The Future of the GOP

Students For Liberty Campus Coordinator Megan Roberts of the University of Missouri has a great op/ed in her student newspaper The Maneater.  She observes that many young people are turned off the the GOPs offensive foreign policy and intrusive domestic policies. She argues that if the GOP is to have a future, it must recognize these realities and embrace a new style of republicanism.

Generally speaking, both the left and the right are guilty of some level of hypocrisy. Conservatives, who often lament over expanded government spending and new federal programs, are content to spend billions (or even trillions) expanding federal programs overseas through wars, nation building and increasing foreign aid to politically favorable countries, all while encroaching on individual liberties through legislation like the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, the PATRIOT Act and countless others.

Liberals tout their support for civil liberties yet constantly seek ways to increase government control in every individual decision, from healthcare to education and even down to organic food choices, all while increasing taxes and business regulations, thereby stripping individuals of their economic freedom.

The “new Republican” must see the inherent hypocrisy in both the left and the right, and reject it. If Republicans are to be against expanding federal programs domestically, they should also oppose expanding them abroad.

If Republicans respect individual liberties, privacy and property rights as they claim they do, they should also seek to lessen government involvement in personal matters such as marriage. Freedom cannot come piece by piece. It is a single concept and must be defended at all times. Young people recognize this, and the GOP is following suit.

You can read the full article here: http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2010/8/31/future-gop/

It is definitely worth a read.