“Man is by nature a political animal.” Aristole
Man is by nature many things and it is certain that the great Greek had that one right. For there to be much anything to remember or write of there must be civilization and culture and these mean mankind in its corporate state. The individual is not a civil society, nor even is the family. Without interaction both among individuals and groups we have no cities, no states, no nations, and no countries.
As such for eons like minded peoples have grouped together and joined forces to preserve, change and overcome their situations. This grouping of those with at least some common purpose is the basis for much of our society and almost all our political parties.
As such those who consider themselves more liberal or conservative, left or right, progressive or reactionary have tended to ally themselves with whichever major (or minor) party that best suited not only their beliefs but which had the best chances of electoral victory to achieve at least some of their goals. (This often half-hearted ideology is common in America and a source of endless victory parades for less than mediocre candidates.)
As I am most conversant with those on the “right” I can address only them. It seems since the series of electoral defeats suffered by the Republican party since 2006 the more conservative members are having second thoughts. I suspect this started before that year. There are those who supported the Republicans and George W. Bush by proxy for social reasons but who had serious misgivings about Iraq. With the primary opposition being of the far left variety though, these with troubled consciences had no home and no stomach for a civil war in the GOP.
The series of defeats though and the victory of Comrade Obama have given new life to the doubts of these conservatives. They are not a monolithic group. Some are church aligned, some are libertarians, many were Ron Paul supporters and some are even Iraq war veterans. These last in particular have formed a revived Whig Party. There is also increased interest in the Libertarian Party as well as the American Conservative Party.
Whether this flirtation with third parties has any real effect only time will tell. This is certain though, a great many conservatives and reactionaries are fed up with the Republican party. They are fed up with having the hard work of supporting the party for all these years and doing so much to help it to victory thrown away by those in office wearing its name.
Disgust has mounted against the high levels of corruption, greed and mismanagement at the Congressional level. The spending right now gets the media but under George W. Bush, Dennis Hastert and Trent Lott the Republican administration began the spending spree with abandon. Obama may have spent more in a shorter time than his predecessor but he was only following the game plan already laid out when he took office.
Conservatives are sick of seeing promises of smaller government and homage to the constitution shredded as soon as the candidate takes office and drinks of the Potomac Koolaide. They have become weary of not being able to tell the policy or voting differences between the Democrats and Republicans. Only when prodded by outrage or clogged phone lines to Capitol Hill is any positive action seen by Repulicans as a whole. This will not do.
Libertarians, conservatives, reactionaries (like von Rum) and social traditionalists alike are either at or approaching a crossroads. The great question is do we continue to support a party with no ideas and ideology beyond securing its own power or do we just walk away? (von Rum walked away years ago)
Yes by abandoning the Republican party conservatives may conceede rule by a Democratic administration for some time to come. In that there is great danger. There is however little possibility that the Republicans will see sense either, even if they do regain the Congress in 2010. Those who value tradition, family, honor, law, liberty, justice and peace may be without a true home for some time. Until viable new party is found or created we will be pilgrims who may take temporary shelter under some party umbrella but knowing we have not found a home.
von Rum
The Daily Rum 