An independent's 10-point bailout plan for the Grand Old Party

"Bailout" is the word on everyone's tongue these days. Banks, investment companies, automakers and even states are lining up to be bailed out by the federal government. However, no one seems to be paying any attention to the fact that the one entity that needs to be bailed out more urgently than any other right now is the Grand Old Party.

Democracy in the United States rests on the bedrock of checks and balances inherent in a robust two-party system. Healthy political parties are essential for any successful democracy.

The recent debacle of the Republican Party in the presidential election seems to have created significant disarray in its rank and file. It almost comes across like a rudderless ship without a captain on board. The ambitious second lieutenant, who wants to seize this ship, is inexperienced, uninformed, garrulous and a paleoconservative to boot. A great deal of finger-pointing and backbiting seems to be going on in the upper echelon of the GOP. Since soul-searching is not exactly one of the virtues of ever self-righteous Republicans, here are a few hints from an independent voter on the street as to how to avoid a shipwreck. A wise GOP, skillfully harnessing the blowing winds of change into its sails, will certainly strengthen itself and our democracy as well.

1. Broaden the base by including people of diverse culture, ethnicity, color, gender and faith. Recruit them with genuine interest and concern. Don't try to win them with scams such as making them chairperson of nonexisting "committees." Tone down the current GOP image of the party of upper-class white Christian men.

2. Don't mix religion and politics. Religion is one's personal belief system. No one has the right to impose it on others. Make this clear to all fundamentalist religious groups that ooze hate against people of other religions from time to time. The Constitution is the religion of the nation.

3. Move toward the center and away from the extreme right. Conservative principles can be practiced very well without the extremism that characterizes right-wing nuts. You can still be to the right of John McCain and get enough votes if you are perceived by the people as someone of integrity, honesty, decency and principles. For example, even though I voted against Mr. McCain, I voted for Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, both of whom are beyond reproach.

4. Dissociate yourself from the right-wing nut talk-show hosts whose repertoire is full of hate, bigotry, xenophobia and dirty tricks. They often come across as the Taliban of the GOP. Unfortunately these very people have become the spokespersons for the GOP. When they recommend stupid things that undermine democracy -- such as Rush Limbaugh telling Republicans to vote for Barack Obama in the Democratic primaries in order to defeat Hillary Clinton -- fearlessly register your protest with them. There should be no room for dirty tricks in the GOP. Have the guts to stand up to these right-wing nuts when they say or do things to undermine democratic process, no matter how pro-GOP they might seem to be. These talk-show hosts are following the same despicable tactics as Joseph McCarthy did in early 1950s, and they will soon suffer the same fate as he did. Demagoguery should never be part of Republican ethos.

5. Have one credible and fearless spokesperson for the party whom people listen to and who is not a right-wing radio talk-show host. Let that person explain to the public the basic policies and plans of the GOP and the rationale for them. Explain them as clearly as possible. Spell them out in one voice. When you vote against popular bills, explain your principled stand.

6. Give up personal attacks against Democrats in or out of power. Limit your comments to your policy differences. Shun party members who indulge in personal attacks. Stop referring to Democrats with false epithets such as socialists, communists, unpatriotic, thugs, terrorists and whatnot. When you downgrade others, not only are you downgrading yourself, but also your listeners. You are assuming that your listeners are so stupid that they cannot figure out the truth like you do. Tell the voters how good you are instead of how bad others are.

7. Soften your image as anti-labor, anti-union, anti-environment, anti-science, anti-women, anti-ethnic, anti-diversity, anti-black, anti-abortion, anti-gay, anti-lesbian, anti-immigrant, anti-Islam, anti-Europe, anti-Russia, anti-this and anti-that. Take a more balanced approach to the major issues of the day within the framework of conservative philosophy, yet keeping with the realities of the times. Nothing is black or white in the complex world of 21st century. We are living in a global community. Get rid of your Tyrannosaurus rex image. Go back to your symbol of the elephant, which stands for enormous strength, sharp intelligence and exquisite sensitivity. Its trunk has long reach, and its ears are large. Make good use of both these faculties.

8. Shun elected officials who chummy-up with lobbyists. Going on junkets paid for by the lobbyists is a sure sign of corruption. Don't hanker for wealth you have not earned rightfully. If you cannot afford your lifestyle, marry a rich person. Anyone can fall back into the business-as-usual mode. It takes a special person, such as Mr. McCain, to transcend it. Yet most conservative Republicans dislike and shun him.

9. Reach across the aisle to Democrats when doing so is in the best interest of the country. Set aside your ideological hang-ups. Cooperation, not compulsive confrontation, should be the motto of New GOP.

10. Finally, prove to the people that Republicans can deliver the goods, not just speeches and pork barrels. People are not interested in ideology but results. Make the Republican governors, senators and representatives who deliver the goods your poster people, not the blabbering paleoconservative talk-show hosts who have not done one good deed worthy of mention.

Dr. K.P.S. Kamath of Cape Girardeau is a psychiatrist in private practice. E-mail: pkamath001@gmail.com.