Revolting

National Review, Nov 4, 1991

FROM coast to coast, as demonstrated in "For the Record," taxpayers are in revolt. Again. Pete Wilson, who has just given California its biggest tax increase ever, had to dodge protestors to make a brief speech at his own party's state convention on September 13. Delegates wore mocking "Wilson-Cuomo" buttons and passed a resolution repudiating the tax increase. New Jersey Republicans hope to win control of both houses of the legislature by running against Governor Florio who isn't up for re-election! And in Connecticut, the largest demonstration in the state's history-40,000 protestors-recently gathered in the capital to protest the new income tax. Lowell Weicker was spat on as he waded through the crowd; some representatives have even received death threats.

At the national level, voters are profoundly disgusted with Congress. Revulsion erupted into fury at the news that congressmen have been freely bouncing checks at the House bank and charging lunches without paying for them at the House restaurant-little things, really, that would have no resonance if tempers weren't already high. The Thomas hearings exposed new depths of sordid scheming and sensation-seeking on Capitol Hill. A hot issue, getting hotter, is the idea of term limitations for legislators, including congressmen. George Will, long hostile, has recently embraced it.

All this would be wonderful news for the party of Ronald Reagan: a party of tax cuts and consistent opposition to new encroachments against liberty. Instead, we have the party of George Bush who, even in vetoing the Democrats' race-preference and unemployment benefit bills, feels constrained to offer apologetic "Republican versions" of same. As a great opportunity presents itself, the Republicans must not waste it by being afraid to fight on principles that are, among other things, popular.