Show 1 1 1 It Seems To M My Me MeBy Meny By ny y Joseph It II Roberts 1 11 1 1 1 1 1111 1 1 11 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1111 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Republican Party defunct COPYRIGHT 1976 Contemporary Features Syndicate Inc The Republican Party lost more than an election in November It lost its function as asa asa asa a major political party It is practically without a forum Corum for Cor voicing contrary views on and alternative solutions to national problems and it does not have enough political 1 clout left to serve as an effective check against the excesses excesses of the Democrats While the Presidential election may have been close as asCar asfar asfar far Car as the number of votes was concerned there was nothing close about the division of power in the federal and state governments The Democrats swept the field winning not only that sweetest of oC all prizes the White House but both houses of Congress and most of oC the state governments the next time the Republican governors meet they will have just enough for three tables of bridge bridgel Hopefully we can survive for Cor four years years years' without a strong opposition party but we certainly certainly certainly cant can't survive much longer than that Our democratic form Corm of government depends upon a two-party two system to prevent the government government government govern govern- ment from degenerating into an autocracy Regardless of oC how well the Dem Democrats may represent the views of oC the majority of voters how hard they may work to serve the needs needs' of the people and how efficient they are in passing and enforcing the laws they consider consider consider con con- sider necessary in carrying out their programs the basic freedoms freedoms' of the people will be in jeopardy without an alert watchdog party to guard them against abuses No doubt those Republicans who still hold office will do what they cm can to serve as the voice of the opposition but they have their own survival to think trunk of and they must get some som of of t their ei legislation passed if they hope to se serve ve e their constituencies at all T This is means means n compromise trading y votes and g generally Ut y n not rocking the b boat at They may be tie beable able bl t to form 8 a coalition with t the e conservative Democrats 10 in A 1 Congress as they have in tn the past but without a Republican President to back them their influence will be greatly reduced Also at least for Cor a awhile awhile awhile while the Southern Democrats will be more inclined to work with Carter than with his op op- position We have a choice I suppose We can sit back and do nothing while we wait for Cor the Grand Old Party to rise out of Its own ashes like the phoenix we can make an out all-out effort to rebuild the GOP or we can devote our efforts to establishing a new party that may enable us to have a genuine two-party two system by 1980 The latter choice seems the most likely to succeed The chances of the Republican Party ever becoming a major political force Coree again are nil No matter how well qualified and able the candidates may be the name Republican will hurt them in most races The name is tainted not only with Watergate but with negativism a 8 status that makes the Party seem archaic and out of touch with reality The name is too often associated with wealthy families and hug corporations in the minds of many voters The party of oC Lincoln has lost its common touch its compassion for Cor the little people There is an obvious need for Cor a anew anew anew new party one that represents the average citizen not the very rich nor the very poor that is moderate in its philosophy and dedicated to protecting the freedoms of oC individuals against the encroachment of big governments federal state and municipal Let it enunciate enunciate enunciate principles that clearly show it in opposition to the Social Democrats and it will gather a large following Let it not be a third party nor a 8 regional party but the first party for Cor ev everyone who cherishes personal freedom and the rights of the individuals With such a party I believe we could preserve our two- two party system and that is even more important than who gets ele elected ted in 1980 |