Note To The Other Big-Government Party
Here’s an excellent piece by Stephen Bourque.
When Republicans pursue the policies of a bloated, paternalistic state, as they have for decades, their failures are blamed on freedom. When Republicans expand the federal regulatory grip with ever-increasing rules and restrictions, the inevitable failures are blamed absurdly on “deregulation” and the “free” market. Republicans have outspent Democrats for almost half a century; they dealt the killing blow to the gold standard, imposed price controls, meddled ceaselessly with the monetary system, and expanded the welfare state. It is primarily Republicans who have ushered religion into government affairs and legislation. Republicans are behind compulsory health insurance, corporate bailouts, TARP, funding of religious groups, and the prescription drug bill. Republicans have prosecuted a weak and sacrificial war, putting our fathers and sons in harm’s way not to crush an enemy but to hand out food. With Republicans like this, who needs Democrats?
His sentiments express precisely why the Republican party is no more an ally of freedom and individualism than the Democrats. In fact, they are in many ways more threatening because they operate under a facade of “freedom” and portray themselves as proponents of Capitalism. When their statist policies fail, the ideals they profess to champion are then held accountable by the left.
For decades, Republicans and Democrats alike have been the active enemies of freedom. Thanks to the Republicans alone, freedom has taken the blame.
Until a political movement based on the fundamentals of Capitalism emerges, America can only deviate amongst varying degrees of economic destruction on a path bound for dictatorship.
