So, what about the GOP? Now that I have trashed the Dems – and no doubt many “left libertarians” and self-defined liberals (neo-liberals, at least), what is the philosophy of the ying to the Dems’ yang?

Britannica says: “The Republican Party was initially created to advocate for a free-market economy that countered the Democratic Party’s agrarian leanings and support of slave labour. In recent history, the Republicans have been affiliated with reducing taxes to stimulate the economy, deregulation, and conservative social values.”

Maybe…? No, absolutely false. As is so much else we read. Read on.

Philosophy-Question.com writes: “Its 21st-century ideology is American conservatism, which incorporates both social conservatism and fiscal conservatism. The GOP supports lower taxes, free-market capitalism, restrictions on immigration, increased military spending, gun rights, restrictions on abortion, deregulation, and restrictions on labor unions.”

The NashvilleRepublicanWomen.org states; We believe that:

•  The right of individuals to achieve the best that is within themselves, as long as they respect the rights of others, is the source of our Nation’s strength.
• Government activities should be limited to those things which people cannot do at all, or cannot do themselves.
• The most effective government is government closest to the people.
• Those who cannot provide for themselves should be assisted by both government and society, but that every effort should be made to help them become self-supporting, productive citizens with pride in their independence.
• Equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity belong to all, regardless of race, creed, age, sex and national origin.
• The preservation of our Nation and the security of our citizens depend upon the Constitution, the laws and the courts, and that respect for them is the responsibility of every individual.
• Government is accountable for maintaining sound money and a responsible economy. Individual rights, liberties and properties are continually eroded when citizens are oppressed by excessive taxation, inflation, government waste and over-regulation.
• Government is responsible for national defense and that only a strong America can remain a free America.
• It is absolutely essential to maintain a strong national defense posture in order that we may at all times negotiate from a position of strength, not weakness, in our continuing efforts toward peace and friendship.
• These concepts are the foundation of our national strength and that the Republican Party, which is committed to their preservation, is the party of today, and the party for the future.
•  The right of individuals to achieve the best that is within themselves, as long as they respect the rights of others, is the source of our Nation’s strength.
• Government activities should be limited to those things which people cannot do at all, or cannot do themselves.
• The most effective government is government closest to the people.
• Those who cannot provide for themselves should be assisted by both government and society, but that every effort should be made to help them become self-supporting, productive citizens with pride in their independence.
• Equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity belong to all, regardless of race, creed, age, sex and national origin.
• The preservation of our Nation and the security of our citizens depend upon the Constitution, the laws and the courts, and that respect for them is the responsibility of every individual.
• Government is accountable for maintaining sound money and a responsible economy. Individual rights, liberties and properties are continually eroded when citizens are oppressed by excessive taxation, inflation, government waste and over-regulation.
• Government is responsible for national defense and that only a strong America can remain a free America.
• It is absolutely essential to maintain a strong national defense posture in order that we may at all times negotiate from a position of strength, not weakness, in our continuing efforts toward peace and friendship.
• These concepts are the foundation of our national strength and that the Republican Party, which is committed to their preservation, is the party of today, and the party for the future.

On the other hand, many Democrats accuse the GOP of “paternalism, hysteria, conspiracy theories, censorship, moral superiority, virtue signaling, and a complete indifference to people’s material well-being.” The same thing that some in the GOP claim of Democrats. One Democrat says: “There are two kinds of Republicans: the ignorant and the evil.” True though that might be, it does not help us understand the GOP’s philosophy.

What CAN help us understand is comparison and knowledge of history. Let us proceed.

Again, consider the same two charts:

Now, all of that stuff we just read sounds pretty good from the point of view of a lover of liberty. As did the Britannica article.

Sadly, I don’t think much of it is true, Yes, there are many individual Republicans who believe in most of that. But the party as a whole and the party leadership barely even pay lip service to much of this.

First, history. Yes, the GOP was (and still is) opposed to chattel slavery – but it has NEVER opposed slavery by government, that is, taxation. In fact, the GOP was born out of the failed 1848 socialist revolutions in much of Europe. The Marxists and others fled to the States, where they allied with abolitionists (and prohibitionists). And forged an alliance that destroyed the old Union far more effectively than the CSA would have. Over the next 40 years, the GOP created the conditions in which the so-called Progressives could ultimately build the world’s first super-state, modern fascist regimes. Ironically, the opportunity and conditions favored the Democrats – as has been the case for the 120 years since then.

First and foremost, I see the Republican establishment as being committed to big government. Only secondarily is it for and about big business – which of course, needs big government to flourish: crony capitalism in league with the State, and not the free-market capitalism that allows for prosperity, peace, true opportunity, and real progress.

To summarize (for now), the GOP is devoted to power and wealth. And willing to lie about it, just as much as the Democrats.

A pox on both their houses.