Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 3, 1991 TAG: 9103040280
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: D-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICH LOWRY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Republicans need an agenda, and they need to make it the soul of their campaigns. In the 1989 gubernatorial campaign, Republicans' "Arrogant Doug" stories were no match for now-Gov. Douglas Wilder's vision of a Virginia with progressive social policies and a sound fiscal base. In elections this fall, Republicans must learn the lessons of that campaign, avoid Doug Wilder dirt and complaints about the power of Democrats, and concentrate on ideas.
Democrats are in a vulnerable position even as their governor gains national attention as a fiscal conservative. Alexis de Tocqueville once wrote, "The political parties that I would call great are those which cling more . . . to ideas, not to men."
Democrats have the man, the unannounced presidential candidate, but the ideas he advocates - lean government with low taxes - are the Republicans'.
The budget crisis is a crisis of Democratic leadership and ideas. The budget doubled under Govs. Charles Robb and Gerald Baliles, with Baliles raising taxes five times. As late as 1989, just before the budget shortfall was revealed, Democrats denied there was a problem. "Things are going well in Virginia," said candidate Wilder, "regardless of what some people are saying."
Democrats increased spending for a decade because they thought they could always count on more tax money. As a steps toward permanent fiscal restraint, Republicans should continue the fight for a limit on the property tax, a move opposed by Wilder in his gubernatorial campaign. A requirement for special legislative majorities to raise taxes is another fiscally conservative measure that Republicans should support.
Republicans also have an opportunity to campaign on economic growth, their strongest issue. With the economy sluggish, talk of other issues such as the environment becomes less pressing and initiatives for economic growth become more appealing. Wilder's effort to boost Virginia's economy, which has its highest unemployment rate in four years, has been limited to complaining about fiscal irresponsibility in Washington. Republicans, in contrast, can directly address voters' anxiety over the economy by calling for state policies to increase economic growth, such as tax incentives to bring business and jobs to Virginia.
On education and other issues, Republicans have a store of ideas that don't rely just on government spending. Wilder decries disparity in Virginia's education system but renounces the huge transfer of funds from rich to poor school districts that, apparently, he considers the only solution to the problem. His only significant education idea is more of the same: deficit financing for more spending.
Republicans can propose giving the state's poorest parents vouchers to send their children to private schools, which would shake up the education bureaucracy and increase the quality of education for the less-advantaged. Republicans should also continue vocal opposition to fluff requirements such as family-life education, a goal of which is to increase students' self-esteem.
Wilder, Republicans should make clear, promised to keep Virginia moving forward and has brought it to a standstill. After a decade of Democratic governors in Virginia, the result is a bankrupt state with a governor who doesn't govern. Wilder, without one important legislative initiative for the state, is not running Virginia; he's running for office.
That has nothing to do with his personal life or his abuses of power or the arrogance of Democrats. It has everything to do with ideas. Now's the time for Republicans to give Virginians a compelling vision of what their leadership can offer. The way for Republicans to guarantee two-party rule in Virginia is to become the party to revitalize Virginia.
by CNB