We the People: A Republican fable(?)

Opinion

January 3, 2012

By Mary DeWolf Chronicle contributor The Crossville Chronicle Tue Jan 03, 2012, 02:45 PM CST

CROSSVILLE — Once upon a time, in this very land, and not so long ago, Republicans did good deeds. There lived Republicans who battled for average citizens and their children. Republicans worked to save the environment and protect America’s rich and beautiful resources for the common good. GOP members fought bravely to stop unfair corporate practices. Republicans embraced help from the federal government to keep America great.

One of those valiant men was Teddy Roosevelt. Teddy was larger-than-life, the subject of legends and known far and wide throughout the land. He protected children with child labor laws. He promoted the eight-hour day for common workers. He wielded his sword to break up monopolies and smite those of special interests and privilege.

A hundred years ago Roosevelt cautioned, “The Republican party is now facing a great crisis. It is to decide whether it will be, as in the days of Lincoln, the party of the plain people, the party of progress, the party of social and industrial justice; or whether it will be the party of privilege and of special interests.” He urged it to “stand for the adequate control, the real control, of all big business” while encouraging the GOP to become a “fairly radical progressive party.”

Teddy’s efforts made it possible for all to enjoy our most beautiful vistas through conservation and preservation of the environment. Beating back corporate greed, he courageously expanded our national park system and rescued our forests.

Following in Roosevelt’s footsteps, Republican crusader George Norris battled efforts of Henry Ford to privatize public lands. Consequently, the Tennessee Valley Authority was formed, bringing economic recovery and electrical services to impoverished Appalachian areas.

Norris rescued working Americans from employers who would only hire non-union workers — the so called “yellow-dog contract.” He also contested the use of court orders against striking workers demanding better working conditions and fairer compensation.

Even consider the GOP hero of all heroes, Ronald Reagan. In 1985, during recovery from a grave recession with unemployment above nine percent for two years and the federal deficit soaring, Saint Ronnie reminded Congress that tax loopholes “sometimes made it possible for millionaires to pay nothing, while a bus driver was paying ten percent of his salary — and that’s crazy.” Reagan called out, “Do you think the millionaire ought to pay more in taxes than the bus driver, or less.” The response was a resounding “MORE.”

The revered Reagan would raise taxes 11 times in 8 years to arrest an increasing deficit. Today, that behavior would not only knock Reagan off his pedestal, it would keep him off the podium in one of (the many) GOP presidential debates.

Boys and girls, listen closely. This is not a fairy tale. Real Republicans of yesteryear remind us that party candidates don’t have to be cruel and selfish. Republicans of 2012 ignore the public consensus begun in the late 19th century that acknowledges the important role of the federal government in securing fair rules of competition, avoiding excesses of private power and unregulated capitalism, and fostering opportunity for those not fortunate enough to be born advantaged.

In contrast, 2012 Republican presidential candidates blame the poor for their poverty or expect impoverished elementary students to clean up after their peers. Many protect the wealthiest citizens and corporations at all costs. Some foster harm to our precious environment.

Republicans, isn’t it time to honor your history? Reclaim the kindness in your heritage and put forward candidates like Teddy Roosevelt, who admonished, “This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.”

Text Only

Opinion

Lion and the Lamb: When politics and religion meet
Several wealthy contributors to the Republican presidential campaign are once again trying to figure out how they can use a video clip containing three words that the Rev. Jeremiah Wright used in a sermon on April 13, 2003. Wright, now retired, had been pastor of the 6,600-member Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago when Barack Obama was a member there.

May 22, 2012
Random Thoughts: Returning vets fight fire
Cemeteries are given special attention this week in preparation for Memorial Day next Monday. During the Civil War gracious ladies of the south laid flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers from both sides. The custom spread across the country and was called Decoration Day until the early 20th century.

May 22, 2012
Tidbits: Finding more time in your day
If we had another two hours in every day, we'd all probably still be begging for just a little bit more to get all our stuff done before that clock strikes midnight and it's game over.

May 21, 2012
Stumptalk: Hooray for the innovators
In his brilliant article in the Free Market, Daniel Sanchez says, “There will always be a one-percent. The well-being of the 99-percent depends on who makes up the 1-percent: innovative entrepreneurs or the state and its cronies. This in turn depends on the ideologies adopted by the 99-percent.” This is the way societies have always been organized and always will be.

May 21, 2012
GARY'S WORLD: Graduates, create your own opportunities
Time flies. One day you have a baby boy who is fascinated with stuffed Miss Piggy and Kermit rattles and the next day he wants to wear his cowboy boots and hat with every outfit no matter what the occasion. Before you know it, he's playing in the elementary school band, going into high school, learning how to drive, driving to school, going to prom and graduating.

May 17, 2012
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Truly a January in May
“It’s June in January” became a popular standard after Bing Crosby introduced the song in 1934. A strange thing happened last week. I call it a tale of ‘It’s January in May.’

May 15, 2012
LION AND THE LAMB: Our challenged nation
Three major social justice issues have been a source of contention in our nation over the years, and interestingly, each of them has involved the subject of equality.

May 15, 2012
WE THE PEOPLE: Repressing the ‘Grapes of Wrath’
Sometimes a hole appears, ever so briefly, in the curtain that hides the plans of those who control our government. One such opening occurred when Alan Greenspan testified to the Federal Reserve Board on Feb. 26, 1997. During that testimony, Greenspan revealed that “worker insecurity” was (in his view) a boon to the economy, allowing productivity to increase without causing workers to demand increased earnings.

May 15, 2012
TIDBITS: Never stop moving forward, grads
This week is a week of celebration. According to my files of graduating seniors, Cumberland County will see more than 550 students earning their high school diplomas this week. Now, those youngsters will venture out into the world, armed with the knowledge and character instilled in them by their parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, teachers, principals, classmates, coaches and others.

May 14, 2012
STUMPTALK: Please do not feed the animals
The food stamp program, part of the Department of Agriculture, is pleased to be distributing the greatest amount of food stamps ever. In the mean time, the National Park Service, also part of the Department of Agriculture, asks us to "please do not feed the animals" because the animals "may grow dependent and not learn to take care of themselves."

May 14, 2012
More Opinion Headlines

Opinion

Search Results

We the People: A Republican fable(?)

Site Map

Contact Us