Amid the clamor about the Republicans in general, the GOP
has some real issues to deal with. If they ever expect to get back on top of
the political sphere they need to reevaluate some of their stands and perhaps realize
that the bus has already left the station.
That’s the case with most paradigm shifts. If you don’t
realize it’s happening it’s over before you can do anything about it and you’re
left at the bus stop with your ticket flapping in a cloud of exhaust. Such is
the case with today’s Republican Party. The population’s dynamic has changed
and the GOP has either failed to realize it or is so stuck in its dogma the end
is truly near for them, to paraphrase Henny Penny.
We hear nearly every day how the population is shifting, how
the boomers are becoming the walking dead, and how the American zeitgeist now
embraces those in their 20s and 30s. Let’s face it, Rap music is here to stay,
at least till the next generation comes up with some music to upset the status
quo. Which brings us right back to the whole paradigm discussion: I bet you thought I had forgotten where I was
going.
Back around the turn of the last century a horse breeder in
Central Canada stopped in Detroit and witnessed the first of Ford’s assembly
line constructed cars as it rolled off the line. Unlike most people who witness
the imminent demise of their chosen industry, this gentleman realized the horse
breeding business was finished. When he got back to his farm, he immediately
sold out. He is the rare person who knew he needed to get out while the getting
was good. What’s that Wall Street saying, “buy low, sell high.”
More recently, the demise of Kodak was also the result of a
paradigm shift. While Kodak actually produced the first digital camera, Nikon
and Canon helped the industry turn the corner on digital photography. Film
cameras have now developed into pictures in history books, and only a few hard
cases who still believe that film can produce pictures that digital cameras
can’t touch continue to hail the outdated and nearly dead film industry.
For the masses, nothing compares to a digital camera. We
have them in our cell phones, some of which sport megapixel ratings that are
hard to believe. But there is little doubt that film will come to an inglorious
end in the near future. At some point, only those interested in antiquated
methods will continue to spout that “film is still better” when in reality it
is not anymore. The quality of a good digital photograph is at least as good as
film, the cost is lower, and the ability to manipulate the image is far beyond
anything you can do with film.
Okay David, you say, what does that have to do with the GOP?
The truth is pretty simple, really, the GOP is holding
dearly to its horse and buggy and film photography dogma. The people who held
some key GOP principals near and dear are rapidly filling graves, and the
influx of new Republicans who hold the same principles close to their hearts is
a chimera. Take a look at some of that stuff in the GOP platform:
Anti-abortion – we’re 40 years past Roe v. Wade and to be
honest it doesn’t look like that will change anytime soon regardless of who
nominates the members of the Supreme Court.
Obamacare – How many times does one have to try to get rid
of a bad law? And, if it was so bad, why didn’t it galvanize Republicans into
ensuring that President Obama did not get reelected? Just in case you didn’t
realize this, Obama got reelected because more Democrats voted for him than Republicans
voted for Mitt Romney. Some would say that the party was split and that was why
Obama won, but if ousting the Big O were the main deal why didn’t the
Republicans oust him during the last election, Mitt be darned?
Defense of Marriage Act – Known as DOMA, the Supreme Court killed
it, and yet the GOP would belabor the issue. Sorry but same sex marriage is
here to stay. It’s not a plank anymore; it’s merely a bunch of twisted
splinters.
Anti-Obama sentiment – this one’s a bit harder, but the fact
is the GOP has had its opportunities to get rid of the sitting president and
failed to do so. They also failed to take a majority of the Senate, which would
have given them an even grander opportunity to muddle things in congress. Why
did the GOP fail? Here’s why: lack of a
decent candidate and lack of support from its own people. While I didn’t have
too big of a problem with Mitt, there were enough who opted to vote otherwise,
diminish the conservative vote, and leave the door wide open for Obama. Not
even manipulating the Florida vote could help with that.
So we now know the political paradigm has already shifted. Getting
new people to join the Republican Party will require a change in the party’s
foundations. They need to bring in the younger voter, but that means shedding
some of their old truths. The general population holds those truths to be
irrelevant. It’s time to cut your losses, reinvent your platform, and move
forward. It’s either that or become the modern day Bull Moose Party. See you later;
I’m heading to the bus terminal with my ticket well in hand.
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