Mensch tracht, und Gott lacht

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Pelosi Talk

"I am the decider." President Bush's spectacularly unfortunate remark, when pestered to fire Rumsfeld, feeds right into the media portrait of Republicans as authoritarian. Historians of a leftist bent may well seize on that as the defining line of his presidency, something like old King Louie's song "I am the State".

The irony is that the opposite is the truth. Republicans fight to give the people more freedom. Democrats confiscate their freedoms through the instrument of government and then distribute putatively life-improving largesse.

My column in Town Hall today targets the recently announced "portly deal" by which Bill Clinton has convinced schools to disallow the vending of soda on their premises. Can anyone possibly imagine a more busybody nosy-Parker sort of intervention in the lives of ordinary citizens?

Meanwhile, across town at Human Events, I highlight the unseemly gloating of Democrats anticipating foreclosure on the Republican House in November, promising heavy-handed and punitive hearings and investigations to settle old scores. This from the genteel anti-fascists? Gimme a break. These Democrats deserve a new theme song: "You Did it My Way."

4 comments:

Exile from GROGGS said...

Yeah, give'em soda. Only the social failures will overdose on additives and have teeth that rot away, and good riddance.

Devang said...

There was a recent conference of state governers where Clinton talked and discussed at-length the issue of teaching and practicing good health in schools. All state governors, including Republicans like Mike Huckabee were enthusiastic about Clinton's reforms, which included things like teaching more health and excersice related classes among other things. I managed to catch it on c-span a while ago, but couldn't find it online.

I'm with tlaloc, is this freedom? How about this or this? Are the Republicans even open to a free and open debate on the future of wiretapping? Not to mention the whole crackdown on journalism. A precise definition of freedom would be helpful to this conversation.

James F. Elliott said...

"The irony is that the opposite is the truth. Republicans fight to give the people more freedom. Democrats confiscate their freedoms through the instrument of government and then distribute putatively life-improving largesse."

I don't think I've ever seen a broader over-generalization of both parties, ever. The main difference between both parties (unfortunately) isn't whether or not government should be inserted in people's lives, it's where: Bedroom versus boardroom.

James F. Elliott said...

And yes, I realize that's a broad over-generalization, thanks to the last part. I simply couldn't resist the "bedroom or boardroom" bit.