Joining the ranks.
Posted: June 26th, 2009 | Author: mberg | Filed under: General | 1 Comment »Earlier this week I officially registered myself as a Republican. This is perhaps unsurprising to those that know me, but it has taken me a long time to willingly accept that designation; for years I’ve been “center right” or “conservative” but never a Republican.
My timing perhaps leaves something to be desired. I join a party out of power and in disarray, having suffered routs in the past two election cycles and almost certain to suffer additional losses next year. I join at a time when long standing members are defecting and disassociating from the party in record numbers. And that’s not even touching on the recent scandals.
On the other hand, what better time to influence the character of a party than at it’s nadir, when existing trends and strategies have been discredited? I hold no illusion that I will have any discerable effect myself, but hold hope that enough will rally to the idea that while government can sometimes be a good servant, it is always a poor master.
I think there’s actually a great deal to be said for joining the Republican Party now; the big tent has shrunk and the party is seeking direction. You may not think that you yourself can effect a discernible change, but I disagree.
Every ‘voice of reason’ available to the GOP is valuable right now; the core Republican and conservative principles are not inherently wrong as the wingnuts on the left would suggest. Intelligent arguments in their favor will, in the long run, help the party re-establish itself. Every talking head or blogger on this path makes a difference, and any one of them may emerge on a larger stage as being worth a listen.
It is perhaps a disadvantage to be reasonable in one’s discussion of events, as the media tends to make sensations of the radical statements, but making a difference isn’t necessarily about having your words resonate with the most people – it’s about having them resonate with the right people.
With the advent of Twitter and other social media, and their increasing adoption by high-profile names inside the Beltway, there is more opportunity than ever to be heard in the corridors of power.
Though I identify with neither the label of Republican or that of conservative, I respect the principles and see their importance in continued dialogue, and I’ll gladly help you get listened to where it counts.