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It is far too easy to forget that we have government to provide services for us,
not to provide for us. That bit of a pun sums the problem, because Republicans see
government as the servant of a good society, while the Democrats see it as the society.This
isn’t extreme when we read the statements of their two leading candidates for president.
These views manifest themselves most obviously in taxation, but are not limited
to that realm.
Our efforts at work are generally measured in money, the pay check.
It could be done another way, and was in the Middle Ages, but we generally prefer
cash these days to buy what we want. The part of the paycheck taken by government
is either a reduction in what we are worth or payment for something it is providing.
You might even say, the higher the tax rate, the less government thinks of us. Even
if you didn’t, the more it takes, the less you have: a question of who chooses how
your earnings are used.
Those who think we produce solely to support the state probably
don’t belong to the Republican Party and may not mind seeing most of their work
being spent by others. Those of us who do see both the state and federal governments
as essential aids to a free society also know that those two require only enough
resources to do what we ask them to;
there is
no unlimited claim on our effort to
fund an ever-expanding growth of that sector of the economy.
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Obviously, Governor Blagojevich and the Democrats don’t believe in limited
government and are constantly trying to increase their reach into our pocket for
more money.
It is clear to Republicans that we have to make it clear to government
that it has to limit its reach and respect the property of private citizens, stop
taking it away in taxes. The idea that the State of Illinois can provide insurance,
healthcare or retirement income better than the private sector is nonsense. Even
more pernicious is how it denies us choices with our own money, which would lead
to lower costs and better quality.
Of even more concern may be our opponents’ desire
to take
money away from people who work and give it to their friends for whatever
helpful-sounding reasons that party may conjure up. This is a far cry from helping
others get ahead and slows the growth of the whole country and means ever more people
are going to need help. We have to stay wedded to understanding growth is good for
everyone, not just one group or another. They may be all about changing the size
of the slices; we want people to have a bigger pie with more slices for all.
Henry W. Meers is a frequent contributor to our newsletter. |
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© 2008 Will County Republican Central Committee, 330 N. Republic Ave., Joliet, IL 60435. Phone
(815) 744-8683.
Richard Kavanagh, Chairman. Suzi Wiberg, Executive Director. George Offord, Secretary.
Sharon Boyd, Treasurer.
Robin Ambrosia, Chairwoman.
Dave Smith, Vice Chairman. George Muentnich, Vice Chairman. Jim Louch,
Vice Chairman.
Tracy Reardon, Technology Chairwoman. Mike Shaw, Headquarters Chairman.
For web questions, comments, corrections or concerns, please e-mail
Web GOP
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