As a semi-disenfranchised Republican voter, it was refreshing to read these comments from Scott Baugh, the Chair of the Orange County Republican Party. I feel abandoned by both parties, but certainly the Republican Party gets a large portion of my disgust given their complete abandoning of what I thought were their core principals of smaller government and more individual liberty.

You would think that after running up this massive debt our politicians would stop spending and living beyond our means, but they don’t. They are addicted to power and spending. They will say and do anything to keep feeding their addictions. How often do you hear our politicians say they are fiscally prudent and then vote for more spending?

This is not to say that all politicians are bad. We have many honorable elected representatives and patriots in Washington and Sacramento today. I do mean to say, however, that the spending addictions we see in Washington, Sacramento and in cities throughout Orange County know no party affiliation.

Many Republicans have been just as guilty as Democrats. In point of fact, under George Bush’s presidency – with a Republican Congress for six of those years – our government grew, entitlements expanded, and our national debt was nearly doubled!

This is a very inconvenient truth for Republicans. And, this is precisely why a recent Rasmussen poll revealed that 75% of registered Republican voters believe elected Republicans are out of touch.

In defense of their spending, I often hear Republicans say that we just need to understand their votes represent the best deal they could get. I know. I’ve been there before when I was in the legislature. I, too, cast some bad votes. Confession of a bad vote is healthy and redeeming. But to simply say that “we don’t understand” is condescending to the people who vote them into office. I don’t need to “understand” your votes if my liberties are reduced while progressive policies are advanced.

Elected representatives are our public servants; they are not our public masters. The problem is that they often become isolated from their constituents; yet, in their arrogance and in the intoxication of capitol politics they claim that they know what’s best for their constituents. It is time they represented “we the people” and stop pursuing their self-interests with preservation of their public office being their top priority.

Unfortunately, we as party officials share in the blame because we failed to confront the duplicity of Republicans who claim to be for limited government and then vote for ballooning debts and increased spending.

The question is whether we have the resolve to change this status quo.

This short quote doesn't do the speech justice. Be sure to read the entire thing. I'm glad to hear a county Republican chairman talk this way. I hope he really means it and his actions will align with his words.

The reason I'm starting to become more involved in local politics is because I believe that our political institutions on a national and state level are simply too completely focused on their own power to reform themselves. Politicians don't really care about doing what is good for the state or the nation. They are only concerned about what will let them keep power or get more power. If things are going to change, I agree with Chairman Baugh. It has to start to change at the local level. Real people, without a lust for political power, need to get involved in local politics. We need to hold our elected officials responsible for their actions when they make decisions based on politics rather than what is good for the people of the city, county, state or nation. I believe that's the only way things will ever change.