A Peaceful Transfer of Power

I never watched an inauguration before, but I wanted to watch this one. So many mixed emotions!

I do find it exciting that a man with racial characteristics which 150 years ago would have made him a slave, and 50 years ago a second class citizen, has been accepted as leader of our country. However, I am saddened that race continues to be an issue at all and look forward to the day when it no longer gives us pause .

I am concerned about the anti-capitalist, pro-statism trend of popular American thought which brought to power a man with the political ideals of our new president. Yet, I see this as the culmination of understandable frustration with our current mixed economy, combined with the failure to recognize that it is not too much freedom that is the problem, but rather the interjection of political coercion into the private affairs of free men (under the rubric of central planning and special interest entitlements) which has wreaked such havoc with our economy and our lives.

I don't feel as though my beliefs and ideals have had a political champion for quite some time, and so I must continue to be my own champion. But, I remain ever-grateful that I live in a country that cherishes debate and protects freedom of speech so I can continue to work to persuade others of my ideas. I still feel a resonance with the people of this country: we want the best of all possible lives for ourselves, our children and people throughout the world--and we continue to strive side-by-side to achieve that goal, even when we disagree so strongly on the appropriate means of achievement.

I found the experience of watching President Bush smile and shake hands with President Obama a moment of worthy of awe and admiration for the process of peacefully transferring power. In a tradition which began with Thomas Jefferson's victory over John Adams, yesterday's transfer was much less revolutionary than the election of 1800, and will not result in civil war as did the election of 1860. I am proud to be part of a country that values and honors that peaceful process. And yet, I fear far too much power is increasingly being granted to the President, and to our government in general.

A number of friends called me yesterday to express concern over where President Obama will attempt to lead us. There is much to be concerned about. But let's not forget, there were significant problems in the leadership of President Bush, and Senator McCain would have created yet another set of challenges.

The events of the past several months have demonstrated how little understanding our politicians have of economics, or even for the essential connection between economic and political liberty. But our elected officials are the expression of the state of understanding of the electorate. To produce better politicians, we needed better informed citizens. That means thinking, educating ourselves, talking, blogging: identifying the essential points of agreement and disagreement and then making the best possible case we can for that in which we believe. Eternal vigilance sure is a lot of work--but it sure beats the alternatives!

Thoughts before Voting

"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy."

-Abraham Lincoln(1809-1865) 16th US President

As I would not be a victim, so I would not be a thief. This expresses my idea of morality.

--Beth Haynes, 2008 U.S. Citizen


"Redistribution" is legalized theft.


and from comment to "front page":

"As I would not want my life and freedom controlled by the state, so I would not want the state to control the lives and freedoms of all other men. This expresses my idea of Capitalism."

-- John Dick, 2008 U.S. Citizen
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VP Debate: Winner ?? Loser: Wealth Creation

BIDEN: Wall Street run wild… make sure that CEOs don't benefit from this… Deregulation… that's why we got into so much trouble… We don't call that redistribution. We call that fairness…, I agree with the governor. She imposed a windfall profits tax up there in Alaska. That's what Barack Obama and I want to do… The wealthy have done very well. Corporate America has been rewarded. It's time we change it.

PALIN: Darn right it was the predator lenders…There was deception there, and there was greed and there is corruption on Wall Street … pushing for even harder and tougher regulations. Look at the tobacco industry. Look at campaign finance reform.… And those huge tax breaks aren't coming to the big multinational corporations anymore …I had to take on those oil companies and tell them, "No," … the greed there that has been kind of instrumental … put government back on the side of the American people, stop the greed and corruption on Wall Street… made aware now to Americans about the corruption and the greed on Wall Street …

The error? A lack of understanding of the role of the entrepreneur and the capitalist in wealth creation. The middle class and the workforce are crucial elements of a health economy, but so are the risk-takers, the investors, the capitalists, in other words, the current favorite villains of our presidential and vice-presidential candidates: Wall Street and Big Oil. Without “windfall” profits, innovation, progress and wealth creation are severely hampered. Funny how no one seems concerned over “windfall” losses.

The omission? While everyone is busy blaming the greed of Wall Street, little is being said about the role of government policies in creating the current economic down-turn. The wisest statement of the debate may have been Biden’s when he said, “If you don't understand what the cause is, it's virtually impossible to come up with a solution.” Without addressing the major role of government policies in causing the current melt-down-- the easy money policy of the Fed, the forcing of banks by the CRA into making high-risk loans, the role of Fannie and Freddie in creating a housing bubble—the “solutions” will continue those mistakes, setting us up for further crises in the future.

For criminals, ignorance of the law is no excuse. For our politicians, ignorance of economics can not be an excuse either.

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"Any politician who starts shouting election-year demagoguery about the rich and the poor should be asked,'What about the other 90 percent of the people?' "


-- Thomas Sowell


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Conventional Conventions

Democrat. Republican. Both are over now. Lots of rah-rah. Lots of speeches. But did they really say anything? Does any politician ever? Actually, yes they do. And, you don't have to agree with what is being said to recognize a well-framed speech.

After listening to and reading so many uninformative, uninspiring speeches from this season’s political conventions, I went on line and found some from the past. They are worth checking out for yourself: Abraham Lincoln’s “Cooper Union Address” in 1860, William Jennings Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” in 1896, Hubert Humphrey’s 1948 DNC address on civil rights, Ronald Reagan’s 1964 GOP address “A time for choosing.” *

I wonder how these kinds of speeches would be received today. I bet people would love to have more than platitudes and slogans. We need speeches that state fundamental principles and explain why those principles must be used to guide to our actions. We need more than lofty promises unaccompanied by the practical details of how to achieve them. We need informed leaders who are willing to share their knowledge of the facts and their insights on how the challenges are to be met.

Ideals as guiding principles. Facts and analysis as the platform for practical application.

Maybe they will speek more to the specifics and details during the debates.

One can only hope.


*A few other of my favorites which aren't campaign speeches are Douglas MacArthur's Farewell Address to Congress and Winston Churchill's speech, "The Sinews of Peace." Please leave a comments with your favorites!