Conservatism’s Little Red Hen Moment

[Valin]

National Review:

Speaker Ryan’s ‘A Better Way’ proposals are the conservative-reform agenda of the future.

Ellen Carmichael

June 13, 2016

 

If humanity hasn’t changed much since ancient times, then the parables of old certainly still hold true today. In contemporary conservative politics, perhaps none is more important to appreciate than the story of “The Little Red Hen.”

 

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Last week, this cautionary tale came to life for conservatives. In front of the media and residents of Washington, D.C.’s impoverished Anacostia neighborhood, Republican lawmakers released “A Better Way,” a policy agenda that outlines how conservative principles can be applied to tackle America’s greatest challenges. Led by Speaker Paul Ryan, it is the compilation of efforts from some of the most powerful House Republicans, including Budget chairman Tom Price, M.D. of Georgia, Education and the Workforce chairman John Kline of Minnesota, Texas’s Kevin Brady and Mike Conway, chairmen of the Ways and Means Committee and the Agriculture Committee, respectively, and Representatives Jackie Walorski (Ind.), Andy Barr (Ky.), and Bradley Byrne (Ala.).

 

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For some in attendance, this sadly might have been the first time they had considered that Republicans cared about them. This may have been their first exposure to conservatism, as well as the notion that these policies were a better alternative to the liberal agenda that created such social decay and economic disparity. Perhaps this was even the first time politicians ever expressed to them that they honored their lives’ value and celebrated the joy of their lives’ potential.

 

It was an absolutely extraordinary day. But most Americans probably never heard about it. And worse, most conservatives probably didn’t, either.

 

Of course, the media couldn’t focus its attention on the policy matters at hand, chomping at the bit to ask Speaker Ryan about the latest Donald Trump calamity instead of how Republicans would put policies into action. Unfortunately, we have come to expect such a disservice from a press more keen to discuss political machinations than how policymaking actually affects the public.

 

The real disappointment lies with many of the Right’s talkers and tastemakers who routinely reject any opportunity to lend their voice to a project as worthwhile as this — a project that introduces new audiences to the intellectual rigor and moral duty that are the foundation of conservatism. They predictably ignored last week’s event, despite their continued insistence that they are the most committed to the advancement of conservatism in this country.

 

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Once Again I did something stupid...I read the comments.