Soon

Because conservatives are such principled Burkeans, you often hear them complain about liberal policies in terms of “over reach” or “the arrogance of government imposed solutions.” See to hear conservatives talk, you’d think that, you know, if liberals could just be a little patient, conservatives would have the opportunity to unveil incremental and affordable free-market solutions to public policy challenges.

As a result, whenever liberals enact any changes, you get a lot of gnashing of teeth over how liberals have pre-empted some initiative, or worse, by overreaching have “poisoned the well” for future reforms.

This is, of course, the so-called “principled” objection of the Obamacare and to Obama’s mini-DREAM actions on immigration reform.

But when are these magic, incremental, affordable free-market solutions going to arrive? In all cases it is at some undefined spot in the future. “Soon.” It is the Friedman Unit of domestic politics.

But look, if conservatives really do share our concern about, say, health insurance, immigration, financial regulation, inequality, and the myriad other things they give lip service to, then where are those initiatives?

Actually, in fairness, there is one Republican… a former business leader and governor… who did tackle health care. He passed a middle of the road bill to increase access to insurance, using ideas developed by conservative think tanks that made the best use possible of the free market. And, it worked.The state he ran now has the lowest rate of uninsured in the nation. I really wish that Republican would run for President. Oh, wait…

But just as McCain developed second thoughts about his signature accomplishment– campaign finance– while he was running, so has Romney decided that his incremental approach was also too far, too fast.

So go ahead America, give them the White House. Give them control of Congress. Be sure to get back back to me on how “Soon” worked out for you.