The Wall Street Journal-20080213-Republicans Should Return To Their Libertarian Roots

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Republicans Should Return To Their Libertarian Roots

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Republicans need to get back to their libertarian roots, for which the exit polls in your editorial "McCalifornia" (Feb. 11) give further evidence. Mayor Rudy Giuliani was ahead of the pack when he talked about free markets, vouchers, and a strong defense. Jumping on the immigration bogey-wagon coincided directly with his drop in the polls. The same goes for Fred Thompson. What the party needs now is a spokesman who can explain why market constraints are the problem and not the solution. While they're at it they can explain that when bad economic policy south of the border (like the type the restrictionists want to adopt) causes inexpensive labor to migrate, it's a direct subsidy to our economy -- one we should welcome with open arms, Reagan style.

Conservatives like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh call themselves "Reagan Conservatives" yet scream for greater restrictions on immigration. They forget President Reagan was all for free labor markets, busting the air traffic controllers union and granting amnesty to millions of illegals. Today's Reagan wannabes answer that they're not against immigration per se, which they supposedly adore, they just want stricter law enforcement.

I don't remember Mr. Reagan arguing for more control over free markets by the state. To the contrary, he'd seen increased "rule of law" derail the Soviet economy, and took advantage of this folly to pursue a genuine principle of Reagan conservatism: peace through strength. The old Soviet Union was a test case for how state restrictions on supply and demand cause rampant black markets, just like the black market we see now for undocumented labor. But this "law and order" argument is a canard. When do we hear conservatives demanding we strictly enforce laws allowing rappers to swear, or abortion clinics to terminate pregnancies?

Eugene Fama Jr.

Pacific Palisades, Calif.