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10/15/2008
Lasee: Self-reliance or lots of government?
On November 4, about half of us will make a choice between Republicans and Democrats. Some will choose Greens, Libertarian or Independents. The rest won’t vote. Surprisingly, there are nine candidates for President on November 4th. Click here if you are curious.
Often, more than party affiliation, it’s important to know where a candidate stands (or avoids making known where they stand) on the liberal to conservative spectrum, than to know the candidate’s party label. There are a few conservative Democratic candidates and many more liberal Republican candidates.
An absolute liberal would create a system where the government takes care of everyone and everything, cradle to grave. A government that provides for all of our needs (and wants), no matter what a person does or whether they choose to work or not. This system would provide us with a certain amount of security and many rules that restrict individual freedoms. This leads to ever bigger government because being taken care of comes with a committee to plan and direct individuals in how they can best be of use to society. How they should contribute (if they want to) to the collective. After all, it is for all of our own good.
An absolute conservative would have an individual take responsibility for his/her own life, including family. All the time, in every way. (Remember conservatives give more to charities than liberals.) The government would do very little beyond providing roads, fair laws, courts and basic services. This system provides maximum individual freedom, a less costly government, and comes at the cost of more self-reliance and less security.
It comes down to individual freedoms conflicting with our desire to be taken care of. This reminds me of something said by former Congressman Dick Armey “Three groups spend other people's money: children, thieves, and politicians. All three need supervision.”
We either enjoy greater individual freedoms, which stem from our willingness to take responsibility for ourselves, or we give up individual freedoms in exchange for government-provided security. Our country and this state have grown much closer to Karl Marx’s Das Kapital vision than Ayn Rand’s We the Living.
Free people exercising their own initiative, versus government responsibility for everyone and everything.
What should we have? More freedom and capitalism, or ever-expanding government planning and control? Do we want bureaucrats and politicians directing every detail, or do we want to make our own choices, and be responsible for our own rewards and mistakes, as messy as that may be? Having both isn’t possible in the long run.
Frank Lasee is a Republican and represents the 2nd Assembly District.
COMMENTS
I guess if there can be fantasy football, there can be fantasy politics too.
Pointing fingers is a thing that politicians are good at, but those fingers would be put to better use plugging the holes in the dike that is our nation's financial "system."
The last time we had a party of less government was when Calvin Coolidge ran for president.
The question today is whether more government will work for us or against us.
With a federal debt of $10.2 trillion, and a deficit in President Bush's current budget of $450 billion, the next president will be inheriting a la-la land legacy that future generations will have to solve.
Today, both parties have become firmly rooted in that la-la land.
"Since 1938 the Democrats have held the White house for 35 years, the Republicans for 36. Over that time the national debt has increased at an average annual rate of 8.5%," writes debt-watcher Steve McGourty.
"In years Democrats were in the White House there was an average increase of 8.3%. In years the Republicans ran the White House the debt increased an average 9.2% per year," he said.
"Those averages aren’t that far apart, but they do show a bias toward more borrowing by Republicans than Democrats even including World War II."
Rich Eggleston (Wed Oct 15 10:38:05 2008)
Rich, Thanks for those statistics. That is information that is very helpful in understanding the truth about who's who in the game of politics. I am again surprised this morning by our local and state governments reaction to the news that they have less money to work with than they thought they were going to have. Who's watching the deposits and the withdrawals at our local levels. Do they not understand that spending is down off the charts. Anybody who thinks that Wisconsin or the fox cities is insulated from what is happening is not paying attention. Governments local and state need to be acting now to stop the bleeding that is going on in the backround to get our checkbooks balanced and not wait for the numbers to come in and act soprised that money coming in at all levels is way down. Just because we can be taxed more does not mean we want to be taxed more. I don't see anyone of our representatives standing up on top of their desk and screaming at the top of their lungs that enough is enough. All I see is docile government thinking that we can just tax more and fix everything. Get to work people. Their is alot to do.
We elect you to represent us. Being in the office is one thing. Actually figuring out how to get something accomplished is yet another. Democrat, Republican or something else, I don't care. Assume their is no more money available from the people and fix the government ills.
Mike
Mike Morgen (Thu Oct 16 07:57:52 2008)
a little of both please! nobodies life is the same and one size doesn't fit all. i think obama offers some options that make sense. like working in community service - either civilian or military - to earn college credit - you do a good thing for our country and widen your horizens - beats working at big mac serving french fries doesn't it! i wish that something like that was available to me - maybe i still could serve my country - even though i am retired now and living on a fixed income and can't afford gas to get to town but once a week. i don't mind though because thats just the breaks. i worked 40 years some in a government job and some just where ever i could find employment - never went to jail - enjoy my family & neighbors. just would like to see opportunities where they don't exist now.
yellowdog (Sun Oct 19 10:07:40 2008)
Rich, it would be more useful to see who was in CONGRESS, not who was in the White House, during those years! The President does not make laws or appropriations, CONGRESS does. And as we know, many times one party controlled the White House while another controlled Congress.
emily matthews (Sat Oct 18 21:08:56 2008)
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