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Thursday, May 31, 2007
Cal  Thomas :: Townhall.com Columnist
It Takes a Socialist Village
by Cal Thomas
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In his "The Wealth of Nations," Adam Smith wrote: "It is the highest impertinence and presumption, therefore, in kings and ministers, to pretend to watch over the economy of private people, and to restrain their expense. . . . (Kings and ministers) are themselves always, and without any exception, the greatest spendthrifts in the society. Let them look well after their own expense, and they may safely trust private people with theirs. If their own extravagance does not ruin the state, that of their subjects never will."

I am not robbed by people who have more money than me. I am robbed by a government that wants to penalize my industry and give increasing portions of what I earn to people who do not emulate my principles, morals and ethics.

What have we come to? We once taught our young people the virtues of hard work, saving, personal responsibility and accountability for one's actions, chastity before and fidelity and commitment in marriage, honesty, integrity and virtue - not to mention the Ten Commandments (especially the one about not coveting that which belongs to your neighbor). We now teach them entitlement, victimhood, class envy and rights to other people's money. When one robs a bank, it's a crime. When government takes our money, it's called a tax. Same result.

There is something else about Clinton's speech that offends. She suggested that students at a technical high school are inferior to those of higher social rank. This, too, is typical white liberal bunk. Has it occurred to her that many students prefer technical careers - and some make an excellent living at them - to the jobs held by the elites and that some of those jobs (like politician) fit them for nothing of value and turn them into professional snobs?

Senator Clinton should consider the wisdom of a former president, who said, "The collection of any taxes which are not absolutely required, which do not beyond reasonable doubt contribute to the public welfare, is only a species of legalized larceny. . . . The wise and correct course to follow in taxation is not to destroy those who have already secured success, but to create conditions under which everyone will have a better chance to be successful." (Calvin Coolidge inaugural address, March 4, 1925)

Now there's a real economic vision!

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About The Author
Cal Thomas is co-author (with Bob Beckel) of the book, "Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War That is Destroying America".
 
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Socialism
The United States will be a Socialist country by the end of Hillary's second term. After she is elected, she will open the boarder to Mexico even more than it is now, and then find a way to give voting rights to the 50,000,000 or more Mexicans and Central Americans that will swarm in. At that point she will be the the dictator, and can remove term limits for herself, and her and Slick Willy can completely trash whats left of the country. 40 percent of the American people own nothing, so they will all welcome socialism. All of the people coming in from Mexico and Central America will welcome socialism. If she isn't elected in 08, then it will only delay the inevitable by a few years. I spent the majority of my adult life defending this country in the military, only to see it become what it has. I feel like a man without a country. The only possible hope for the decent people in the country may be a military coup, as radical as that might sound, but it would be better than enslavement or death.

In response to birchbank
I wasn't clear in my comments.
In her quotes, Sen. Clinton generally mentions the 'Village' in context of the federal government. It is this interpretation of 'Village' with which I take exception.

I and most on the right believe that the federal 'village' is a place of cold comfort. It disseminates money (inefficiently) to numbers, not people.
That's why we on the right favor charitable efforts by churches, local communities and concerned individuals whenever possible.

The same reasons that cause my wife and I to be the best providers of care for our children, cause our church and family and friends and neighbors to be the best providers of assistance to our family... they know and love us personally.

So in truth, we are mostly in agreement. I just worded my comment poorly.

Thank you for pointing out my error.

However, I think we differ with reference to the government. Local government can and often is quite compassionate... because they are MEMBERS of the local community, are fellow-churchmembers and neighbors of those afflicted.
The federal government is not that way. Oh, I don't claim that many federal gov't employees and workers are not fine and compassionate people... after all, I myself am a federal employee! I'm a member of the executive branch, technically-- a soldier.
However, distance and lack of personal contact can only severely diminish the bonds of compassion, and they do.

Never forget that it is 'society' that allowed a woman to be assaulted in New York without anyone even calling the police to report her screams. 'Society' can be compassionate sometimes... and at other times it can be the source of lynch mobs.
Don't count on 'society'.
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