A CALL TO ACTION!

An Answer to Thad Box

            In today’s Herald Journal (HJ) Thad Box uses a standard theme, to argue that we in laceName w:st="on">CachelaceName> laceType w:st="on">ValleylaceType> should raise taxes for the purposes of making the valley a more livable place and for the concept of sustainability. Where he does not define sustainability, I think that I can add light to this issue.

            First of all I believe everyone recognizes that Brother Thadius has a big heart and only desires good things for the people of laceName w:st="on">CachelaceName> laceType w:st="on">ValleylaceType>. What I submit, is the problem, is that he is an idealist. I too once was an idealist. I firmly believed that the future of mankind was through socialism. One gets hints of this, when he talks about the difference between the people of New Zealand and the United States. He suggests, based upon his own personal observation, that people in NZ work toward the common good whereas the people of the US are far more concerned with their own personal gain. This argument is very old and has been propagated by the left for years. It basically is a smoke screen for taking from the more well to do and giving to the less well to do. Or as Karl Marx said “each according to his means, as each according to his their needs.” His argument is defeated by his own evidence in that the private community played a large part in remodeling the laceType w:st="on">CountylaceType> laceName w:st="on">CourthouselaceName>! Why not give some credit for this. It is because, those on the left are far better at criticizing than they are at proposing workable solutions. Look at the Democratic Party currently. All they do is act as blockers and never as a quarterback.  

            My change of direction took many years and I will not bore you will all of the factors which played a role, but I will mention, that the first job I took after graduate school was for the State of New Mexico (for reasons I will not go into). This experience was simply amazing to me, to say the least! The incredible inefficiency and ineptness of which I witnessed was beyond belief. If all people of this world were of Mr. Box’s caliber I am sure much of what he suggests would work and make for a more pleasant experience for all of mankind. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Evidence of this is every where you look if you are willing to look. The disaster which followed hurricane Katrina is a great example at how poorly government responds to any market force or need. While the press blamed FEMA for most of the problem, far more blame belongs at the state and local level. I could go into much more about this but that is not the trust of this article and will leave it to the reader to find out more.

            I do not know how many different groups have tried a more socialist approach to living and the needs of the community. I am aware of at least three religious communities which tried this approach and all failed. This of course is ignoring all of the countries which have tried or are trying this approach (Soviet Union, Eastern Block, Cuba etc).

            The United States gives a great deal. When the last tsunami stuck we made the most difference in Indonesia because our Navy was able to get there very quickly. All the UN did was complain that we were not doing enough and take up valuable resources touring the area! Their percentage of monies paid for management vs. provisions in these types of situation is also terrible.  We also won the Cold War almost single handedly. We now are fighting the war against Islamo-fascism mostly by ourselves as well. It seems that the left is always bashing America (the blame America first crowd) and never giving us any credit. Sort of like the press, don’t you think?

Peace