Today, I was asked a question I had no answer to. It wasn’t a hard question, nor was it particularly complicated, but in that moment, I had no response.
“Are you a Republican?”
I hesitated. I couldn’t say no, but I did not want to say yes.
This is not a question I've had trouble answering in the past. For most of my life, I considered myself to be a moderate Conservative. I never supported every Republican policy, and there were a fair share of Republican politicians I disagreed with, but I still knew that most of the beliefs and values that I held were fairly conservative. Most of the time, this meant I supported the leading Republican candidates.
My values have not changed, but the Republican Party has.
Over the past few years, Republicans officials have continued to position themselves on the unpopular side of many political battles. A party that has long focused on the importance of sensible, pragmatic fiscal policymaking has entangled itself into a battle it cannot win, a battle of social policy.
In the past decade, America has seen a radical shift in social policy. Most voters, including myself, are trending towards a progressive ideology on a number of issues including environmental policy, gun control, and religion.
However, many Republicans have not followed suit, clinging to social beliefs that are unfamiliar to even their own constituents. Republicans have lost sight of what it truly means to be a Conservative. The government should be used to enhance each individual’s ability to pursue their own goals, not to enact social policies that alienate much of the country.
Quite simply, the Republicans have chosen to fight a losing battle.
In the era of Trump and Cruz, it is not clear what the future of the Republican Party holds. Current struggles could lead to a historic revolution in the scope and outlook of the Party. If Republicans want to stay relevant in the face of an increasingly progressive electorate, some things are going to have to change.
Environmental Policy
Since when did the environment become a partisan issue? Today, many Republicans deny climate change and question the empirical science behind the issue. However, this has not always been the case. In fact, some Republican presidents have been very proactive with their environmental policy. Teddy Roosevelt was an ardent conservationist, extending federal protection to land and wildlife. In his time as President, Roosevelt signed laws that created five national parks and 18 new national monuments. More than 70 years later, another Republican also enacted laws that were environmentally friendly. Most notably, George H.W Bush enacted the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, which expanded governmental responsibility and authority over environmental issues and expanded conservation based government research programs. Today’s Republicans need to embrace bipartisanship in order to take a serious look at the environmental issues our country faces today.
Gun Control
The second amendment is an important constitutional right for every American. That being said, guns in the wrong hands have time and again caused tragedies that could have been avoided. Guns should not be taken away from law abiding citizens, nor will they be, but Republicans need to be open to increased background checks and waiting periods for any individual that wants to purchase a gun. The proliferation of mass shootings and deadly attacks in our nation has profoundly altered the debate on gun control. It is another debate in which the Republicans are fighting a losing battle. Our government needs to have the ability to protect its citizens, and giving them the power to prevent weapons from falling into the wrong hands is crucial.
Religion
At its core, the United States is a very religious nation. Ideally, there is a separation between church and state, but when used correctly the ideals behind most organized religion can be used to drive positive policymaking. Growing up, my family was always taught to believe that religion is about the do’s, not the do not’s. Governmental officials on both sides need to realize that religious freedom and individual rights can co-exist. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal (R) has already made strides for Republicans by vetoing the state’s religious freedom bill, stating that “we do not have a belief in my way of looking at the religion that says we have to discriminate against anybody.”
Religion shouldn’t be about discrimination or separation, but inclusiveness and helping those in need. Religious individuals in positions of power throughout the country should focus more on helping the poor and underprivileged, and less on the do not's of religion. Religion should not be about how small you can keep government, but rather about what government can do for those in need in the most efficient way.
If Republicans want their party to stay relevant in the face of an increasingly progressive electorate, it is important for them to socially evolve. Then they can return to the policies of fiscal responsibility and economic opportunity that once made them so appealing. Until then, they continue to fight a losing battle, a battle that many conservatives are not interested in seeing continue.
The Republican Party is at a crossroads. There is a path forward, and a path to degradation. As someone who has seen their beliefs become underrepresented by the Republican Party, I truly hope they take the path forward.
