Republican Columnist Takes Party To Task, Advocates "A New 'Third Way' Alternative To Partsan Political Gridlock".

Courier Journal Columnist, John David Dyche, has penned a column where he takes his Republican Party to task for its aversion to taxes, not withstanding dire need. You can read the column here.

Some excerpts:

... Being anti-tax at the federal level is completely consistent with conservative, and constitutional, principles. The national government is supposed to be one of limited powers, but now grossly exceeds them. Its bloated bureaucracy poorly performs functions that under federalism, to which conservatives at least pay lip service, should be state responsibilities.

It is, therefore, perfectly consistent with conservative principles for one to advocate for smaller government and lower taxes in Washington, but at the same time support bigger government and higher taxes in Frankfort. Some, like state Rep. Jim DeCesare, R-Bowling Green, nonetheless suggest that only ultra-liberals could back a budget containing a cigarette tax hike. ...

Kentucky formerly featured more philosophical diversity among its Republican politicians. Many will argue that is the very reason why the GOP was so long in the minority. Perhaps aggressively pairing an inflexible anti-tax stance with fundamentalist Christian positions on social issues is the key to a renaissance of Republican political success.

But nothing in the conservative intellectual tradition requires any such linkage. And little, if anything, in Kentucky's quality of life or future prospects proves that the commonwealth is better off because of it.

This stagnant state is in desperate need of a new "third way" alternative to its current partisan political gridlock. Pragmatic Republicans with the courage to reclaim real conservatism from the misguided ideology that has consumed it can point the way.

As many of you know, I have consistently said on the issue of "sin" taxes, that they do not bother this Conservative; and I have even gone far enough to defend Governor Steve Beshear's call for .75 cigarette tax, if the tax revenue generated thereby will be used to address issues associated with smoking.

And I have also consistently argued that we have too many in the Republican Party who are NOT REAL Conservatives, but who think that Conservatism means anti-gay, anti-abortion and anti-tax.

Granted taxes should be imposed as a LAST resort, after spending is curtailed, and gay and abortion issues are equally important, but REAL Conservatism goes beyond those issues.

Sometimes, it is acceptable to raise taxes to address problems that CANNOT be addressed otherwise. If you think that just because the legislature doesn't raise your taxes, that you pay less, think again.

All forms of taxes are imposed on citizens in the benign or hidden form of INCREASED fees and costs.

A tax by any other name is STILL a tax, folks! Believe it or not.

So whether a "third [party] alternative" consisting of "pragmatic Republicans with the courage to reclaim real conservatism from the misguided ideology that has consumed it" is the panacea is open to debate.

You can guess on which side I stand should that debate take place.