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Free enterprise vs. government control - A New Culture War
American Thinker ^ | 5/24/2010

Posted on 05/24/2010 11:36:40 AM PDT by Fight4Freedom1

This is a very perceptive piece in the Washington Post by Arthur Brooks, President of the American Enterprise Institute. In it, he postulates that the cultural issues of the 1990's - "guns, gays, or abortion - have been eclipsed by the overriding issue of free markets vs. control by the state:

Those old battles have been eclipsed by a new struggle between two competing visions of the country's future. In one, America will continue to be an exceptional nation organized around the principles of free enterprise -- limited government, a reliance on entrepreneurship and rewards determined by market forces. In the other, America will move toward European-style statism grounded in expanding bureaucracies, a managed economy and large-scale income redistribution. These visions are not reconcilable. We must choose. It is not at all clear which side will prevail. The forces of big government are entrenched and enjoy the full arsenal of the administration's money and influence. Our leaders in Washington, aided by the unprecedented economic crisis of recent years and the panic it induced, have seized the moment to introduce breathtaking expansions of state power in huge swaths of the economy, from the health-care takeover to the financial regulatory bill that the Senate approved Thursday. If these forces continue to prevail, America will cease to be a free enterprise nation.

I'm afraid Mr. Brooks has it right. As long as Barack Obama is president, his efforts to "remake America" will proceed apace. Even if Republicans take back Congress in the fall, this president has shown a predilection to bypass the legislature and issue executive orders that accomplish the same goal.

From EPA regulations making CO2 a poison, to empowering the SEC, to enjoining the FEC to crack down on free speech, the president's ability to ignore Congress and impose his agenda on America will be near impossible to stop as long as he has the veto to prevent Congress from standing in his way.

Read Mr. Brook's entire piece. It will certainly make you think about what is really at stake.


TOPICS: Education; Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: congress; constitution; government

1 posted on 05/24/2010 11:36:41 AM PDT by Fight4Freedom1
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To: Fight4Freedom1

MENE MENE TIKAL UPHARSIN....


2 posted on 05/24/2010 11:38:51 AM PDT by Nat Turner (Escaped from NY in 1983 and not ever going back....)
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To: Fight4Freedom1

Link to Washington Post piece:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052101854.html?sid=ST2010052103072


3 posted on 05/24/2010 11:38:55 AM PDT by Fight4Freedom1
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To: Fight4Freedom1

As long as Barack Obama is president, his efforts to “remake America” will proceed apace. Even if Republicans take back Congress in the fall, this president has shown a predilection to bypass the legislature and issue executive orders that accomplish the same goal.

Disagree, if Republicans take Congress than bammy becomes a lame duck President. Executive Orders can be reviewed by Congress and investigated. Further, Executive Orders can be removed instantaneously by the new Executive. My bet right now is Republicans take the Congress in a walk and they might be able to take majority control of the Senate. Should they fall short of the Senate by one or two votes their momentum will frighten the remaining Dem Senators into aquiessence. I have yet to see any politician argue with the majority of America and win. Look for a replay of 1994, but this time America will never reconsider the Dems for leadership again.


4 posted on 05/24/2010 11:46:18 AM PDT by equalitybeforethelaw
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To: Fight4Freedom1

California: “European-style statism grounded in expanding bureaucracies, a managed economy and large-scale income redistribution” = FAIL

Texas: “organized around the principles of free enterprise — limited government, a reliance on entrepreneurship and rewards determined by market forces” = SUCCESS

Yes, it is time to choose.


5 posted on 05/24/2010 12:03:30 PM PDT by Painesright
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To: Painesright

This debate may go on for decades, like the French post-dirigisme. They’re still having this argument.


6 posted on 05/24/2010 12:53:17 PM PDT by Thurston_Howell_III (Ahoy polloi... where did you come from, a scotch ad?)
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To: Fight4Freedom1

This outstanding article didn’t get near enough views.


7 posted on 05/25/2010 6:36:43 PM PDT by listenhillary (You might be a modern LIBERAL if you read 1984 & said "YEAH! That's the world that I want!")
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To: listenhillary

Lol, I agree.

Maybe it’s too much for some to ponder or wrap their brains around?

Not being insulting to anyone...just sayin’.


8 posted on 05/25/2010 8:06:41 PM PDT by Fight4Freedom1
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To: listenhillary

Bump


9 posted on 05/26/2010 3:22:34 AM PDT by listenhillary (You might be a modern LIBERAL if you read 1984 & said "YEAH! That's the world that I want!")
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