Reform and Liberals and Conservatives

[camaraderie]

To those of you looking for meaningful discussion about the choices facing our country, I commend this article when you have some time to read it. Fascinating and not skewed to one "side" or the other. Just food for thought.
Reforming Big Government


The Claremont Institute - Reforming Big Government

This argument—over the proper size of America's welfare state—has been going on for 75 years. Three things might prevent it from going on another 75, but two of them are unlikely. The first is that one side will score a decisive victory over the other, winning (so to speak) all the arguments and all the elections. The second is that the two sides will split the difference in a way they both feel reasonably happy about. The third, less far-fetched possibility, is that the debate will not be resolved but abandoned—after political and intellectual exhaustion motivates the combatants to redefine what they're arguing about.

[sailaway21]

A great article. Thanks for the link, Cam. The Claremont Institute does yeoman work on such matters.

Of particular interest is economist Herb Stein's Law, "if something cannot go on forever, it won't".

[chucklesR]

Option one is the more likely end game.

Democrats, and democracy in and of itself will lend to that.

Democrats appeal to the masses and liberal, populist politicians use that (and the resulting majority) to win. They are more likely to be elected and as long as the changes are gradual the Republicans can't win back a majority (say when common sense and simple math come into play).
History shows that, it's what's happening.

Even people with common sense and a calculator are fooled by these politicians, a perfect example is the Blue Dog Democrats - elected on the promise of fiscal conservatism (pay go yada yada). Not one is in facing a problem in re-election despite the FACT that the deficit has expanded under them - and that they didn't get past the first quarter without violating their promise.
They will win, welfare state here we come.

[lynn1120]

[QUOTE=camaraderie;388493]To those of you looking for meaningful discussion about the choices facing our country, I commend this article when you have some time to read it. Fascinating and not skewed to one "side" or the other. Just food for thought.
Reforming Big Government

Oh Cam -- Thank you !

There is hope-- not all critical thought has been smothered--, how do we get this kind of discourse into the main stream, or are we condemned to pandering to the lowest common denominators of selfishness and greed?

Thanks, the article made my day.

Lynn

[camaraderie]

Glad you enjoyed it!
As for more...I guarantee these guys will consistently make you put your thinking cap on. One is an Economics Professor at U of Chicago...the other is a Federal Appeals Court judge. Each column is their own point/counterpoint on a serious issue.
Give it a shot! The Becker-Posner Blog