More evidence of what the Left thinks of people who pay their bills, live within their means, and take responsibility for their own actions: government should force you to pay for other people’s irresponsible decisions. The latest example of the Left’s love of redistribution and longing for a European social welfare state comes from liberal author Thomas Frank, who is in Raleigh pushing a book. From the News & Observer comes this exchange:
Q: How does the political reaction to the Great Depression differ from the political reaction to the Great Recession?
“This time around, just like back then, you have social protest movements, people organizing and taking to the streets, and even marching on Washington. … But the politics of it are completely upside down. For example, in the Depression, there was this very pronounced sense of community. … Neighbors would help neighbors avoid foreclosures. … This time around, I went to some tea party rallies. I’ll never forget the sign at the first one I went to: ‘You’re mortgage is not my problem.’ “
The notion that families and churches aren’t voluntarily helping people in need is ludicrous. We must also be willing to admit that some people knowingly made bad decisions to buy homes they knew they couldn’t afford. That fact is sad, but being sorry for someone’s decision doesn’t equate to being responsible for that decision. If we expect to lift people out of desperate circumstances, we must have policies in place that are friendly to risk-takers and innovators who create and save jobs. It is through a job that people are able to support themselves and their family. The Obama administration’s policies discourage job creators, and even self-described Democrat entrepreneurs will tell you so. And that ends up hurting the very people Mr. Obama and supporters of his world view say they are trying to help.
