"I am already agitated at the thought that this one will mirror the first, with no talk of the "economic inequality" that is threatening to take down this country...Our not-so-far-off future is in grim danger unless "economic fairness" is restored to the American capitalistic system. Yet none of the top-tier candidates, other than John Edwards, seem to want to deal with it in strong fashion."Well first off I would disagree that our capitalist system actually is consistent with the idea of economic fairness. From what I have read, economic fairness is basically some way for the government to guarantee economic outcomes within our system which doesn't seem to work with the free market. Does John Edwards think that it is the Government's job to put in place some sort of police monitoring of all aspects of economic life in America? What if I don't save - shall I be required to put away a specific percentage of my income so banks can use that equity to make loans to others? This is definitely not the free market or democracy but something more akin to socialism. The solution of course if more Government regulation and higher taxes which always work right?
What I see missing from the Edwards discussion is the need for the Government to decrease its role in our lives, not increase it. I don't debate the fact that there are people who by any number of bad decisions. dumb luck, or some other act of God are not where they feel they should be or where they want to be. I would like to be living in a bigger house for example but it is not the Government's role to put me in one, it is my decision (or past decisions) that dictate to a point where I am now. It is a fact that better educated people have more options (and also having a command of the English language but the I don't hear John Edwards talking about that) and I wonder when Edwards sees his two Americas, which one he puts himself in and why? I would love for John Edwards to discuss why for example, he is worth so much money basically swindling money from sympathetic juries. But I digress.
So is there good news? The Wall Street Journal reports today that there is a new Treasury Department study that exposes claims such as Edwards "as so much populist hokum". To quote from the article:
"...what it does do is show beyond doubt that the U.S. remains a dynamic society marked by rapid and mostly upward income mobility. Much as they always have, Americans on the bottom rungs of the economic ladder continue to climb into the middle and sometimes upper classes in remarkably short periods of time."Who would have guessed that America today still has people who are graduating to a higher income bracket based on risk taking, hard work, or any number of more positive behaviors that are undertaken by people looking to improve their economic situation and not relying on the Nanny state to take care of them. Again, to quote the study:
"The key point is that the study shows that income mobility in the U.S. works down as well as up--another sign that opportunity and merit continue to drive American success, not accidents of birth. The "rich" are not the same people over time."This optimistic message should play better with the voters than the doom and gloom of the Edwards campaign who only has one solution, a more powerful government that is intrusive into all details of our lives. If Edwards is so concerned for the economically disadvantaged (I love the way we stop saying words like "poor" and come up with really nifty terms like economically disadvantaged - remember "we shall not judge") how about he stop running for President and work to actually help the folks who need it. Think of all we would save in matching campaign funds as a country and I am sure with his millions, he can provide a lot of "income redistribution".
I just googled "John Edwards Net worth" and I got a story from CNN that reported that "...Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina was not hurting. He reported a net worth ranging from $12.8 million to $60 million." I think I am sensing some income inequality right there. How does this guy know anything about unfairness?
Outspoken Roman
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