|
Republicans vs. Democrats
On issue after issue — raising the minimum wage, censoring the Internet, bailing out Mexico, and on and on — the Republicans and
Democrats argue strenuously and then copy each other. Republican Congressmen accused Clinton of stealing their ideas, even as they plagiarized all the
pork-barrel policies of the Democratic Congress.
With no real difference between them, the two old parties taunt each other like children, probe for weaknesses, and try to catch each
other in contradictions — looking to put some points on the Scoreboard and win the next election. Meanwhile government gets bigger, more expensive, more
intrusive, more destructive, and more dangerous.
The twin parties have become so hopelessly corrupted by power and the perks of governing that our only hope is a third party still too
young, healthy, and principled to be infected by their dishonesty and political extortion.
The Democrats say a particular crisis is so severe that they must take another $300 from you. The Republicans say, "No, it's not
that bad; we need to take only $200." Or the Republicans say a threat is so great they must take away three more of your civil rights. The Democrats
counter by saying, "No, that's too extreme; destroying two civil rights will be enough." Whatever the issue, both sides agree it's a reason for
more government, and that you should pay for it. And no matter what price or intrusion they eventually agree upon, within a few years the cost will always
be far greater than either side had asked for originally.
No matter which of the two old parties wins an election, the government always becomes bigger, the regulations more onerous. No matter
who wins, you will lose — because both sides are for more government, no matter what they say when campaigning. Neither side will stand up for you —
for your money, for your freedom, for your family — when the next so-called "crisis" arises.
In 1996 the Republican politicians were upset because they believed President Clinton was stealing their issues from them. And he was.
But turnabout is fair play: for 60 years the Republicans have been legislating like Democrats.
Because neither the Republicans nor Democrats stand for any fixed principles, they can't engage in a real debate. Instead, they play
games — trying to score points off each other by catching each other in inconsistencies. Or they argue about the meaning of statistics — all the while
knowing that neither side has a policy that differs substantially from the other, so the statistics are politically meaningless. They are quibbling while
America burns.
Neither the Democratic president nor the Republican Congress has done anything to get government out of our lives. And since neither
party offers to improve our lives significantly, we really have no self-interest in favoring one over the other. So we choose up sides based on such
things as character and morals — even though Ronald Reagan, a man of apparent good character, did no more to reduce government than Bill Clinton, an
obvious rogue.
The Democrats believe the government can end poverty, even though for 30 years the government's policies have expanded poverty in
America The Republicans believe the government can end drug use, even though for 30 years the government's policies have escalated drug use and crime in
America.
Yes, there's a difference between the two major parties. There's always a difference. But it's a tiny difference. And if you vote on the
basis of that small difference, the difference will never become larger — and you'll never get a more attractive option than what you have now — and
the country will continue its movement in the same direction — toward bigger and bigger government.
A Republican in the presidency isn't the "lesser of two evils." He will do practically the same things a Democrat would do.
But with a Democrat in office, conservative writers and politicians will denounce his big-government schemes. They won't do that with a Republican in
office. As a result, a Republican isn't the lesser of two evils; he represents the worst of two evils: big government and no opposition. |
