Let's consider a new direction for the Republican party. Or rather, an old one. Too many people have confused the definitions of liberal and conservative, giving up the old ideals of freedom, responsibility, small government and fiscal responsibility, in favor of massive deficits, huge government spending increases, less freedom, not holding the people whose criminal behavior caused the banking crisis responsible for their own actions, wars of opportunity, and trampling of the Constitution under Bush. We need to remember that Conservative doesn't mean Fundamentalist Evangelist War Hawk.
A short, simple platform:
1. Small government.
2. Low taxes.
3. Personal Freedom.
4. Free enterprise.
5. Mostly Pro-business policies, but which promote a level playing field, not policies which encourage predatory practices, monopolies, businesses becoming "too big to fail" and creative accounting.
6. High standards for education.
7. A balanced budget, except in times of war.
8. Social Security should be separate from the rest of government spending, and surpluses should be spent to increase benefits, decrease payroll taxes, or they may be invested in high-quality municipal bonds. They should not be used to finance massive government deficits.
9. Strong defense.
10. Strict limits to immigration.
11. Basic family values, NOT an intermingling of Church and State.
12. A healthy respect for the ENTIRE Bill of Rights, not just the 2nd amendment.
We need two parties which both are viable choices for the majority of Americans, not two parties which cater to the fringes on either side. The 80% of us that aren't on the far-left and far-right fringes want a real choice between two strong leaders, either of which will be able to lead the entire country. Believe it or not, if both sides actually agree on a few basic concepts, the world won't grind to a halt.