...6. Do you believe that the world would be better off if more countries were like America, or not?
Most of my liberal friends have no plans to move elsewhere. Their revealed preference suggests that they agree that America is a great country. However, at the Bradley Symposium, Michael Barone cited a Rasmussen poll showing that close to 40 percent of Democrats in 2004 disagreed with the statement that the world would be better off if more countries were like America.
My conclusion from all of this is that most Americans try to adhere to conservative values. They prefer to exercise autonomy and to take responsibility for their children, their health, and their retirement. This may explain why California soundly defeated a proposition for universal pre-school.
What is distinctive about liberals is their belief that they are the only people who can exercise freedom with responsibility. They believe that a paternalistic government can make better decisions for those who not in the elite.
Compared with my liberal friends, I have a bit more confidence in the average American. I know that many people make mistakes, but I think that people are somewhat more capable of fending for themselves than is commonly believed. I certainly believe that we are better served by a government that treats people as if they were competent than by a government that treats people as if they were helpless.
Compared with my liberal friends, I think that there are better alternatives than government for helping people who cannot take care of themselves. Private charities, private schools, and other voluntary associations can better address the pathology of poverty.
Unfortunately, the Republican Party under President Bush has not been doing very well on this quiz. On education, health care, and other domestic issues, the Republicans have become a party of paternalism. The people of California had the wisdom to vote down "it takes a village" as a philosophy of pre-school. Too bad that none of the major political parties shares that wisdom.
Nailed It!
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