“Republicans Rebranded” from the Boston Globe

A thoughtful take on the future of conservatism, from a New England perspective:

The underlying problem for Republicans is the absence of a compelling conservative vision for the future that is aligned with New England’s more tolerant and civic-minded political sensibilities.

Typically, political observers say that the national Republican Party has moved too far to the right for moderate New Englanders. But I think a more telling way to frame the problem is that the national party has drifted away from the core conservative principles that used to unite Republicans from all parts of the country, in favor of policies that appeal to an increasingly narrow, albeit fervent, base.

So more moderate?

At the same time, a worldview that is defined merely by moderation – the space that lies between left and right – is no worldview at all. In the post-Reagan GOP, any viable governing philosophy has to be grounded in the basic tenets of conservatism: limited and accountable government, individual liberty and responsibility, and free markets.

Amen.  But how do we make the message more appealing? First, be more positive:

…the loudest voices of conservatism on the national stage today are more likely to bemoan America’s decline than to praise its potential. They are also increasingly known for their resistance to science, technology, and change. This rejection of hope and progress runs against the grain of the American spirit and is a formula for even more electoral defeats.

Next, focus on issues that broaden the base:

Republicans should start to focus on those issues that transcend the traditional partisan boundaries. Call them reverse wedge issues. For example, promoting charter schools appeals to conservatives, but it also appeals to low-income families who tend to lean left. Ending public subsidies for favored industries, like biotech, movies, and trade shows, reinforces the conservative belief in free markets, but it also responds to liberal concerns about fairness. Issues like these can broaden the base, not circumscribe it.

Third, push for real reform and new ideas:

Republicans should concentrate their energy on developing bold proposals for transforming the state’s bloated and costly bureaucracy, not only to save money, but also to deliver better performance. Reforming the state pension system, rationalizing the capital budget, consolidating agencies and line items, and eliminating programs that can’t demonstrate results should all be issues where Republicans lead.

The author, James Peyser, also suggests a name change, which seems to be a bit of a stretch, but I’m with him on much of the rest.  A more positive outlook, pushing conservative ideas with broad appeal, (like school choice), offering new ideas to make systemic changes.

I like it.