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| Shifting America's animating idea from creation to protection. |
| 2008-10-30 |
| Obama's federalized medical insurance system starts the transition away from private medical care and toward Obama's endlessly promised "universal health care." This has always been the sine qua non of planting a true, managed-market economy in the U.S. Obama's refundable tax credits are direct cash transfers from the federal government. This would place some 48% of Americans, nearly half, out of the income tax system. More than a tax proposal, this is a deep philosophical shift, an American version of being "on the dole." His stated intent to renegotiate free-trade agreements such as Nafta is a philosophical shift. It abandons the tradition of a hyper-competitive America dating back to the Industrial Revolution, toward a protected, domestic workforce, as in Western Europe. The Democratic proposal to eliminate private union votes -- "card check" -- ensures the spread of a static, Euro-style workforce. Eliminating the ceiling on payroll taxes changes Social Security from an insurance to a welfare program. Obama's tax credits requires performing government-identified activities, the essence of a "directed economy." All this would transform the animating American idea -- away from creation and toward protection. Many voters -- progressive Democrats, the asset-safe rich, academics and college students -- regard this as where America should go. They explicitly want America's great natural energies transferred away from unwieldy economic competition and toward social construction. They want the U.S. to reduce its "footprint" in the world. Monies saved by stepping down from superpower status can be reprogrammed into "investments" (a favorite Obama word) in a vast Euro-style hammock of social protection programs. One wishes John McCain had been better able to make clear what the truly "historic" meaning of Tuesday's vote is. Once it's done, it's done. |
| Posted by:Nimble Spemble |
| #2 REDDIT > IFENG.com [Taiwan] CHINESE NEWS - RAND "WAR TO SAVE THE CITY" IS TOO ABSURD/RAND REPORT SUGGESTS US MAY INTENTIONALLY LAUNCH A SERIOUS GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS FOR THE PURPOSE OF INDUCING WORLDWIDE DESTABILIZATION AND US IMPERIALIST WAR??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-10-30 22:54 |
| #1 How different (if at all) is what he is proposing from the current Medicare? |
| Posted by: Grenter, Protector of the Geats 2008-10-30 15:09 |