Opinion: Irony of our beliefs
By Thomas Sowell
Random thoughts on the passing scene:
How long do politicians have to keep on promising heaven and delivering hell before people catch on, and stop getting swept away by rhetoric?
Why should being in a professional sport exempt anyone from prosecution for advocating deliberate violence? Recent revelations of such advocacy of violence by an NFL coach should lead to his banishment for life by the NFL, and criminal prosecution by the authorities. If you are serious about reducing violence, you have to be serious about punishing those who advocate it.
Thomas Sowell
Have you noticed that what modest economic improvements we have seen occurred during the much-lamented “gridlock” in Washington? Nor is this unusual. If you check back through history, doing nothing has a far better track record than that of politicians intervening in the economy.
With all the talk about people paying their “fair share” of income taxes, why do nearly half the people in this country pay no income taxes at all? Is that their “fair share”? Or is creating more recipients of government handouts, at no cost to themselves, simply a strategy to gain more votes?
Some people are puzzled by the fact that so much that is said and done by politicians seems remote from reality. But reality is not what gets politicians elected. Appearances, rhetoric and emotions are what get them elected. Reality is what the voters and taxpayers are left to deal with, as a result of electing them.
Instead of following the tired old formula of having politicians and bureaucrats give college commencement speeches, in which they say how superior it is to follow a career as politicians and bureaucrats — “public service” — why not invite someone like John Stossel to tell the graduates how much better it is to go into the private sector, supplying what people want, instead of imposing the government’s will on them?
In politics, few talents are as richly rewarded as the ability to convince parasites that they are victims. Welfare states on both sides of the Atlantic have discovered that largesse to losers does not reduce their hostility to society, but only increases it. Far from producing gratitude, generosity is seen as an admission of guilt, and the reparations as inadequate compensations for injustices — leading to worsening behavior by the recipients.
Some people say that taxes are the price we pay for civilization. But the runaway taxes of our time are the price we pay for being gullible.
Whatever the ideology or rhetoric of the political left, their agenda around the world has been preempting other people’s decisions and regimenting their lives.
People who believe in evolution in biology often believe in creationism in government. In other words, they believe that the universe and all the creatures in it could have evolved spontaneously, but that the economy is too complicated to operate without being directed by politicians.
The United States now has the dubious distinction of having the highest corporate tax rate in the world. And people wonder why American corporations are expanding overseas, providing jobs to foreigners. The left may get their jollies attacking “the rich,” but the real victims are other people, who want the jobs that are sent overseas to escape a hostile business climate at home.
Different people prefer different exercises. The Republicans’ favorite exercise is running for the hills. The Democrats’ favorite exercise is kicking the can down the road.
When politicians say, “spread the wealth,” translate that as “concentrate the power,” because that is the only way they can spread the wealth. And once they get the power concentrated, they can do anything else they want to, as people have discovered — often to their horror — in countries around the world.
In an old Western movie, John Wayne encounters a black man. Wayne tells him, “I don’t have a prejudiced bone in my body. I would shoot you as quick as I would shoot any white man.” That is what equality is supposed to mean.
Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute and author of “The Housing Boom and Bust”.
When bashing politicians we should remember one thing: when it comes to government we get EXACTLY what we ask AND pay for! Our elected officials are nothing more than a reflection of ourselves and how much (or really how little!) we involve ourselves in the process and educating ourselves about the issues that are involved in that process. We as a nation of people allow politicians to pander to the lowest common denominator, thereby creating an atmosphere of complacency within the general electorate. One day we, as the citizens of the greatest nation on the planet (albeit one that may be on somewhat shaky ground for the last twenty to thirty years), will have the courage to look ourselves in the mirror and personally take full responsibility for our collective condition, and maybe if we have the gumption, actually alter our future for the better.
P.S. I’m not holding my breath, but I am naively optimistic!
I totally agree with the commentary of Thomas Sowell. Bashing of politicians is the result of their “silver tongue” rehtoric that is simply a means to getting them elected. They are primarily power hungry individuals who are pretty much in it for themselves. If we are lucky,the will of the people may coincide with their agenda. How can we as educated voters make an intelligent decision on who to vote for if we can’t believe what they are saying- hence complacency. There has to be a better way. In reading the above comment, I feel like the writer is blaming the voters for the nations woes. They must be a politician themselves.
We more than ever vote for the lesser of evils, as there is very few good people running for office in this country in my opinion.
The problem with Sowell’s entire premise is that the corporate tax rate and what they actually pay (a better measure) is far different. We may have the highest on the books, but with all the loopholes, many large corporations who are reaping record profits are also paying little to no taxes… actual pay rates by country in 2005? The US is firmly in the middle.
Canada 3.5
US 3.1
Japan 4.3
France 2.8
Germany 1.7
UK 3.4.”
If you give half the facts, it is easy to prove your point.
We’re approaching the 100 year anniversary of the Federal Reserve which is a far stretch from when the Universe was created.
I watch a generation fight with a system that was highly criticized by Jefferson, Madison, and Jackson from its conception. Maybe it was set to fail from the beginning, and the floundering of politicians is somewhat akin to watching a fish trying to swim in a dried up lake.
Little do they know that our aggressive suspicion forms in the first five years of life. We could stay cynical with the political landscape by projecting our frustration with fatherly support issues, or renew our trust that the Tsunami of 60 million baby boomers leaving this planet will ultimately teach us valuable lessons on how to take better care of each other.
Bob, I have to counter two of the points you make.
First, IF our nation was populated by educated voters, which from my experience doesn’t seem to be the case, I believe politicians would be held to a higher standard.
Second, you seem to deflect taking ANY responsibility as a voter for the state of our nation (even insinuate that by advocating personal responsibility in the issue I must be a politician!). Your response, as I see it, is a perfect example of the exact point my first post is trying to make about Americans and our compulsion with never wanting to be held responsible because it’s so much easier to blame someone else.
To the above. Sorry if you are not a politician, it just sounded like you were giving them an excuse- which is the voters fault. I really disagree with your comment that the problem is the uneducated voter. I think people are sincere on how they vote. How can an individual make a good choice if the politicians are two faced and don’t level with us. If you think people like me are the problem, what is your solution to make politicians accountable for their actions?
“If you give half the facts, it is easy to prove your point.”
Lisa, when you factor in the corporate tax rate, do you also take into account the different, and much stricter in the US, benefits, retirement plans like Social Security, and environmental laws to which our corporations must comply? All that, in my opinion, factors into our corporations outsourcing to countries that don’t have all these restrictions AND higher corporate rates.
I’ve traveled to many of the countries you mention as having a lower corporate rate, and the thinking is much different. The PEOPLE themselves take more responsibility for their lives and their country instead of expecting the government to do it all, which then passes it to the corporations.
Thomas Sowell is an amazing voice of reason and fairness. Wish he would run for President!