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On November 29th, I attempted to highlight and explain why we should rally to the only innovative and growing conservative grassroots movement in America, but the argument quickly turned to the 2012 primaries, so I am making another attempt in this post and I am leaving off any mention of a potential GOP Presidential candidate.
First, if you are registered on Facebook, click on this link, before you read my post. If you are not registered on Facebook, visit this site.
Jonathan Milner is a British born, conservative, high school student, who attends my alma mater, Mayfield Secondary school. Jonathan and his like-minded friends are becoming a household name in political circles in Canada. Jonathan started a grassroots, online movement called; “Young Drivers Against New Ontario Laws”
The Background;
The liberal Premier of Ontario (eqv. to Governor of a US State), Dalton McGuinty, decided to create legislation to further restrict the rights of young drivers (21 and under). The legislation is typically liberal. Laws without reason, that restrict individual rights and hinder opportunity and commerce. Read this article for more details. Some of the highlights from the legislation are:
The issue is, there is no issue to fix, so what is with ‘the fixing’ in the first place? These proposed laws are another attempt at social engineering by liberals, who believe that it takes a village and a government to parent your child, not the actual parents/family. In this case, the government extended the term ‘children’ to age 19 or 21 (depending on the new restriction). None of these new laws will actually make youth or society any safer, or teach under 21 citizens the difference between right and wrong, but they will restrict individual liberties. These laws were created for the sake of creating new laws.
The Conservative Cause:
A person at any age (legal to drink at 19 in Ontario) is not a threat while driving if they have 0.014 alcohol blood level, so why should the law be different for a person who is 19 or 29? What about the small businesses that rely on the consumerism of the under 21 crowd, or the driving schools that have multiple students in a car when conducting a lesson? What is the justification for suspending the license and driving up the insurance costs of a 19 year old, who receives a ticket for speeding at 7 mph over the limit? Why restrict the ability of a young driver to car pool, as it will only cause an increase in carbon emissions, further congest our road systems, increase the price of fuel and increased the financial burden on families?
The reaction to these proposed liberal laws has been swift and inspiring. Led by conservative youth, a social network was developed to rally citizens, inform the media and pressure the Ontario government. To date, 1 out of every 100 people in the Province of Ontario have joined the groups Facebook page. The stats for the percentage of Ontario youth between the ages of 16-21 who have joined the movement are unknown, but could be as high 1 out of every 15. This is the equivilent to 30+ million Americans joining a Facebook page to oppose a law proposed by Congress (the largest Facebook page has a little over 2 million supporters).
The groups use of networking technology and electronic marketing to promote their cause has brought them great success. A large rally is scheduled for later this month and they have won endorsements from large media organizations, the public at large and now, the Premier of Ontario is hinting at backing off the proposed legislation. An unknown teenager from suburban Toronto may have defeated a law proposed by Canada’s most powerful liberal politician.
When I was a member of the under 21 crowd, conservative and libertarian youth were empowered, motivated and innovative. Our generation was much more politically involved then our liberal counterparts. We advocated and campaign for the conservative revolution of the mid-90’s, but in recent years, young conservatives and civil libertarians have been apathetic towards politics and movement issues, overshadowed by the liberal youth’s anti-war, pro-Obama efforts.
Republicans were defeated in 2008 by the Obama/DNC’s use of networking technology and electronic communication, which resulted in revolutionary methods of fundraising, communication and organization at the grassroots. Like Gingrich in 1994, the Obama/DNC campaign combined these new techniques and methods with wedge issues, to motivate supporters and unit their party.
The Lesson:
It is not just pragmatic conservative issues we must adopt and campaign on, we must also utilize the newest technology and communication methods to market our ideas to Americans. We must return to retail politics, but not in the town halls and church basements across America, we must reach them through cyberspace and telecommunication.
Jonathan Milner understand this, at least from the perspective of his single cause. As Republicans, we would do well to study his campaign, instead of looking to Washington D.C. based consultants and party organizers for the answers. We must look beyond the beltway, at our youth, at different organizations and technology companies across this country.
December 1st, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Kristofer,
One MAJOR problem I see here…
“Dalton McGuinty decided to create legislation to further restrict the rights of young drivers (21 and under).”
Nobody has rights when it comes to driving. Period. Driving is a privilege, not a right. Just like health care. So there are absolutely no “rights” being restricted here.
And as one of the most conservative members on this site, let me say I have no problem with this proposed legislation. Young drivers are shown again and again to be the most dangerous on the road (despite your claim that no problem exists), so things done to make the roads safer are a-okay with me.
This is hardly a village to raise a child situation. Who cares how you parent your child when they get careless and wreck into a car that has my son inside because they are inexperienced on the road?
Here in Wyoming, we just passed a graduated license program that you would probably say restricts the “rights” of young drivers as well (limits the number and type of passengers based on age, etc), but the roads are a lot safer because of it and I fully supported it. I remember what it’s like to drive when you’re young and inexperienced, and those drivers need all the help they can get to learn to be better drivers as quickly as possible.
So maybe the lesson here instead is that conservative grassroots movements should focus on issues that actually matter…
December 1st, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Having said that, I do agree with the larger point that grassroots activism will be led by youth and technology, and the GOP would do well to embrace and build up both.
December 1st, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Matt C, I did not want to write a novel, but Ontario in fact has had graduated lic. for 10 years.
These students already have to ge through a 2 year program, obtaining different types of licenses.
All these laws are additions, for those who have gone through graduated licensing.
So in reality, we are talking about citizens between the age of 18 and 21.
December 1st, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Seems to me to miss the main point of young Mr. Milner’s effectiveness : In order to rally a new cohort to the conservative cause and get back to winning elections, we need to champion the cause of drinking among young adults!
December 1st, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Agreed. Fix the first line though.
The specific issue discussed here isn’t exactly black and white for me but your point is entirely valid. See how easy it is to write thoughtful posts when leaving out 2012 candidates?
December 1st, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Our problem with the youth vote is that mnay of them don’t even know what conservative governance is. For many of them, George
Bush is conservatism.
December 1st, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Taylor,
While I agree with your sentiments that is hardly the way to a conservative victory.
December 1st, 2008 at 8:08 pm
#5, very difficult, and I still mentioned Gingrich. I have to disagre. Youth are naturally conservative. Thru have less use for our major entitlement programs, such as health care, social security, the pres. Drug program, etc…..youth are easy concerts, much easier than soccer moms.
December 1st, 2008 at 8:08 pm
None of this matters until conservatives realize they are either Republicans or they aren’t. The very real problem with the average conservative is the fact that they refuse to comprehend the fact that there are conservatives who aren’t Republican. By simply being “conservative” any effort to “rebuild” the GOP by using the conservative brand is abjectly doomed to failure.
Until conservatives have the courage of their political convictions enough to realize that there is more than ideology at play here, we are all doomed to fail.
SJ Reidhead
The Pink Flamingo
December 1st, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Converts*
December 1st, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Bush Today Admit that “he did not know alot about war when he was elected president” in an interview…………..Its funny how people on this site attacked Obama for the same thing and defended Bush. I wonder what else Bush did not know alot about when he was elected.
I say all of this to make a point. Parties can hold partisan double standards all they like on both sides but if people on here TRULY put country first, we may not all agree with Obama pollicies and what not but will support him as presidnet and for our sake and the sake of the country hopes he does well…………I think the DITTO head part of the party on hear will be partisan regardless no matter what he does…
December 1st, 2008 at 8:42 pm
#11, you are a troll, but I agree, bush was not a neoconservative before 9/11, this he screwed up the Iraq war.
December 1st, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Kris calling someone names is part of what is wrong with the party. You can agree to disagree without that crap. You know what the real problem with the repub party is………..There is a Rush Limbaugh Part and and more modertate part. There should be room for both but there isn’t. cons and liberal is not always a good thing an examp extreme lib opposed to the death pen period…..cons at one time was against civil rights.
Why do you think that the party had cookie cutter type people support in the conventions and rallies, think about it, I mean really, Kris I could call you every name in the book but I wont because you love your party and I love mine but there are good and bad things about both of them…
If Repubs want to win in the future there has to be room for more people not just a part of it…..Cons would not have voted for McCain like they did if he did not have Palin……….why because he is not cons as they are as I said cons and lib isn’t always a good thing.
December 1st, 2008 at 9:20 pm
#13, am I supposed to hug you after that comment, or do you prefer a group cj for fun? The GOP is not made up of moderates and the limbaughs conservatives…..it is between the Reagan reformers and the bush establishment wing. You listen to knepper too much.
December 1st, 2008 at 10:34 pm
When an enemy tells us something we should receive the information with the attitude FDR would have had to letters from Mussolini.
These folks want turn America into what to us would be a nightmare.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:49 am
#14 No you are not supposed to hug me…….the Bush establishment wing……..Nott with a capitol NOTT. You have moderates in the party like McCain, Swartzaneger (sp) and others too. Its not just people in office but voters too. If you think that there aren’t pro choice, or gun control Repub voters out there your wrong on that.
If the party was not made up of Limbaugh type folks then why is his following so big that it cause McCain not to pick a pro choice canidate. Why is it that the party would have a revolt on the floor if he picked a pro choice Repub. Remember.
Lets use your logic then for the sake of argument……..Okay, I will just change the titles…… The party has a place for Regan Reformers but no place for the Bush establishment wing or vice versa however you are spinning it………titles do not change the point it just reinforce it
As for Doug. You see that is why the party keeps being called the party of hate and war……An ENEMY. If you have people in your own party who disagree with the regan vrs the bush as Kris liked to call it. Then they are Enemy.
If that is how you view it then this party has more problems than I thought. There should be room for both types of repubs in the party…..otherwise I can see a split in the future…..If you don’t believe me then talk to both sides of the repub party and you will get it. Too much partisan ship and not enough country. I thought that was for real but as I said before Country First is wrong. Repbublican first is what the slogan should have been
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:54 am
Besides Doug, I am probably seen alot more in life than you in years liberalisim is not always good and neither is conservatisim. Bush did some good things but he did some badd things to. Kris can admit that can you.
This is not morning in America Right now. This is the United States of America not the Divided States, Partisan State, Republican State of or Democractic State of America. This is a melting pot nation this is not the 1800,1920’s or 1950’s.
This party will need other groups of people as time passes to win again latino, african american to a point asian etc and if you feel you don’t then look at what happened this year. There is room for the Palins and McCains of the party not just the PALINS that is my point. Title change makes no diff but the prob is one side of the party liked Palin and did not like McCain and vice versa
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:17 am
“This is not morning in America Right now. This is the United States of America not the Divided States, Partisan State, Republican State of or Democractic State of America. This is a melting pot nation this is not the 1800,1920’s or 1950’s.”
Yeah Richard, if this were the 1800s, 1920s, or 1950s the Democratic Party would be more interested in denying an African American the vote than they would be in electing him president and would be calling the Republicans unAmerican for disagreeing.
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:20 am
It is real funny how we have a Canadian who likes to trash Mrs. Palin when the Premier of Canada’s biggest province, Mr. McGinty is a total clown. I’ll take Alaska over Ontario any day.
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:31 am
I guess that’s why conservative Republicans have been doing so well with younger voters.
Barack Obama beat John McCain in the 18-29 demographic by 68% to 30%, if you go by the exit polls. Next you’re probably going to tell me that it’s because McCain’s not conservative enough for the kids, right?
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
#20, exactluy my point. It should be an easy win. We all voted for Gingrich in 94, not the Democrats.