The Future Party

I Have My Reasons

Dave Davis Commentary, Policy, The Future Party, Uncategorized , , , ,

In the last post, I stated people should back the person most closely aligned with their principles and goals that can get elected. People have pointed out that former President Trump is leading Biden in several polls, so why am I not supporting him? The simple reason is that we disagree on important issues, precisely his stance on capitalism vs. state-directed economies and his subservience to bureaucratic elites. 

That doesn’t mean I didn’t applaud his tax cuts, opposing more regulations, and solid court appointments. Support for Israel while containing Iran led to the Abraham Accords. Providing real weapons to Ukraine kept Russia at bay. 

Trump’s stance on Capitalism vs. State-directed economies, as characterized by protectionism, debt, and immigration, however, revealed Trump’s less attractive side. Subservience to bureaucratic elites, Trump clashed with my fundamental values. 

A bedrock belief in markets allocating resources rather than self-serving elites makes me hostile to industrial policies. These policies, characterized by state intervention in the economy, have historically proven ineffective and often disastrous. 

After freeing up markets and achieving remarkable growth, China is reverting to the state direction of the economy with the expected results; growth is decelerating. Soon, it will join the old Soviet Union, Cuba, Venezuela, and Argentina as countries that could be rich but choose to move backward.

Speaking of Argentina, the new president, Javier Milie, explains the differences between capitalism’s successes and the failures of statism in his address before the World Economic Forum. I only wish I had his passionate ability to make the case for markets and the people rather than the state making decisions. One can only hope he will get the support to return Argentina to its place among wealthy nations.

A state-directed economy is only possible by separating a nation from competing goods and ideas. Protectionism through tariffs is a primary tool. Trump loves tariffs. He imposed them to protect our steel and washing machine industries. While he saved some jobs in the protected sectors, the data shows he lost more jobs among the users of tariff-protected products such as autos and washing machines using the now higher price steel, making them less competitive.

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We Deserve A Better Leader

Dave Davis Commentary, Policy, The Future Party, The Middle East, Uncategorized , , , ,

Three dead, and dozens hurt, the result of a suicide drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan. It was just a matter of time before U.S. troops died, according to Gen. Keith Kellogg on Fox News. After 160+ attacks on U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq, added to assaults on shipping in the Red Sea, the Biden administration had repeatedly told Iran and its surrogates, “Don’t,” but they did. Still, administration spokespeople’s recurrent theme is, “We don’t seek a wider war.” 

Remember, as recently as 9/29/23, the national security advisor Jake Sullivan claimed the Mideast is the quietest in decades. Now, Anthony Blinkin says we face the most significant Mideast problem since 1973. Since the October 7th horrific attack, the hostilities have spread from Israel and Gaza to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, the Red Sea, Yemen, and now Jordan. A war already rapidly widening. From the quiet of the Abraham Accords and a restrained Iran at the end of the last administration to the present mess, you can’t avoid the conclusion it’s the result of Biden’s policies.

Besides removing sanctions allowing a massive increase in Iran’s oil revenues and unblocking Billions of dollars, which allowed the Mullahs to finance the increase in the terrorist activities of their surrogates, the administration also re-instated aid to The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA). Years ago, I pointed out in posts on the Middle East that this agency was far from being a force for good. It served only to prolong and deepen problems. 

Instead of facilitating Palestinian resettlement in the Arab world, it kept them in camps, with only their hatred and families increasing. UNWRA schools taught hostility to Jews. President Trump’s U.N. Ambassador, Nikki Haley, aware of its failings, successfully pushed the U.S. to defund the wayward agency. However, Biden restored funding and added even more discretionary funds.

Now we find UNWRA employees took part in Hamas’ ghastly attack on Israel. Evidence shows at least one in ten of its staffers have ties to the terrorist group. Believe it or not, the U.S. Taxpayers supported the terrorists. Even with UNWRA’s widely known flaws, Biden gave them funds, much of it ending up with Hamas financing its horrors.

I can’t prove my earlier idea that a quiet but robust alliance between Israel, the U.S., and the Kurds would’ve kept a lid on the Mideast caldron, allowing the area to evolve into modernity. Still, it couldn’t have worse results than we have now. Even in a limited form under Trump, maintaining the Harir airbase in Kurdistan and solid support of Israel allowed some Arab nations to join in the Abraham Accords, with others likely to follow. Wouldn’t it be better to have our own strategically placed proxies?

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Business Giving Us the Business

Dave Davis Commentary, Policy, The Future Party, Uncategorized

“I believe, as a conservative, the job of government is, in the main, to stay out of the business of business,” said former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. He added, “I don’t think we should be heavily regulating business.” He offered these comments in criticism of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ feud with Disney. He is joined in this disapproval by former South Carolina Governor Nicki Haley, New Hamshire Governor Chris Sununu, and of course, former president Donald Trump.

How do we account for their support for Disney versus the Florida Governor?”I believe, as a conservative, the job of government is, in the main, to stay out of the business of business,” said former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. He added, “I don’t think we should be heavily regulating business.” He offered these comments in criticism of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ feud with Disney. He is joined in this disapproval by former South Carolina Governor Nicki Haley, New Hamshire Governor Chris Sununu, and of course, former president Donald Trump. How do we account for their support for Disney versus the Florida Governor?

The bout started when Disney opposed Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act. The law prohibits “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”

 Further, “…at least seven Florida counties that could remove parents from important conversations about their children’s gender identity. The law now makes these policies illegal.” Parents now must be notified of their child’s “transitioning. While labeled “the Don’t Say Gay Bil,” it, in fact, never uses the term “Gay.” 

In what world do “conservatives” support a company whose principal market is young children, campaigning for the sexualization of 3rd graders and younger? Do they concur parents shouldn’t be told of their children contemplating taking dangerous drugs and getting surgeries?

The ire of these contenders centers on Desantis returning fire by changing Disney’s special governing powers. Punishing the company for threatening the state democratically passing a law isn’t acceptable to them. 

Make no mistake, Disney was threatening Florida. We’ve seen this show before. A significant company comes out against some bills it doesn’t like even though it doesn’t directly affect its business and receives favorable press from the mainstream media. Soon it’s joined by others. The state loses business and significant events. The state is hurt.

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So What Do We Do?

Dave Davis Commentary, Policy, The Future Party, Uncategorized

My last post pointed out that the majority is now at the mercy of some minorities, and our communities are declining. Our political system has fallen prey to extreme minorities, but a reader asked how to fix it. I still think some past recommendations could make a difference. Maybe we can build on them.

Political parties exist for only one reason, to win elections. Primaries subvert the party’s mission instead of finding attractive positions on issues and finding candidates likely to succeed in implementing them. Candidates exposing extreme and generally unpopular positions can appeal to just enough primary voters to take places on the ballot rather than somebody who could win. I covered this in the series “The Future Party.”

If the Republicans and Democrats weren’t committed to primaries, would they run Biden or Trump? The two significant parties are frightened at the prospect; the new “No Labels Party” looks at candidates appealing to the broad middle range of voters who could win. If they weren’t likely to nominate two old guys most people don’t want; they wouldn’t be so terrified. At least “No Labels” knows what it’s in business to achieve.  

A curveball in this scenario could be one of these two candidates pulling out or having to pull out in favor of a younger, more popular candidate. The other party would be stuck with an unpopular oldster. Given their ages, health might result in such an unexpected outcome.

Another impediment to majorities regaining control is our segmented media. Most media outlets aim at slices rather than appealing to general audiences, and presenting information deviating from what that crowd believes could cost them big time.

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The Irrelevant Party

Dave Davis Commentary, Dave's Healthcare Plan, Policy, The Future Party, Uncategorized

With everyone now aware of the administration’s ineptitude, I have no reason to pile on. I predicted the problems in my 3/20 post, “the Dog ate Biden’s Homework.” After two months, it was clear that the bunch hadn’t put in the work to anticipate the results of their actions or lack of effort. Constantly being caught off-guard is the hallmark of Biden and friends. People are taking a hard look at his crew and are shocked. Unless Biden can pull a Bill Clinton and do a 180, all we can expect is more of the same. We all know Bill Clinton, and Biden is no Bill Clinton. 

Jonah Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of the Dispatch, caught my eye by suggesting a new third party to cause the Trump-dominated Republicans some pain. It would consist of those conservatives that never found any redeeming qualities in the Trump administration. Most voted for Biden. Goldberg credits “never Trumpers” as providing Biden’s margin of victory in tossup states such as Wisconsin.  

In the last election, those opposing Trump sold Biden to America as a competent centrist. This line worked in 2020 but is unlikely to be the case in 2022 or 2024. In less than nine months, this profile of our president looks like a fairy tale. 

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