In years past, conservatives have been described as being pro–small government, promoting free market economics, and championing an interventionist foreign policy. Yet, there is a growing recognition that these viewpoints and principles require fundamental reassessment. Spreading American exceptionalism is not inherently misguided — in fact, it can be a noble endeavor when pursued to the benefit of America and the American people.
However, today we face a troubling reality: our political institutions and many of those who represent the people within them have become influenced — and, in some cases, corrupted — by international business interests and foreign capital. This influence has led to foreign conflicts and entanglements that fail to serve America’s best interests. The weight of this globalized financial lobby does not only shape foreign policy; it reaches deep into our economic and domestic affairs as well.
The free market principles long upheld by conservatives were once believed to guarantee prosperity, innovation, and fairness. Yet, in the modern globalized economy, these same principles too often serve the interests of multinational corporations and financial elites, rather than American workers and industries. We have witnessed the hollowing out of domestic manufacturing and the decline of the American middle class — all justified by the pursuit of “lower prices,” which are achieved through cheap labor abroad. This shift has benefited a transnational business class that holds no loyalty to the American family, the American worker, or the American community.
The influence of this global elite has grown so extensive that they often exert more control over the legislative process than the very lawmakers elected to represent the people. Under such conditions, the conservative call for “small government” loses much of its meaning when the mechanisms of governance are already in the hands of those with little respect for the founding principles of our Republic.
For conservatism to survive and thrive in the 21st century, it must evolve. It must reclaim its moral and patriotic foundation — one that places the American citizen and national interest above the demands of global capital and foreign influence. True conservatism must once again stand for sovereignty, self-determination, and the protection of American labor, industry, and families.
Understanding these realities is the only path forward — for the American people, for conservatism, and for a movement that can restore and safeguard the nation we hold dear.
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Published by the Illinois Young Republicans & Erik Troe