"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies." -- Groucho Marx
Politics requires you to be cynical without losing your idealism, skeptical without giving up on problem solving, and it demands that you compromise with people who disagree with you on almost every issue. It has also become so complicated that the politicians don’t even bother to read the bills anymore. So, imagine being a young inexperienced kid who’s trying to figure out what’s going on in a world full of lying politicians, partisan hacks and slanted media. It’s not a pretty picture.
So, with that in mind, here are some guiding principles for young Americans that will help keep them on track over a lifetime spent in the maze of American politics.
2) Politicians are interested in getting elected, not making your life better: There are well-meaning politicians who put the country first, but they’re about as common as professional athletes who eat dinner at McDonald’s every day. Politicians generally aren’t brave, they aren’t virtuous, they can be bought off, they often won’t do the right thing unless they’re being watched and they are not looking out for people like you. You wouldn’t leave your dog with people who think like that, but we’re trusting the fate of our nation to them.
3) Rarely does government ever "fix" problems: There’s always some politician promising to “solve” a problem, but as the great Thomas Sowell says,“There are no solutions; there are only trade-offs." As a practical matter, what that means is that when politicians move to “solve” a problem, they often create new problems that are just as bad as the ones they were trying to solve. Then they move to “solve” those problems and create more problems. After you rinse and repeat enough, you end up with the government micromanaging which bathrooms people use to make sure they’re “gender inclusive” enough.
4) People respond to incentives: Ever heard someone say, “Be careful what you wish for?” Well, you REALLY better be careful what you incentivize. In a nation of 316 million, there are people, sometimes millions of them, who will do just about every sort of crazy, self-destructive thing you can imagine if they get rewarded for doing it somehow. Changes in government policy can kill industries, change the culture for the worse and lead millions of formerly independent people to become slothful and dependent. Ah, but you’re probably thinking, “If incentives can create all of those bad outcomes, then think of all the GOOD we can do with them!” Well, that might be true except that…
5) Government isn’t a good; it’s a necessary evil: Government is inherently slow, stupid, inefficient, wasteful and dangerous. Moreover, it is, was, and will always be that way, no matter who’s in charge because that is the nature of the beast. Now combine that with power-hungry politicians and dead-eyed bureaucrats who feel entitled to force you to do things at gunpoint and you should be very wary of anyone telling you about all the wonderful things government can do. Whether the government is offering Americans something “free” or pointing a gun at our heads, we’re all better off with as little of it as possible in our lives. Think about that the next time a Democrat says, "the cubbard is bare," or "the government can't afford it."
by John Hawkins
From comments:
Politics is where good guys and bad guys drain the treasury and pat each other on the back at the end of the day. If politicians were as smart as they pretend to be, why are they are not working in REAL jobs? The framers of Constitution intended for them to be citizen legislators, not homesteaders!
Sad4All: "I work with good conservative people who have no clue as to how far the guberment has plunged us into debt. The MSM has control over not only the major networks, but have also tainted most of the radio stations. Unless the low-information sheeple accidentally come to websites such as this, I doubt things will ever change. Not to say that we cannot inform them of how flagrant the current administration as lied to us.
Five truths, the sort of "obvious" observations that should stand as a permanent reminder: "Obvious" really means "overlooked."
Make that #6: Believe nothing! Doubt everything!
First, out of curiosity, has Mr. Hawkins ever ran for a political office, since he has such a low view of the present inhabitants of the same. Second, I have a shocking fact for him, that being that any government reflects the values of the society in which it operates. Third, if government is a necessary evil, then it is because the people who make up the society which is governed are also evil. By definition, good cannot produce evil.
That list isn't just for young people. It should be indelibly imprinted into the mind of everyone. The world's biggest fallacy is that gubmint is composed of omniscient, hypercompetent altruists whose only motivation is to rescue the downtrodden from themselves and the evil capitalists. In the real world, the best of them may honestly try to do competent work, but are hamstrung by rules and policies that make it impossible. Unforunately, they are outnumbered 20 to 1 by low grade cretins who were hired for demographic reasons or nepotism. Why so many in the public trust such an institution to solve problems which lay outside whatever competency it has is one of the great mysteries of life.
The silver lining of the Obama-Pelosi-Reid disaster is that maybe things will get so bad that the low-information voters will be forced, for their own good, to think a little more critically when they next consider a candidate no deeper than "hope and change".
As for blasting all politicians with the same brush, I assume that Rand Paul and Ted Cruz are equally guilty with all of the others at being concerned first with their own reelection, how much that they can make off of their office, and have zero concern about the wishes of the people who voted them into office. How much are Rand Paul and Ted Cruz making for speeches these days?
'There are well-meaning politicians who put the country first . . . ' Show me these politicians, please. I may agree that a lot of first time Congresspersons want to put the country first, but a term or two in DC quickly changes that attitude. Yes, always remember that the government does not have a single dime that it did not take from someone else, even if it borrowed it.
A very wise man, Ronald Reagan once said, never trust someone who says, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
The smaller the government, the more freedom for Americans. Truly think about that. The most important thing is THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT YOUR FRIEND, AND THEY DO NOT WORK FOR YOU. YOU WORK FOR THEM. AND THEY MAKE YOU PAY FOR IT. AND...never believe a word a politician says. Look at their record before believing them, or voting for them, The spoiled brats of this great nation need to realize however, that the government is the ba$tard child THEY conceived and THEY nourish. I especially appreciate the fact that Obama's current press secretary, Josh Earnest, has an oxymoronic name. The Comedy Club in Washington has never been better since the days of the peanut farmer from Georgia except for one thing:
The current Club of Obozo oxymorons are doing grievous harm to the Republic on a daily basis.
People miss that point about libertarians. They won't outlaw abortions at the federal level, but they sure won't pay for them. They will lower taxes, but won't subsidize sloth. They will reduce American adventurism, but won't tolerate abuse by foreigners. They will remove tons of business regulations, but hold businesses responsible for damages caused by careless operation. They will institute school choice, but it's up to the individual to make the right choice of schools.
Republicans could not have asked for more and better ammunition that constant stream of lies and mistakes coming from the White House. Yet they lost again in 2012, and have made no effort to educate the public, or provide a thoughtful alternative.
Liberalism is fantasy-based, hence it MUST be deception-based…
The promised socialist fairness utopian state never ever ever arrives…
(ask the Cubans after 50 years…)
So we hear their only tactics: bold lies, demons, smears and empty promises…
to avoid the discussing the REALITY of their toxic policy results.
(theconservativecrawfish.wordpress)
If Elections worked as working term limits, we would not have had Ted Kennedy in the Senate for 40 years.
The hardest thing to explain is the glaringly evident which everybody had decided not to see – Ayn RandI want BHO to keep up the good work he is doing. Like the unaffordable care act. He continues to do harm to the country and his party; that will keep republicans in office for years.
WJF: I have described Barack Obama as 'ignorant', because the root word is 'ignore' and Barack Obama seems to ignore or be totally unaware of the tell-tale signs and obvious clues of social and intellectual faux pas (false step) that to most Humans are routine.
This accounts for the litany of excuses from Barack Obama for his behavior and the continuous deflection of personal responsibility for his own decisions and subsequent actions.
I see Barack Obama as an 'Intellectual Mr. Magoo' - (Mr. Magoo was a cartoon character who was extremely near-sighted, but stubbornly refused to admit or accept that fact, so everyone around him or observing him thought he was a complete lunatic) who stumbles through life like an 'Inspector Clouseau' of politics, bumbling, stumbling and incompetently being in the right place at the right time saying things that were/are absolutely absurd and making those absurdities sound plausible and inspiring.
It is not uncommon for the ignorant to deify and elevate someone like Barack Obama to a position of leadership and power - even President.
Barack Obama who is not even capable of managing and implementing a Web Site, which most 'ANY' teenager could do, is heralded as 'Messianic'??
"Barack Obama is one of those people who are often wrong, but never in doubt." I used to think he was ignorant. Now I know he is deliberate. The first time I read George Orwell's '1984' I thought who could be so moronic as to believe “War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is strength.”
Of course, Barack Obama had not appeared yet, but once Obama became President, Orwell's abstract thoughts began to personify in the person of Barack Obama. Orwell and Ayn Rand were both visionaries, they warned us. Democrat Barack Obama is seldom correct, but never in doubt and his confident stupidity is only surpassed by his narcissistic arrogance and self-absorption. Narcissism is a mental illness, so we have a nut in the WH with his finger on the trigger, not very comforting. You would think even liberals would be getting a little antsy by now. Barack Obama most definitely does not live in reality and that is the classic definition of someone who is mentally ill.
obama has increased this nations debt more than the 43 before him did combined in just 6 years. For what he wasted on his "stimulas" he could have bought 100 new nuclear plants, cash. He could have modernized the electric grid which is severely vulnerable to attack. He could have repaired a helluva lot of bridges and a host of other things like Keystone which would have put millions to work, but he didn't. WHERE did the money go US Congress and WHY is he still sitting in the WH? Jews and Christians are taught from childhood that lying is a 'SIN' and Muslims are taught from childhood it is okay to lie as long as it advances Islam - Taqiyya (Koran 3:28, 16:106).
The meaning of the Islamic term - "al-Taqiyya" is that the tongue is permitted to utter anything in a time of need, as long as the heart is not affected; and one is still comfortable with faith and it advances Islam - whatever is said would NOT be considered lying.
Barack Obama learned this lesson as a Child and has been lying ever since to advance his Marxist ideas.
Barack Obama is a danger to himself and the entire World.
Most Americans learned in Grade School that the Legislative Branch passes the laws, the Executive Branch enforces the laws, and the Judicial Branch interprets the laws.
This system is the checks and balances detailed in The Constitution by our Founding Fathers.
It is the Constitutional duty for the President of the United States of America to enforce all Laws passed by Congress.
Barack Obama has repeatedly refused to Enforce the Laws of the United States - most notably existing Immigration law.
Presidents who have refused to enforce the Law.
• Democrat Barack Obama
• Democrat Franklin Roosevelt
• Democrat Harry Truman
• Democrat Jimmy Carter
• Democrat John Kennedy
Many posters here on the Town Hall Website are mad at the United States Senate and at the United States House of Representatives for not making Barack Obama and his Administration obey the Law.
It is the Constitutional duty for the President of the United States (Executive Branch) to enforce the Law.
The United States is in a Constitutional crisis - we have a President functioning as a dictator without the military uniform - refusing to obey or enforce the law - making and unmaking laws at a whim - using Federal Agencies and Federal Prosecutors to harass and intimidate political enemies and ordinary citizens.
A president whose Constitutional duty is to enforce the law - not only does Democrat Barack Obama refuse to enforce the law - Democrat Barack Obama refuses to obey the law himself.
Democrat Barack Obama not only refuses to enforce the Immigration Laws of the United States of America - Barack Obama has ordered the DHS Secretary not to obey the law and deport illegal aliens.
Dr. Thomas Sowell
I believe the biggest problem with government is the duplication, triplication, quadrublication, of responsibilities for government functions, raises the cost, through massive bureaucracy, 10 fold, and gives the different departments the "pass the buck" incentive.
Just imagine of the US had 51 different currencies (one for federal) or 51 different state departments for dealing with foreign countries and foreign businesses. Yet we have more than 50 fedral, state and local (so called) jobs programs and more "welfare programs" all with more bureaucrats than enrollees. With that we get massive payrolls with no accountability and solutions like Obamacare, one size fits all.
We need to eliminate the quadruplication , which will restore accountability and lower the cost dramatically. Efficiency cannot save us. We need to think more about gutting most of the government, and cutting entitlements. Tough to do when almost half of us are parasites, and politicians will pander to anybody for votes.
The career and corrupt politicos have rigged the system (voting, no Term Limits, cost to even become a candidate) against the citizens. Much like Public officials (Teachers, Police, Fire and Federal Bureaucrats) who are Unionized - negotiate their pay/benefits without the very people being forced to pay those salaries at the table.
We The People have become the slaves of the political class/public unions - and that is the only 'fault' we have - Not rising up and stopping it.
When our Founders created the Constitution for the sole purpose and intent of Creating and Maintaining a Government. The Founders determined that The United States House of Representatives would be the primary factor in keeping the Government in Constraint.
This is why House Members are elected or re-elected every two Years and 'ALL SPENDING' must originate in the House.
It is the Voters duty and job to elect or fire via the ballot box - those Representatives who will closely guard the Treasury of the United States.
When spending is out of control - it is clearly the fault of the Voters. The framers never intended for people to vote for a living and not work for a living. Those that were elected to steal the money from working people and "spread it around" to slugs and parasites who have been inculcated with the belief that they are somehow "entitled" to the earnings of another because of something that ended 150 years ago and that no-one alive had anything to do with is the major problem we face today domestically. No-one on the dole should be allowed to vote for more largesse from the public treasury....period.
In 1964, fifty years ago, LBJ declared "a war on poverty". How's that war going? Either those in government are incredibly incompetent at solving such problems....or they used the existing poverty problem as a tool to gain and hold political power and don't have the slightest interest in ending poverty, but desire to continue it for their own gains. -or both.
Our Founders created the Constitution for the sole purpose and intent of Creating a Government for the people and Maintained by the people.
The Government Created by our Founders was a Constitutional Republic (limited Democracy) - that would constrain the power of the Government by United States Constitution.
The only flaw I see in our Founders thinking - was that the Citizenry would care enough about the Freedom given them in this Great Document - to elect those necessary to protect the Constitution at any cost and be a representation of the voters will.
The Founders never envisioned that the voters would elect a Radical Anarchist - who was dedicated to the destruction of the Constitution and the United States of America.
A Radical Anarchist (Barack Obama) who informed the voters before they elected him that 'HE' was going to fundamentally 'Change' the United States - the 'ONLY WAY' Barack Obama could accomplish his goal was to lie under oath (twice) that he would protect the Constitution.
The Government we have - is what the voters decided they wanted. Until Obama, I never thought there was affirmative action in politics.
They way to fix that voter fraud problem is to wipe the slates clean nationwide and re-register everyone with birth certificates or naturalization papers only. THEN, bounce those new voter rolls off of the welfare rolls and disallow any voter presently on the dole. It will never happen of course until we DEMAND that it does and politicians stop being afraid of the race card. PC will destroy this country.
It is unfortunate that the intellect of the average American voter has fallen so far below the founders that they no longer can see evil or the corruption that stares them right in the face everyday.