Symposium: Let’s Take Back What’s Ours

This article is in response to “It’s Time for Free-Market Populism” and is part of the symposium on What’s Wrong with Conservatism and How Do We Make It Right?

The hard thing about remembering the average Joe is that he’s kind of boring. Most of the American people don’t want boring when hearing the policies and strategies of those fighting to take the lead. They want the excitement of change and progress—the knowledge that we are going to do great things. It’s a principle of the rhetoric used in politics these days, and it works.

This is partly why both parties target the extremes. The Democrats can boast of helping the underprivileged and oppressed minorities. The GOP caters to the rich and connected. But the funny thing is, a lot of people—Romney’s 47%, in fact, don’t fit into that category. Those are the people who have been forgotten, and the field we are trying to level is as filled with holes as ever. The sad part is, most people, by feeling overlooked, easily lean towards the Democratic candidates. They are ripe for being picked up by “Change” and “Hope” slogans. It just makes so much more sense than being overlooked by the elitest cronies, doesn’t it?

And you know, these people are “boring”. They are the ones trying to raise families, buy a car, drive the kids to soccer, and save for retirement. They work hard. They don’t want free healthcare and they don’t qualify for welfare, but they are not elite or wealthy enough to live in the “bedroom communities of the nation’s capital” or to support the power behind the GOP party.

Hmmmm. Not really the best subject-matter for the excitement craved in the race for presidency.

So what’s the solution?

Ideally, we could change the over-use of emotionally-charged rhetoric in most of the depictions of the GOP party. Average Joe is going to remain boring unless that is done. But more realistically, we need to present our principles to the “common people” in a way that actually looks like it will benefit them. That’s what the Democrats are doing, and we can play that game too without compromising our own principles. Besides re-working our policies and cutting the silly government-granted privileges, we also need to remind that 47% we haven’t forgotten them. Let them climb the ladder. Heck, help them! Don’t forget the American Dream that seems to be dwindling away as the men in suits continue to make all the decisions for them—and for us.