“Capitalism and Freedom” – Senator Jim DeMint

This week GM won permission for a government-backed company to purchase GM brands including Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet, in order to pay off millions of dollars of debt—elevating the phrase “big government” to a new level. As consumers are confronted by an ailing economy and a brittle banking system, how much longer will it be before the capitalist system becomes just a faded memory?

The following is an excerpt from Senator Jim DeMint’s new release Saving Freedom: We Can Stop America’s Slide into Socialism:

“America’s golden goose is our capitalist economic system. It has made us wealthy beyond anything the world has ever known. Yet our excesses and debt are leading us to demand more and more golden eggs. Our taxes, regulations, and legal liabilities on businesses are now the most onerous in the world. We haven’t yet killed the goose, but we have plucked her clean, and the socialist axe is at her neck…

We have seen the federal government’s ‘communal sector’ replace local decision-making in public schools, hamstring private sector health-care services, federalize local banking, socialize farming, nationalize road construction. We now have federal intrusion into almost every business sector. Government must provide a consistent and predictable framework of laws and regulations, but arbitrary intrusion and subjective interpretations of regulations destroys the operation of the free market. Capitalism and socialism will not work together.

America cannot have it both ways. We must decide if we want a free market economy or socialism. Mixing the central planning principles of socialism with the decentralized free-market principles of capitalism has not worked, and it is destroying American’s competitive advantage in the world. Using business to collect taxes, provide health care, maintain pension programs, promote affirmative action, support the unemployed, absorb the cost of emissions by cars and utilities, and pay for frivolous lawsuits is killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

All of these functions are important and sometimes necessary, but Americans must understand that putting these costs on the backs of businesses does not save money; it obscures costs and creates inefficiencies that reduce competitiveness. Businesses don’t pay for anything; they pass along the cost of taxes, health care, pensions, and all other costs of doing business to their employees and customers. These expenses increase the cost of American workers but reduce their take-home pay. They also increase the cost of products, reduce competitiveness, and hurt profitability.”

In 314 pages, Senator DeMint argues against big government and calls for Americans to take back the power rightfully bestowed upon them by our founding fathers. He also calls for Americans to defend their personal freedom and provides action steps citizens can take to stop this slide into socialism.

Link: http://www.savingfreedombook.com/

Connect with Senator Jim DeMint online:

Twitter: @JimDeMint
Personal Site: JimDeMint.com
Senate Site: DeMint.Senate.gov

Trickle Up Poverty?

By: Laura Adelmann




Obama has certainly made his position clear on the issue of taxing the rich. A modern day Robin Hood, he sees it as fair to redistribute wealth. You tax the rich as much as you can and give that to the poor and magic happens and we are all equal, socialism abounds and peace reigns. Right.

What I fail to grasp about the revival of socialism v.2.0 is why this dead philosophy keeps being resurrected. How can something fail repeatedly and still be considered viable? The poor don't get richer. The rich just get poorer as they are taxed more and more to sustain the burden of carrying numerous social programs that, in the end, don't elevate the poor. The poor continue to stagnate, dependent on the social programs that the government doles out. They are also dependent on the government and will continue to vote themselves more and more benefits, thinking that maybe more will be better, more will bring wealth. I believe we will reach the tipping point soon, when those who don't pay taxes outnumber those who do. When you have that majority, how do you convince people to give up the dole? How do conservatives ever get a foothold again when liberals are passing out all the goodies?

What can people do if things keep going down this path? When states raise taxes, the rich can call "Two Men and a Truck" and move on to greener pastures with lower taxes. If they can't outrun the taxes because it's the fed that comes a calling, they may just go Galt. After the election there were numerous articles interviewing people who intended to reduce their incomes in protest of unfair taxation. If you cant soak the rich, they'll have to move on to the middle class, which I think will open people's eyes as to the unsustainable nature of entitlements. How happy will people be to pay 50% of their income to receive less competent medical care? When cancer survival rates start to match those of Europe, will it be enough comfort to know that we are all receiving the same reduced care? When will we realize that equal isn't always an admirable goal, if equal means we all suffer.

Link: The Random Blog Post Generator Service

Are We Headed Toward Socialism or Are We Already There?

There are many people, mostly on the right, that have felt that President Obama would take this country in the direction of socialism. For those liberals who enjoy visiting my site, I am sure you are laughing at that statement. However, I would like for you to consider a few things.

This past election season made it very apparent that although we do not have state owned television stations, they are now state run. The press are no longer objective questioners of the government looking out for the people. Instead they are a cheer leading section for the President and the Democratic party.

As the financial "crisis" loomed, even President Bush threw free market enterprise out the window. President Obama looks to continue with that direction. The next step with the TARP funds is a gigantic leap towards nationalizing our banking system. When you begin to interfere with how private companies operate their businesses, you are making a choice away from the free market system and heading towards socialism.

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) was interviewed this past week and stated that the so-called Fairness Doctrine was being discussed and would most certainly make a return. She stated that radio stations must be held accountable for their content. Again, this is a private industry that is being told what they can and cannot share with their public audience.

Health care reform has been a project of the Democratic party for generations. It appears that this may have a chance at becoming a reality. No one disagrees that we should help people receive affordable health care coverage, but it's how we chose to make that happen that divides us. Within the new stimulus package, it appears that some of the first steps toward nationalized health care are already in the works.

Finally, one last thought to consider. In the state of Oregon, lawmakers are struggling to meet budgets. Instead of looking to cut costs, there is actually a bill in the works that would tax drivers on how many miles they drive. How exactly would the government know how far you drive? The state government would require that you install a GPS device on your car that would tell the gas pump how many miles you have driven and tax you on the amount. The government would actually have a way to track your every move.

If state run television. nationalize banking, nationalized health care, silencing the opposition, and tracking it's citizens isn't socialism, then you would also enjoy living in China. I hear they are hiring.