Let's Have A Free Market For Housing And Religion (Mark Steyn On Capitalism And Freedom)

Orange County Register ^ | 12/08/2007 | Mark Steyn

[goldstategop]

That's very true. As America demonstrates, faith thrives in a free market. In Europe, the established church, whether formal (the Church of England) or informal (as in Catholic Italy and Spain), killed religion as surely as state ownership killed the British car industry. When the Episcopal Church degenerates into wimpsville relativist milquetoast mush, Americans go elsewhere. When the Church of England undergoes similar institutional decline, Britons give up on religion entirely.

Instead of a state church, Europe believes in the state as church – the all-powerful beneficent provider of cradle-to-grave welfare.

"Freedom requires religion," said Mitt Romney, and, whether or not one agrees, in Europe big government has led naturally to small religion – a point Gov. Huckabee might want to ponder. I would rather we talked less about religion in America (which can take care of itself) and more about government, which seems to be trending in an alarmingly European direction, Democrats and Republicans disagreeing merely on the speed at which we'll get there. Yet the two are explicitly connected.

Europe's religious decline derives in part from the state's usurpation and annexation of so many of the other supporting structures of society, including the church. I am in favor of a free market in religion and a free market in housing, but right now I'd like a conservative candidate with a clear-headed commitment to both.

[goldstategop]

In today's column, Mark Steyn stresses the inextricable connection between capitalism and freedom. The two make each other possible, whether in the matter of buying a home or in the expression of faith. He thinks both of America's political parties want to expand the nanny state - the principal difference between them is the rate of which the expansion will happen. In surveying America's political landscape, Mark Steyn sees no conservative candidate in the race committed to a capitalist future of vibrant free markets for the country.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[RoadTest]

Washington, MYOB! Get your big nose out of mine!

[goldstategop]

Big government inevitably stifles individual freedom and the vitality of religion. In Europe, it has led to societal collapse. A nanny state that can take care of you is going to demolish the pillar society stands on: the family. When that disappears, even a plodding government bureaucracy is a hollowed out shell. If European ideas are implemented in America, the American Era in history will be effectively over.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[freeangel]

“Big government inevitably stifles individual freedom and the vitality of religion”

I would take it to a more personal level and state that most government representatives who are elected by the people love to bathe in the power they see themselves as having and love to wield it wherever thay can. It comes down to a human, power hungry problem instead of a vague “government” problem.

[goldstategop]

Its in the nature of politicians to solve problems to enhance their own electability. They look at every problem as a nail requiring a hammer. The intervention of government, though well intentioned, usually makes problems worse and keeps them from being resolved quickly. Global warming is mainly a political preoccupation these days rather an issue for individuals and the free market to address by themselves.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Moonman62]

Where was Mark when the Fed was raising interest rates to purposely slow down the economy? And the rate freeze is a voluntary agreement, not fiat by Paulson.

[TheRake]

I like Mark Steyn, but wasn't the bail out just an agreement between the administration and the big lenders, to freeze the rates of certain sub-prime arms? According to Dave Ramsey, this effects less than 1% of the sub primes that are over 30 days and no tax dollars are involved. If that's correct, I'm not sure I understand where Mark's coming from. I am prepared to be corrected though.

[monocle]

To a great extent Christian theology promotes and embraces programs resulting in big and invasive government, e.g. government health care, aid to children, etc.. In many regards Christian leaders are similar to the barons of Wall Street who embrace Democrats for temporary advantage to their detriment in the future. Huckabee is the poster boy for the adverse effects of a Christian minister(former) promoting governmental solutions over private initiatives.

[StnCldTruth]

“They look at every problem as a nail requiring a hammer.”

Yeah but thay use a sledgehammer !!!

[goldstategop]

Its a shame Mike Huckabee likes Big Government. But I wouldn't rule out a conversion before or after the convention.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[monocle]

Any such conversion would merely be political expediency and in no way would it occur after the convention when in all likelihood Huckabee would be competing against a flaming liberal who worships at the altar of socialism.

[metesky]

Steyn bump.

[Tax-chick]

I am in favor of a free market in religion and a free market in housing, but right now I'd like a conservative candidate with a clear-headed commitment to both.

You and me both, honey.

[Melchior]

Steyn is being sued in Canada by Muslim organizations for articles published in Macleans. The Canadian government’s Human Rights commissions in the provinces and nationally likely will allow the suit to go forward. So much for free speech. When big government institutions take over, watch out!

[Forgiven_Sinner]

I, like Mark, am against the government intervening to bail out lenders and borrowers when they take a risk and fail.

Based upon newsreports I’ve read, I thought this was a mandatory program. Yet an editorial I read (sorry, I can’t find it: either the WSJ or IBD) said it didn’t go far enough since none of this is mandatory. The Fed asked and the banks agreed to freeze mortgages to prevent foreclosures, but there is no force of law to require this. The editorial further said, this has been done in the past, voluntarily by the banks, and it has affected only a few people.

My takeaway from the editorial is that although this is government fiddling with the economy, it has very little effect.

[BillM]

Steyn is not being sued. Amagazine which published an excerpt from America Alone is being sued.

[Mojohemi]

The reason the Muslim exist today is to keep the atheist and the nasty things that atheism brings with it, like the Sodom and Gomorrah in San Francisco on alert! God plays by his own timeline and his own rules. God could care less about religion and state

[hellbender]

To a great extent Christian theology promotes and embraces programs resulting in big and invasive governmen

Christian theology properly understood does nothing of the kind. It directss individuals to show charity to other individuals voluntarily, and for their own good. For someone to promote compulsory theft of someone else's wealth in order to benefit someone else is a complete and radical perversion of Christianity. Nowhere in the New Testament do Jesus or his disciples advocate taxation or any other forcible transfer of wealth.

[rob777]

"But I wouldn't rule out a conversion before or after the convention."


Perhaps, but such speculation only underscores how fluid his views are. Romney at least executed his flip flops before the election. Compared to Huckabee, Romney is a pillar of consistency.

I am still hoping that Fred surges in time to spare us from having to choose between another RINO who will continue the redefinition of conservatism and Hillary.

[rob777]

"Nowhere in the New Testament do Jesus or his disciples advocate taxation or any other forcible transfer of wealth."


In fact, he explicitly rejects the idea when someone requests that he make his brother share his inheritance with him. Jesus' reply was "Man, who made be judge of divider over you?"