February 11, 2009
Those with even short memories remember the media reaction to Republican attempts to revolutionize government. These included everything from tax cuts, to revised regulations to make America more business-friendly and keep jobs here rather than export them, to eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy and government agencies. The media were aghast, suggesting Republican insensitivity and cruelty to children and the elderly. Instead of a debate about whether spending and programs were necessary, the media focused on the "nastiness" of Republicans.
Now that the Democrats control all branches of government, there is only a debate about the level of "compassion," not whether any of this enormous spending that will mortgage our future to other nations is worthwhile. In fact, President Obama echoed others when he said at his Monday night news conference there is no guarantee that any of this will work immediately, if at all. That's a revealing statement about liberalism. It doesn't matter if liberal ideas work, only that liberal intentions are good.
Education is a prime example. Notice that no matter how much is spent on education, it is never enough. There are always decrepit schools, poor science labs and under-performing teachers. Why is this? One would think that after mountains of money spent on government schools, there would be some positive result. But, no, there is only intellectual doom and facility gloom from politicians. That is because the teachers unions never have enough money for their political agendas, but they are not held accountable by the media or politicians.
There is much in the "stimulus" bill that will restructure our nation and its culture in ways most voters would reject were it put to them as a question or a ballot initiative. But the gravy train is about to leave the station. Nancy Pelosi is the conductor and President Obama is merely taking and punching our tickets. If this were a song, it might go like this: “Good morning America, how are ya? Say, don't you know that I'm your native son? I'm the train they call the city of Obama. I'll be broke and a slave to government when the day is done.”
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
