Freedom or Fairness in 2012?

Townhall.com ^ | April 5, 2012 | Victor Davis Hanson

[Kaslin]

2012 should prove to be an ideological election about the economy. Not all campaigns are so clear cut. Sometimes moderate Republicans raise taxes (like George H.W. Bush did); at other times, pragmatic Democrats cut spending (like Bill Clinton did).

But this year, Mitt Romney, the likely Republican nominee, will run an ideological campaign calling for smaller government and fewer taxes against an equally ideological President Obama, who wants more government and higher taxes. In this divided red state/blue state era, the supporters of each candidate demand no less and will have a clear choice.

This year's campaign sloganeering will remind us of all the classic American arguments: Was it New Deal big government or World War II-inspired entrepreneurialism that truly ended the Great Depression? Were we better off under Ronald Reagan's or Bill Clinton's economic policies? Was it unfettered Wall Street greed or Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae government corruption that caused the 2008 financial meltdown? And which model better served its people: America's or the European Union's?

Romney will make the implicit case that his prior success in the private sector and his free enterprise know-how will bring Americans more personal freedom and prosperity -- even if the upsurge may result in more inequality.

If we simplify or cut tax rates, slash federal spending, pay down the debt, prune away regulations and push ahead with far more fossil fuel development, Romney will argue that employment will improve and that those with money now on the sidelines will get back into the game. The economy will supposedly expand, more wealth will circulate and greater revenue from taxes will be collected. Whether someone ends up with more money than someone else won't be as important as the fact that those in the middle and on the bottom will be better off than they are now.

President Obama will decry "trickle down economics" and counter with an appeal to equality. He revealed his own views about fairness in April 2008. When asked about raising the tax rates on capital gains, Senator Obama replied that he would indeed raise taxes for "purposes of fairness" alone -- even if such hikes led to less aggregate revenue for all.

In the last four years, Obama has made it clear exactly what he meant. Almost half of Americans pay no income taxes, and more people than ever are on food stamps. Government is larger than ever, and more rules regulate business. The president pushed through a takeover of health care that may prove to be the greatest federal entitlement since Social Security. He has borrowed $5 trillion in less than four years in an effort to fund more social services -- a gargantuan debt that he believes will require more taxes on the top brackets to pay back.

Obama editorializes about "fat cat" bankers, "corporate jet owners," those who junket to the Super Bowl or Las Vegas, and those selfish Americans who should take a time out from profiteering, or who do not know when they have already made quite enough money. He believes that Americans are not doing well because a few on top are doing too well -- as the 1 percent shear the other 99 percent of the flock below in a zero-sum economy. Only more noble and competent technocratic officials can ensure that unfettered businesses spread rather than hoard their profits.

Romney will counter that if farmers do not have to worry about new "green" regulations, if oil men can drill on more federal lands, if businessmen know their taxes won't go up, if financiers believe they should make rather than apologize for profits, then more Americans will find work, more oil found will mean cheaper gas for all and business people will win a greater share abroad of the world's trade and commerce.

These are the ancient arguments that once pitted the liberty of the American Revolution against the egalitarianism of the French, the statist visions of John Maynard Keynes against the individualism of Friedrich Hayek, and the tragic admission that we cannot be truly free if we are all forced to end up roughly equal versus the idealism that if we are all roughly equal then we are at last truly free.

In blunter terms, Romney's message is that, if you have the money to drive a nice Kia, what do you care if a sleek Mercedes whizzes by? Obama's answer, in contrast, is that you should care, because the guy in the Mercedes probably took something from you.

The election will hinge upon how many people who can't afford a Kia now believe that they might be able to under Romney -- and who could care less about the other guy in the Mercedes.

[Diogenesis]

Romney will do whatever the DNC wants.
He DID it before. HE WILL do it again.

ROMNEY - the WHITE OBAMA

[Diogenesis]

IT’S UNANIMOUS FOR RINO ROMNEY
From the Kennedy Seat in Massachusetts to the entire DNC

Mitt Romney wins much coveted Jimmy Carter endorsement

Gore Praises Romney's 'Climate Protection Plan'

Carville(D):
"It's a feel-good story, this Romney thing.
Romney is an ascendant guy."

Sen. John Kerry (D) to Don Imus on RomneyCARE:
"I like this health care bill".

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D) on RomneyCARE:
"To come up with a bipartisan plan in this polarized environment is commendable."

[Uncle Ike]

A rare exercise in projection and wishful thinking (vis-a-vis Mitt Romney) from the usually clear-thinking Mr. Hanson...

Disappointing...

[sr4402]

Bill Clinton did not reduce spending. He reduced the increase in spending if at all.

Nobody has really cut the fat off the government in my lifetime. Waste, Fraud and Abuse are rampant. And the spending is wild and OUT OF CONTROL. Especially for this Administration. They excel at Stimulus and Bailouts.

[rarestia]

and who could care less about the other guy in the Mercedes.

It's could NOT care less, Mr. Hansen. My ears rings whenever someone botches this simple, logical English phrase.

[Diogenesis]

Professional poser at backstabber at work:
" This thing is the perfect size.
Mount it on the roof
of my wife’s second Cadillac or my Mercedes."

“Willard, what the hell is that child doing on the roof?”

[Kharis13]

Romney will do whatever the DNC wants.

Slightly exaggerated but you do have a point. Romney's past has shown him to move with the political winds, not with his convictions. Would Romney make a better president than Obama? Absolutely. However, my fear is after getting the economy turned around, Romney and the Republican party will once again become drunk with power.

I don't think it's the first Romney term we have to worry about, as the economy will take center stage and keep him focused. But once the economy begins to gain steam, conservatives may have to keep him in check.

[rarestia]

I was practically a newborn when Reagan was voted into office. It’s my understanding that MANY Republicans and conservatives who made it through the 1970s were leery about a former actor and California governor ascending to the Presidency. I understood that Reagan was not as God-like in his earliest days but quickly became the paragon he’s likened to today.

I want to believe that Romney is going to turn out to be another highly popular candidate and President, but in this political atmosphere and with what’s at stake, Willard is simply a pawn in a very complex game of chess being played by very rich men in Europe and China.

America, by her own will, has become a pawn to the likes of Soros, and those major players are not going to simply stand back and let some Republican-Lite candidate step all over their grand Socialist experiment.

Romney, if the Republican nominee, will cause a larger schism among the conservative electorate in this country, and I fear that the populist Obama will win through both semi-legitimate pandering to the mindless morons in our electorate and through the less-legitimate ballot box stuffing that’s been so prominent among the Democrats.

I’m actually praying for Revolution.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”But this year, Mitt Romney, the likely Republican nominee, will run an ideological campaign calling for smaller government and fewer taxes against an equally ideological President Obama, who wants more government and higher taxes. In this divided red state/blue state era, the supporters of each candidate demand no less and will have a clear choice...
In the last four years, Obama has made it clear exactly what he meant. Almost half of Americans pay no income taxes, and more people than ever are on food stamps. Government is larger than ever, and more rules regulate business. The president pushed through a takeover of health care that may prove to be the greatest federal entitlement since Social Security. He has borrowed $5 trillion in less than four years in an effort to fund more social services — a gargantuan debt that he believes will require more taxes on the top brackets to pay back. “

I am watching closely but am not the least bit optimistic about Romney winning the debate described above. I have not seen any improvement in his performance when he gave that talk yesterday.

Ryan got nuked last year when he promoted his ‘deficit reduction plan’ (same debate) and Ryan is a much better talker than Romney is.

Romney seems like the exact wrong person to sell this.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Worry about 74 Senators first..

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2868409/posts

[sickoflibs]

Good point, I missed that thread.

I think the DOWA Act or Welfare Reform already suspends US passports for deadbeat Dads.

Ron Paul occasionally has a good poiht and he said this is a reason to oppose Worker IDs because the government may decide to suspend those someday too for punishment.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

I am watching closely but am not the least bit optimistic about Romney winning the debate described above. I have not seen any improvement in his performance when he gave that talk yesterday. Ryan got nuked last year when he promoted his ‘deficit reduction plan’ (same debate) and Ryan is a much better talker than Romney is.

Obama has a new poll-tested mantra, and so far it seems to be working: GOP/Ryan/Romney "Will Ultimately End Medicare As We Know It." Romney responds "It's Obama who will 'End Medicare As We Know It,'" which is true, but somehow Obama has the advantage. Expect to hear this repeated 1000 times.

[stephenjohnbanker]

The only reason Obama has an advantage, is we have nobody representing the people. A guillotine for the RNC right now looks compassionate : )

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Obama has a new poll-tested mantra, and so far it seems to be working: GOP/Ryan/Romney "Will Ultimately End Medicare As We Know It."

I just discovered Obama was saying the exact same thing last year, but it wasn't about Romney.

There was an old TV show, Highway Patrol, which said, "There are no new crimes, just new variations on old ones."

[stephenjohnbanker]

I just watched Hwy Patrol last night on Hulu : )

[musicman]

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[sickoflibs]

RE :”Obama has a new poll-tested mantra, and so far it seems to be working: GOP/Ryan/Romney “Will Ultimately End Medicare As We Know It.”....
.....
I just discovered Obama was saying the exact same thing last year, but it wasn't about Romney.”

Well they lost this battle last year leaving me wondering what they were thinking when they jumped in. Now they appear to be repeating themselves again without any real idea on how to sell it again.

Dems are folding the Ryan plan back to the ‘War on Woman’ theme.

I don't see these Republicans with a counter strategy on that either. Oh ya, hand Obama jobs bills to take credit for.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Can you figure out what is going on with the Repubs?

NOBODY is this stupid.....not even Obama : )

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Well they lost this battle last year leaving me wondering what they were thinking when they jumped in. Now they appear to be repeating themselves again without any real idea on how to sell it again. Dems are folding the Ryan plan back to the ‘War on Woman’ theme.

I think they will try to focus "end of medicare as we know it" ads in swing states with lots of seniors and soon-to-be seniors (especially those who are not 55 yet) and other entitlement recipients. It's a little different in an electoral college election.

They will try to sell it by repeating it until people start dreaming about it.