We're all in this together

As Republicans try to identify the many possible reasons Mitt Romney was defeated, they should listen to voices like that of New York Times columnist David Brooks and others who have pointed to the GOP's individualistic message as being a big problem.

Republicans often sound more libertarian than conservative. This "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" message is not what the GOP or our country needs. Instead, the Republicans should embrace some of the ideas that one of their own — Sen. Rick Santorum — has written about.

In his 2005 book, "It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good," Santorum dedicates a chapter to Alexis de Tocqueville's insights into what made the American experiment a success. Santorum notes that Tocqueville saw America's custom of forming associations as a key ingredient to our success.

In other words, a sense of community and a commitment to the common good, not radical individualism, was what made America great. Of course, Republicans aren't the only individualists. Democrats also subscribe to a radical individualism when it comes to social issues.

KRISTOPHER PIERCE

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