look the American people in the eye as adults, and say the party is over. We simply cannot continue to write hot checks on the backs of our children and grandchildren. We need to lay the problem out with moral and fiscal authority, to explain the truth of the matter, and treat the American people as the thoughtful and courageous people they are.”
And once that President is elected, then what does he say to the American people?
“He says what Abraham Lincoln said. We’re going to need to go back to some basic American ideals. The government should never do for a man what he can and should do for himself. We have to go back to the notion that this country is big enough and wealthy enough that nobody has to cut their medicine in half or choose between rent and the medicines they need. But if you can afford your own prescription medicines, we are going to need you to do it. If you can look out for yourself and your family in your retirement, we’re going to need you to do it.”
“Otherwise, we are going to have to choose between applying a crushing weight of taxes on our people or severely restricting our ability to defend this nation. And those are unacceptable choices in the 21st Century.”
That bold new leader is Mike Pence. He is a shining example of Reagan conservatism: One who governs from his core convictions, who gains strength from the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and who embraces and implements the principles of the people. Mike Pence needs to be the next President of the United States.