The political shift in power at the national level has the air waves all a-buzz with a new direction for America today. This new direction has not been spelled out except that change, for change-sake, is good for our future. Oddly, very little has been said about the long term influence this election will have on our future. The one message heard loud and clear throughout the campaign was tax cuts would cease to exist under democrat control. Predictions of brisk fourth quarter earnings are expected, as businesses invest their profits while tax incentives are still in place through the end of the year. The promise of a raise in minimum wage will not help the working class when businesses are forced to lay-off employees with the promised tax increases by democrats. Aside from the national level, our local government has had a major shift in leadership, with the board of county commissioners now dominated by three democrats and the school board having only one sitting Republican in place. Whose fault is it for the loss of Republican leaders? Was it the media? The democrats? Who really knows for sure? One thing certain is the blame game needs to cease in the Republican Party. Some Republican Party elites have been steadfast in their blame of others, instead of addressing a method of bi-partisan cooperation. One term frequently used to incite disgust is the term R.I.N.O. which means in "Republican In Name Only". A handful of local Republican Party elites play this R.I.N.O. card every time a party member does not fall into lock step with their rigid opinions. These divisive tactics within the Republican Party are a cause for concern by many of us in the G.O.P. The hard line ideology set forth by local Republican leaders is splitting the party into two factions, from the far right wing extremists, to the more moderate centrist. Its time the hard liners wake up and discover that its our party, too! Governor Christine Todd Whitman was quoted this morning as saying, " The Republican Party must return to its historical roots of fiscal conservatism and respect for personal freedom if it is to succeed in the future." Think about it. When did it become unfashionable to care about the environment as a Republican? When did it become unfashionable to care about the weakest among us as Republicans? When did it become fashionable as a Republican to display prejudice against our neighbors? When did we lose sight of the party of Lincoln and take down that Big Tent? Until these questions are faced in the light of day, the Republican Party will be fractured from within, coasting on borrowed time, as a minority party.
***After a comment by a reader, I checked the party affiliation on the school board members at the SOE's office. I stand corrected on Mr. Sweeney since he is a registered Republican. Having said that, the majority of the school board still is in the hands of registered Democrats.
