What Madness Isn’t the Government Capable of?
Ezra Klein started something of a kerfuffle among libertarian bloggers with a post accusing critics of Obama’s health care plan of having no faith in government. Here’s the key paragraph:
What we’re seeing here is not merely distrust in the House health-care reform bill. It’s distrust in the political system. A healthy relationship does not require an explicit detailing of the “institutional checks” that will prevent one partner from beating or killing the other. In a healthy relationship, such madness is simply unthinkable. If it was not unthinkable, then no number of institutional checks could repair that relationship. Similarly, the relationship between the protesters and the government is not healthy. The protesters believe the government capable of madness. There is no evidence for that claim, which means that there is no answer for it, either. That claim is not about what is in this bill, or what government has done in Medicare and Medicaid and the VA. It is about what a certain slice of Americans think their government — and by extension, their fellow citizens — capable of.
I will note that there are other reasons to oppose Obama’s health care plan, the main one being that even if it’s run by angels, it will be incredibly inefficient. Obama himself tacitly admitted this when he said that the Post Office that “is always having problems” compared to Fed Ex and UPS. But as to Klein’s main point, Will Wilkinson responded ably:
It requires an amazing kind of selective amnesia to think that there is “no evidence’ that the U.S. government is “capable of madness.” The government of the United States invaded Iraq and its agents have killed many tens of thousands people on the basis of the fact that some Saudis trained in Afganistan flew planes into the World Trade Center, plus some lies. Torture, extraordinary rendition, indefinite detention, etc. I call that madness. Of course, Ezra means the other parts of government concerned with domestic affairs. But not the parts that break into peoples’ houses and destroy their lives for selling contraband herbs, or that subject us constantly to mendacious propaganda about drugs. Our government — and by extension our fellow citizens — is capable of terrible things and proves it every single day. Is it really possible to love government so much, to invest so much hope in its benevolent efficacy, that we grow blind to its evident capacity for evil?
I’d also add the massive slaughter of innocent civilians in the War Between the States and the dropping of the atomic bombs, but the point is pretty clear: large chunks of the government are constantly committing mad acts.
Following this criticism, Klein backed down from his original statement by saying that he was only speaking of government involvement in health care, and surely there are parts of the government that don’t do mad things (often), but why should we trust that any specific sector of the government won’t? In fact, the more the government monopolizes any part of the economy, the more we should expect it to act crazily because people have no alternatives to turn to.
But I think Klein actually does make a salient point about political systems in general, but it proves far more than he wants it to. I think Klein is correct when he writes that
[a] healthy relationship does not require an explicit detailing of the “institutional checks” that will prevent one partner from beating or killing the other. In a healthy relationship, such madness is simply unthinkable. If it was not unthinkable, then no number of institutional checks could repair that relationship.
But of course these institutional checks are the entire basis for our political system–think the Bill of Rights, federalism, checks and balances, etc. And, when push comes to shove, they don’t work. If you put a huge amount of power into relatively few hands (i.e. form a government), it will be abused no matter how much you attempt to safeguard it. Klein probably wasn’t aware that he was arguing for anarchy, but he was.
Why I no longer trust the government… and why you shouldn’t either
August 6, 2009 was the second darkest day in American history. Barack Obama ordered union thugs to “confront” those opposed to his plans at Congressional townhall meetings. Violence broke out near St Louis, Missouri and Tampa, Florida. For several weeks the state run media bemoaned the so-called unruly mobs at these events. Yet, no crimes were committed until after and coincident with Obama’s desires. Obama has declared war on the American public. Or rather, anyone he thinks disagrees with him. This is an ominous and terrifying first.
Prevoiusly, Obama ordered his gang to monitor and report any contrary points of view in Blogs, E-Mails and even “casual conversations”. They set up a website to collect and a database to organize and analyze this data. Earlier this year, a leaked Department of Homeland Security memo concluded that all who opposed Obama were racists and domestic terrorists. DHS agents then went to “tea parties” this summer to photograph and videotape the participants. Ironic, when last year the Obama campaign railed against “domestic spying” by President Bush.
In a little over six months, America has gone from freedom to a police state. The Chicago way. Bear in mind, Obama whines about dissent and the very next day his criminal cronies attack innocent citizens. This is not America anymore. Whatever delusions you have about and “land of the free ” and “the home of the brave” are over. Get used to it, if you can. If you go to protest his plans, you will be photographed, identified, catalogued, investigated and, now, beaten by his goons. Don’t be shocked. This is what last year’s election was really about: liberty or coercion. The coercion crowd won.
Their “america” has nothing to do with The U S Constitution, The Declaration of Independence or the last 230 years of our history. Of course, the erosion started in the 1930′s with the New Deal. It gained speed in the 1960′s with the Great Society. Last year, Obama scraped together a coalition of “victims” for whom this country “just doesn’t work.” The erosions assisted those folks into disfunctionality. The “wont’s” were thus created. If the “wont’s” would just embrace the system like the rest of us, they’d be fine. But they won’t. They just want a free ride. The “cant’s” can’t and that’s what the social safety net was designed for. The system works perfectly well for those who honestly try. Nevertheless, because the “wont’s” don’t like what worked for the rest of us all the way back, we should scrap it. So, Obama wants to tear it all down and start over. This is the “change” they voted for.
But this is no surprise. What would you expect from someone who goes to church and sings, ” God D___, America” ? He is simply doing what the song says and what he believes with all his heart. A few of us knew this from the beginning. Many still think, “It can’t happen here” ! It has and it’s only starting. The “St. Louis smackdown” is just a taste of things to come. But, it’s also the punch seen around the world. Make no mistake: this is no longer America. This is an abomination.
For record, the thugs who assaulted Kenneth Gladney committed felonies. They were on orders and acted as agents for Barack Obama. That makes him Felon-in-Chief. Now we know the real function of labor unions. To supply muscle for Obama’s army of criminals. Last year’s wonderful promises are this year’s depicable lies. Isn’t that how it always goes ? Its very hard to square Obama’s “soaring rhetoric” with his roving gangs of goons. He promises the world, but gives us an ambulance ride.
Those “unruly mobs” have legitimate concerns. Obama’s schemes (Finance reform, Cap and Trade and Heath Care reform, to mention a few) have one thing in common. They pay for his votes last fall with our money. Very clever. Very dangerous. Many of his supporters were promised free houses, free medical care and now “affordability” credits. Because we voted against him, they are reaching into our pockets to pay for these. That is not the legitimate function of government. Webster calls it theft. You can call it what you like. You can dress it up with inspiring language and high-minded rationalizations. It is still taking from others what does not belong to you. We are being mugged. It is no different than walking down the street, getting beaten then having you wallet taken. They’re just putting it into bill Obama will sign. They’ve already delivered the beating, haven’t they ? The theft is coming.
Instead of debate they attack us physically. Obama lost his case and force is his next-to-the last tactic. Trust me, or else !, what a message ! That would have been an accurate campaign slogan. That’s who they are. You see, they won last year. That means you and I aren’t part of the process anymore. Didn’t you know ? When we try to engage, we are assaulted for our efforts. That’s what they do: coercion. Just like all the other cheap, low life punks in history.
Anyone who resorts to violence in response to legal, constitutionally-protected activity is not fit for office in this country. Of course, Obama would be right at home in the former Soviet Union, North Korea and Communist China. This is how they get things done in those places. But not here, until now. He has forfeited his moral authority and legitimacy. He should resign. Any honorable man would resign. Obama is not an honorable man. His actions betray his words. Obama’s lying, evasiveness, criminality and Marxist philosophies put him on par with Mafia dons and tyrants. When your best argument is, “because I said so”, you are not a leader. You are a dictator. Obama, this is not Iran. You obviously no longer have the consent of the governed. You and your followers are arch enemies of freedom and what’s left of this country. Most of the public no longer believes or trusts you.
Obama, you’re a great Marxist dictator, but not an American. Those are mutually exclusive. You see, it’s more than just where you’re born. It’s what you believe and how you live and operate. It’s not the puffery on your teleprompter. Notice how many trillions of dollars worth of formally private property now belong to the government. Obama’s health care fraud, ah, reform will take away another 1/8 or our economy. The government can’t create wealth, only the private sector can, period. The government takes from some and gives that to others. The net effect is zero. When someone invests capital, jobs are created and goods and services are produced and sold. This is the only way the economy grows. You either have money that grows or it just gets transferred from out of one pocket to into another. Don’t be mislead: socialism is like all his “inspiring” promises. It is theoretical. It is sugar-coated lies with a pretty face. Marxism is a an ugly, incomprensible brutal reality. It is the most oppressive and lethal system known to man. Tyrants lure people with the “promises” of socialism, but always resort to the Marxist strangelehold. Its called bait and switch. Obama, your mask is gone and decent, freedom-loving, law- abiding people are horrified.
When Obama’s assassins attacked Mr. Gladney, they attacked all of us. He said unequivocally: if you disagree with me, I will not act lawfully toward you. I will beat you, perhaps kill you. That’s the Chicago way. It’s is not American. It is an abomination. How many more people have to flood emergency rooms and maybe cemeteries before all of us understand the full extent of this evil ? Any of us could be next. Will it be me ? Will it be you ? Someone you know ? Someone you love ? Why should we tolerate the brutality or burials any longer ? Obama’s opponents have acted legally. He and his followers have not. Obama’s plans are bad for us and we’re not stupid. That’s why they have to use force. To ram it down our throats. When they can’t convince, they coerce. Besides, you never have to force people to do what’s best for them. Do you ? Why would you even consider it ? There is something very wrong with you, Obama, and all of your followers ! You want to steal us blind using force. You have violated a sacred trust and must be held to account.
Know one thing: this has all been planned. The bank and corporate takeovers, the taxes, the surveillance and the violence are Obama’s means to enslave us. America had a long history of bitter political disagreements. The people in power now are cunning, ruthless ideologues who will stop at nothing to destroy us. Repeat: destroy us. They are lead by a cold, arrogant, narcissistic megalomaniac who thoroughly hates anything American. They are all equally guilty. They all deserve the fate of most tyrants.
Here’s the bottom line: even if Obama, 218 House members and 51 Senate members are the only ones who want this bill, it will pass. That’s the only math that counts. The townhalls and all the other bluster are just side shows. Obama is going through the motions of persuasion, but brutality is his ready back-up. Expect less of the former and more of the latter, especially after the vote. Regardless, Obama holds the Ace and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks. In the end, that’s all that matters to him. Hey, Obama, you only fool yourself.
We began with second darkest day in our history. You may ask, what was the worst ? The winter of 1776. Shortly after we Declared Independence, the British invaded Long Island with an army much larger than ours. They quickly battled us off the Island, out of New York City and through New Jersey. Then they pushed General Washington and a very small number of remaining troops across the Delaware River into Philadelphia. They were blindsided, too. These poor souls had been beaten down, reduced and were completely demoralized. Most wanted to give up. There were no supplies and no reinforcements. Only a river stood between them and a vast force which could have easily finished them off. The American Revolution hung by a mere thread. Grim, indeed. This was December 24, 1776. Freedom had one last chance…
Sadly, it may already be too late for you and I. Obama controls vast resources and has vast power. They put a stranglehold on us very quickly. They showed their true color. There isn’t anything they won’t do to hold onto all that power. Laws, decency and humanity mean nothing to them: only getting Power. Here’s the dirty secret: they hate America and all those who love her, viscerally. That’s why what they do never makes sense in terms of our values. They don’t think like, believe in or even see reality like we do. We don’t have all that demonic depravity hard-wired into us. They live in a dream world: the worker’s paradise. Obama’s Marxist utopia is our worst nightmare. Marxism enslaved billions and cost hundreds of millions of lives in the last century and continues to enslave and kill even now. They also have to use coercion. Alot.
Marxism is when the goverment owns everything. Freedom comes from private property ownership. This prosperity makes you independent. The less all of us own privately, the less free we are as a nation. When the government owns everything you are dependent and not free. Obama’s budget states he will return the property in this country to “its rightful owner”. When Obama is done, you will have nothing. Repeat: nothing ! “Free” will cost us everything. In his follower’s minds, this is payback for what “america” has done to them. That’s what they’re “hoping” for. While we float in the pot, they are slowly turning up the heat. This is not America. This is an abomination. Much darker days are ahead. I ‘m jumping out. You should jump out, too. Before you’re served for dinner !
Signed,
Spirit of 2009
Spirit of 2009 or Ben Rush, you should take off your tin hat. I’m as free as I ever was and your version of American history is garbage. It’s too much bother to even begin to go through it point by point ,as easy as that would be. Just go out more, it’ll do you a world of good. You should also read Thomas Paine’s , Agrarian Justice, it will try your soul.
But the Post Office and FedEx are not mutually exclusive. Neither are national Public and Private Healthcare systems. It is possible to have a highly free economy (in the Heritage Foundation sense) and maintain public infrastructure not only in things like roads, but in hospitals.
It may well be that FedEx enhances some choices, and spurs better offers by the US Post Office; but as an example, I’ve found USPO delivery can be of much higher utility internationally. The enlightenment-era federation of both US and Post Offices abroad (the Revolutionary era’s version of the Information Superhighway), with their networked delivery infrastructure means it can be much more reliable and quicker than either FedEx and DHL in reaching rural areas.
That private fire insurance, security guards etc. exist doesn’t disallow the old-fashioned, even conservative public utility of firemen and police organised on an appropriate scale to serve their communities. Couldn’t doctors and nurses also fall into the same category of patriotic vocations within a market economy?
(And yes indeed, states and bureaucracies are capable of madness far beyond our individual efforts – but this is surely a reason to have options and choices aside from total reliance on them, rather than framing it as “either/or”)
The individuals who are in power in America are completely mad, as only the arrogant can become. Consider: they are trying to reinflate the housing bubble, they claim they can cut health care expenditures by adding millions of new claimants to the roles, they claim to be able to “manage” or “regulate” the banking system better than they did while creating a trillion dollar loss. They claim to be able to manage the climate by selling pollution licenses, and they claim to be able to turn Afghanis and Iraqis into American style citizens. How will they do all this? by putting a gun to your head demanding obediance. Now is the time to find out if Americans are really as stupid as the people in power think they are.
[...] John Payne in The American Conservative: I’d also add the massive slaughter of innocent civilians in the War Between the States and the dropping of the atomic bombs, but the point is pretty clear: large chunks of the government are constantly committing mad acts. [...]
Mark, we haven’t lived in a free country for a very long time.
Read Against Leviathan by Robert Higgs and you will find the
controls on business enterprise, the war on drugs, the costly
interventions, the atrocities Bush put over after 9-11, the
incredible number of taxes and regulations and in the last
year the outright nationalizations & bailouts. You couldn’t do
a point by point refutation of Ben Rush to save your life.
The whole New Deal era starting with Hoover has been a synthesis of fascism and communism. See The New Dealers
War by Thomas Fleming, The Roosevelt Myth by John T. Flynn, FDR’s Folly by Jim Powell, The God Of The Machine
by Isabel Paterson, Capitalism by George Reisman and
everything ever written by Ayn Rand.
My only concern about the townhalls is that LaRouchites have taken over some of them and that damages the anti-socialized medicine cause.
O’ Connell, see For A New Liberty by Murray N. Rothbard.
EVERYTHING should be privately owned and operated.