Paper Opinions: Make Republicans great again

Government is a necessary evil. It is an institution that is morally wrong because it limits the rights of individuals, yet still essential to the survival of any society.  While I recognize that this view of government is highly contested, the argument itself — that something can be referred to as both essential to a society and wrong in accordance with acceptable standards of social conduct — is undeniably true.  

Perhaps the most unpopular example of a necessary evil in today’s society is the need for Republicans to support Donald Trump, should he be the nominee, in the 2016 presidential race.  He is evil for obvious reasons: Trump is a loose cannon loaded with racist, sexist and other politically incorrect commentary.  But he is also necessary because he brings to light a fatal flaw within the Republican party: conservatism.

Conservatism is obsolete.  The ideology is based on the notion that tradition is the ultimate arbiter to what is deemed socially “right” and “wrong.”  However, it is time to draw the line when conservatives apply their antiquated personal beliefs as the backbone of liberty and responsibility.  Let me ask: does it illustrate liberty to prohibit individuals with various sexual orientations from the right to marry?  Does it illustrate liberty or responsibility to prohibit a woman from having complete control over her body? Of course not.

Conservative ideology, which emphasizes personal convictions, cannot plausibly be applicable to the diverse demographics that make up the melting pot of America.  As America continually becomes more socially progressive, socially conservative ideology is clearly becoming irrelevant.  It is imperative for the Republican party to abandon its ties with conservative ideology and champion libertarian beliefs.

Libertarians share similar ideas to those of centrist conservatives that, in simple terms, states that people are free to do whatever they choose as long as they do not infringe upon the rights of others, and that a government does not have the right to infringe on the rights of the people who give it authority. Applying that notion to platform issues leads to Trump’s real, un-published, platform: pro-choice, pro-marriage equality, pro-marijuana legalization, pro-free market, pro-immigration restrictions, anti-Obamacare and most importantly, anti-big-government.  

Like many other Americans, I do not want Trump to be the Republican nominee.  I do not want anyone who is bigoted to represent a country whose most fundamental ideal is tolerance.  I am not condoning his behavior, nor do I agree with it.  As a Libertarian Republican, I wish Trump would find a different party to implode.  Yet his failure to align with establishment conservatives has sparked a renaissance era for the Republican party: a rebirth of the libertarian ideology on which the party was founded.

Trump highlights the change that Republicans need, and by embracing that change, we might make the Republican party great again.