Rahm Emmanuel’s opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal (Democrats May Be Blowing Their Chance 2/1-2), makes a case for incremental movement toward…what? I agree with him that there are some who need help. Where we disagree is that we need to help “those who have been left behind”, and that it is the role of government to do so. By definition, if someone is behind, then there is someone ahead. In this view, government will never be successful until everyone is equal, regardless of what may be intrinsic differences.
The physical differences between people are obvious and render some of us faster, taller and, yes, smarter than others. Even these physical differences have come under scrutiny as in transgenders in sports and the removal of awards like valedictorian. The social differences are more subtle. For example, there are “go-getters” and “sloths”. The Progressive model, as espoused by Mr. Emmanuel, would have us either handicap the first and/or provide boost to the latter with equanimity the goal. In fact, that is the current Democrat/Socialist agenda. Some of the policy outcomes include wealth re-distribution through confiscation (taxes and entitlements), housing (rent controls) and quotas (affirmative action).
Now, I said I agree with Mr. Emmanuel that there are some who need help. Americans are the most charitable people in the world. Rather than have a highly expensive and confiscatory entity like the government act as the provider of assistance, using taxpayer money, why not return to a time when Americans took care of Americans directly?
Is anyone tired of hearing politicians espouse how they “fought hard” to get funding for this or that social program and how it was they who delivered it? They take all the credit for spending our money! Ask your elected representatives if they would support dollar-for-dollar tax reductions for money you give to the very same organizations the government supports? If so, more of that dollar would go to those “left behind” and we would reduce the pass-through costs of government. It would also reduce the power and control politicians have over these organizations and us citizens.
I dare say, Mr. Emmanuel and his fellow Progressives would be loath to give up that power of our purse. So much for REALLY helping those left behind.
Current Day Publius 