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Since
our offices are close by, and since we always enjoy
observing the young, ambitious and committed in
action, we wandered by to see if these signs
signaled the opening rounds of the “Richmond Tea
Party” or were more general in nature.
It
turns out that No Tax Hike is a major plank in the
platform of Virginia Republicans as they face the
next session of the General Assembly and the 2004
round of elections. As reported in the local press, this
broadside has the support of Republican luminaries
past and present. It is apparently designed to serve as a
rallying cry to ensure that tax increases are not
the solution of choice as Virginians continue to
deal with the bitter fact that there doesn’t
appear to be enough money in the state coffers to
provide all the services citizens have come to
expect.
This
mantra doesn’t strike us as particularly visionary
or even relevant. Tax increases have already been
voted off the table. If the wealthiest parts of the
Commonwealth won’t approve small local tax
increases to address local traffic conditions, the
chances of the rest of the Commonwealth’s elected
reps getting excited about hanging their political
futures on tax increases don’t seem very high.
We
are reminded of a chance conversation with Del.
William Janis, R-Oilville, a bright, gutsy, and
articulate gentleman who represents the area just
west of
Richmond
in the General Assembly. Bill is a VMI grad, a
former military officer who spent his active duty
time in a particularly sporty form of intelligence
collection work (an experience we have in common),
and has given some serious thought to this issue of
how we can afford the state services we need.
Janis’
formula is simple and carries the power of logic
(which, we have to admit, does not always equate to
political sustainability): Before we start talking
about how much money we need to raise, before we
even think about tax increases, we need to decide
how much to spend. This
means that seriously considering not doing some
things we are doing, and not spending some money we
are currently spending.
When
reduced to the bumper sticker level of campaign
politics, there probably isn’t much difference
between Janis and the Young Republicans. But there
is, in fact, an important distinction that
Republicans should explore. If our former leader Jim Gilmore is correct
in asserting that there is plenty of money in the
state budget, then let’s find it.
We
start by answering some hard questions. What kind of
Commonwealth does Virginia
really want to be as we navigate the 21st
Century? Do we want to build an economy based on
technology, an educated workforce, and a climate
that encourages business investment? Well, of
course, you say. Those are the only choices.
Do
we want to create an economic climate that values
all of our citizens for their potential to
contribute? Of course. Do we want to support a
finely tuned social services system that provides
incentives for all to participate in the economy
without making transforming recipients into wards of
the government? Sure enough. Do we want a
world-class K-12 system that equips students with
the educational skills required to compete in a
global marketplace?
Yeah,
yeah, we’re going to do all that stuff.
People
on the fringe of both parties can get cranked up
over Roe v. Wade and other issues that make them
feel morally superior but don’t add squat to the
general economic and social well being. The
activists forget, at times, that politics engages
citizens when it addresses gut-level issues of the
day: Can I afford a decent place to live? Can I
improve my economic standing? Can I participate in
the finer things in life. Can my family and I move
up in this world. Can I even afford a family?
We
recall the spectacle created by Mr. Gingrich and Mr.
Armey after the “Republican Revolution” of 1994
when they told the business community, in essence,
“We’re in charge here now, and you guys need to
give all your political contributions to us. None of
this hedging your bets. You’re either with us 100
percent or you have zero influence.” Doesn’t
work. Politicians serve the public, not the other
way around. Remember what happened in ’96?
The
guys on the other side of the aisle are criticized
for and debate amongst themselves about letting the
party get divorced from the mainstream of American
life. The Republicans get dangerously close to
making the same mistake. Long-term, success will go
to those who harness political energy to achieve
economic success for the broadest segment of the
population. Sloganeering on third-tier non-issues is
not a viable political strategy
If
this analysis seems unduly weighted to the economic,
it is worth noting that even President George W.
Bush, who led a tremendous political victory for his
party by offering gutsy leadership in the face of
international challenges -- as opposed to ramming
his personal moral views, of which he has no reason
to be ashamed, down the voters’ throats -- is
using his leadership talent to address the
country’s economic position. Virginia Republicans
should do no less for their Commonwealth.
No
Tax Hike as our bumper sticker? That has that fairly
typical Republican flavor of we don’t know what
we’re for, but we know what we’re against. How
about Real Action on Real Issues?
--
December
16, 2002
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