Principles Before Party

How to Spot Empty Rhetoric and Reclaim Real Influence in Jefferson City

In the Show-Me State, where Republican supermajorities have ruled the Missouri House and Senate since 2012, holding every statewide office, you’d expect conservative priorities to thrive. Yet, as everyday Missourians from St. Joe to Cape Girardeau know too well, that’s not the reality. Initiative petition reform? Dead on arrival. Budget cuts? Reversed, with the state budget nearly doubling in recent years. Pro-life protections? Gutted by Amendment 3 (2024), turning Missouri from one of the nation’s most pro-life states into an abortion-friendly haven—prompting Democrats to cheer like they won the lottery. This isn’t how it’s supposed to work.

For grassroots conservatives—whether farmers in rural counties, small-business owners in Springfield, churchgoers in St. Louis suburbs—the frustration runs deep. But here’s the hard truth: much of the failure stems from a subtle but pervasive cult-like devotion to the Republican Party and its leaders. Ordinary citizens, convinced their state senator or representative is “really conservative,” excuse votes that harm their own interests, even when fellow conservatives vote against them. Act for Missouri’s eye-opening report, Missouri’s Supermajority is Failing Us lays it bare: of 70 bills passed in the regular and special sessions, 43 (61%) had higher Democratic caucus support than Republican. On average, 71% of House Democrats and 81% of Senate Democrats voted yes on these “conservative victories.” Only three bills had zero Democratic support; just five saw less than 10%.

This Uniparty dynamic—where GOP leaders prioritize donor agendas over voter promises—thrives because too many grassroots folks have handed over their critical thinking to party loyalty. It’s time to recognize the patterns, reclaim reason, and turn that energy into a smart, principled confrontation with the establishment. This guide, tailored for Missouri conservatives, shows how.

The Cult-Like Grip: How Missourians Mirror Blind Devotion

These traits aren’t signs of weakness—they’re human responses to fear, isolation, and the comfort of belonging in a polarized world. But when applied to the GOP, they blind us to betrayal, letting establishment insiders like utility lobbyists and stadium boosters run the show.

1. Blind Loyalty to “Our Guy” Over Principles: Your state senator votes for SB4, the “Utility Bill” that hikes rates for everyday Missourians while padding the profits of Monopoly Utilities—yet you defend it as “necessary compromise” because he’s “tough on crime.” Even when conservative peers vote no, citing cronyism, you’re sure they had a good reason for the vote.

2. Outsourced Thinking to Party Talking Points: “If the GOP newsletter says it’s a win, it is.” You skip digging into HB12, the appropriations bill that targeted anti-establishment figures like Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, because Fox & Friends didn’t cover it. Faith in the party’s spin replaces fact-checking the vote tallies.

3. Us-vs-Them Purity Spirals: Critics within the party—members pushing real budget cuts or strictly following the single-subject rule in our Constitution—are labeled “disruptors.” This echoes cult shunning, fracturing the big tent and letting leaders like Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin steamroll dissent.

4. Apocalyptic Framing of Every Fight: “If we don’t back this bill 100%, the Democrats win, and Missouri falls.” This fear-mongering excuses flops like the years of stalled initiative reform, ignoring how the supermajority could pass it solo but won’t because it threatens their control. When they finally do address it, they choose the worst possible version.

5. Identity Fusion with the GOP Brand: Your truck’s bumper sticker isn’t just support—it’s who you are. Questioning a vote on SB82 (the Water Permit Bill, easing regulations for big ag at small farmers’ expense) feels like betraying your church potluck crew.

6. Magical Excuses for Contradictions: The budget balloons under “fiscal hawks”? “It’s fighting inflation.” Amendment 3 passes despite pro-life majorities? “Misinformed Voters.” Even when data shows 70-80% Democratic buy-in on passed bills, it’s “bipartisanship,” not surrender.

These patterns hit home hardest in Missouri’s red heartland, where local GOP loyalty feels like patriotism. But as the 2025 Grades reveal the establishment’s true colors. Three of the “worst” bills—SB4 (the Utility Bill), SB82 (the Water Permitting bill), and SB3 (the Stadium Bill, funneling taxpayer dollars to Kansas City Royals teams)—passed with overwhelming Democratic backing, exposing a Uniparty agenda that ignores conservative voters.

Reclaiming Reason: Gentle Steps to See Faith for What It Is

Shifting from faith to reason isn’t about ditching conservatism—it’s about sharpening it, like the Show-Me skepticism our state was named for. Start small, in your kitchen table talks or county meetings, using relational curiosity to spark self-reflection. No lectures; just seeds of doubt.

1. Ask Neutral, Missouri-Grounded Questions: Over coffee: “What convinced you, Senator, that you are truly conservative on budgets? I saw the state spending doubled—how does that square?” Or, “If this utility hike (SB4) hurt your farm’s bottom line, would we excuse a Democrat for it?” Tie it to local pain points, like rising electric bills in St. Louis.

2. Share Stories, Not Stats (At First): “I trusted my representative blindly until I read how SB3 funneled millions to a stadium while our rural roads crumble. It hit me: principles over party.” Personal vulnerability disarms defenses—folks relate to betrayal more than bar graphs.

3. Use Act for Missouri’s Tools as Your Wake-Up Call: Point to act4mo.info/2025grades: “Check your legislator’s score—how often did they vote ‘Strong Republican’ vs. ‘Strong Democrat’ bills? Mine surprised me.” The report’s vote breakdowns (separating appropriations) make it easy to spot patterns without feeling attacked.

4. Call Out the Psychology with Conservative Humor: “Ever feel like we’re defending Pharaoh’s taskmasters because they’re wearing elephant pins? Let’s test it like Proverbs 18:17—hear both sides.” Frame it as reclaiming God-given discernment, resonating with faith-based voters.

5. Run a One-Week ‘Show-Me Challenge’: “Skip party emails; read the actual bill text on house.mo.gov. What do you find on water permits (SB82)?” Small experiments build confidence: reason feels empowering, not threatening.

6. Celebrate Wins in Your Circle: Praise locals who bucked the trend: “Kudos for voting no on HB12—that took guts.” Positive reinforcement shifts the tribe toward accountability.

Change brews in backyards, not ballrooms. Real Missourians like a dad who pored over the Grades report and switched to primarying his rep in 2026—proving that one reasoned voter can ignite a precinct.

Confronting the Establishment: Reasoned Strategies for Grassroots Power

Once reason takes root, channel it into action. Missouri’s decentralized structure—strong counties, weak central party—favors locals. Ditch blind rallies; build principled networks to hold Jefferson City accountable.

1. Form County Conservative Accountability Groups: Start with 10-20 like-minded folks via church bulletins or Facebook. Meet monthly to review Grades data: “Which bills hurt our district?”

2. Weaponize Primaries Against Uniparty Enablers: Back challengers in low-turnout August races. Study 2025 failures: Flood mailers with “Your Rep Voted Yes on 70% Dem-Backed Bills—Demand Better.”

3. Demand Transparency on Donor Deals: Rally for audits of utility/stadium lobbying (SB4/SB3). Host town halls: “Why 81% Dem support on ‘conservative’ bills? Show us the money.” Amplify on X with #MOGOPUnmasked.

4. Unite on Core Priorities, Not Personalities: Focus on fiscal restraint, pro-life enforcement, and local control. Host “Reasoned Conservative Workshops” (inspired by Braver Angels) to debate bills without purity tests—inviting even moderate Rs.

5. Scale Through the 2-2-2 Plan: Act for Missouri’s model: Two hours/week learning votes, two contacts/month to reps, two meetings/year. One activist trains two; exponential growth turns echo chambers into armies of action.

6. Vote with Data, Not Faith: In 2026, use the Grades as your ballot guide. Target those who greenlit HB12’s hits on Hoskins—replace them with Senators who vote constitutionally.

Missouri conservatives aren’t cult members—they’re patriots sidelined by a machine that mistakes loyalty for leadership. The 2025 session’s bipartisan betrayals prove it: with a supermajority, failure isn’t fate; it’s choice. Reclaim your reason, confront the Uniparty, and take back the state. Visit Act for Missouri’s 2025 Grades today—look up your Representatives and Senators, share with your neighbor, and let’s Show-Me real change. This is your Missouri. Act like it.