The Necessary Resurrection of Common-Sense Conservatism

Post-election season, a raging whirlwind of questions pertaining to the path the Republican Party ought to take has surfaced. Is a new direction really necessary, or is an improved strategy the key? Should the GOP abandon its namesake by incorporating liberal ideals in an effort to pander? Where should we go from here?

Contrary to what Leftist pundits would have you believe, however, Republicans made gains at the state level. Nationally, the GOP maintained control of the popular body of Congress, increased its control of governorships and legislative chambers. In Michigan, the GOP held onto power of Lansing, keeping an advantage in the State House (thus paving the way for Right to Work legislation) and on the Supreme Court. Michiganders rejected measures that sought to drastically alter its Constitution, namely a proposed amendment which would have enshrined collective bargaining rights for government-sector unions. Not all was lost on Election Day, but we must double-down on our efforts to educate – not pander to – the public en masse.

RINOs – Republicans in name only, who seek to turn the GOP into a watered-down version of the Democrat Party – have time and time again failed to lead to electoral success. John McCain got trounced last presidential cycle. Mitt Romney is not entirely at fault, although some issue planks could have been better articulated, such as the campaign’s lackluster response to the disgraceful Obama Care ruling.

A common-sense conservative approach is in order. The soft, we-are-not-as-bad-as-the-other-side tactic is a losing one. Strategically speaking, it is rather simple: focus on traditional values, i.e. legitimate fiscal restraint and respect for the freedom of the individual. Spending must stop, all human life deserves protection by law, and activist judges should not dictate their skewed interpretation of the natural law. Genuine conservatism will be given an opportunity to govern – it is only a matter of when.

Historically, these principles win elections. Is it any wonder why, when big-government policies are publicized for what they are, Leftists run as budget hawks? The most recent mid-term elections prove the point. Albeit contradictory to their agenda, Congressional Democrat candidates masqueraded as fiscally responsible lawmakers, even though they were responsible for fiscally insane legislation like Obama Care and stimulus spending. Fortunately voters saw through the lie. Under a second Obama administration, the Left cannot hide from their actions let alone pretend they are something they are not: conservative politicians.

The bumpy road toward rejuvenation begins now. Speaker John Boehner and his U. S. House colleagues would be making a terrible blunder, philosophically and politically, if they were to give in to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid’s wish to raise taxes on Americans writ large. Republicans must stay true to their constituents by preventing any further tax increases. Americans are already saddled with debilitating debt and can ill afford to pay even more for Washington shenanigans.

So Long, Simon Care!

In the Midwest, an important electoral battle ground territory, one public university reversed its health mandate just days prior to the big decision from Washington. Lou Anna K. Simon, president of Michigan State University, announced that students will no longer have to purchase insurance as a condition of enrollment. MSU made the right move while Washington continues down uncharted territory.

The Supreme Court’s much-anticipated ruling on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – better known as Obama Care – upheld the polarizing piece of legislation, by a judicial tally of 5-4.

On the flip side, MSU has voluntarily opted to rollback its student health care mandate.

Freshman students, as of this past spring semester, were required to show proof of health insurance or pay an annual fee of $1,505.

President Simon, who once thought that the nation’s ninth largest campus ought to concern itself with the medical insurance market, announced the policy reversal June 25. This past February, the administration heavily defended the measure in the legislature. Despite vast public outcry, the State News reports Simon instead claiming that MSU does “not have a relationship with a hospital that would permit” coverage.

A student-led initiative spearheaded by activist Nick Kowalski, chairman of MSU Campus Conservatives, got the ball rolling. He first wrote about the outrageous policy on his blog and the College Conservative. An email and call-in campaign followed, whereby folks were directed to express their grievances with the administration.

Evidently, government overreach into individuals’ private lives strikes a chord with America. The repeal of the real deal is forthcoming.

Campus Reform: Student Activist Pressures MSU to Drop Health Insurance Plan

Michigan State University administrators recently announced they will not go forward with the planned mandatory health care requirement dubbed “Simoncare” due to “multiple complaints” from the student body.

The school has scaled back its plans to mandate a school-sponsored insurance plan for students after “multiple complaints” which resulted from a campaign orchestrated by activist Nick Kowalski, a rising senior. The school announced on Monday, June 25, 2012 that the insurance mandate for incoming students will not apply for the 2012-2013 school year.

The plan, dubbed “Simoncare,” after MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, went into effect in the fall of 2011. The plan was controversial, as it charged students who did not report having insurance a fee of $1,505, to be covered by the school’s insurance. Three hundred and twenty students were charged this fee—with no way to opt out of this charge.

Opponents of the plan were quick to point out its similarities to the Affordable Care Act, and questioned if the university could effectively force students to buy a product they do not want.

Kowalski launched a campaign against “Simoncare,” by writing multiple blogs, op-eds in the campus paper, and questioning the president of the university. When all of these proved fruitless, he appeared on a local radio show to discuss the mandate. Kowalski encouraged others to call the president and complain about the fees.

The complaints were effective, and “the next business day” the plan was reversed. Kowalski is not sure how many calls the president of the university actually received, but is pleased with the announcement.

*This article was written by Christine Rousselle and originally posted on CampusReform.org.

Simon Care to be Repealed!

The Supreme Court is expected to issue a much-anticipated ruling on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – better known as Obama Care – this morning. In an apparent preemptive fashion, Michigan State University has voluntarily elected to rollback its student health care mandate.

Freshman students, as of this past spring semester, were required to show proof of health insurance or pay an annual fee of $1,505.

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, who once thought that the nation’s ninth largest campus ought to concern itself with the medical insurance market, announced the policy reversal Monday. This past February, the administration heavily defended the measure in the legislature. Despite vast public outcry, the State News reports Simon instead claiming that MSU does “not have a relationship with a hospital that would permit” coverage.

A student-led initiative spearheaded by activist Nick Kowalski, chairman of MSU Campus Conservatives, got the ball rolling. He first wrote about the outrageous policy on his blog and the College Conservative. An email and call-in campaign followed, whereby folks were directed to express their grievances with the administration.

Evidently, government overreach into individuals’ private lives strikes a chord with America. And the justices ought to agree.

MSU Students Say N-O to Spartan Care

 

As the U. S. Supreme Court mulls over a decision on the constitutionality of the health care mandate, one collegiate executive plans to implement it anyway.

 

Michigan State University president Lou Anna K. Simon fully supports an insurance authorization for current freshman and incoming students. The uninsured are automatically roped into a $1,505 per-year school-sponsored plan. To date, around 700 students have been forcibly charged the fee as a matter of continued enrollment.

 

On behalf of students’ rights, several factions stand in opposition.
Part of a joint effort, a pair of officially recognized organizations – Campus Conservatives and Students for Life – sent a letter this week to President Simon highlighting the faults of the ill-advised policy. The mandate will “place an unnecessary financial strain on students who are already suffering from high costs of tuition, student debt, and an economic recession. “ “It is not the role of the university administration to dictate the health care of students,” continues the letter.

 
The editorial board articles of late sum up the point. On March 26, the piece entitled “Mandatory health care ails students” describes the detrimental consequences of the authoritative scheme. Spartan Care will add “another large cost to college bills, and it’s just giving students another fee to worry about paying on top of the expensive price of college to begin with.”

 

Republican lawmakers have also voiced their concern. State Representative Bob Genetski, who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, expressed an issue with the legality of the measure: “It sounds like the early onset of Obamacare and I don’t know that that’s their right to put it in” (MichiganRadio.org). House Republicans are advocating for students while counteracting President Simon’s misguided views. However, public funding may be lowered if MSU fails to alter its stance. “It’s unreasonable that MSU is forcing some students to pay for required health insurance,” proclaims The State News, “[b]ut the university obviously isn’t too concerned with students’ opinion on the matter, seeing as they likely will give up funding to keep the health care that many students don’t want or need.”

 

The hefty health care fine could determine key academic decisions. It is nearly equivalent to an additional four-credit hour course for an in-state lower division student. Promising students may consider attending an alternative school (i.e. as Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Grand Valley State, or Wayne State) due to the added cost of living. “We are concerned that this mandate will drive potential applicants away from Michigan State University and discriminate against our current student body,” declares the letter.

 

Whether for financial gain or petty political points, or both, Spartan Care does not belong at MSU. Top-down rule by decree is wrong for the student community and it is wrong for America.