Looking Forward

It’s too late now, but suppose that Congressional Republicans had followed President Bush’s lead and reformed Social Security? Maybe they would still have been stiffed by the voters, but they would have left behind a landmark piece of legislation to prove that they were there.

Well, that’s all history now. And The Wall Street Journal in today’s editorial looks towards the future. But first the bad news:

Here's one telling exit poll result: In battleground districts, only one in five voters said Republicans would do a better job to "keep government spending under control"; almost twice as many voters said Democrats would do a better job.

It defies belief that anyone could think that, but Republicans had better pay attention and turn that around right away.

Republicans also need to rediscover an agenda for reforming government programs that don't work or threaten to bankrupt future generations. The Gingrich Republicans did that with welfare reform in the 1990s, and they tried with Medicaid. Then President Bush gave Republicans a once-in-a-generation chance to reform Social Security and health care along free market lines, but GOP House leaders fought him behind the scenes. For this alone, they should be returned to the backbenches.

Actually I think we are all being a little unfair on the Congressional Republicans. It is hard to image reforming Social Security while the Democrats are still dead set against it.

As Camille Paglia says, reform is achieved by a small band of dedicated revolutionaries. The average person just wants to be left alone. So the opportunity for reform does not come in normal times but when people are frightened and willing to be led.

The next time that Republicans come to power we should be ready for the next items on the agenda: reform education, reform Social Security, and reform health care. And it can’t hurt to have a new generation of leaders in Congress:

The good news is that a younger generation does seem to be stepping forward. Mike Pence, of Indiana, has already declared for minority leader, and John Shadegg of Arizona is seeking the number two job as whip. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Jeb Hensarling of Texas and Jeff Flake of Arizona... are among the other Members who have tried to put ideas above mere incumbency.

The true lesson to learn of political life is to accept its cyclical nature, to understand that there are years of advance and also years of retreat. Mistakes are made and, if you are a Republican, you must pay for them.

The only unforgivable mistake is not to be ready when opportunity knocks.