Time for a last ditch "Hail Mary" pass.

Whoever organized the migrant caravan from Honduras has handed the President a gift.  Odds are it was organized by a left-leaning group to galvanize Democratic voters, provoke the President and maybe trigger some incident that would embarrass the Administration.  While the caravan won't make it to the border before election day (at least without hitching a ride), organizers feel it is achieving its purpose.  It's likely going to backfire however.

In general, Americans are pretty neutral on immigration these days - a surprising change from twenty years ago.  Gallup polling on immigration shows that as many Americans think we should take in more immigrants (28%) as those who think we should take in less (29%).  Most (39%) think immigration levels are okay.  Rewind 20 years and most Americans thought we were taking in too many immigrants.

Of course, the current fracas about immigration has nothing to do with the issue per se; it's about galvanizing Republicans to get out and vote in what normally would be a quiet year.  Here's where the caravan plays directly into the President's hands:  Recent polling shows immigration is the #1 issue for Republican voters; for Democrats it's #18.    Conflate illegal immigration with national security and you have  winner - an issue that will selectively rile up Republican voters.  Better yet, as the New York Times points out, Democrats have no clear policy on immigration beyond opposing anything the Administration advocates. 

 Earlier this week, the President decided to double down, stating he intends to abolish birthright citizenship by executive order and calling for up to 15,000 troops to be sent to the border.  Retiring Speaker of the House Paul Ryan pointed out that this explicitly violates the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.

Neither of the main political parties now have a coherent policy on immigration that works in the national interest.  Each is singing to their own choirs, and in this election, the President is turning the caravan issue into a fourth quarter "Hail Mary" pass to get the vote out and preserve a Republican House majority.

Immigration is a serious issue however with our future dependent on implementing a rational policy.   With declining natural birth rates, immigration is necessary to maintain and expand the workforce and entrepreneural talent pool we rely on to build and expand our economy, to pay taxes and to support a growing retired workforce.   Immigration is also central to who we are; with the exception of Native Americans, the rest of us immigrated here in the fairly recent past.   On the other hand, every country must defend its borders and has an obligation to ensure immigration works for the benefit of the country as a whole. 

Where does the Modern Whig Party stand on immigration?

The Modern Whig Party platform asserts that the United States is and has always been a country of immigrants. The Modern Whig Party understands the dual responsibility of securing our borders while also dealing realistically with those undocumented immigrants already in the country. Presidents as diverse as Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama have recognized the need to deal compassionately and humanely with our population of undocumented immigrants, and we agree; harsh proposals may satisfy some of our less honorable impulses, but do little other than satisfy the anger some feel toward those who have crossed our borders without authorization.

The Modern Whig Party proposes:

• A program offering undocumented immigrants the opportunity for citizenship if they join the military and serve out their initial contractual term honorably. Undocumented immigrants would not be entitled to jobs requiring security clearances, but would be eligible for the G.I. Bill, Tricare and all other benefits afforded to U.S. service members who serve honorably.
• Comprehensive reform of our immigration process to attract those whose skills, education and entrepreneurial spirit will enable them to become productive contributors to the knowledge-based economy of tomorrow. As our population ages it is crucial to augment the natural growth of our population with additional taxpayers who are willing to emigrate to the United States and become productive, patriotic naturalized Americans.
• English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for all who need them. Assimilation is a key element of our melting pot. While all of us should appreciate the various cultures making up the vast, diverse fabric of our national life, we believe all Americans should ultimately share a common language.

What do you think?

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The elephant in the room

So... what do you think is the No. 1 issue on voter's minds this election?   Turns out it's health care.

Unfortunately in this age of hyper-partisan politics, the issue isn't getting much real discussion focused on practical solutions.  Democrats and Republicans have retreated to their respective corners and are preaching to their choirs.   Democrats think they have a winner defending the Affordable Care Act with their base:  Half of their campaign advertising cash is being spent on ads about Obamacare.   Having failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Republicans aren't saying too much, hoping other issues will steal the limelight.

In Nevada however, health care is a particularly contentious issue. After briefly flirting with Whig centrism, Democratic Senate challenger Jacky Rosen has returned to her central theme: attacking Republican Dean Heller over his "flip flop on Obamacare".   Dean Heller has in turn pointed out that while he did fall into line to vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, he has since worked hard to ensure that the popular pre-existing conditions mandate is maintained.  As early voting begins, the race has tightened to a dead-heat.

On the morning of Tuesday November 7, we're going to be left with the same mess.   Is there a way out?

For many of us, health care is an issue that can trigger our deepest fears both for us and our families.   Facing a serious injury or disease, could we get financially wiped out or discover we can't get the medical care we need?  If we feel reasonably secure about our health care coverage, how much is it costing us?   These worries and concerns cut across party lines and our poorest neighbors feel them most keenly.

What can we agree on?  The Affordable Care Act was developed and implemented in a partisan manner which has led to the current impasse.  Nonetheless, it was at least an attempt to fix problems with the health care system that have built up over the past 90 years.  Reminds me of certain early aircraft designs.

Wouldn't it be nice to design something better?

The Modern Whig Party recognizes that government has clearly established its central role in our health care system and believes that:

• Health insurance should be available, portable and affordable for all citizens, with means-tested government subsidies for those who cannot pay in full.
• Health benefits should be separated from employment -- the practice of saddling employers with costly pension and health insurance benefit obligations is hurting the ability of American companies to compete in the global economy.
• The Affordable Care Act does not do the full job of extending health care coverage to all Americans. More research and work needs to be done, and legislative changes will have to be made in order to correct some of the shortfalls of the ACA while preserving some of its successes.
• The ultimate goal should be to reduce overall healthcare spending while improving access, quality and efficiency and ensuring health care providers are fairly compensated for the vital services they perform. 

Now I have to admit - the last point sounds great but boy is this going to be a difficult goal to reach.   There are so many vested interests dug in on various sides of the health care reform issue that the debate resembles a World War I battlefield - pure trench warfare.   Nonetheless, Whigs could make a real contribution to the national health care dialog by developing a realistic practical and detailed health care platform.  We need the help of Nevada Modern Whigs with experience working in the health care sector to build this platform.

Who knows?  If it proved popular, one of the main parties might steal it and implement it.  I'd call that success - the aim here is to help America move forward to a better system of health care.

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Is Jacky Rosen a closet Whig?

Working away in my little cabin in Goldfield, my peace was interrupted today by repeated internet radio ads from Democratic Congresswoman and Senate candidate Jacky Rosen.  

From the usual array of just ordinary folks (veterans, a teacher, a medical worker) we learn that:

• She works with both parties and across party lines.  She even joined a bipartisan congressional group.
• She wrote legislation to improve veterans health care and President Trump signed it into law.
• She stood up to Nancy Pelosi to reform the VA.
• She passed bi-partisan legislation strengthening science and math education

The conclude with "We need that in the Senate".  We sure do and this is a fundamental plank of the Modern Whig Party.  So... is Jacky Rosen a closet Whig announcing her true colors?

Forgive my suspicions about conversions on the road to Washington - I don't think we will see Jacky Rosen in the Nevada Whig Party anytime soon. 

I think this ad campaign is a reaction to the disgust many American felt over the circus surrounding the approval of our latest Supreme Court Justice.  No matter where you stand on the outcome, the process demeaned everybody involved.   Polling analysts such as Nate Silver suggest that momentum in the mid-term Senate races has shifted as a result.  

It is nonetheless reassuring to see that experienced politicians are starting to wake up and smell the coffee.  They are being driven to adopt Whig-like rhetoric - perhaps in time they might even adopt Whig policies!  Americans are fed up with bi-partisan cat-fights and tribal politics.  Instead of squabbling over who gets to be in power, we should be focusing our attention on creating and implementing practical, reasonable solutions to the problems we're facing.  We need to elect people who are really committed to public service.

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