The Rebirth of Compassionate
Conservatism
--- "It is compassionate to actively help
our citizens in need. It is conservative to insist on accountability and
results."
— President George W.
Bush
Reaching out to the poor is both morally
correct and politically astute for the republican party as it prepares to take
its turn at the helm. American black
voters have already shown their willingness to listen by not coming out in force
to help elect Hillary Clinton; this window may not be open for long. It is time for the rebirth of compassionate
conservatism. Prior misdirected attempts
failed to repair the broken base on which they tried to build. A new anti-poverty agenda should focus on
economic development, social cohesiveness, and educational effectiveness.
Following the old axiom that a good job
is the best anti-poverty program, we must channel some of the new revenue from
the anticipated trillions of repatriated corporate dollars into the inner
cities as part of an expanded use of “enterprise zones.” These urban development programs would be
most effective when allowing government employment training programs to be
administered by corporations. Law and
order efforts, although they must increase police diversity and even the use of
community-based auxiliary forces, must provide safe and functional
neighborhoods and schools; street gangs must be confronted and expelled. On the other hand, incarceration patterns and
welfare program structures must be revamped to encourage greater paternal
participation in family formation. As
conditions improve, so will the success of the educational system, especially
when competition and parental choice are introduced. Education, combined with individual
responsibility, is the ultimate anti-poverty remedy.
So, when our new president asks the
poor, “What do you have to lose?” The answer would be another loss of faith in the American system if the new Republican administration proves to be, for them, more of the same.
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