James Peyser, Republican and former Chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Education, has written a really good article on the Death of Republicanism in New England. His lessons and suggestions could apply to other areas of the country as well. Here are his main points:
In the post-Reagan GOP, any viable governing philosophy has to be grounded in the basic tenets of conservatism: limited and accountable government, individual liberty and responsibility, and free markets.His prescriptions are for Bay State Republicans, but they fit just as well to the national party.
... a reformed Republicanism should embrace the rising cadre of social entrepreneurs who are redefining what it means to be an active citizen and who are taking initiative to solve big problems, without first asking permission from the political class.
Similarly, pushing for broader school choice places the interests of parents above those of educational bureaucracies and introduces healthy competition into a marketplace that has long suffered under a de facto monopoly.
Unfortunately, the loudest voices of conservatism on the national stage today are more likely to bemoan America's decline than to praise its potential. They are also increasingly known for their resistance to science, technology, and change. This rejection of hope and progress runs against the grain of the American spirit and is a formula for even more electoral defeats.
Instead of investing their limited political capital in opposing or nitpicking the budget-cutting proposals that the Democrats will have to put forward, Republicans should concentrate their energy on developing bold proposals for transforming the state's bloated and costly bureaucracy, not only to save money, but also to deliver better performance.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/11/09/republicans_rebranded/?page=full
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