Sunday, August 30, 2009

A New Push to Play God from Washington

I found this very well written article By Thomas Sowell
over at Real Clear Politics. It sure seems real clear to me! Anything in green is my take on the topic. Red just means I wanted to brighten up the post. Here's the link.


The serious, and sometimes chilling, provisions of the medical care legislation that President Obama has been trying to rush through Congress are important enough for all of us to stop and think, even though his political strategy from the outset has been to prevent us from having time to stop and think about it. (Can you say "READ THE DAMNED BILL?")

What we also should stop to think about is the mindset behind this legislation, which is very consistent with the mindset behind other policies of this administration, whether the particular issue is bailing out General Motors, telling banks who to lend to or appointing "czars" to tell all sorts of people in many walks of life what they can and cannot do.

The idea that government officials can play God from Washington is not a new idea, but it is an idea that is being pushed with new audacity.

What they are trying to do is to create an America very unlike the America that has existed for centuries-- the America that people have been attracted to by the millions from every part of the world, the America that many generations of Americans have fought and died for.

This is the America for which Michelle Obama expressed her resentment before it became politically expedient to keep quiet. (Are you "proud" yet Fat Ass?)

It is the America that Reverend Jeremiah Wright denounced in his sermons during the 20 years when Barack Obama was a parishioner, before political expediency required Obama to withdraw and distance himself. (You remember "God Damned America" Wright don't you?)

The thing most associated with America-- freedom-- is precisely what must be destroyed if this is to be turned into a fundamentally different country to suit Obama's vision (change we can believe in) of the country and of himself. But do not expect a savvy politician like Barack Obama to express what he is doing in terms of limiting our freedom.

He may not even think of it in those terms. He may think of it in terms of promoting "social justice" or making better decisions than ordinary people are capable of making for themselves, whether about medical care or housing or many other things. Throughout history, egalitarians have been among the most arrogant people. (No, he knows EXACTLY what he's doing!)

Obama has surrounded himself with people who also think it is their job to make other people's decisions for them. Not just Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, his health care advisor who complains of Americans' "over-utilization" of medical care, but also Professor Cass Sunstein, who has written a whole book on how third parties should use government power to "nudge" people into making better decisions in general.

Then there are a whole array of Obama administration officials who take it as their job to pick winners and losers in the economy and tell companies how much they can and cannot pay their executives. (That's assuming they are lucky enough to keep their job at all!)

Just as magicians know that the secret of some of their tricks is to distract the audience, so politicians know that the secret of many political tricks is to distract the public with scapegoats.

No one is more of a political magician than Barack Obama. At the beginning of 2008, no one expected a shrewd and experienced politician like Hillary Clinton to be beaten for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States by someone completely new to the national political scene. But Obama worked his political magic, with the help of the media, which he still has. (Ah yes, the "Magical Negro".)

Barack Obama's escapes from his own past words, deeds and associations have been escapes worthy of Houdini.

Like other magicians, Obama has chosen his distractions well. The insurance industry is currently his favorite distraction as scapegoats, after he has tried to demonize doctors without much success.

Saints are no more common in the insurance industry than in politics or even among paragons of virtue like economists. So there will always be horror stories, even if these are less numerous or less horrible than what is likely to happen if Obamacare gets passed into law.

Obama even gets away with saying things like having a system to "keep insurance companies honest"-- and many people may not see the painful irony in politicians trying to keep other people honest. (Talk about the "pot calling the kettle black!" Oh shit, does that sentence make me a racist?) Certainly most of the media are unlikely to point out this irony.

Copyright 2009, Creators Syndicate Inc.

15 comments:

Z said...

Thomas Sowell is SO good and you are so right to post him and add your comments!
We are in such trouble; it's like some people never understood the constitution and don't care..but TAUGHT constitutional LAW..go figure.
If we had a media that was honest, none of this would be happening.

MathewK said...

"What they are trying to do is to create an America very unlike the America that has existed for centuries-- the America that people have been attracted to by the millions from every part of the world, the America that many generations of Americans have fought and died for."

That's exactly it, i'm so glad that people are now seeing them for what they really are. Anyone with half a brain can see that what the left will ultimately make America into is just another useless, socialist shithole that no one wants to move to. Europe is half way there and that's thanks to them. You have to ask why, why do they want to do this.

Beth said...

Other than the color scheme making me think of Christmas, good points from both AA and Sowell. I was recently thinking how what made us the desire of immigrants for generations is indeed going away (I'm talking about the honest ones who want to come here legally for a better life, there will be nowhere for these people to go soon.)

shoprat said...

Thomas Sowell is one of several black men I would love to see in the White House.

Gayle said...

Like Shoprat, I'd like to see Sowell in the White House too, AA, problem is, Obama has been really bad news for Black politicians. It may be years before many Americans will trust another one as president. What a shame!

Average American said...

Z, We owe the media big time and some day they will get what's coming to them---some how.

MK,...just another useless, socialist shithole...man are you spot on with those words! I think enough people have awakened to make a difference at the polls. The question is will the difference be big enough and soon enough?

Beth, you like my xmas colors huh? They may even make it bad enough so that all the illegals wil go back home. Imagine if someday Mexico is more attractive than the U.S. Unbelievable!

Brooke, I laughed like hell when I typed that too!

Shoprat, I agree, he would have made a good choice.

Gayle, I'm not so sure. Americans have a funny way of figuring things out eventually. It may be a couple of election cycles, but I doubt it will be too awful long.

Has anyone else noticed how almost all of the intelligent black people we come across while blogging are conservative? From people like Sowell to conservative black politicians, to you tube stars and bloggers, the intelligent ones all seem to be on our side. Come to think of it, that goes for the whites also. Nevermind.

Anonymous said...

Great piece by Sowell, and love your little comments thrown in too. I've never seen such a united effort in standing up for the America that we love, it's refreshing to say the least. We are the ones that are going to bring America back to the pre-Obama days!

Average American said...

Jenn, tne effort pouring forth from the "Average American", pun intended, is absolutely amazing isn't it! You are 100% correct, WE, the everyday American citizen, the silent majority, the sleeping giant ARE the ones that will get this turned around. We have no choice because the politicians certainly aren't capable of it. The right is too weak and the left is too damned DRUNK on the koolaide.

cube said...

Good column, but then Sowell's views are usually spot on with me. He says what I'm thinking, but ever so eloquently.

WomanHonorThyself said...

love Sowell..great find buddy!!!

Z-man said...

The paper can be boring that day but I always read a Thomas Sowell column.

Average American said...

Cube, he's just one more example of why our side will win.

Angel, thanks, I found this one in real clear politics after I finished looking at the falling poll numbers (NObama's that is) HA!

Z-Man, Not being much of a reader, except for what I find on the net, I had not even seen this guy before. Glad I found him, now I'll be on the lookout.

The Lone Voice said...

Great blog and so true.
Keep it going my good man!
And keep telling it as it is. We must not fear no one.

Bloviating Zeppelin said...

BO does in FACT have BO.

Playing god (little G)?

He is about to be SO surprised.

BZ

Average American said...

Lone Voice, Thanks for dropping by. I went over to check your blog out, nice start you have going. Keep it up!

BZ, he and the left just don't get it, do they? They still think all these town hall attendees are shills and only the extreme right wing is against him. You're right, he has a MAJOR surprise coming. I can't wait for the 2010 elections!! I can't wait for the 2012 elections! I just hope that if the republicans get the presidency, the house and the senate by 2012 that they will be wise and not try to railroad everything through. I hope they learn from NObama's mistakes. God knows he has made enough of them! Is that what he meant about a "learning moment" last month?