Blue Collar Conservatism

I was watching Hannity and Colmes last night, and they had Trace Adkins, the country singer, on the show. Colmes asked him why so many country stars lean conservative. What Trace said was interesting to me, and should have been picked up on by Hannity: "I think it's because of the blue collar values and conservativism."

The reason I found that significant is that most people these days equate "blue collar" with liberalism. They think that blue collar means unionism and thus Democrat Party. This fails on a number of levels. First of all, a blue collar man isn't necessarily union. Secondly, union people don't necessarily back the Democrats. Third of all, the Democrat Party of 40 years ago was more conservative than the Republicans.

Barry Goldwater was significant in the Republican Party, not because he represented the rank-in-file GOP, but because his politics flew in the face of them. He represented a more libertarian viewpoint; much like Reagan and Ron Paul. This has been the battle within the GOP for these 4 decades since Goldwater. This is also what is at stake in this coming election: does the GOP continue to find country clubbers to nominate, moderate RINOs (Republicans In Name Only); or will they nominate another Reagan? I am not holding out any hope for a real conservative to get the nod.

The Democrat Party of 40 years ago was "the blue collar party." They represented the working man, who only wanted to provide for his family and keep his constitutional freedoms. This is a thing of the past for the Democrats. They still put forth the rhetoric of being champions of racial equality and the American worker. Yet, they are now the party of special interests, none of which represent the "rank-in-file" working man. That is unless that working man is the capitalism-hating union man that has become the caricature of the blue collar man.

Freedom loving Americans need to find a way to change the direction of our country. Both the GOP and the Democrats respresent party interests at the exclusion of the average American. Big spending, high taxes (in spite of recent tax cuts, they remain too damn high), special rules for special groups, etc. all work against Constitutional America.

Blue collar conservatives must find ways to run against the status quo. If you have a moderate RINO representing your district, run as a conservative Democrat, or as a Libertarian. We need to get past the party, and get back to representing the people. Control spending, cut taxes, respect private property, end corporate welfare, encourage private and family charity, and support parents' rights in the education of their children. These are just some of the values that most Americans share. Liberty-minded politicians could totally change our country for the better.

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