The Poll | Eastern North Carolina Now

It ends tonight at 12:00 pm.

    Never in the short history of polls on BCN has a poll collected so much attention. This 30th poll, since we began the creation of this collection of the public's opinion last autumn, 2013, is our most subscribed poll by a factor 6 (6 fold, 6 times the next highest poll).

    The poll's simple question is one that is at the core of what it means to be a Republican, but the answers are vastly estranged in context, and that is the crux of why there is a split in the Republican Party nationally, and here in Beaufort County as well. The poll's aforementioned question here below:

    Here just weeks before the Republican County Convention, and with speculation afoot that the RINO herd may be re-forming: Should the RINO's special interest advocacy regain power?

    While the question is decidedly provocative, the answers are more telling to the division at the philosophical core of the party - a division that can not be assuaged by a negotiated peace - that difference is far too profound. The first answer: 745 voted - Yes, special interest is important to me, denotes that there is a strong contingency that believes that Republican politics exists so they, and their friends, do well as recipients of the public's largess.

    The "other side of" the Republican political "coin" believes that government exists to protect us so that there may be freedom to be the best we can be - as individuals to strive in our "pursuit of happiness." For that to occur, with any manner of proficiency, there needs to exist a representative government of principled representatives that will act judiciously to keep government lean, balanced and focused to achieve its intended directive as prescribed by our Founders. BCN believes that this political / philosophical construct is well represented by the poll's alternative, and most simple answer, which, at 8:00 am, March 26, 2013 had 823 votes - No, our elected Republicans must be principled.

    This division of ideals well represents the defined split in the present Republican Party, and it is a chasm of such profound distinction, there will never be a philosophical bridge built to assuage both houses. To do so would beg that both parties forgo their inherent natures for the betterment of a collective cause - a cause far too divergent from our Founders' intent, a cause not worthy of the effort.

    These are difficult days for these states united, and to right this ship that has foundered in a sea of "special interest," we will need good men and women to represent the better purpose, the better ideal. It is inconsequential if the Republican Party survives this transformation to the past purpose of our Founders' intent. What does matter is that the Unites States of America survives as a republic for the preservation of future generations, who might know the freedom to live out a purposeful life in the pursuit of their own happiness.

    That was our Founders' intent. That quest of freedom preserved is the only sustainable path forward.

poll#37