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Weapons of Mass Redistributionism
The Tribune Review ^ | November 5, 2006 | Colin McNickle

Posted on 11/05/2006 8:36:19 AM PST by Conservative Goddess

"Zounds!" offered one of the wags with whom I regularly converse. The Ph.D. economist was offering his very technical assessment of the "blue-ing" of Pennsylvania. "Given how 'blue'...the two major population centers ... are and the control of the Legislature they have...the likelihood of addressing the horrendous statist policies in PA shrink with every resident who heads south in search of opportunity," he said.

Indeed, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of an America founded on liberty and independence, is suffering from an astounding progression of collectivist economic stupidity that only will invite more government dependence and tyranny. And, oh, yes, more voting with one's feet by those who, a) understand such things and, b) can't seem to get a place at the table.

Nearly half (47 percent) of those responding to a Trib poll question late last month said the state is moving in the right direction. Which means millions of people in a commonwealth lagging so badly in so many economic indicators believe that the massive wealth-redistributionist schemes of Gov. Ed Rendell actually are improving things instead of what they're really doing -- further exacerbating Pennsylvania's increasingly statist state.

It is an astonishing admission of brainlessness. And despite the availability of hard facts and exhaustive studies that show the danger of weapons of mass redistributionism, the concept suddenly seems to be in vogue. It is metastasizing like a cancer through all levels of government, nongovernment advisory panels, academia and think tanks.

....

Instead of constantly trying to figure out new ways to stick their hands deeper into the public's pockets in the name of being more "competitive" by, and most perversely, reducing competitive mechanisms, those in positions of public-policy influence would be wise to hit their friendly neighborhood hardware stores, buy a big monkey wrench and thread their heads back on.

(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Government; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: collectivism; ecomonics; govtfailure; interventionism; itsthepopulacestupid; itsthestupidpopulace
Colin McNickle is the Trib's director of editorial pages. Ring him at (412) 320-7836. E-mail him at: cmcnickle@tribweb.com.

REMEMBER: So-called REPUBLICANS (or what passes for a Republican in this state) engage in this Socialism with the same aplomb as the Democrats. They're different in name only and if we are to save our Commonwealth, we must find some real Republicans to replace the DEMS and the RINO's.

1 posted on 11/05/2006 8:36:21 AM PST by Conservative Goddess
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To: Conservative Goddess

Same thing in Michigan. Polls show that if Detroit were taken out of the electoral equation, the current Granholm would lose in a landslide.

What can you do?


2 posted on 11/05/2006 8:46:12 AM PST by kjo
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To: Conservative Goddess

Well, according to many here if you don't vote RINO you're a 'rat.


3 posted on 11/05/2006 8:49:05 AM PST by Paladin2 (Islam is the religion of violins, NOT peas.)
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To: Conservative Goddess

Imputed income anybody?


4 posted on 11/05/2006 8:49:27 AM PST by Waco
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To: kjo
"What can you do?"

Vote with your feet, as many are about to do.

5 posted on 11/05/2006 8:50:09 AM PST by Paladin2 (Islam is the religion of violins, NOT peas.)
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To: Conservative Goddess

And this distillation of Northeastern states into the EU West will continue. In fact, that is the GOAL of the Socialists who run these states -- use confiscatory taxes and left-wing social policy to drive the Republican dissidents into exile, and thus be left with a whole population of leftist sheeple.

Vermont is the ultimate example of this, where thousands of aging NY hippies have turned a once solidly Republican state into a Communist one, and forcing the old-time "flatlanders" as well as young people to leave. It increasingly leaves only leftists who are idiotic enough to vote a Communist to the Senate.


6 posted on 11/05/2006 8:51:17 AM PST by fireman43
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To: kjo

Get used to it for with the vast influx of poor aliens it will only become worse.


7 posted on 11/05/2006 8:51:32 AM PST by AEMILIUS PAULUS (It is a shame that when these people give a riot)
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To: fireman43
"And this distillation of Northeastern states into the EU West will continue. In fact, that is the GOAL of the Socialists who run these states -- use confiscatory taxes and left-wing social policy to drive the Republican dissidents into exile, and thus be left with a whole population of leftist sheeple."

And when they do away with the electoral college, they will serve it up to all of us.

8 posted on 11/05/2006 8:58:30 AM PST by WorkerbeeCitizen (Religion of peace my arse - We need a maintenance Crusade - piss on Islam)
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To: kjo

Same in Illinois, remove Shitcago and the state is Republican


9 posted on 11/05/2006 9:01:35 AM PST by DaiHuy (I have never seen a situation so dismal that a policeman couldn't make it worse)
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To: Conservative Goddess
That's nothing...

Here in California, we're paying for years of deficit spending by selling bonds, including, astonishingly, current spending.

On top of that, in a few days california voters will vote on billions$ more... for more of the same; ignoring of course, the existing debt that must also be paid for.
All for expenses that, in more rational days, was funded as-you-go from the traditional taxing system: real estate, sales, excise and special taxes earmarked for specific purposes such as highways, dams, levees, local streets, all of which have been diverted for a "higher purpose".

What is the higher purpose? To increase the number of citizens dependent directly on government for their existence (and their votes). When the percentage of producing taxpayers falls below public employees and aid recipients, what will be the escape out of the hole?

Pennsylvania would do well to look to california to see a state financial Titanic in the making.

10 posted on 11/05/2006 9:03:19 AM PST by Publius6961 (MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
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To: Paladin2
Well, according to many here if you don't vote RINO you're a 'rat.

RINOs have no more special magic that the Democrats and progressives. It's more that if you vote for any other party you're stupid!

Would you rather vote for someone who tells you that she's gonna tax you out of your socks? Or for someone who might do the same but promises not to?

In the old days, given that Hobson's choice, it would be considered a no-brainer.

11 posted on 11/05/2006 9:10:15 AM PST by Publius6961 (MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
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To: Conservative Goddess

Just as an aside.... Caught a feature this week on the Swann - Rendell race. One, let me say my knowledge of Rendell stems from his role in The Gore Affair in 2000, where his conduct was shameless and I believe caused harm to country in that it fostered cynicism about elections. Anyway, I despise Fast Eddie for that.

Back to the point, Swann was shown working through a poor area of Phiily. A little old black lady asks him if he'll see to it as governor that she gets a supermarket in the neighborhood. She said Ed Rendell promised he would! What do you say to such voters?


12 posted on 11/05/2006 9:16:30 AM PST by Rummyfan (Iraq: Give therapeutic violence a chance!)
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To: Publius6961

My Congressional District has NO Republican (RINO or not) running! Voting with my feet is all that remains.


13 posted on 11/05/2006 9:34:08 AM PST by Paladin2 (Islam is the religion of violins, NOT peas.)
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To: Publius6961

So, since you are so full of free advice, please do tell me who I should vote for as I'll admit that I'm apparently too stupid to figure it out for myself.


14 posted on 11/05/2006 3:30:24 PM PST by Paladin2 (Islam is the religion of violins, NOT peas.)
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To: Publius6961

They could look right next door; to New York.


15 posted on 11/05/2006 5:16:58 PM PST by printhead
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To: Rummyfan
Swann was shown working through a poor area of Phiily. A little old black lady asks him if he'll see to it as governor that she gets a supermarket in the neighborhood. She said Ed Rendell promised he would! What do you say to such voters?
"You have money, and you want to buy food. You want to do business, and nobody is here to do business with you. You're just like everyone else - everyone wants to do business. Even Amish farmers out in the country buy and sell things.

The trouble is that nobody is in the neighborhood who has food to sell. If this neighborhood needs a supermarket, there is only one reason it wouldn't have it - the people who operate supermarkets for a living have trouble making a living operating one here.

Now I have never made my living operating a supermarket. But that's OK, Governor Rendell hasn't either - and it's not the governor's business to run supermarkets. If it was, the only person you should vote for for governor would the the head of Acme or Pathmark or somebody.

It's not the governor's business to run supermarkets, but it is the governor's business to see that people can do business. Whether it's crime or unfair taxes or silly regulations or whatever it is that's keeping you from having a supermarket, that is what I am here to change. I don't want you to just have a supermarket - you should have two of them - so you can pick and choose like everyone else!

And that's what happens when government makes sure that people are able to do business."


16 posted on 11/06/2006 6:57:52 AM PST by conservatism_IS_compassion (The idea around which liberalism coheres is that NOTHING actually matters except PR.)
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To: Conservative Goddess

Didn't I read that there is a net decline every year in the number of Pennsylvania physicians?


17 posted on 11/06/2006 7:00:02 AM PST by Mamzelle
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