Change

Change seems to be the latest buzzword in politics these days, so I figured I would examine it a bit. Right away, it should be obvious that “change” is nothing but an empty word when it is invoked without context — and the Obama campaign has provided little context. So, I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess at some context for “change”:

• Cut and run: Let me be very clear right here: We are winning in Iraq. Despite this, the Democrats continue to insist on “bringing the troops as soon as possible”. Does “as soon as possible” mean when the job is done or now? My money is on the latter, and it will be an unmitigated disaster. Cutting and running in the face of Islamist violence would indeed be a change from the current administration, but not a good one.
• Higher taxes: High taxes on interest, dividends, and capital gains discourages savings and investment. The Bush “tax cuts for the wealthy” recognized this by cutting these taxes. Isn’t the building of wealth a good thing? I suppose not, since the Democrats will be looking to raise these taxes again.
• Wealth redistribution: Along with higher taxes will be even more social programs to “help the poor”. What this really amounts to is taking money from people who work hard (higher income taxes) and save diligently (higher investment taxes), and giving it to people who neither work nor save (welfare). This has the effect of encouraging people to not work. What kind of change will happen when enough people stop working because they can collect a check from the government? The societal-collapsing kind, that’s what.
• Department of Medical Visitations: If you think your insurance company’s bureaucracy is bad, just wait until you get the government involved! Do you really want to consult the Department of Medical Visitations when you need surgery? Do you really want to stifle life-saving innovations through draconian price controls? Obviously there needs to be some changes in medicine, but there’s the Good kind of change and the Bad kind of change. Socialized medicine is the Bad kind.
• Further energy dependence: Conservation is good, but as long as we continue refusing to develop our domestic energy resources, we will continue to be dependent on others for our energy needs. I suppose this isn’t really a change, but simply a continuation of current foolishness.
• Enabling criminals: Democrats don’t explicitly set out to increase crime, but that is the practical effect of changes they like to implement, like more gun control.

That’s just what I’ve come up with off the top of my head. Maybe change isn’t such a good thing after all.

Tags: 2008 election, buzzword, change, Democrats, Politics, taxes