Barack Obama gave another flowery speech, this time on patriotism. As usual, I had to read the transcript, because A) I have a job and B) his speeches really annoy me.
He starts out by reminding us that a revolution was fought against the tyranny of an Empire for the sake of liberty. It's too bad he doesn't really understand the definition of liberty. I doubt the founders of our great nation were fighting to create a government to be the great Robin Hood of the world. He said we need to think about our commitments not just to our nation, but to each other. Hmm....can you say "collectivist" anyone?
He asks how in this global economy we will ensure "the winners maintain allegiance to the less fortunate". I'd like to know his definition of "winner". Are "winners" the people who work hard, pay their bills and save for their retirement? Who is the "less fortunate". The person who doesn't hold a steady job, buys a home he cannot afford, runs up his credit cards and skips out on his kids? Whose job is it to define "winner" and "less fortunate". Will he set up a committee?
Obama then reminisces about the culture wars of the 1960's and the "so-called counter-culture" who were "burning flags" and "blaming America for all that was wrong with the world". Who is he talking about? His good buddies William Ayers and Bernadette Dohrn? He left out the part about bombing American institutions.
Of course he had to include "America's imperfections". Has he given a speech where he doesn't bring up our "imperfections?" He said we have an obligation to help our fellow citizens pursue their dreams. His choice of words is notable - rather than allowing our fellow citizens to pursue their dreams, he believes we must help them pursue their dreams.
As usual, he denigrated the Iraqis and bashed rich people. I agree with him on one point, that our government has put off much needed changes to our energy policy. He just seems to forget that it is his party keeping us from realizing energy independence.
Showing posts with label collectivism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label collectivism. Show all posts
June 30, 2008
June 27, 2008
Collectivists vs. the Individual
Collectivists have been around since Carl Marx and they never seem to give up. Upon defeat they simply try a new argument, a new tactic and are back in business.
The economic policies of the Soviet Union were an utter disaster. The tactics employed to enforce those policies were barbaric. Individuals do not wish to labor for the benefit of the collective. Individuals labor for their own benefit, that's natural law. Do tigers kill their prey to feed the entire animal kingdom? Of course not. Why would they? They do so to feed themselves. That's their nature. To require a person to work against his own nature requires force, either at the end of a gun or by threat of penalties and imprisonment.
The collectivists didn't learn from the example of the Soviet Union. They choose to forget it, they don't want it taught. They don't want to hear that Hitler came to power through a populist, collective message, as all fascists do.
The Great Depression was a great time for the collectivists. The ills of the world were blamed on capitalism and greed. Through FDR many of their dreams became reality, with enormouse expansion of the federal government and government control over the lives of American citizens. They were able to sell it to the people because times were tough. Americans would have survived the Depression and gone on to flourish without all of FDR's programs. Those programs may have actually prolonged the depression, but the feel good message of "hope and change" was too much for many Americans to resist.
Then came the "war on poverty". More money taken from the pockets of hard working Americans to create a new class of citizens, those dependent on their fellow Americans. Billions of tax payer dollars have gone into the "war on poverty" yet they tell us it hasn't been enough. Billions of dollars go into failing schools, yet they don't want us to be able to choose which schools to send our children. Rather than teach the virtues of self reliance, hard work and determination, a message is sent to the poor that nothing they can do will make a difference, that they are helpless and hopeless without the government's help.
When is the last time you turned on the news to hear about hard working Americans who simply raise their families, pay their bills on time and plan for the future? Isn't that what millions of Americans do? Why aren't those people celebrated? Because, the collectivists don't want to send messages of individual achievement. They want those of us that work hard to see pictures of the poor, of suffering and illness. They want people who achieved success through hard work to feel guilty. As if someone cannot achieve success without causing misery to another.
A fairly recent tactic they're using is global warming. They scare people. They predict terrible things. They convince people to stop thinking about what is in their own, individual interests in favor of what is best for the world. Lawmakers enact legislation producing unintended consequences such as global starvation, sky rocketing gas prices, economic slow down and job losses. Then they blame it on capitalists.
The collectivists will never go away. They have gotten their way slowly through the years. They hope people won't notice as their rights and freedoms are eroded. They try to silence those who understand their goals and tactics. There will come a day when they have gone too far.
The economic policies of the Soviet Union were an utter disaster. The tactics employed to enforce those policies were barbaric. Individuals do not wish to labor for the benefit of the collective. Individuals labor for their own benefit, that's natural law. Do tigers kill their prey to feed the entire animal kingdom? Of course not. Why would they? They do so to feed themselves. That's their nature. To require a person to work against his own nature requires force, either at the end of a gun or by threat of penalties and imprisonment.
The collectivists didn't learn from the example of the Soviet Union. They choose to forget it, they don't want it taught. They don't want to hear that Hitler came to power through a populist, collective message, as all fascists do.
The Great Depression was a great time for the collectivists. The ills of the world were blamed on capitalism and greed. Through FDR many of their dreams became reality, with enormouse expansion of the federal government and government control over the lives of American citizens. They were able to sell it to the people because times were tough. Americans would have survived the Depression and gone on to flourish without all of FDR's programs. Those programs may have actually prolonged the depression, but the feel good message of "hope and change" was too much for many Americans to resist.
Then came the "war on poverty". More money taken from the pockets of hard working Americans to create a new class of citizens, those dependent on their fellow Americans. Billions of tax payer dollars have gone into the "war on poverty" yet they tell us it hasn't been enough. Billions of dollars go into failing schools, yet they don't want us to be able to choose which schools to send our children. Rather than teach the virtues of self reliance, hard work and determination, a message is sent to the poor that nothing they can do will make a difference, that they are helpless and hopeless without the government's help.
When is the last time you turned on the news to hear about hard working Americans who simply raise their families, pay their bills on time and plan for the future? Isn't that what millions of Americans do? Why aren't those people celebrated? Because, the collectivists don't want to send messages of individual achievement. They want those of us that work hard to see pictures of the poor, of suffering and illness. They want people who achieved success through hard work to feel guilty. As if someone cannot achieve success without causing misery to another.
A fairly recent tactic they're using is global warming. They scare people. They predict terrible things. They convince people to stop thinking about what is in their own, individual interests in favor of what is best for the world. Lawmakers enact legislation producing unintended consequences such as global starvation, sky rocketing gas prices, economic slow down and job losses. Then they blame it on capitalists.
The collectivists will never go away. They have gotten their way slowly through the years. They hope people won't notice as their rights and freedoms are eroded. They try to silence those who understand their goals and tactics. There will come a day when they have gone too far.
May 27, 2008
Obama the Collectivist
Barack Obama gave the commencement speech at Wesleyan University. He was calling on the graduates to serve their country and to help those less fortunate than themselves.
He did not speak of strengthening our military or winning in Iraq but he did comment on foreign policy.
He must think he is running for President of the World. About education here at home:
Since when does the President pay teachers? Taxpayers pay teachers. He doesn't call on any of these young people to serve their country by serving in the military.
He even found a way to explain away all of the failed liberal policies and programs, and to convince these young people to go on welfare.
In a nutshell, he believes we should not work for our own living, but for the lives of others. Individuals are nothing, it's the "collective" that's important. Don't support yourself, the government will support you. Don't join the military, in Obama's utopia we won't need one. There are lots of unintended consequences of liberal, socialist policies, but don't worry about that.
Anyone who says Obama is not a socialist is a liar.
Not because you have an obligation to those who are less fortunate, although I believe you do have that obligation. Not because you have a debt to all those who helped you get to where you are today, although I do believe you have that debt to pay.
It's because you have an obligation to yourself. Because our individual salvation depends on collective salvation. Because thinking only about yourself, fulfilling your immediate wants and needs, betrays a poverty of ambition. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential and discover the role that you'll play in writing the next great chapter in the American story.
He did not speak of strengthening our military or winning in Iraq but he did comment on foreign policy.
As President, I intend to grow the Foreign Service, double the Peace Corps over the next few years, and engage young people of other nations in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all of humanity.
He must think he is running for President of the World. About education here at home:
I will pay our educators what they deserve, and give them more support, but I will also ask more of them to be mentors to other teachers, and serve in high-need schools and high-need subject areas like math and science. We will need you.
Since when does the President pay teachers? Taxpayers pay teachers. He doesn't call on any of these young people to serve their country by serving in the military.
At a time of war, we need you to work for peace. At a time of inequality, we need you to work for opportunity.
He even found a way to explain away all of the failed liberal policies and programs, and to convince these young people to go on welfare.
And so, understand that, should you take the path of service, should you choose to take up one of these causes as your own, know that you'll experience the occasional frustrations and the occasional failures. Even your successes will be marked by imperfections and unintended consequences. I guarantee you, there will be times when friends or family urge you to pursue more sensible endeavors with more tangible rewards. And there will be times where you will be tempted to take their advice.
In a nutshell, he believes we should not work for our own living, but for the lives of others. Individuals are nothing, it's the "collective" that's important. Don't support yourself, the government will support you. Don't join the military, in Obama's utopia we won't need one. There are lots of unintended consequences of liberal, socialist policies, but don't worry about that.
Anyone who says Obama is not a socialist is a liar.
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