Re: If Kerry is elected...

From: Rich Grise (rich_at_example.net)
Date: 10/19/04 

Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 03:52:28 GMT

On Mon, 18 Oct 2004 19:22:51 +0000, Robert Monsen wrote:

> However, the liberal idea has won so completely that, really,
> *everybody* is a liberal, *everybody* in America believes that we should
> take care of the sick and the aged; that we should help people in need;
> and, that we should work toward 'the common good'.

You really believe that "everybody" has turned over to the communist side?

> That's the goal,

What? Community ownership of everything? Or do you mean state ownership
of everything?

> and
> whether some of us are willing to admit it or not, we all believe it.

If this were really true, there would be no hope at all of ever
recovering a Free Society from the socialistic mess that America has
been turned into by politians and their loyal subjects.

> Bush seems to believe it; listen to his speeches. The only real
> disagreement is how to make this goal happen.

I hope to heaven that this isn't any kind of expressed goal by any
American of any importance. The problem is, your plan sounds like the
communist manifesto. What ever happened to self-reliance? How did
everybody in the country become a helpless suckling babe? Are people
really so devoid of self-respect that they'll place responsibility for
their well-being into the hands of a pack of liars, cheats and thieves?

> The Goldwater 'program' is to dismantle government, or at least to
> cripple it. These guys believe that corporations, not governments,
> should get to say what happens, and should drive policy for economic
> good. They believe that government is an impediment to a completely free
> market, and that a totally free market is the path towards this liberal
> utopia where nobody starves, and everybody enjoys the benefits of
> society.

Well, the plain truth is, the free marked _is_ best.

You're forgetting the most fundamental difference between governments and
corporations. If you don't like what a corporation is selling you, you can
stop giving them your money. Government just keeps taking, and taking, and
taking - hell, even a thief in the night robs you once, and goes away!

> They quote Adam Smith. Their main idea can be summarised as
> this statement: a rising tide carries all boats.

That is true. How can you refute it? Which boat doesn't get raised?
Yours? It has been demonstrated time and time again that the only way for
a socialist state to endure is by force of arms. People don't _like_
working for no pay, which is what happens when the government takes away
your paycheck to line their own pockets and give handouts to special
interests.

> Well, this is where I disagree. It's obvious to anyone who looks that
> there are some boats that simply don't rise with the tide.

Only when government taxes them into poverty to enrich their cronies.

> In the last
> 20 years, wealth has concentrated into the hands of a tiny minority.

Entirely through the power of government abuse. A Free Market is the one
true equalizer.

And when you get the government off people's backs, there is enough
charity to go around that nobody has to do without. Don't you think
people would be happy to donate a couple of bucks to the shelter if
they suddenly realize that a third of their paycheck isn't being
ripped off the top by Big Brother?

> Tax
> policy has been carefully restructured to ensure that this disparity of
> wealth continues, and even increases.

Right, and governments tax, and give favors to the corporations.
Corporations don't tax, they sell stuff and employ people. If they're
not producing something of value to customers, they will go broke.

> More people fall into poverty each
> year. Real wages are falling. People can't afford health care. The
> middle class is being eroded. Without progressive tax policy, this
> erosion simply continues unchecked.

Pfaugh. You see a lot of problems, yet your suggested solution is to
apply more of the same *** that caused the problem in the first place!

> Also, these days, this free market dream amounts to 'rule by
> corporation'.

This is where you are wrong, wrong, wrong. It is self-rule. Corporations
won't have any interest in making rules, when they don't have gubmint
thugs to steal for them. Gangstas? See Amendment 2.

> However, most of us don't vote for the board of directors
> of most corporations,

You certainly do. Every time you spend a dollar buying one of that
corporation's products, you've cast a vote for its CEO. And its
workers, and whoever else gets paid out of the corp.'s income.

> and thus they generally aren't accountable to
> anyone or anything except the need for profits.

Yes. Which come from customers. Who have the option to say, "Foch
you. I'm going to go by George's product, because I don't like your
earlobes."

> Further, they aren't
> good stewards of the 'common good', in the form of the global
> environment, or even the economic infrastructure.

And who is? You?

[remainder of anti-corporate, pro-statism rant snipped]

Thanks,
Rich