The Republican Coalition: An Examination, Part 1

Introduction
On a fundamental level, political parties are coalitions of disparate groups that come together to support a mutually agreeable set of principles or policies. The GOP in the United States is no exception to this rule, though most people tend to think of it as a relatively homogenous entity. The makeup of the GOP's coalition is complex. It includes a number of different groups with disparate ideas and beliefs. In this series I will endeavor to present an examine to the most significant groups within the GOP coalition. It is my hope that this will help people understand the Republican Party and its future evolutions.

In this, the first part, of my series on the Republican Party I will examine Reform Conservatism. Reform Conservatism, at its core, is an attempt to modernize the Republican Party. As a movement it emphasizes government efficiency and restraint, seeing federal and state government as a tool to enable individual choice rather than a wholesale provider of services.

Economic Issues

Reform Conservatives have a shared view of the domestic and global economy. They don't believe that capitalism is in crisis, as one sometimes hears from the left. Rather they believe that the United States has simply reacted poorly to the natural competitive effects of capitalism. To them, the United States has suffered economically because it has been unable to compete globally and has lost its competitive edge. To solve this Reform Conservatives propose a variety of solutions. They would like to cut payroll taxes and offer wage subsidies in industries where they believe a competitive wage cannot guarantee quality of life. Another centerpiece of their policy agenda involves childcare subsidies and providing increased tax credits for parents. To improve the American Workforce's competitive advantage Reform Conservatives propose Apprenticeship and Vocational training programs.

Social Issues

Reform Conservatives don't really have a clear ideology relating to social issues. Many prominent thinkers within the movement emphasize the concept of personal choice free of government control and as such are relatively progressive on issues like abortion and gay marriage. Others take an opposing point of view and instead emphasize the importance of the family unit as a cohesive force for American society in general. In general most Reform Conservatives agree that families should be supported and subsidized to promote positive economic and societal outcomes.

Immigration

Immigration is a bit of a thorny issue within Reform Conservative circles and one that they have struggled with. They have found themselves in the unenviable position of simultaneously opposing a path to citizenship and opposing any large-scale deportation or continued criminal prosecution of immigrants. This particular mix of policy, while perhaps efficient and well-reasoned, does not have a particularly vocal constituency and has hurt the movement in some circles.

Foreign Policy

Reform Conservatives are generally in favor of Free Trade and beyond that seem to lack a cohesive Foreign Policy agenda. The movement is, by design, focussed almost entirely on a domestic legislative agenda.

Media

This movement thrives in small Republican Policy circles and though their ideas tend to be popular with Republican voters they have not yet gain a solidified constituency within the voter base of the party. That said their ideas can be found on various outlets devoted to policy.
National Affairs
ConservativeReform

Conclusion

The Reform Conservative movement has taken hold among Republican intellectuals and technocrats but has yet to fully materialize within the party's voter base. If Trump loses the Presidential election in November, Reform Conservatives could finally have their moment to present themselves as the future of the Republican party. That is, if they can beat out their competition within the party.

Comments and suggestions very much appreciated.