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Posted on 11/22/2002 5:34:15 AM PST by Maceman
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Dan Radmacher
Liberal philosophy, policies, programs benefit Americans
Friday November 22, 2002
Liberal isn’t a dirty word. The sooner Democrats remember that, the sooner they can start rebuilding the party.
I’m a liberal, and proud of it. But I don’t recognize myself when I listen to radio talk show hosts speak of “liberals” with nothing but disdain and ridicule in their voices. I don’t disdain conservatives. I don’t even disagree with them on every issue. I simply believe that the liberal political philosophy is ultimately more beneficial for this nation.
The problem is, very few people are out there articulating that philosophy. They certainly weren’t during the last election, with few exceptions.
Here’s how I see the difference:
Conservatives believe in limited government (except for social conservatives, who want the government in everyone’s bedroom). Conservatives believe there is little good that government can accomplish. Liberals believe government serves a positive function.
The evidence is on the side of the liberals.
Government is far from perfect. There is plenty of waste, fraud and abuse. Although, for some reason, conservatives generally oppose whistleblower laws that protect government workers who point out examples of waste, fraud and abuse. And, generally, the only increased spending they support is for defense, the federal program with absolutely the most waste, fraud and abuse.
But the idea of government is that, collectively, we can do more than we can individually.
The federal interstate system is a shining example. It is the lifeblood of the economy of practically every state. It couldn’t have happened without a large and powerful central government.
Public education is another good example. Yes, I know public education doesn’t have the best reputation right now. And, like all human endeavors, it has a multitude of flaws. In some parts of the country, it is failing miserably to educate children.
But, overall, it has been an unqualified success. Public schools have educated most Americans for decades. America is the No. 1 economic power in the world. Those two facts are not unrelated.
Public education isn’t perfect. Neither are the highways. But I’d rather have them imperfect as they are, than not. Wouldn’t you?
Conservatives think government should stay out of business’ way. Liberals know that unrestrained capitalism is in no one’s best interest. As late Gazette Publisher Ned Chilton said, “What is becoming increasingly clear about this economic system is that it places greed above all other concerns.”
Chilton would not have been even mildly surprised by Enron, Global Crossing or WorldCom.
Government regulation is necessary to ensure that safety, accountability and the environment don’t take a back seat to greed. There is such a thing as too much regulation. And government bureaucrats sometimes become concerned with irrelevant minutiae. But given the choice between too much regulation and too little, I would take too much.
Next time a batch of bad meat slips past the regulators and into your stomach, you might just agree. Or the next time you lose your life’s investment to a greedy CEO who cooked the books. Or the next time you get rear-ended in a Pinto. Or you lose your well water because of nearby mining activities. Or toxic sludge seeps into your back yard.
Conservatives think the rich pay too much in taxes. Liberals think that it’s better to take $135,000 from someone who makes half a million a year than it is to take anything from a working mom who makes minimum wage. I could live on $364,000 a year, after federal income taxes. Couldn’t you? I would certainly rather do that, and complain about taxes, than attempt to raise a child on a minimum-wage salary.
Funny thing, though. That minimum-wage mom has gotten all the tax relief she’s going to get from the Bush tax cut. The rest of the cut, which Republicans are now trying to make permanent, goes only to the wealthiest Americans.
Liberal programs like Medicare, Social Security, the minimum wage, unemployment insurance, food stamps, the GI Bill, etc., have made life immeasurably better for countless Americans.
That is something liberals everywhere should be proud of.
I know I am.
Radmacher is the Gazette’s editorial page editor. He can be reached at 348-5150, or by e-mail at danrad@wvgazette.com.
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Looks like these liberals are going to have to wander in the political desert for forty years as punishment for worshipping the golden calf of government power. What they really want is a king, I think.
Please observe as the author now proceeds to make a few qualifying remarks here. This is necessary because, having said that Public Education is a good example [of Liberal's being on the right side], he know's that many people will speak against his posiition:
Yes, I know public education doesn’t have the best reputation right now. And, like all human endeavors, it has a multitude of flaws. In some parts of the country, it is failing miserably to educate children.
OK. We've finished our qualifiying statements that are intended to deflect any criticism of Public Education. Let's move on to the author's conclusion:
But, overall, it has been an unqualified success.
WTF?
The US is NOT prosperous because of government run public education. We are prosperous because we had a free economy which encouraged competition which forces efficiency.
Liberal policies encourage the economy of "pull" (who can make the government pass personally beneficial policies that discourage competition).
He who has the most "pull", not he who has the best ideas, is the one that "succeeds" - and this is not in the best interests of society as a whole.
This is some meaning of the word "benefit" I wasn't previously aware of!
Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com
I'll give them this though; at least they're openly, blatantly liberal, and don't even try to pretend to be objective.
And luckily for Charleston, they're still a two-newspaper town. The afternoon paper is openly conservative.
Public schools have educated most Americans for decades.Yep.
That's why we've been overrun with liberals!
Who is he kidding? After state income taxes, FICA, and sales taxes, that $364,000 is probably closer to $250,000. And no one gets government services worth anywhere close to $250,000/year. And the arrogant presumption that he displays, that the $500K somehow materialized out of thin air rather than being accumulated through hard work and initiative. That minimum-wage mom absolutely should be paying a 10% flat tax - let the burden fall upon every citizen, or else suspend the privileges of citizenship until such time as the individual can pay their fair share (that's what "fair share" means, liberals!!!).
I shouldn't read this stuff in the morning......twits like this make my blood boil.
These aren't successes because they are working. Remember, success to a liberal means they got it in to policy and not because of results. Though I do like the GI bill.
Whoops, the author forgot to continue by saying "....who would have otherwise had to have worked to receive such benefits that such programs hand out for free."
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