Big Government Squashing the Private Sector

By Douglas V. Gibbs

It seems pretty obvious, to me. The more government does, the less you get to do. The more government dictates terms, the less liberty individuals have. The more government hands out from the treasury, the less folks are willing to do for themselves. The more government taxes something, the less activity they get from it.

I was watching a news program this morning and a question was asked regarding the gubernatorial race in California. On the Republican side Steve Poizner has been slowly gaining ground with support from notable conservatives like Tom McClintock. Tea Party favorite Larry Naritelli is quietly marching forward as well. Meg Whitman, the E-Bay millionaire, has been pumping her dough into a massive amount of ads - a move that has given her the lead for the entire campaign. On the Fox News program Larry Naritelli wasn't even mentioned, and the inquiry was regarding Meg Whitman's recent run to the right in defense to Poizner's accusations that she is just another Arnold Schwarzenegger - a progressive Republican that will spend and spend and spend, and bow down to the unions when they come calling. The question asked if such a move to the right for Whitman will be good for the general election, since the majority of voters in California are registered Democrat.

The question reveals the whole problem with politics. The candidates maneuver in the hopes of making this group happy and that group happy, while totally disregarding the principles they may or may not maintain. Then, as with their campaigns, the principles they claim to have go out the window so as to keep this group happy, and that group happy.

In the end, most of them spend. But spending is not sustainable at this level. I don't care how compassionate the government thinks it is being, eventually they will run out of money, they will collapse the economy, and they will suck the final bastion of independent wealth dry. Then, where will the money come from to be compassionate? Where will the pensions, and the welfare, and the medicare funds come from then?

An economy survives when the populace is not at home waiting for a welfare check, a medical voucher, and food stamps. Economies prosper when people refuse to feel sorry for themselves, stop blaming everyone, and everything, else for their lot in life, and when people take responsibility for their actions, their lives, and their livelihood.

Otherwise, in the not too distant future, we will be like Greece - with a collapsing economy, and a mindless population demanding their handouts while rioting in the streets.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary