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The Liberal Capitalist Party is a Party of Good Faith

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     For a general definition of good faith, look here. In the context of our national politics, good faith means assuming your opponent has the best interests of the American people at heart. We all want America to be secure and successful. We all want to keep drugs out of our kids' hands, we all want our schools to work, our tax system to be fair and so on. While we may disagree as to how to best accomplish these goals, or indeed even on the basic functioning of society, or the best principles on which to base our policies, practicing good faith means that we don't assume that everyone who disagrees with us is evil, venal, or a dupe. At one time, this was understood to be the fundamental social contract that enables civilized discourse.

     As many observers have noted, our current political atmosphere is anything but a showplace of good faith. Frustrated by the obvious failure of collectivism and centralization, out of ideas and increasingly unable to convince voters to support their tired policy prescriptions, leftist partisans have dropped all pretense of persuasion and simply attempt to grossly manipulate their prospective constituents with the most outrageous bad faith imaginable. They accuse their political foes of every conceivable crime and moral incapacity, see vast, evil conspiracies among their opponents, and engage in increasingly unrestrained, even unhinged political rhetoric. Even worse, their failures at the ballot box has given rise to wide belief that "the masses" are gullible rubes that need to be protected from themselves, and since they are too ignorant to vote in their own best interests, then any means necessary to rescue them from their exploiters is morally justifiable.

     The Republicans watched appalled as the Democrats slowly abandoned good faith and a willingness to accept defeat. For years they tried to shame their opponents into returning to civility. But over the last two decades, they have discarded this effort as futile and have simply accepted the new, lower arena of political endeavor. As both parties become increasingly bitter, and continue to undermine public confidence with dirty tricks and spoils-taking, our country is headed toward a serious political crisis. The only way to avoid this inevitable outcome is to return to the forum in good faith.

     Liberal Capitalists know that there is no voting bloc of fools in this country. Rather, we know our fellow Americans are observant, independent-minded and hold strong opinions about their best interests. They are simply unconvinced by collectivist schemes with terrible track records, and they have no patience or use for anyone who tries to manipulate or dismiss them. Liberal Capitalists also understand that the social contracts that make our miraculous society possible are not industructible, and that mutual trust and integrity are critical to all civilized endeavors. Beside good faith and honest, open dealing, this also includes a willingness to lose with grace. Liberal capitalists will not advance our goals “by any means necessary”. We will advance them openly in the market of ideas, and put them to the test. If they succeed all Americans benefit. If they fail we will re-examine our premises, listen to our critics, and try again. May the best ideas win.

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