Save Jerseyans: I know there’s frustration all ways right now over the budget between Governor Christie, Senate President Sweeney, and Assembly Speaker Prieto.
I’ve been guilty of complaining, but let’s be solution-based as well.
Here is my 6-point plan designed for the Republican Party leadership and our gubernatorial candidate, Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno. I believe these principles are universal among the majority of Republicans:
- Create a platform that is consistent with small government principles and rehabilitate the Republican brand in New Jersey. This doesn’t mean the budget should be slashed by half the first year. It means let’s find the waste and start with the low hanging fruit in the budget. Let’s advocate only for tax cuts and let the Democrat majority waste their time raising taxes or having to pay for their reckless spending. Hammer the Democrats when they do raise taxes and go to point number 2. Let’s stand against taking funds from a private insurance non-profit due to budget shortfalls. We’re ceding the moral high ground to the very left-wing Democrats. Let’s explain why small government is morally superior to big government (i.e. the Charlie Gard case in England is a perfect example of gaining back the moral high ground). And let’s let the Democrats own their mistakes without giving them cover.
- Link that platform to people’s pocketbooks. We need to explain in simple language and explanations why the current budget hurts them and how it will affect taxes. Use tangible examples of people living in poor and middle class households in New Jersey. Show the total tax burden (along with a breakout of all the taxes and fees) against their paychecks by developing a calculator. Have connected tablets and phones ready with this calculator when you get to point 3 and show people how much spending and taxes hurt them in their wallet.
- Become social media and grassroots warriors across the board. Blogs and news sites like Save Jersey do an excellent job of this, but we need more coordination and help. Work outside the mainstream media when necessary. They won’t give us the time of day and if they do it will likely be negative. We need to control the narrative and perception of the brand. We need to have younger generations reach out to people on the ground, through social media, and at their homes and shopping areas. Engage people. Let people express their frustration and anger and actually hear their pain in public settings and town halls. Let’s hear the critiques of our party and adapt to them. There are a lot of independents and voters in both parties who are apathetic. Get to the crux of why they feel apathetic to the system and enact changes within our control. Make them understand you not only feel their emotion but share it.
- Build a broad coalition. Do we as Republicans want to see Republicans elected or do we want government to be smaller and be less involved in our lives? Would you back Phil Murphy if he had a “R” next to his name? I hope that answer is no. We should be willing to work with and support candidates who are Democrat, Libertarian, and Independent if they are willing to cut the budget or any taxes, for instance, especially in deep blue districts where having a “D” next to your name goes farther. Those are the core issues for Republicans. If we don’t believe that, then what does Republicanism stand for? Coalitions have a tendency to last longer and further the goals of all involved because everyone feels a part of it. Government isn’t any different in that regard.
- Encourage enthusiastic, hard-working younger people to not only run in elections, but give them financial backing. Too often they are told it is not their time. We need to break that cycle immediately. Fortunately, we are seeing that trend with people running like Kelly Langschultz (R-38), Michael Wheelan (R-11), and Daryl Kipnis (R-17) just to name a few. Convince incumbents to term limit themselves or run for higher office. The same goes for party leadership. This one I understand is a tough. Giving up power is difficult especially for those trying to ascend to higher office. But if you are too comfortable in your role, are you truly going to advocate for radical changes? Or will you support the status quo? Do you think you not replaceable? Everyone in society can be replaced unfortunately, including the CEO of a company. Elected office wasn’t meant to be a lifelong job in the American system. Selflessly stepping down when you feel you can no longer change the dialogue, even if to go into political consulting, would be a rock star move and ingratiate you with your base and the independent voters. If voters saw a turnover of people in a party, they might not link it to an exclusive club that is looking out for their own interests above the taxpayers. Politicians for life creates this negative perception.
- Embrace change. The Information Age is a rapidly-changing world in which we need to adapt quickly and be more entrepreneurial in our approach. If we do not, we become relics of the past rather quickly. It also means when we have a bad idea, we should move on quickly from it. And copy good ideas until they are no longer viable. Of course I’m not advocating change for change’s sake, but we’re living in a world that isn’t static. And the system in New Jersey in many ways represents the same system we’re used to. That isn’t a party issue, per se, but a New Jersey government issue.
I believe if we followed these 6 points, we could get back gaining the voters trust.
It will be a tough road. The perception is that Republicans and Democrats leadership in Trenton don’t care and those who do care are Democrats. We know that both parties have plenty of people that care, whether elected or not elected at the moment. But caring is only part of the battle.
We need to have ideas that make people not only feel confident they can live in the state now, but for the future as well. And right now, with the departure of people in the state, we know that people do not feel that.
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