Now that the election is over, it is time to evaluate what the American
public can expect from the 111th Congress and the incoming Presidency.
There are several major issues, some mentioned before in this column,
which the liberal leadership may seek to enact into law and which
moderate Democrats and Republicans as well as conservatives must resist
for the greater good of the country.
An elementary issue is the Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine
would require equal air time for differing political opinions. Because
talk radio is dominated by conservative commentators, who, in a free
market place, have proven to be the only viable broadcasters from an
economic standpoint, the Fairness Doctrine essentially would end
conservative talk radio. Liberals have been unable to make headway on
the radio, so the only way they will have access to the commercial radio
airwaves will be to re-impose the Fairness Doctrine.
Businesses and workers should be frightened by the prospect of enactment
of the Employee Free Choice Act, sometimes called Card Check, which in
union votes would end the secret ballot, something Americans hold dear
and something that is necessary for a healthy democracy. This would
greatly strengthen labor unions, a core constituency of leftist
politicians, and would hurt the freedom of employees who oppose unions
and may be subject to intimidation.
Expect an aggressive push to nationalize healthcare and erode private
healthcare coverage. In spite of a poor economy, here and abroad, and
the expense of a national healthcare program, Congress probably will try
to make significant inroads in this area. And remember that once a
massive Federal bureaucracy is created it is notoriously difficult to
eliminate, as is obvious from the failed efforts to eliminate the
unnecessary Department of Education.
In order to pay for this new spending the next Administration is likely
to seek to raise taxes significantly. This may include massive
increases in the death tax, the capital gains tax, income taxes and
corporate taxes, among others. Such increases would cripple our
economy, diminish growth, make goods and services much more expensive,
and reduce Americans to a lower standard of living.