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Democrats Archive

Monday

14

December 2009

1

COMMENTS

Leftists Decry Lack Of Dictatorship In America

Written by , Posted in Legislation, Liberty & Limited Government

Matt Yglesias is upset and considers America to be “ungovernable” because Obama can’t just wave his hand and have his agenda pass without opposition:

We’re suffering from an incoherent institutional set-up in the senate. You can have a system in which a defeated minority still gets a share of governing authority and participates constructively in the victorious majority’s governing agenda, shaping policy around the margins in ways more to their liking. Or you can have a system in which a defeated minority rejects the majority’s governing agenda out of hand, seeks opening for attack, and hopes that failure on the part of the majority will bring them to power. But right now we have both simultaneously. It’s a system in which the minority benefits if the government fails, and the minority has the power to ensure failure. It’s insane, and it needs to be changed.

No, it doesn’t.  What we have is a system that protects itself from the whims of fanciful, but ill-considered change.

The guardian has also taken up the cause of whining about America’s “broken” system, which just refuses to allow the immediate and thoughtless adoption of a sweeping, radical agenda.

This is not Latin America, where any colorful demagogue can rise to power and immediately reshape an entire nation in his imagine.  Where Matt Yglesias and the hard-left see a bug, those more concerned about the nature of American democracy than the ability to ram through radical legislation see a feature.

The Senate is the only body in the government which protects minority rights from the trampling of the majority. It was designed specifically for that purpose, and although the nature of how it does so has changed, it continues to serve that purpose today.  We should not undo our governing model on the basis of the dictatorial impulses of Matt Yglesias.

Friday

23

October 2009

1

COMMENTS

New Brilliant Dem Idea: Medicare All Around

Written by , Posted in Health Care, Welfare & Entitlements

Many of the problems with health care can be traced back to Medicare.  The third-party payer system, in which Medicare is the biggest single purchaser, means that the patient is not the customer.  This leads to all manner of undesirable outcomes, including excessive death due to negligence and price inflation.

David Goldhill is a self- described left-leaning democrat and businessman whose father died from an easily preventable, hospital caused infection. After his father’s death, he spent a year and a half learning everything he could about health care delivery and why there are so many practices in health care that are intolerable in other businesses. He rejects the almost religious devotion many have to the idea that health care is just so fundamentally different from other sectors, and instead believes that our insistence on treating it different is what ultimately causes so many of its ills.  It is clear from his exploration (video from a recent Cato hosted Hill event) that one of the primary culprits is Medicare.

In addition to its distortionary impact on the delivery of health care, Medicare is also fiscally unsound.  In the coming decades costs are set to balloon out of control, leaving trillions in unfunded liabilities.  None of this is a problem for democrats.  In fact, they love Medicare so much, they want to expand it!

Strategically they’ve discovered that the public is more likely to accept the expansion of something they are familiar with than the “public option,” even though it would serve largely the same function.  Naturally, politics is all that matters to democrats, so with this discovery they’ll now begin ramming a universal medicare plan down our throats, and to hell with the consequences.

Sunday

18

October 2009

0

COMMENTS

Sometimes The Truth Slips Out

Written by , Posted in Economics & the Economy, Energy and the Environment

Liberals and other leftists have by necessity gotten quite good at hiding their agenda.  When the people learn just what it is they want to do, it’s almost always soundly rejected.  Their solution to this is never to change their agenda, but to hide it.  Yet sometimes the truth just slips out despite their best efforts.  Here are a couple of recent examples:

Yes, we’re buying votes

The Washington Post collected commentary from economists, pollsters and other politicos regarding the President’s request to provide a one-time $250 check to Social Security recipients. The reason given by the President is that seniors need help because they won’t be getting a cost of living adjustment this year (because there was no inflation and thus no increase in the cost of living).

One democratic pollster strayed from this narrative, however, and let their true motivations slip out.  Acknowledging that the proposal should be adopted “for political reasons,” he suggested the $250 benefit “will go a  long way toward holding on to a voting bloc that will be critical in next year’s midterm election.”  This is what is known as vote-buying, a cynical practice of stealing from Peter to bribe Paul that big government liberals are especially, though not uniquely, prone to.

We need economic pain for environmental gain

Web editor for The Nation, Emily Douglas, let a big one slip at a recent panel discussion on the environment.  When asked how to “reverse our culture of consumerism here in the United States,” Douglas immediately fired back, “make the recession worse.”  Although she claimed later this was a flippant answer, she also confirmed in her closing what many of us have said about the environmental movement for some time: it seeks to sacrifice human well-being in the name of environmental protection.  Its primary target is capitalism, because it has done more than anything to elevate the living standards people throughout the world.

Giving her final thoughts, Douglas stated flatly that she thinks “things should be more expensive” for Americans.  In other words, she wants people to be able to afford less conveniences, and thus to have a lower standard of living.  Sadly, this seems to be the dominant view in the modern environmental movement.

Tuesday

11

August 2009

0

COMMENTS

Helping Claire McCaskill Understand The "Rudeness"

Written by , Posted in Health Care, Welfare & Entitlements

Claire McCaskill doesn’t understand the “rudeness” from her most recent town hall.  She was also flabbergasted to learn that, for some strange reason, people weren’t inclined to trust their great Senator.

 Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) expressed dismay at the behavior of her town hall audience today, stopping at one point to criticize what she called “rudeness.”

“I don’t understand this rudeness,” she said when an attendee interrupted her. “What is this? I don’t get it. I honestly don’t get it. Do you all think that you’re persuading people when you shout out like that?”

“I beg your pardon? You don’t trust me?” McCaskill asked when the attendee responded. The crowd erupted with a loud “No!”

“I don’t know what else I can do,” McCaskill said.

Allow me to help you understand, Senator. Your party has rammed through multiple pieces of major legislation with little opportunity to even read the bills, much less digest and debate their impact on America.

This government has no credibility left to claim that it is interested in serious discussion of the issues.  If Obama and Pelosi had their way, the health care bill would have been passed before anyone had any say at all.

People are just tired of it. They are fed up and they are waking up. That’s why they are rude, and why they don’t trust anyone in congress.  It’s not necessarily personal to you – as you are one of the few Democrats who has genuinely tried to listen to your constituents without deliberately belittling, condescending or otherwise insulting them – but since you made your bed with Pelosi, you can expect to see the consequences.

Thursday

30

July 2009

0

COMMENTS

That's Not Even Good Enough For A Cookie

Written by , Posted in Health Care, Welfare & Entitlements

Democrats are beaming.  They are quite proud of themselves, and they want you to know about it.  What did they do?  Well, they finally got around to learning what was in the health care bill.

They were all House Democrats, boning up on the historic and controversial health-care reform legislation that’s being crafted in their chamber. The rough draft of HR 3200 (“America’s Affordable Health Choices Act”) was unveiled two weeks ago and runs more than 1,000 pages, not counting amendments. Last week the Democrats decided that, if they’re going to try to sell this plan to their constituents, they need to have a better sense of what it says, line by line.

They needed a teach-in.

So their staffers led them through the bill, section by section — from Division A, Title I, Subtitle A, Section 101 all the way through Division C, Title V, Subtitle E, Section 2541.

After a couple of hours the Democrats had adopted a refrain:

“No one’s going to say we haven’t read the bill,” said Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland, as he took a break from the closed-door gathering.

Why, what good little representatives they are! Now if we can only get them to wait until after they know what is in a piece of legislation before deciding to “sell” it to the people.

Wednesday

8

July 2009

0

COMMENTS

Confusing The Leader For The Nation

Written by , Posted in Culture & Society

Although their exact characteristics vary from instance to instance, dictatorships tend to have a number of features in common.  One such feature is the confusion of the head of state for the nation itself.  In this view, the welfare and success of the country is inextricably tied to the welfare and success of the leader.  It is convenient for dictators to foster this belief, as it ties the well-being of the individual citizen to the success of the leader via the welfare of the nation.  The individual need not even consider what specifically the leader is doing.  Whatever it is, he must succeed.

I am saddened to see an elected official promoting such illiberal and undemocratic views right here in America:

“It appears that the Republican Party leadership in the Congress has made a decision that they want to deny President Obama success, which means, in my mind, they are rooting against the country, as well,” the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman told WAMU radio host Diane Rehm on Tuesday morning, promoting his new book, “The Waxman Report.”

Barack Obama is a politician.  He is not the United States of America.

Tuesday

30

June 2009

0

COMMENTS

Government Seizure Of Poker Funds Is Outrageous

Written by , Posted in Liberty & Limited Government, The Nanny State & A Regulated Society

Earlier this month, a rogue New York prosecutor took it upon himself to illegally freeze $34 million in online poker winnings.

Prosecutors’ seizure of $34 million belonging to online poker players ups the ante in a long-running struggle between the Justice Department, which wants to shut down the online-gambling industry, and members of Congress who want to make it legal.

The government has used several laws to prosecute online gambling. Critics claim those laws are unclear and are sometimes contradicted by a patchwork of state laws.

Although it’s stupid no matter how you cut it, what is most pathetic about this action is that it targeted individual players whose activities were not illegal even under the ill advised stealth passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006.  Over 27,000 Americans exercising their natural right to use their property as they see fit were assaulted by this policy.  Although some misguided legislators think it’s their place to protect the peasants from themselves, a large part of government antagonism toward online gambling is simply a turf war.  The government has skin in this game, as they sanction or even sponsor gambling all across the country.  It is utterly hypocritical and immoral to use the force of government to protect chosen gambling venues while attacking others.  This nanny state foolishness must stop, immediately.

It’s sad to say that what should be an issue of small government seems to be best understood by democrats, while many republicans oddly take the statist view.  I don’t get it, but at least there’s one issue where some good might come with having the democrats in power.

Saturday

27

June 2009

0

COMMENTS

California Liberal: Electoral Accountability Is Akin To Terrorism

Written by , Posted in General/Misc.

The Speaker of the California Assembly made this shocking comment about talk radio in an interview to the Los Angeles Times:

How do you think conservative talk radio has affected the Legislature’s work?

The Republicans were essentially threatened and terrorized against voting for revenue. Now [some] are facing recalls. They operate under a terrorist threat: “You vote for revenue and your career is over.” I don’t know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist. I guess it’s about free speech, but it’s extremely unfair.

Not only is it unfair that voters can express their intention of holding elected officials accountable at the voting both, it’s terrorism!  Unbelievable.

Hat tip: NewsBusters

Friday

26

June 2009

0

COMMENTS

UN Stumbles Upon Some Truth

Written by , Posted in Energy and the Environment, Free Markets

Coming as a pleasant surprise, the UN reported today that open trade and economic growth helps, rather than hurts, the environment.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, further liberalization of international trade can help combat climate change and support a low carbon economy, said a joint United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Trade Organization (WTO) report launched today in Geneva.

The “Trade and Climate Change” report stressed that an increase and opening of trade could have a positive impact on greenhouse gases emissions by accelerating the spread of clean technology and providing opportunities for developing economies to adapt those technologies.

Many of us have always challenged the “conventional wisdom” on economic growth – that it was destructive to the environment.  The reality is quite the opposite, as new technology is almost always cleaner than the old; so the faster new technology is adopted, the better.  If Barack Obama and the Democrats are serious about their goal of thwarting global warming, they should dump trade protectionism and their economically destructive cap and trade bill.

Wednesday

17

June 2009

1

COMMENTS

Left Using High Profile Murders To Advance Agenda

Written by , Posted in Culture & Society, Gun Rights

In a slight twist to the “never let a crisis go to waste” motto on constant exhibit at the White House, prominent leftists have approached the recent string of high profile shootings with a resolve to not let the tragedies go to waste.  The agenda? Hate crimes and gun control.

Hate Crimes

Explicitly citing the recent shootings as evidence, Attorney General Eric Holder called for new hate crimes laws as a way to stop “violence masquerading as political activism.”  Although each incident involved the commission of acts which are already considered crimes, Holder says Congress needs to pass new legislation “to protect the rights ensured under our Constitution.”  Senate Majority leader Harry Reid has said that he is committed to getting to hate crimes legislation before the August recess.

A particularly pernicious aspect of the current hate-crimes push is the willingness of proponents to submit the accused to multiple trials, if necessary.  Although the Constitution’s prohibition against double-jeopardy has never applied cross-jurisdictions between states and the federal government, it has nevertheless long been seen as desirable to avoid the prospect of federal prosecutions following state acquittals for the same crime.  Now, the ability to try acquitted individuals again using federal hate crimes laws is seen by liberal advocacy groups as a virtue.

They’re even attempting to tie opponents of open immigration into the issue of hate crimes.  Meanwhile, ceaseless race-baiter Jesse Jackson takes the well worn low road and blames the attacks on everything from conservative talk radio to “our obsession with guns.”

Gun Control

Perpetually displeased with the reality of living under the Second Amendment and its protections for individual gun rights, the left is forever looking for ways to undermine and destroy our deep historical and cultural beliefs in self-protection and personal freedom.  Gun grabbers have a history of hijacking high profile tragedies in hopes of harnessing the emotions of the moment to enact far-reaching bans without any need for consideration of the merits.  The most recent spat of shootings are no different.

The Washington Post’s Marie Cocco dramatically writes that we are “enduring a spring of slaughter.”  And the cause of our present horror is that “we have decided to let just about anyone have a gun.” Cocco also offers the usual gun control lie, claiming that, “among the guns Poplawski reportedly used in his attack was an AK-47, a so-called “assault weapon” whose manufacture was banned in the 1990s, but is no longer.” Lying about the AWB has always been common place among its proponents.  As reality would have it, Ak-47s were not simply banned by the bill, and many variants were legal to purchase, as the bill comically dealt more with what combination of cosmetic features a gun had rather than its functionality.

The various shootings over the last few weeks are deplorable. but so are the left’s efforts to stretch the facts in order to advance a radical agenda.  Whether it be lying about the contents of past legislation and its impact, or pretending that a lunatic, jew-hating, 9/11 truther is “right-wing,” the left has demonstrated that they have no intention of getting tripped up over facts while pushing for greater government control.

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About Me

profileI serve as Vice President of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity, a non-profit think tank dedicated to preserving tax competition and free markets. This site features my personal views, which are not reflective of CF&P.

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