Looking Back at the Election

Needless to say, I was severely disappointed in the results of last week's election. Initially rejecting Romney as a mainstream Republican, I grew very fond of him, and knew he would make a great president. He had the governing experience as a Republican in a state left of Lenin, and could get the politicians in Washington, D.C. to work for the people yet again. However, my fantasy did not play out. The American people (by a frightening margin), voted Obama back into office. Such a result is patently reflective of the entitlement nature of our country. With more Americans than ever on handouts, and fewer Americans with skin in the game, I see how the candidate proposing austerity would lose. Once people start getting their treats, they're not going to want them taken away, as we will see even more now that Obamacare will come into full effect. While many in the GOP are calling on us to capitulate to a new electorate, we must hold strong to our conservative values. Conservatism is still wildly popular; evident in the majority of states holding Republican governors. And, as it clashes with the election, many people still favor less government; according to polling. We cannot abandon our principles of economic freedom, a powerful defense, and strong family values because of one election, or we truly will see the end of conservatism as we know it.

The Senate results leave yet another bitter taste in my mouth. We had a chance here, and thanks to the selfish egos of a few, lost it. Murdock and Akin had easy races, with Akin facing one of the most vulnerable Democrat candidates in the country. The two Republicans decided to get philosophical on the issue of rape, and put the nails in their coffins--similarly to Goldwater's approach to the CRA of 1964. Rather than saying "ban abortion except in the cases of rape and incest," the two candidates took on a stance popular with only a few percent of Americans--trying to defend a radical position with more philosophy than medicine. Yes, I am vehemently pro-life, and I want abortion to become a thing of the past. The ghastly procedure is said to be backed by a constitutional right. However, in my mind, crushing an unborn baby's skull and dismembering the child, is not in the Constitution I know and love. In order to effectively reduce abortion, we need a national standard declaring exceptions for rape and incest. Then, simply return to the tenth amendment. Allow states to ban abortion to varying degrees, but not crossing the threshold set by the Congress. You'll then have liberal states allowing abortion up to term, while the nice, conservative states, will ban it early on, or all together--but with the exceptions. Such a method will allow citizens to create the society that best fits the maximum number of people. Why force California's values upon Texas or Mississippi? That was the purpose of the tenth amendment, and of states' rights as a whole.

A similar approach is needed for gay marriage. Since nowhere in the Constitution lies a clause on marriage, allow states to regulate marriage. Allow some states to ban it, while allowing others to recognize it. There is plenty of evidence, and testimony from homosexuals, that the gay lifestyle is a choice, and declaring gay rights tantamount to the civil rights movement for Blacks is offensive. Even if there is biology involved, there are a lot more genes making a person white or black than there are genes making a person gay or straight. Allow states to regulate gay parenthood as well; just as they play a role in straight parenthood. There are massive amounts of evidence showing how non-traditional households have negative effects on children, and to say that this is a non-issue is to ignore the better for the country's children. Again, states reflect the interests of the most number of people.

As we move forward to 2014, 2016, and beyond, let us remember the importance of conservative government, and the importance that states play in the success of our union. I hope and pray the elected officials in Washington start working for the people who elected them, and for their own ideology.