Miss this Guy?

You know with all the bad news going around you will notice how we go back in history to find inspiration from past leaders.

The Obama people are touting FDR, if I have heard it once, I have heard it many times now that FDR was voted into office 4 times and therefore the man must have been doing something right. Oh, goodness gracious, do you think economist just cringe at those statements?

What he did right? Was politicking!! He convinced people 'doing' anything, just 'anything' had to be better than nothing. Um, we are paying for some of FDR's plans today and FDR would be the first to say that some of his plans that we still have he never intended to have for the long haul. Historians and political scientist grimace knowing that FDR is the President that tried with all his might to expand the executive branch well beyond its original powers. His famous try at stacking the Supreme Court is just one example of many that could be listed as proof.

Yes, we all know why the Obama people are touting FDR, Obama is expanding the Government like all get out and who better than to tout than FDR.

Now, all that being said it seems that the Republican party is having trouble finding a leader. Seems that some are calling Rush Limbaugh the leader. Seems Mr. Limbaugh has upset the Obama camp by exercising his right to free speech. I'm not sure I would call him the Republican party Leader? I am also not sure why the Obama people are so worried about what he is saying and why they are working so hard to discredit his words? Especially, if they feel he is out of touch with most Americans? Why acknowledge him at all?

I do believe that the Republican Party is hurting for a leader. I do believe they are missing this guy! Here is an email I received today saying that exactly. I wanted to share.

MISS THIS GUY?

'Here's my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose.'

- Ronald Reagan

'The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'

-Ronald Reagan

'The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.'

- Ronald Reagan

'Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. Was too strong.'

- Ronald Reagan

'I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress.'
- Ronald Reagan

'The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination.'

- Ronald Reagan

'Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.'

- Ronald Reagan

'The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program.
- Ronald Reagan

'It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.'

- Ronald Reagan


'Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it'

- Ronald Reagan

'Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book.'

- Ronald Reagan

'No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.'

- Ronald Reagan

'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.'

- Ronald Reagan

MEMORIES!

Fascism, Socialism, Welfare, Capitalism what word doesn't belong?

Typically, we assume that when we use words that everyone agrees on the definition. In politics this assumption should not take place. It is amazing to see how the definitions change. I'm not sure they change, I think people get a little confused with all the pundits. Even the politicians themselves have a tendency to use the words, oh, let's just say, in a manner that comes across in a better light if that is what they need at the moment. Therefore, I am going to warn you. I am starting this post with a definition of terms. This way you know exactly how I am using the terms. Here it goes.

Capitalism: is an economic system in which wealth and the means of producing wealth, are privately owned and controlled rather than community, publicly, or state-owned and controlled.

Centralization: the concentration of administrative power in the nation's capital, allowing little or no local autonomy.

Conservatism: political mood or movement aimed at preserving older or traditional values, economic systems and laws.

Federation: political system in which component territories enjoy a high degree of autonomy or home rule.

Nationalization: governmental takeover of private industry.

Privatization: The selling of state-owned enterprises to private business.

Socialism: political movement at greater equality by means of welfare measures and/or nationalization of industry.

Totalitarian: a dictatorial regime that attempts to impose total ideological, economic, and political control over society.

Welfare: redistributive measures that provide health care, food, housing and insurance to poorer classes.

Oh, my goodness, that was a lot.

Well, as I continue to watch our politicians and our President ( I mean really you cannot help but see Obama the man is everywhere, it is a little creepy) go on and on about how the government needs to save us one can easily see that capitalism is dying in America. I would argue that America has not been a true capitalist society for a while but what was left of our capitalism is truly dying.

What seems to be happening right before our eyes is the nationalization of our industries. What will be next? Will we cease to be a federation? If you ask me the United States his heading towards the centralization of government.

The government is growing. This stimulus package. Unbelievable. I mean when you start talking about trillions of dollars, I cannot even wrap my mind around those figures. Worse, does it make any sense to anyone that they are lowering taxes and increasing spending and bailing out industries. Do the math? This cannot work.

In addition, if you notice now the President is turning Americans against business owners. He has insinuated it is their fault. I think it is high time everyone takes responsibility for their actions. Also, let the business fail if it is not making it. You learn from failure, not from the government taking over and giving you a strong talking to. What I find interesting is the fact that all the workers want their jobs saved but they want the people at the top canned. Um, not how it goes. If a company fails, it goes out of business and everyone loses their jobs, including the executives. That is how it should work. Therefore, if the government saves a company shouldn't everyone be saved. No, the President is making sure he is setting up a fall guy and making himself look like a hero to the little guy.

I am a confused American. I'm not sure if we are leaning towards socialism, fascism, totalitarian or Obama Welfare State. Go back to the top and look at the definitions. O.K. see why I'm wondering. Now, fascism, yeah, that one is over the top. I mean it is probably extreme to compare him to Mussolini but hmmm let's see. Mussolini favored big businesses, allowing the small ones to fail. I do believe the bailouts are for big businesses. Mussolini called it the Agency for Industrial Reconstruction, we just call it a bailout or stimulus package. The early supporters of Mussolini were students and white - collar workers who found jobs in the expanding party and government. Yikes, sounds a lot like Obama supporters. Mussolini created bureaucracies and public works to create jobs and lift spirits. Sound familiar? Just a little piece information Mussolini came to power legally in 1922, it took a few years for him to create a dictatorship. He promised the people prosperity at a time when they were down and out. It is easy for us to judge and say, "how does a society let that happen?"
Well, look at us. Americans seem to worship Obama. He is everywhere. He does commercials to get the American people to side with his political ideas now. He is on Twitter, Facebook, all over the web. He was interviewed five straight mornings on the Today show. Obama was on ABC, not sure if CBS had him on too. All the makings of, dare I say it, a dictator. I mean, you cannot say anything bad about him or people get nasty. Responses are unreal. You get called racist. You are told, "how dare you speak of this President, it is history in the making." What? O.K. Obama won the election but since when do we stop critiquing our President? This is America! It was what use to be great about our country. We always had a smooth transition but we just didn't say, "hey, let the new guy do what he wants."

See, why I am leaning towards fascism? My goodness!

I truly think Obama is following closely in the footsteps of FDR. What FDR did to combat the depression changed the role of government in American life, setting a pattern unchallenged until Ronald Reagan. The government grew under Roosevelt and it was because of Roosevelt continually winning elections that the amendment was created to limit the term on the presidency. It was believed that Americans, yes Americans could actually allow a strong leader to be in power too long.
Anyways, FDR's handling of the depression has been hotly debated. Conservatives think its basic mistake was to attempt, vainly, to change the normal operations of a free market-economy. Spending more money than the government had collected. Roosevelt began the system of federal budget deficits that have become so enormous today. Obama is now skyrocketing it! At the end of the 1930's , Roosevelt admitted, one-third of Americans remained "ill housed, ill fed, ill clad." Oh, didn't work out too well and the government was digging itself a hole. Glad we learned from FDR.

Lastly, confusion seems to surround the term 'socialism'. Many call the welfare states of Scandinavia 'socialist' because freely elected social Democratic governments have gradually introduced elaborate medical, unemployment, educational, housing and other schemes designed to lift up the lower rungs of society: 'cradle-to-grave welfare'. The aim of these parties is to wipe out poverty without resorting to coercion or state control. And here's where Scandinavian 'welfarism' differs from Communist style socialism. The Scandinavian lands have little nationalized industry and they pay very high taxes. What was nationalized was done for non-ideological reasons. The bulk of the economy is privatized. Bottom line, first came capitalism, then welfarism or socialism if that is what you want to call it but they still maintain a society that is highly privatized with high taxes. It is the high taxes that pay for their welfare programs because they want those welfare programs.

Americans, well, as usual we want it all. Low taxes. Welfare. That is going to lead to Socialism with nationalized industry. We all know how well that worked. U.S.S.R.

Us Conservatives have to continue to speak up. We must remind Americans that the United States is a federation that believes in an individuals rights. Individuals don't need the State to control their lives. Our industry should be run by individuals. Capitalism works. If Americans want welfare then they should pay for it. Our taxes should be for our welfare. Our taxes should not be for huge government spending and buying industries thus giving all the control over to the STATE . We need a resurgence of conservatism and we need it fast!


My sources for this post are from:

Twentieth Century World, Findley/Rothney 1998

and

Countries and Concepts (An Introduction to Comparative Politics)/ Roskin,Michael G. 1998

Definitions from: Countries and Concepts (An Introduction to Comparative Politics)