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letter to the editor Archive

Sunday

23

November 2008

0

COMMENTS

A Resounding Vote For Federalism

Written by , Posted in Big Government

I recently sent the following letter to the New York Times:

To the Editor:

A Resounding Vote for Open Space,” (editorial, Nov. 18) notes that voters in several states approved large spending proposals for preserving open land.  The editorial wrongly concludes that Congress should follow suit and “grant permanent wilderness protection to two million acres of public land.”

The federal government already owns 650 million acres of land – nearly 30% of the total U.S. territory.  It doesn’t need more. That voters chose to approve open land initiatives at the state level doesn’t amount to “an explicit rebuke to President Bush,” but instead shows the popularity of local control. Approving state money through referendums ensures that those who live near preservation lands – and thus receive most of the benefits – are the ones to bear the costs.

The government should do the opposite of what the editorial suggests: sell as much federal land as it can and help close the federal budget’s record shortfalls.

Sincerely,

Brian Garst

Tuesday

11

November 2008

0

COMMENTS

Not Worth It

Written by , Posted in Free Markets

I recently sent the following letter to the LA Times:

Dear Editor,

The subheading of a recent editorial (“Kick the automakers’ tires first,” Nov. 11) declared that, “before getting any of the public’s money, the Big Three should have to prove they’re worth it.”

We already have a mechanism by which companies can prove they are worth the public’s money: the free market. In the free market, the public decides which companies are “worth it” by choosing which goods to purchase. Those businesses that thrive are worth it; those that don’t are not. The public has clearly decided that the Big Three fall into the latter group. The government should respect our judgment.

Sincerely,

Brian Garst

Tuesday

28

October 2008

1

COMMENTS

Scared Of Debate

Written by , Posted in Culture & Society, Media Bias

I recently sent the following letter to the Washington Post:

Dear Editor,

Ruth Marcus’ recent defense of Obama was incomprehensible (“The ‘Socialist’ Scare,” Oct. 22). While rightly acknowledging that it’s important to debate the proper role of government, Marcus later uses examples of those trying to engage in such debates as proof of an “uncivil” campaign. Socialism and welfare go to the heart of “the proper role of government,” yet she finds discussion of such issues to be “ominous.” We must, in her view, move beyond the “stale ‘no new taxes’ debate.” Rather, she is concerned that engaging in these important debates will make it harder for the next President to “unite a divided country.”

Marcus wants a debate, but only after we first all accept her premise that taxes are good, and that any increase should be seen as nothing more than the price for civilized society. It sure is easy to win a debate if everyone is forced to accept your ideas before it even begins.

Sincerely,
Brian Garst

Thursday

23

October 2008

0

COMMENTS

Wrong Diagnosis

Written by , Posted in Economics & the Economy, Free Markets

I recently sent the following letter to the Washington Post:

Dear Editor,

Harold Meyerson says it is now up to liberalism to “[build] a more sustainable economy from the wreckage of the old,” while declaring the conservative god of “unregulated capitalism” to be dead (“Gods That Failed,” October 15). He’s a bit late for the funeral. Free-markets died almost a century ago when FDR, ignoring the Constitution, expanded government power over economic activity. Today, there’s an alphabet soup of federal agencies employing over 12,000 bureaucrats to regulate the supposedly unregulated financial sector.

Every time there is a new problem, a chorus of talking heads immediately blames it on a lack of regulation and demands action. Legislators who want to look like they are “doing something” get busy passing laws and hiring yet more regulators. It’s these knee-jerk government interventions to the challenges of the past that have fueled the problems of today. Let’s not create more problems in the future by making the same mistake now.

Sincerely,
Brian Garst