California going under--and it's spreading
The WSJ ran a piece on people leaving California, and many of the comments are full of insight.
The American experiment in democracy and capitalism involved breaking away from the Old World's policies and giving everyone the opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
In an astonishingly short time America became the most wealthy, powerful and successful nation of people ever assembled. This happened in large part because our founding principle honored the concept of liberty and freedom. It was a winning concept.
Unfortunately, precisely because of that freedom people are free to praise the cancer that is statism/socialism, and to elect politicians who pass laws allowing that cancer to take root. And eventually the number of voters who live off the taxes of workers exceeds the number of workers.
Barring a violent revolt, what's happening in California now will happen to the rest of America eventually. Socialists and their ilk have used California's enormous wealth to make promises to pay huge benefits to public-sector employees, and to give substantial benefits to those who don't work, in exchange for votes.
The predictable result is that today those who pay the taxes that run government are outnumbered and out-voted by those who simply demand money.
Compare "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" to "I demand that you give me anything I need!" Which philosophy do you think will lead to a better outcome?
The American experiment in democracy and capitalism involved breaking away from the Old World's policies and giving everyone the opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
In an astonishingly short time America became the most wealthy, powerful and successful nation of people ever assembled. This happened in large part because our founding principle honored the concept of liberty and freedom. It was a winning concept.
Unfortunately, precisely because of that freedom people are free to praise the cancer that is statism/socialism, and to elect politicians who pass laws allowing that cancer to take root. And eventually the number of voters who live off the taxes of workers exceeds the number of workers.
Barring a violent revolt, what's happening in California now will happen to the rest of America eventually. Socialists and their ilk have used California's enormous wealth to make promises to pay huge benefits to public-sector employees, and to give substantial benefits to those who don't work, in exchange for votes.
The predictable result is that today those who pay the taxes that run government are outnumbered and out-voted by those who simply demand money.
Compare "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" to "I demand that you give me anything I need!" Which philosophy do you think will lead to a better outcome?
posted by SF at
9:20 AM
2 Comments:
Steve, there is a wonderful book called "Civilization, the West and the Rest" by a fellow named Fergeson. He talks about just why the West pulled ahead of the rest of the world, i.e. which "killer aps" (as he calls them) were used to accomplish this and why we are losing ground now. Very insightful. I always enjoy your comments and they are so right on. Debbie
Thanks for the recommendation, Debbie. I'll look forward to reading it!
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