Appearing in today’s N&R, Thomas Friedman offers up his definition of ‘better citizens,’ which he said America desperately need right now:
The standard answer is that we need better leaders. The real answer is that we need better citizens. We need citizens who will convey to their leaders that they are ready to sacrifice, even pay higher taxes, and will not punish politicians who ask them to do the hard things. Otherwise, folks, we’re in trouble. A great power that can only produce suboptimal responses to its biggest challenges will, in time, fade from being a great power — no matter how much imagination it generates.
Ah yes, a rehash of the old Joe Biden argument that it’s patriotic to pay taxes. Is this the best Friedman can do?
The joke here is that the politicians force higher taxes on citizens whether or not they have permission. Just wait until they pass government health care.
