|
||||||||
|
July 03, 2008 The Coming Hard ChoicesBy Christopher ChantrillBut real choice is about making hard choices; it is about recognizing that things can't go on the way they are any more. It is about being ready to give up something precious in order to go on at all. In normal times, especially in the sunshine of Morning in America and its aftermath, the American people do not have to make any hard choices. In the political sector that has meant that soft choices predominate. Conservatives came and demanded that the nation fight the Cold War and the war on terror. Liberals came and demanded that the nation provide subsidies for inner-city homeowners. Conservatives demanded that marginal tax rates be lowered. Liberals demanded protection of the nation's wild and scenic areas. Conservatives demanded that the Second Amendment meant what it said it meant. Liberals demanded that the US start to combat the threat of global warming. Everyone got a piece of the action; there were no hard choices. That is why Senator Barack Obama has needed to flip-flop on Iraq, on Reverend Wright and, last week, on campaign financing and gun control. When running for the nomination of his party he told the Democratic base there was no need for tough choices. Now he needs to tell the average independent voter that there is no need for tough choices. Any time you make a choice, that choice has consequences. In our personal lives and our families that consequences can occur within months. In the business world the consequences appear within a year or two. But government is different. People can argue about consequences for decades. According to Charles Murray in Losing Ground, liberals knew that their Great Society programs weren't working by 1970, five years after they declared War on Poverty in 1965. But it took 25 years before Newt Gingrich and the Republicans from the Class of 1994 managed to reform just one liberal welfare program. It was so much work that they decided to take a break from making hard choices. Anyway, once the federal budget got into surplus in the late 1990s everyone got into a spending mood. Well here we are, it's ten years later and a bunch of consequences are upon us, and someone's going to have to make some hard choices. Everyone is as mad as hell and they are not going to take it any more. Since it all happened on Bush's watch it stands to reason that he and the Republicans are to blame. From an orthodox conservative perspective, the nation's problems all stem from clumsy government intervention in the market, the kind that liberals know and love. There are the endless subsidies for homeowners that direct a firehose of credit at the housing market-until the bubble bursts. There's the Federal Reserve endlessly chasing the business cycle with exemplary bureaucratic clumsiness -- and periodic inflationary burps to cure credit indigestion. There are the environmentalist meddlings with the energy market that make it difficult to develop energy resources and impossible to build oil refineries -- until $5.00 gasoline prompts a voter stampede to Drill, Drill, Drill. But the American voters are not ready to agree with conservatives. Not yet. That is why Democrats are planning to nominate Sen. Obama on an audacious hope for a change and Republicans intend to nominate Sen. McCain, their least conservative contender. At a moment of threatening inflation, high gas prices, collapsing house prices, a threatening recession, and a difficult war, at least there's one candidate that is serious about one of the issues. Win or lose in 2008 conservatives can take comfort. The hard choices are patient. They will wait for a new era of practical conservative reform. Sooner or later the United States will have to make the hard choices needed to get to a sensible market-driven policy on energy, and conservatives will be there to help. Sooner or later the United States will have to make the hard choices needed to get to an education system in which parents decide what is best for their children. Sooner or later the United States will have to make the hard choices needed to get to a patient-directed health care system. When it comes to the hard choices, conservatives have seen the future, and it works. Christopher Chantrill is a frequent contributor to American Thinker. See his roadtothemiddleclass.com and usgovernmentspending.com. His Road to the Middle Class is forthcoming.
|
Recent Articles
Blog Posts
|
|
||
Comments
Hope it is.
But there are powers working at the background waiting for America dismiss the idea and make itself believe that the World is not tought on her after all, just a wrong and obtrusive President waging war against the non-enemies.
McCarthy saw that shadow and was brave enough to confront America in denial of the what's goin on in the ground.
America, by dismissing McCarhty, was rewarded by Vietnam War, terrorism, militant labor union, and intrusion by UN.
This November is a tough choice. It could be the end of the conservatism and the outright rise of Socialism.
The question for young Americans is not about Bush Policy.
It is about where do you want in the next 20 years?
Socialism or Freedom of Choices.
Make your choice now, America. You still have 4 months to think.
Posted by: seeker | July 3, 2008 03:05 AM
Rush Limbaugh has repeatedly stated that conservatism works every time it is tried and liberalism has failed in every case it is applied. the War on Poverty is a prime example of this. I''d like to ask some liberal, any liberal to name me a single liberal program that has succeeded. They'd all failed in some form or another. A Barry Hussein presidency would break the treasury and break us.
Posted by: Bubba's BBQ | July 3, 2008 04:28 AM
Starbucks is closing 600 stores. The dead tree media is hemorrhaging jobs. Ford Motor Company can't define the word profitability. Even Subway sandwich shops have seen a sudden decline in the number of customers willing to shell out five dollars for a sandwich.
While a number of economic factors are responsible for these companies' misfortunes, there may be a contributing factor that is consistently overlooked.
Despite a plethora of complaints across the country, Starbucks refused to remove anti-Christian sentiments from their cups.
The dead tree society has for years portrayed Christians as illiterate, uneducated, and easily led.
Ford Motor Company only recently, and quietly, ceased contributing to advocacy groups pushing to have marriage redefined.
Even Subway made another recent blunder, holding a contest for school children and telling home-schoolers they weren't included.
Executives have made a lot of "hard" choices in recent years, choices that for them weren't hard at all. Until the chickens came home to roost.
The power of the purse is often underestimated. Quite naturally, it behooves management to ensure their companies do not offend their customer base. Yet, to avoid offending religious minorities, they offend the Christian majority.
Why would I buy a cup of coffee from a place where management encourages the mocking of God?
Why would I buy a newspaper to be mocked for believing in God?
Why would I shell out twenty thousand dollars to buy a car when part of my money will go to fund an agenda I abhor?
For that matter, why would I purchase a "holiday tree" from Lowes?
Yet, despite the economic power of American Christians, when it comes to voting, at least half are no-shows.
Imagine if every American Christian voted. If those who are offended by Starbucks, Ford Motor, the news media and Subway would simply show up at the polls in November, the Democrats would hold far fewer seats in Congress.
Then, and only then, would we see oil drilling, more refineries, more nuke plants, and parent-driven education and patient-driven medical care.
Until a lot more Christians get angry and do more than merely boycott companies, the Democrats are going to continue blocking progress to the future.
Posted by: Robert McClain | July 3, 2008 06:20 AM
This is why government needs to be from the center. Consider:
Is It Time For The Center Of Congress To Become Independents or Something Else And Take Control Of Our Government?
http://zachjonesishome.wordpress.com/is-it-time-for-the-center-of-congress-to-become-independents-or-something-else-and-take-control-of-our-government/
Posted by: ZachJonesIsHome | July 3, 2008 07:01 AM
This is taking a very positive view with the assurance that the US will eventually come around and make the hard choices. Let's hope this happens soon, or we will be a second or third tier economic power. High gas prices, falling real estate values, the falling dollar and factories moving abroad don't bode well for the US. Obama's plan to eliminate the Bush tax cuts, increase corporate taxes and add National Health Care will accelerate our decline. Remember the saying that a government that is big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have. It seems that at least 50% of Americans want the government to get much bigger and the private sector to get smaller.
Posted by: pvandeus | July 3, 2008 07:31 AM
Yup, this is all true. I just wonder how bad it has to get before we grow up?
Posted by: DaveT | July 3, 2008 08:06 AM
Our future depends upon the choice to either make hard decisions or to choose not to decide. Will the majority be swayed by the Pied Piper whose tune is choosing not to decide? It's looking bad for adult minded citizens, because the immature always choose not to decide. That's why we call it immaturity.
Posted by: Nancy Coppock | July 3, 2008 08:09 AM
"Tough choices...tough choices." No offense, but I'm uncomfortable with that term.
First "tough choices" is a liberal catch-phrase. Its like whenever someone says "enthusiasims..." I have a reflex neck jerk to see if someone's standing behind me with a baseball bat...because someone's getting clubbed. Its a wind-up phrase that liberals use to cushion the blow before they kick you in the pocketbook.
Secondly...and I mean this from the depths of my gut...CONSERVATIVE CHOICES ARE NOT "TOUGH"!!! In truth, the only "tough choice" here is for conservatives to decide not to take it any more when they see the course the country is on and PUT A STOP TO IT at the ballots! After that, conservatism...TRUE conservatism sells itself! Reagan knew this, and that's why he was such a great president.
Lower taxes? A natural stimulant for a hurting economy...ask Reagan.
Drill in ANWR? Reduce or remove our dependency on foreign oil; Economics 101...supply and demand drives the price into the cellar...ask Reagan!
Smaller government? Less interference in our lives...fewer hands in our pockets...less government programs regulating our lives and damning our progress...ask Reagan!
My goodness, people...conservatism SELLS ITSELF!
Posted by: Brian Smith | July 3, 2008 09:22 AM
"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."-Thomas Jefferson from "The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies"
Posted by: travis | July 3, 2008 09:23 AM
What's so tough here?
It's simple:
Drill/Mine/Farm
No sense in povertying our way out.
Posted by: American Thinker Fan | July 3, 2008 10:52 AM
As was often the case, Winston Churchill had it right.
"You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else."
Posted by: Charley S. | July 3, 2008 11:38 AM
I've always voted conservative because I felt it was easier to make the hard choices when the consequences were smaller.
This November, I'm not sure we will SURVIVE to make the hard choices. I think the Democrats, Republicans, and STUPID voters are going to destroy us completely.
Posted by: Sillie Lizzie | July 3, 2008 02:12 PM
"Sooner or later the United States will have to make the hard choices needed to get to an education system in which parents decide what is best for their children."
The average American will never make any tough choices when it comes to education. I have to laugh every time I hear people complain, yet, they continue to pass their children off to the very system they loathe. When are the America people going to wake up and realize that the government doesn't want to change their schools? The liberals have the next generation right where they want them; dumbed down and dependent. And most of you believe it's an accident because someone isn't doing their job. Get a grip, conservatives!
You say...we must drill for oil and we must do it now! Our education system is no different than the oil and energy crises we face today.
Pull your children out of the system and pull them out now. Obama's a very real threat...but the emergence of our very own home-grown Obamas, all those little nasty weeds that have been cultivated for decades by the liberal's agenda that are now growing unchecked in every American backyard; they're already beginning to strangle what's left of the GOP.
Posted by: Kathleen | July 3, 2008 03:41 PM
Starbucks is closing 600 stores. The dead tree media is hemorrhaging jobs. Ford Motor Company can't define the word profitability. Even Subway sandwich shops have seen a sudden decline in the number of customers willing to shell out five dollars for a sandwich.
While a number of economic factors are responsible for these companies' misfortunes, there may be a contributing factor that is consistently overlooked.
Despite a plethora of complaints across the country, Starbucks refused to remove anti-Christian sentiments from their cups.
The dead tree society has for years portrayed Christians as illiterate, uneducated, and easily led.
Ford Motor Company only recently, and quietly, ceased contributing to advocacy groups pushing to have marriage redefined.
Even Subway made another recent blunder, holding a contest for school children and telling home-schoolers they weren't included.
Executives have made a lot of "hard" choices in recent years, choices that for them weren't hard at all. Until the chickens came home to roost.
The power of the purse is often underestimated. Quite naturally, it behooves management to ensure their companies do not offend their customer base. Yet, to avoid offending religious minorities, they offend the Christian majority.
Why would I buy a cup of coffee from a place where management encourages the mocking of God?
Why would I buy a newspaper to be mocked for believing in God?
Why would I shell out twenty thousand dollars to buy a car when part of my money will go to fund an agenda I abhor?
For that matter, why would I purchase a "holiday tree" from Lowes?
Yet, despite the economic power of American Christians, when it comes to voting, at least half are no-shows.
Imagine if every American Christian voted. If those who are offended by Starbucks, Ford Motor, the news media and Subway would simply show up at the polls in November, the Democrats would hold far fewer seats in Congress.
Then, and only then, would we see oil drilling, more refineries, more nuke plants, and parent-driven education and patient-driven medical care.
Until a lot more Christians get angry and do more than merely boycott companies, the Democrats are going to continue blocking progress to the future.
Posted by: Robert McClain | July 3, 2008 04:24 PM
There are no hard choices to make.
Should we vote for McCain? Absolutely. Obama must not become president. He will destroy this country. Voting for a third party is a wasted vote.
Should we donate to the Republican Party? Absolutely not. They have given us a liberal candidate to vote for. But I won't waste my vote, so I am stuck voting for McCain.
Should we buy a new vehicle? Absolutely not. The leftists have killed our energy supply. We may have to buy a horse.
Should we drill everywhere for oil? Absolutely. Unless you have a Mr. Fusion powering your car/heating your home, we need energy.
Should we take a vacation? Absolutely not. The leftists are killing transportation. We can't drive or fly anywhere. Trains don't go where we want to go. We'll stay home.
Should I buy a new gun? Probably. If Obama gets elected, a depression and anarchy will be the eventual result. We must defend ourselves.
See? Easy choices.
The hardest choice will fall on those with a limited income: Should they heat their home this winter or buy food? They will probably have to buy dog food if they want to eat at all.
Posted by: Dave O | July 3, 2008 04:52 PM
Deep down we know we have to make tough choices. The perfect opportunity for an Obama to exploit our natural tendency towards denial and lull everyone into a false sense of return to normalcy. I'm optimistic we'll snap out of it in the voting booth.
Posted by: George S | July 3, 2008 06:11 PM
If the country chooses Obama, you can kiss our Constitution good-bye because he will appoint the most liberal Supreme Court Justices we've ever seen.
In the next 4 years, we have 4 Justices who will either die in office or retire.
We should be very, very afraid of this and encourage people to vote for McCain and a Republican Congres.
Posted by: A. Van Dresser | July 3, 2008 07:06 PM
The comments in this article are excellent, but I fear the conclusion is overly optimistic. In years past, Americans woke up and were able to make "Hard Choices" because they had been schooled on a set of values that enabled them to analyze and problem solve. Current society lacks that "value commonality". Citizens under the age of 30, have not been schooled in similar values to those over 30. The younger group has been raised to believe they are somehow entitled to their self-centered existence. They do not reflect the maturity of their years. Even 30 year old parents seem incapable of making the "teaching" decisions needed to raise self-sufficient offspring.
The left-wing biased educational system has developed a populace of drones that are incapable of either fending for, or thinking for, themselves. Their numbers have reached a critical mass, and they can be led and charmed by Barack Obama, who channels the language of their teachers, to manipulate these overly tolerant, non-discriminating followers, wherever he dictates. I don't believe we can easily turn back nor overcome, once we've crossed the Rubicon with Obama.
Posted by: NCMike | July 3, 2008 10:13 PM
Armies of little PC-toids.Obamans. Thanks NEA. NEA:NO bureacrat left behind
Posted by: apetoid | July 4, 2008 02:34 AM