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In Saturday's Mail Tribune I read an L.A. Times piece by Drew Westen "What's missing from the 2012 campaign - Vision". Westen goes after Democratic and Republican party timidity, but I'm fascinated most when he references Republicans "recycling tired promises" of small, leaner government. What's needed now he says is "boldness". Yes, it's true that the GOP has not delivered on Reagan's libertarian principles of small, lean government, but is that reason to criticize the concept? We've not tried small government. Both parties have given us everything BUT small government.

Westen's line of argument is similar to all the feeble thinkers claiming "Obamacare will be great", because the "free market healthcare system" has failed. Note to these feeble thinkers: You haven't lived in a free market healthcare system. There hasn't been one for more than 70-something years.

True boldness is slashing the leviathan state, and returning control (and responsibility) to where it belongs, the individual. Alas, neither campaign promises anything remotely close to this. To be fair to both campaigns, I'm not convinced the typical American really wants, or is prepared for, assuming responsibility and control. My "hope for change" is Americans will prove my lack of conviction to be in error.

(Source Article from L.A. Times - "What's Missing from the 2012 Campaign")