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Brooks on the State of the Republican Party

<alt>doxygen

"I want MY WALL!"
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This isn't a guy I fully agree with very often, but I think David Brooks makes a lot of sense here.

Why Republicans can?t govern | The Seattle Times

A sample:

There are many different flavors of freedom. For example, there is freedom as capacity and freedom as detachment.

Freedom as capacity means supporting people so they have the ability to take advantage of life’s opportunities. You encourage your friend to stick with piano practice so he will have the freedom to really play. You support your child during high school so she will have the liberty to pick her favorite college.

Freedom as detachment is giving people space to do their own thing. It’s based on the belief that people flourish best when they are unimpeded as much as possible. Freedom as detachment is marked by absence — the absence of coercion, interference and obstacles.

Back when the Republican Party functioned as a governing party it embraced both styles of freedom, but gave legislative priority to freedom of capacity. Look at the Republicans’ major legislative accomplishments of the past 30 years. They used government to give people more capacities.

Reactions?

Please, yes I know he's a RINO. Spare me...:)
 
Perhaps Brooks was inspired by Jefferson:
"The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits." Thomas Jefferson
From post #1:
"Back when the Republican Party functioned as a governing party" DB
You mean like right now? The GOP controls the exec. w/ Trump, the house w/ Speaker Ryan, and the senate with ML McConnell. And the Republicans are NOT the governing party?!
"it embraced both styles of freedom, but ..." DB
Partially.
Republicans are notorious champions of usurping a woman's right of choice.
President Bush (elder) proposed specific wording to prohibit burning the U.S. flag.
Republicans are well known for their opposition to marijuana, even for medicinal use.
Republicans are even against same-sex marriage; defending their untenable position with conspicuous absurdities including that same sex marriage would undermine the family.
"Look at the Republicans’ major legislative accomplishments of the past 30 years. They used government to give people more capacities."
I just cited four examples of Republicans finding perceived social ills, and seeking a big government / authoritarian government remedy.

Republicans PRETEND to favor smaller, less intrusive, less authoritarian government. But when an issue like Drug War, abortion, gender equality, and our First Amendment come up, Republicans turn to authoritarian government for remedy.

Brooks is an asset.
The NYT is lucky to have him. He's not right about everything. Who is?
But among is observations, some useful insights can be found.
Few if any bat 1,000. I'm not sure William F. Buckley Jr., or the Buddha did that.
 
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