Dear members of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy (VRC),

You are failing miserably. I rely on you to ensure that government doesn’t take away my property, my money, my guns, my speech and my freedom. And I must say, I’m beginning to get a little worried. Not only did you nominate John McCain, whose track record on freedom is a little thin, but you don’t even seem capable of pulling it together long enough to beat a radical candidate like Barack Obama. Sheesh.

There is still time and there is still hope, but you have to change a few things about how you’re going about your business. Here are just a few suggestions.

1. Stop spending all our damn money. Whether it’s the war, education, pork projects or damn AIDS relief, whether it’s a good cause or a bad one, just stop. People want to trust their government and they can’t do that when you are spending money like Paris Hilton on crack. Fiscal rationality was the glue that held the conspiracy together. Without it there just isn’t any “Vast” in the “Right-Wing Conspiracy.”

2. Start listening to people. You spend all your time telling people WHAT to care about. You should be listening to people and telling them how they can best accomplish what THEY want to accomplish. If people want a cleaner environment, you don’t dismiss them and tell them they’re “alarmists.” There are ways to clean up the environment that don’t expand the size of government and you should help them utilize those. Same thing with health care, people want health care solutions, but OPPOSING Universal Health Care just isn’t a solution.

3. Forget the party, embrace independence. Our cousins, the Vast Left-wing Conspiracy (VLC), may be a bunch of “girly men,” but they aren’t stupid.  Politics in America has changed and they know it. Years of “campaign finance reform” and government abuse have weakened the parties to such a degree they are no longer capable of winning elections, much less changing policy.  In the 21st century people want to be independent. They like it that way. Quit criticizing this independent voters for being “mushy” and embrace the fact that they might still agree with the VRC on many issues.

4. Invest everywhere. Those at the top of the big-monied VRC organizations have spent far to much time trying to target activity to swing states and “winnable” battles. This doesn’t inspire anyone. Fight the just battles, even in the face of defeat, and you’ll win hearts and minds. Also don’t forget that power creates its own resistance, which means some of the bluest states may be the most ripe for revolution.

5. Think long term. Do I even have to explain this one?

6. Be principled, not ideological. The difference between principled and ideological is a narrow one for sure. I’m libertarian in principle, but evidence and circumstance require me to take measured positions on issues, or at least to demonstrate a willingness to take a nuanced position. Ideology, on the other hand, is the enemy of principles because it is rigid, closed-ended and doesn’t self-examine. Be principled. Let the VLC be ideological.

7. Stand for reform. Nearly 40% of Americans consider themselves independent. 50% think it’s time for a national third party. A confluence of legal and demographic changes have virtually crippled our political system. Commit to making American democracy more open and competitive. Come up with reforms and innovations that get more people involved in politics, even if it costs the VRC votes initially. If you are really “right” on the issues, you shouldn’t be afraid of openness.

8. Get postmodern. This is the hardest one for the VRC to tolerate. We tend to love our rational policy papers, our dynamic tax modeling, our Laffer Curve and our Milton Freidman. Ideas birthed the VRC, and breathed life in to it. But what you haven’t figured out yet is that, when it comes to politics, truth is often a tertiary concern. You can’t ignore it, but if you aren’t persuasive, then all the truth in the world won’t save you. The messenger (and the medium) is just as important, maybe more so, than the message.

Sincerely,

Mike