Do the “New Republicans” Know What Being an American Is Anymore?

The New York Times has recently speculated that following the defeat in the 2008 elections, that Republicans have found a new voice. That may be so, but should more reasonable old-line voices reassert themselves?

What has long been considered the militant fringe of the Republican party has insinuated itself into the world of sound-bites as the new Republican sensibility. What does this mean?

• If we didn’t come up with it, it’s a bad idea and must be crushed.
• If it doesn’t lower taxes or is a tax break, it’s a bad idea and must be crushed.
• If it lets business have free reign, it’s a good idea.
• If it’s not about conservative white “christians”–especially the males–then it’s suspicious and should be watched (at best) or should be crushed.

In a nutshell (so to speak), that’s all I’ve been seeing. I’m not seeing or hearing much in the way of constructive ideas; just some dubious sort of corporate, theocratic, and klannish dogma that doesn’t actually do anything except lord it over a crumbling empire.

Seriously, if this is the new mind of the Republican party, then it’s time that the true conservatives: the Powells, the McCains, the Liebermans stand up and give voice to the mind of conservative reason to either retake their party or form a new one. “Conservative” didn’t used to be about little more than making people afraid, blaming others, and gaming the system to make money. It was about taking a more cautious–more conservative–approach to problems than the more liberal minded. That meant compromise on both sides. That meant being patriotic public servants instead of paid-off corporate tools (again, I’m talking about both sides).

No. I don’t think many of the “new Republican” shouting heads are patriots. They don’t seem to like Americans or America very much, nor do they seem to want to put forth the effort to learn their civics (or even spellcheck their protest signs…geeze, people). How bad is it?

On November 20, 2008, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) released a report entitled “Our Fading Heritage: Americans Fail a Basic Test on Their History and Institutions.” This report is the third of its kind and is based on the knowledge that is required for a person to earn American citizenship.

The 2008 report asked 2,508 American adults from various backgrounds 33 civics questions (to take quiz, click here). Shockingly, 71 percent of adults surveyed failed the test with an overall average score of only 49 percent. In fact, only 272 of those surveyed even made a passing grade of a “C” or better.

[…]

The report’s summary begs the obvious question, “Do Americans possess the knowledge necessary to participate wisely in the affairs of the nation?” If the overall average of the survey was not eye-opening enough, one of the findings in the report indicate that our elected officials know even less about American civics than the general public. The elected officials scored an average of 44% … 4 percentage points lower than the average quiz taker.

(In case you’re wondering, I just took the test and got a 100% score…without having to study or cheat by doing web searches or taking it twice. It wasn’t a hard civics test.)

When I cry “ignorance” at so much of the rhetoric being spewed, know that I do it because I am very much an American patriot. I understand our country’s history from pre-colonial to modern times. I actually read the controversial bills up before Congress (yeah, that’s fun) instead of taking some reporter’s, web site’s, or email’s word for what a bill says. I do the math. So, when I hear words from “patriots” that would be more at home in 1930s Germany or Italy…yeah, it rankles me.

I’m not against conservatives. I’m not against any religious group. I’m against ignorance. I’m against fear. I’m against hate. If you want a United States that any American patriot would eagerly call their home, then you should be against those things, too.

How much government is the right amount is a very important topic. It’s been going on since the country was founded. But digging in your heels and holding your breath until your face turns red, white, and blue isn’t how you conduct debate on the matter. If you don’t go into a discussion holding out the true possibility that you might be willing to accept that at least some of someone else’s views are valid, then it isn’t a discussion…it’s a game of chicken. That isn’t governance, that’s playground politics.

I call on the TRUE conservatives to stand up and lead. Remove the taste of bile that has been issuing from people claiming to represent your party and values. Your country desperately needs you.