The writer is propounding a false policy, because he has fallen into the trap of the Left’s making. He’s bought into their narrative.
New Ideas. No such thing. You think these ideas are new. You’re kidding, right? Did not Franklin and de Toqueville warn against these very “ideas” 200+ years ago? Conservative positions are not “stale ideas”. They are not ideas, by definition, because they are tried-and-true philosophies. Hence, the concept of conservative. We conserve the old, proven ways. We hew to tradition.
Better solutions. Big mistake. Huge. Never engage the enemy on his chosen field of battle. You’re likely conceding the victory at the start. When we start engaging the opposition on issues that they have defined, we are sure to lose, because they have defined the issues in such a way as to make their “solution” axiomatic.
Take healthcare, for example. McCain’s solution was recognized as being superior to Obama’s, but it was too technical for people to get in a soundbite, and it was the wrong answer, anyway. He engaged on the enemy’s chosen field, fought very well, and lost anyway, because he couldn’t win. To win, he had to redefine the issue. The problem isn’t lack of insurance. The problem is the spiraling-out-of-control cost of health care. Identifying the problem is half the solution.
Now, why is the cost out of control? Because in 1849, the government gave authority over regulation of health care to the AMA, a union of doctors who believe that only surgery and pharmaceuticals can cure disease. They then drove all other competitors out of business and formed a monopoly. The Chinese herbalist, the village wise woman, the chiropractor, and many others, were out of business in five years. It was governmental interference in health care 160 years ago that caused today’s problems.
Redefined, government is the problem, not the solution. This is in line with conservatism. Now, the debate changes to philosophy, instead of false “solutions”. This changes the battlefield to one of our choosing. It’s one where the Libs cannot win. It’s the only way to defeat the “free goodies” mentality.
The writer is saying we have to adapt to the desires of the public, but that is basically conceding to the opposition the choice of battleground, because what the public desires, is whatever the opposition has declared it to be. They’ve defined the issue. We must redefine it. That’s what Reagan did, and it is why he was so successful.
