by Chuck Rogér
Routing other people’s money through the government alchemy machine is supposed to somehow magnify national wealth and income, while leaving it in the pockets of those who earned it is somehow a drag.
This priceless statement by economist/historian Lawrence Reed accurately encapsulates the attitude of big-government money launderers. The most visible of the launderers is the big-government “progressive.” But all politicians almost by definition have the laundering attitude.
Ruling class elites view themselves as creators of all things good in society. For the politician surely knows how to spread constituents’ money around better than the constituents. Big-government overseers view permitting people to determine the disposition of their own money as a sacrilegious exercise.
In the final analysis, the attitude of the big-government politician boils down to something straightforward — sanctimony. Whether conservative or progressive, there is one behavioral trait shared by all lovers of the government leviathan — the reflexive urge to use other people’s money to bring about the fulfillment of a vision of a “good” world.
America’s Founders never envisioned a behemoth that vacuums up the people’s wealth, runs that wealth through “the government alchemy machine,” and thus achieves the objectives of whatever elites happen to be at the controls. Nevertheless, this disgusting state of affairs is precisely what America has come to.
Whether it be progressives scooping up our tax dollars, spreading pixie dust on those dollars, and losing the “war on poverty,” or conservatives blowing our money to lose the “war on drugs,” the attitudes and behaviors are identical — and identically destructive. Wealth is destroyed and the problems not solved. Whether it be progressives pushing cultural Marxism in schools or conservatives wanting schoolchildren to be taught religious views alongside the theory of evolution, the attitudes and behaviors are identical — and identically destructive. Clear thinking is subjugated to indoctrination.
Government, all government, needs to get out of the nannying business, all nannying — both monetary and moral.
That is what “Land of the free and home of the brave” means, isn’t it?
Agreed. Yet it is amazing how many people on both “left” and “right” simply do not see the wisdom in, “Government, all government, needs to get out of the nannying business, all nannying — both monetary and moral.”
Really excellent symbolism! I’ll be reposting this to Facebook. My impression from your comments in this post is that you’re an advocate for libertarianism. However, if that’s the case, I’m curious why your September 30th post on the side indicated Herman Cain is “the only truly worthwhile GOP presidential contender.” I would’ve pegged you for a Ron Paul supporter…maybe even a Gary Johnson. As a Cain supporter myself, I’m delighted to have someone else on board…just surprised.