"Virtually every step forward in our history has been a liberal initiative taken over conservative opposition: civil rights, Social Security, Medicare, rural electrification, the establishment of a minimum wage, collective bargaining, the Pure Food and Drug Act, and federal aid to education, including the land-grant colleges, to name just a few. Many…were eventually embraced by conservatives only after it became clear that they had overwhelming public approval for the simple reason that almost every American benefited from them. Every one of these liberal efforts strengthened our democracy and our quality of life. I challenge my conservative friends to name a single federal initiative now generally approved by both of our major parties that was not first put forward by liberals over the opposition of conservatives."
~George McGovern, December, 2002
2 comments:
I don't see Social Security, Medicare, rural electrification, the establishment of a minimum wage, the Pure Food and Drug Act, or federal aid to education, including the land-grant colleges, to be overall benefits to America.
Not to blog on your post, but I think Social Security, Medicare, and federal education aid impoverishes wage earners and makes them dependent on the government instead of self reliant; also, controls education in frequently a negative way; also, makes it almost impossible to get serious health care or education without indebting yourself to the hilt.
As for rural electrification, it's a benefit, but the users should pay for it; the government didn't need to get involved.
I know, it's a basic difference in philosophy. Just thought I'd put in my view.
Monika, feel free to blog on. Although I understand your point, if the Gov't is going to take a good chunk of my yearly wages for taxes, I would rather have my money go to a program that may have a favorable effect on someone's well being. However, I tend to agree with your bottom line.
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