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Jim Spence |
The labels “liberal” and “conservative” are the most over-utilized and misunderstood terms used in the political media today. Dr. Michael Swickard absolutely nailed it on our radio show today when he described what the terms liberal and conservative mean to him. “Anyone looking for ways to make government bigger is a liberal,” he said. “And anyone looking to make government smaller is a conservative,” he added.
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Patrick Michaels |
This simple analogy brought me back to something Patrick Michaels of the Cato Institute said earlier in the week when he appeared on News New Mexico. One of the best guests we have ever had, Michaels related how frustrating it is that so many people could see how generals and admirals do everything in their power to expand the corner of government they occupy (Pentagon), but were so blind they could NOT see how E.P.A. bureaucrats and academics receiving billions in climate change research grants from various governments each year, do the exact same thing.
We hear all the time from MSNBC and Fox News that we have both “conservatives” and “liberals” fighting it out for power in America. The facts suggest otherwise. What we actually have are various segments of our population that in some shape or form want our government to get bigger and someone else to pay for it. And for this reason the politicians we collectively send to Washington see no reason to have the guts to:
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1. Ask EVERY American household to contribute some federal income tax to the cause.
2. Say “no” to military bureaucrats that want support for, but can’t define victory in, having ground troops in the Middle East.
3. Tell the truth to senior citizens about the financial realities of longer life expectancies.
4. Admit that man-made global warming and climate change is a research dollar-driven hoax.
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Anyone with a thimble full of common sense can take a look at the four bullet points above and conclude the number of elected officials that truly want the limited form of government that actually made America great, can be counted on one hand. Everyone wants bigger government in some area. And with this level of national self-delusion a matter of routine, what is in our future? It is pretty simple. We are headed for bigger and bigger government and lower and lower living standards. Why can't we choose leaders who trust individuals more and government less?
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There is a simple explanation for this too. When more than half the American households don't have to back a government they are willing to "trust" with so much as a dime of their own money, what should we expect? What we really want are more retiree benefits, more military excursions, more alternative energy subsidies, MORE, MORE, MORE. After all, when we want these things we are "investing"....aren't we? And um....when you invest in something it is ok to borrow isn't it? Sure it is. Let's raise the debt ceiling and do some more investing.

You Think You Are Conservative....or Liberal?