One of my goals in life is to figure out the liberal mindset (sorry, that is progressive mindset). I have figured out they are not bad people, just that they have little faith in the average person. To wit, they are on a quest to save people from their own stupidity, to protect them if you will from…well from everyone except big government as it turns out.
I know how to solve every problem in the world, except maybe obesity.
Progressives also seem inclined to be blind to the unintended consequences of their initiatives, things like removing incentives to care about health care costs, making it more difficult to save for the future, hampering risk taking and productivity, little stuff like that. I once had a liberal friend tell me he was sick of executives making big money and that everyone should make the same amount. I pointed out that the average family income was around $50,000 a year (considerably less than his income)…he changed the subject.
Oh, their objectives are always worthy; eliminate poverty, reign in malicious business practices, steal from the rich to give to the poor, that kind of thing. Eliminating poverty is one of my favorites. You would think that after a few thousand years of trying someone would get it right.
What does not seem to fit into their equation is common sense, personal responsibility, human behavior or the fact that politicians (the people who run government) are incapable of making decisions not primarily focused on the next election. In short, progressives perhaps well-meaning, but naive. Of course, the right-wing is no better placing ultimate faith in people to do the right thing all the time.
You would be hard pressed to find a political figure who did not favor a balanced budget, low deficits, fiscal responsibility, a fair and efficient tax system and policies that encourage innovation, business expansion and competitiveness on the world scene, and yet…
we have no balanced budget, dangerously high deficits, an inefficient incomprehensible tax system and policies that inhibit economic growth…go figure.
The latest controversial figure on the scene is Elizabeth Warren who the President is appointing to help start the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Everything indicates she is a very smart, dedicated person. She is also a progressive, populist thinker.
Go to this link and view her interview with Michael Moore. Listen carefully to where she places the blame for the problems people have with mortgages they cannot afford and credit card debt they cannot handle.
Most of us are not as dumb as progressives believe nor are we as responsible as conservatives expect. We need some common sense middle ground that does not lead us to European style socialism and mediocrity. The balance of world power is already on a path shifting from west to east, we do not need to hasten our decline in world status. Keep an eye out, the early warning sign will be when McDonalds puts chow mein on its menu.
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