Sam Weaver
The Big Lie (Große Lüge): Part VII
By Sam Weaver
I began planning and outlining this series of articles way back in late March. By the first week of April, I had a distinct outline. Parts V through VIII would each be a discussion of specific "lesser lies" that "Progressives" (a/k/a, modern liberals) are using to thwart Liberty & Justice, subdue the "masses," create dependency and gain power & control for themselves over "the great unwashed" like you and me.
Originally, this article — Part VII — was to be a discourse on suffering. If a just, but loving God exists, how could He — why would He — allow the suffering that we witness every day in every corner of this world?! This question assumes one of the greatest of the lesser lies: "Any degree of discomfort, pain, distress or misery is bad and must be avoided at all possible cost."
The consequences of a broad acceptance by the populace of this lie are legion. The door becomes open to politicians and "experts" who promise to alleviate your suffering. This open door has been instrumental in bringing about today's "entitlement mentality." It has exchanged the original American idea of Independence for one of dependence. This is a topic that must be considered and discussed. I will examine it and its implications/ramifications in a future article apart from this series.
I am deviating from my original outline in this article. There is another of the "lesser lies" that is perhaps less significant in the overall scheme of things than the one concerning suffering mentioned above. However, the lie that I want to discuss now is perhaps the most powerful and effective one today (and has been since the campaigns of the 2008 election).
Remember — no lie can be broadly accepted by the public without some element of truth.
In all of its complicated glory, the "lesser lie" of this article goes something like this: "The Bush tax cuts, two "off-the-books" wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, a new entitlement program (Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement & Modernization Act of 2003) and an unregulated Wall Street all came together to cause the financial collapse of 2008.
There are many ways to expose this as an obvious lie.
The best way by far is to reveal the actual cause of the financial collapse of 2008. I highly recommend two books. The first is by the brilliant conservative economist, Thomas Sowell: The Housing Boom and Bust. The second is by New York Times business reporter Gretchen Morgenson and financial analyst Joshua Rosner: Reckless Endangerment.
The 2008 housing/financial collapse was caused by laws [e.g., the Community Reinvestment Act (1977)] passed by liberal congresses and signed by liberal presidents (i.e., Jimmy Carter); and the "social justice" or "compassionate conservative" policies by future presidents (i.e., Bill Clinton and G. W. Bush) who enforced those redistributionist — and unconstitutional — laws. These laws forced (or allowed) banks and other financial institutions (e.g., Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae) to give homeownership loans to people who obviously could not afford them. [And "community organizations" such as ACORN mobilized pressure against those institutions that were wise enough to skirt these unconstitutional laws — forcing them, in many if not most cases, to cave to the pressure.]
Ever the "compassionate 'conservative'" politician, President George W. Bush pushed for homeownership for all and followed the (unconstitutional) law(s); continuing the failed "progressive" policies of the past. For that, he deserves blame. But on several different occasions, President Bush and/or true conservative members of Congress worked to pass legislation that would stave off the coming collapse by reigning in those toxic derivatives (and Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae). Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and many others in Congress with the support of the "progressive" media, effectively blocked all of those attempts. True, stronger leadership — even a more than half-hearted endeavor, could have brought success. Alas, "Dubya" was no Ronald Reagan! And where was Newt when we needed him most?!
A second way to expose this lie follows:
Even in his worst year (2008), the budget deficit under George W. Bush stood at some $440 billion. Bear in mind that Democrats gained control of Congress in January of 2007. Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress controls the purse strings, not the president. Today, 2½ years after Barack H. Obama assumed office — and after some 4 years of a Democrat-controlled Congress — the budget deficit stands at around $1.5 trillion. The "official" national debt is $14.5 trillion. This "official" figure does not take into account all of the unfunded liabilities of "entitlement" programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. By some of the most conservative estimates, these unfunded liabilities are beginning to approach $65 trillion. Other estimates tag the figure at over $100 trillion.
Under President Obama and a Democrat-controlled Congress (at least until January of this year) the national debt has increased by a margin that will soon eclipse all of the debt accrued, cumulatively, from every U.S. president and Congress from George Washington to George W. Bush!
A third path toward revealing this lie is tied to the second. It exposes the hypocrisy of the so-called "Left" (i.e., the "progressives.")
"Progressives" rail against the Bush tax cuts. They use focus-group terms such as "shared sacrifice" and "balanced approach" to promote class warfare against "millionaires and billionaires," "oil companies" and "corporate jet owners" to promote their Marxist policies of social justice. They reject the fact — the truth — that those tax cuts did indeed spur economic growth and helped to bring unemployment levels down to near historic levels until the "progressive," social redistributionist policies shown above eventually brought about the housing/financial collapse of 2008.
"Progressives" denounce (often quite reasonably if not fairly) Bush's "ill-conceived wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. What the hell, then, is Obama doing in Libya and Yemen?! Oh, I see! Obama has the consent of the U.N. and the Arab League. Just because he never sought the advice and consent of Congress doesn't make those incursions illegitimate! He's "leading from behind," don't you know! Give me a break!! The fact, the truth, that Obama is participating in a "not war" in Libya without even a resolution for war by the U.S. Congress makes that "not war" absolutely unconstitutional no matter how anyone can try to spin it! And it belies the hypocrisy of every "progressive" who has ever begrudged "Bush's 'wars'!"
"Progressives" cite Bush's signing into law of the prescription drug entitlement as a waste of taxpayer money that helped to lead to the financial collapse of 2008. I have to totally agree with them on that. But, what about Obamacare, you jackasses!!? The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) will cost U.S. taxpayers far more than Bush's ill-conceived prescription drug program. It will cost the American citizen far more in Liberty. It will destroy the quality of health care in America and diminish the full access of care to the average citizen. How do I know this? I have at least a rudimentary understanding of the economic Laws of Nature and a sound knowledge of the idea (and the history) of socialism!
Barack Obama encapsulated this lie over and over again on the campaign trail of 2008. Aside from the platitude of "hope and change," far too many Americans fell for this shibboleth: "We must move forward. We cannot and must not continue to follow the failed principles and policies of the past." Such a maxim is absolutely appropriate in any campaign. However, politicians, once elected, must either live or die by their maxims if not even their platitudes!
By every economic (if not cultural) metric known to man, the average American is worse off today than he was 2½ years ago. The American economy is at least as bad, if not worse today than it was in January of 2009.
I, of course, cannot read President Obama's mind. I would never dare to judge his soul. However, I listen very carefully to much of what he says publicly and I observe most of what he does, publicly, as my president.
The meaning of Obama's campaign maxim — the fundamental idea behind all of those "lofty" platitudes — should now be crystal clear to every moral, educated and informed American. Every speech he gives and every deed he does reinforces the truth.
The truth is this:
Barack Obama despises free-enterprise. He advocates and strives for social justice over economic liberty. "The wealthy are just too greedy to deserve economic liberty. The rest are just too stupid, too incompetent, too weak or too oppressed to be able to achieve it. The only solution is 'social justice.' Government can and must achieve economic 'equality' for all." [Or, force it upon all!]
This was the political/economic philosophy of the old Soviet Union. We all know — or should know — how that turned out! The ideas of political/economic liberty and social justice are mutually exclusive. If one is true, the other must, necessarily, be false.
The United States of America was founded upon the idea and the principles of Religious (moral/essential), Political (ethical/structural), Economic (fiscal/monetary) and Scientific (physical/practical) Liberty. Economic liberty (i.e., free-enterprise, or "capitalism") is essentially American! It is the economic system that has made the United States of America the unrivaled superpower of world history.
Sadly, however, we Americans are living on borrowed capital in more ways than one. America's economic system has not been free since at least the Woodrow Wilson administration. Certainly not since the FDR administrations!
Perhaps the greatest assault ever upon both individual economic liberty and the economic security of America was the establishment of baseline budgeting in the 1970's. Baseline budgeting assures the perpetual growth and empowerment of the federal government at the expense of individual economic liberty.
Americans, quite reasonably, assumed that six years (from 2001 to 2007) of Republican control of the presidency and both houses of Congress would bring some restoration of original American principles and ideas — at least on the economic front! Isn't the Republican Party the conservative party in America? We were all sorely disappointed! Not one piece of legislation ever even made it to the floor for a vote to end the madness of baseline budgeting. Instead, we got rampant earmarks and scandals. Then, we got President Obama. And then, thank God!, we got the Tea Parties! But, I digress.
The lie is this:
"'Capitalism' and an unregulated Wall Street caused the financial collapse of 2008 and most of our economic problems today. We must transform from a 'capitalistic' society to a 'social justice' society."
Uhn-uh!! No way!! The very moment that 51 percent of voting Americans accept this lie as "truth," economic liberty will be gone forever. Thank God for the Founders' wisdom. Thank God for the Electoral College. Thank God for "red states" and for Liberty-loving Americans. Thank God for Tea Party patriots!
Vital Links
The Mack Penny Plan
Robert Meyer
© Sam Weaver
August 14, 2011
I began planning and outlining this series of articles way back in late March. By the first week of April, I had a distinct outline. Parts V through VIII would each be a discussion of specific "lesser lies" that "Progressives" (a/k/a, modern liberals) are using to thwart Liberty & Justice, subdue the "masses," create dependency and gain power & control for themselves over "the great unwashed" like you and me.
Originally, this article — Part VII — was to be a discourse on suffering. If a just, but loving God exists, how could He — why would He — allow the suffering that we witness every day in every corner of this world?! This question assumes one of the greatest of the lesser lies: "Any degree of discomfort, pain, distress or misery is bad and must be avoided at all possible cost."
The consequences of a broad acceptance by the populace of this lie are legion. The door becomes open to politicians and "experts" who promise to alleviate your suffering. This open door has been instrumental in bringing about today's "entitlement mentality." It has exchanged the original American idea of Independence for one of dependence. This is a topic that must be considered and discussed. I will examine it and its implications/ramifications in a future article apart from this series.
I am deviating from my original outline in this article. There is another of the "lesser lies" that is perhaps less significant in the overall scheme of things than the one concerning suffering mentioned above. However, the lie that I want to discuss now is perhaps the most powerful and effective one today (and has been since the campaigns of the 2008 election).
Remember — no lie can be broadly accepted by the public without some element of truth.
In all of its complicated glory, the "lesser lie" of this article goes something like this: "The Bush tax cuts, two "off-the-books" wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, a new entitlement program (Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement & Modernization Act of 2003) and an unregulated Wall Street all came together to cause the financial collapse of 2008.
There are many ways to expose this as an obvious lie.
The best way by far is to reveal the actual cause of the financial collapse of 2008. I highly recommend two books. The first is by the brilliant conservative economist, Thomas Sowell: The Housing Boom and Bust. The second is by New York Times business reporter Gretchen Morgenson and financial analyst Joshua Rosner: Reckless Endangerment.
The 2008 housing/financial collapse was caused by laws [e.g., the Community Reinvestment Act (1977)] passed by liberal congresses and signed by liberal presidents (i.e., Jimmy Carter); and the "social justice" or "compassionate conservative" policies by future presidents (i.e., Bill Clinton and G. W. Bush) who enforced those redistributionist — and unconstitutional — laws. These laws forced (or allowed) banks and other financial institutions (e.g., Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae) to give homeownership loans to people who obviously could not afford them. [And "community organizations" such as ACORN mobilized pressure against those institutions that were wise enough to skirt these unconstitutional laws — forcing them, in many if not most cases, to cave to the pressure.]
Ever the "compassionate 'conservative'" politician, President George W. Bush pushed for homeownership for all and followed the (unconstitutional) law(s); continuing the failed "progressive" policies of the past. For that, he deserves blame. But on several different occasions, President Bush and/or true conservative members of Congress worked to pass legislation that would stave off the coming collapse by reigning in those toxic derivatives (and Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae). Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and many others in Congress with the support of the "progressive" media, effectively blocked all of those attempts. True, stronger leadership — even a more than half-hearted endeavor, could have brought success. Alas, "Dubya" was no Ronald Reagan! And where was Newt when we needed him most?!
A second way to expose this lie follows:
Even in his worst year (2008), the budget deficit under George W. Bush stood at some $440 billion. Bear in mind that Democrats gained control of Congress in January of 2007. Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress controls the purse strings, not the president. Today, 2½ years after Barack H. Obama assumed office — and after some 4 years of a Democrat-controlled Congress — the budget deficit stands at around $1.5 trillion. The "official" national debt is $14.5 trillion. This "official" figure does not take into account all of the unfunded liabilities of "entitlement" programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. By some of the most conservative estimates, these unfunded liabilities are beginning to approach $65 trillion. Other estimates tag the figure at over $100 trillion.
Under President Obama and a Democrat-controlled Congress (at least until January of this year) the national debt has increased by a margin that will soon eclipse all of the debt accrued, cumulatively, from every U.S. president and Congress from George Washington to George W. Bush!
A third path toward revealing this lie is tied to the second. It exposes the hypocrisy of the so-called "Left" (i.e., the "progressives.")
"Progressives" rail against the Bush tax cuts. They use focus-group terms such as "shared sacrifice" and "balanced approach" to promote class warfare against "millionaires and billionaires," "oil companies" and "corporate jet owners" to promote their Marxist policies of social justice. They reject the fact — the truth — that those tax cuts did indeed spur economic growth and helped to bring unemployment levels down to near historic levels until the "progressive," social redistributionist policies shown above eventually brought about the housing/financial collapse of 2008.
"Progressives" denounce (often quite reasonably if not fairly) Bush's "ill-conceived wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. What the hell, then, is Obama doing in Libya and Yemen?! Oh, I see! Obama has the consent of the U.N. and the Arab League. Just because he never sought the advice and consent of Congress doesn't make those incursions illegitimate! He's "leading from behind," don't you know! Give me a break!! The fact, the truth, that Obama is participating in a "not war" in Libya without even a resolution for war by the U.S. Congress makes that "not war" absolutely unconstitutional no matter how anyone can try to spin it! And it belies the hypocrisy of every "progressive" who has ever begrudged "Bush's 'wars'!"
"Progressives" cite Bush's signing into law of the prescription drug entitlement as a waste of taxpayer money that helped to lead to the financial collapse of 2008. I have to totally agree with them on that. But, what about Obamacare, you jackasses!!? The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) will cost U.S. taxpayers far more than Bush's ill-conceived prescription drug program. It will cost the American citizen far more in Liberty. It will destroy the quality of health care in America and diminish the full access of care to the average citizen. How do I know this? I have at least a rudimentary understanding of the economic Laws of Nature and a sound knowledge of the idea (and the history) of socialism!
Barack Obama encapsulated this lie over and over again on the campaign trail of 2008. Aside from the platitude of "hope and change," far too many Americans fell for this shibboleth: "We must move forward. We cannot and must not continue to follow the failed principles and policies of the past." Such a maxim is absolutely appropriate in any campaign. However, politicians, once elected, must either live or die by their maxims if not even their platitudes!
By every economic (if not cultural) metric known to man, the average American is worse off today than he was 2½ years ago. The American economy is at least as bad, if not worse today than it was in January of 2009.
I, of course, cannot read President Obama's mind. I would never dare to judge his soul. However, I listen very carefully to much of what he says publicly and I observe most of what he does, publicly, as my president.
The meaning of Obama's campaign maxim — the fundamental idea behind all of those "lofty" platitudes — should now be crystal clear to every moral, educated and informed American. Every speech he gives and every deed he does reinforces the truth.
The truth is this:
Barack Obama despises free-enterprise. He advocates and strives for social justice over economic liberty. "The wealthy are just too greedy to deserve economic liberty. The rest are just too stupid, too incompetent, too weak or too oppressed to be able to achieve it. The only solution is 'social justice.' Government can and must achieve economic 'equality' for all." [Or, force it upon all!]
This was the political/economic philosophy of the old Soviet Union. We all know — or should know — how that turned out! The ideas of political/economic liberty and social justice are mutually exclusive. If one is true, the other must, necessarily, be false.
The United States of America was founded upon the idea and the principles of Religious (moral/essential), Political (ethical/structural), Economic (fiscal/monetary) and Scientific (physical/practical) Liberty. Economic liberty (i.e., free-enterprise, or "capitalism") is essentially American! It is the economic system that has made the United States of America the unrivaled superpower of world history.
Sadly, however, we Americans are living on borrowed capital in more ways than one. America's economic system has not been free since at least the Woodrow Wilson administration. Certainly not since the FDR administrations!
Perhaps the greatest assault ever upon both individual economic liberty and the economic security of America was the establishment of baseline budgeting in the 1970's. Baseline budgeting assures the perpetual growth and empowerment of the federal government at the expense of individual economic liberty.
Americans, quite reasonably, assumed that six years (from 2001 to 2007) of Republican control of the presidency and both houses of Congress would bring some restoration of original American principles and ideas — at least on the economic front! Isn't the Republican Party the conservative party in America? We were all sorely disappointed! Not one piece of legislation ever even made it to the floor for a vote to end the madness of baseline budgeting. Instead, we got rampant earmarks and scandals. Then, we got President Obama. And then, thank God!, we got the Tea Parties! But, I digress.
The lie is this:
"'Capitalism' and an unregulated Wall Street caused the financial collapse of 2008 and most of our economic problems today. We must transform from a 'capitalistic' society to a 'social justice' society."
Uhn-uh!! No way!! The very moment that 51 percent of voting Americans accept this lie as "truth," economic liberty will be gone forever. Thank God for the Founders' wisdom. Thank God for the Electoral College. Thank God for "red states" and for Liberty-loving Americans. Thank God for Tea Party patriots!
Vital Links
The Mack Penny Plan
Robert Meyer
© Sam Weaver
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
