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TechnographThe 'bleeding heart' disease
By Justin Doran
Posted: 9/9/07 Section: Opinion Columns
Whereas nonliberals see problems in their community and take it upon themselves to cooperate and organize groups to fix them, liberals figure the government will take care of it. The Smiths down the street can't afford groceries? Well, they can go get some food stamps. There are children in our schools who can't afford regular appointments with a doctor? Well, they have Medicaid.
After all, when there is a massive incomprehensible government that has the resources to do anything it wants, what problems can it not solve? If they're having problems making our public schools meet bare minimum academic requirements, then let's just give them more money.
This attitude infects the minds of college students through their doubts in the ability of independent private citizens and organizations to tackle the problems we erroneously believe the government can fix. The only known treatment is to remind them that the same people who work through the government now would still exist if the government stopped paying attention. Moreover, imagine the resources that will be freed when they no longer have to spend all their time figuring which congressman has the most like-minded constituency, and how much it would cost to buy his vote.
The only way to prevent this degradation of the American spirit is to be wary of anyone who tells you that liberalism is the best way to help the needy. Although they like to imply that they have a monopoly on compassion, libertarians and conservatives care just as much about their fellow man and have the added benefit of pragmatism. Additionally, if American citizens are less willing to pass the buck to the government on every issue, the government will have less resources to squash freedom of speech and to wage unjust wars. So, the next time someone starts equating liberalism with effective domestic policy, protect yourself.
Liberalism is a lifelong disease which will devastate your ability to think clearly about the government.
After all, when there is a massive incomprehensible government that has the resources to do anything it wants, what problems can it not solve? If they're having problems making our public schools meet bare minimum academic requirements, then let's just give them more money.
This attitude infects the minds of college students through their doubts in the ability of independent private citizens and organizations to tackle the problems we erroneously believe the government can fix. The only known treatment is to remind them that the same people who work through the government now would still exist if the government stopped paying attention. Moreover, imagine the resources that will be freed when they no longer have to spend all their time figuring which congressman has the most like-minded constituency, and how much it would cost to buy his vote.
The only way to prevent this degradation of the American spirit is to be wary of anyone who tells you that liberalism is the best way to help the needy. Although they like to imply that they have a monopoly on compassion, libertarians and conservatives care just as much about their fellow man and have the added benefit of pragmatism. Additionally, if American citizens are less willing to pass the buck to the government on every issue, the government will have less resources to squash freedom of speech and to wage unjust wars. So, the next time someone starts equating liberalism with effective domestic policy, protect yourself.
Liberalism is a lifelong disease which will devastate your ability to think clearly about the government.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 13
Erlenmeyer
posted 9/10/07 @ 9:21 AM CST
Was it your intention to write such a witty, sarcastic article or did I misinterpret?
If you are serious, which sadly I suspect you are, this is the most pathetic and blatant use of a straw-man argument I've read in quite some time. (Continued…)
Nicole Kosacz
posted 9/10/07 @ 10:52 AM CST
Well you forgot to mention how much Democrats love killing babies and biting their thumbs at God but I do think that this is your best article yet. Oh and I really hope the "Save Darfur" t-shirt is a reference to Dan. (Continued…)
ellipse
posted 9/10/07 @ 11:33 AM CST
One wonders why you chose to attend a government-run university, instead of one of the many colleges or universities formed by non-government types "banding together" to form a school?
Perchance the gummint university at which you now study is better or less expensive that the private education solution you had available to you but chose not to take? Just a guess. (Continued…)
J'Von
J'Von
posted 9/10/07 @ 2:15 PM CST
I wouldn't call big-government-conservatism "asymptomatic" . . . just less of a threat to otherwise-intelligent young Americans than liberalism, and possibly less flashy. (Continued…)
BobWired
posted 9/10/07 @ 2:27 PM CST
"Then, they're full-fledged liberals for the rest of their lives, and there is little they can do about it."
This is complete nonsense. You can always make your heart three sizes smaller, 'specially as you get older and crankier and feel the instinctual need to move to Florida and stick your nose in other peoples business. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 9/10/07 @ 8:58 PM CST
People our age frighten me, because they are so quick to fight for some random cause without much thinking behind it. At first this seems like a good thing, but it really just comes down to wanting attention. (Continued…)
Dennis
posted 9/10/07 @ 9:08 PM CST
This is one of the more frightening examples of a warped mind I have run across in quite sometime - and somehow this spittle spewing nonsense ends up in a respected university's student paper. (Continued…)
Bryan
posted 9/10/07 @ 9:34 PM CST
Justin has a great example of a rambling, semi-illiterate, barely readable and altogether poorly researched column that reads like too much ann coulter (much like the conservative mind). (Continued…)
chacko_dem
chacko_dem
posted 9/10/07 @ 10:41 PM CST
It's great that this article (indirectly) calls attention to the need for more community action. Feed your neighbors, the Smiths.
In the meantime, it's important to realize that volunteerism is not sufficient enough to take care of the needs of the 30 million people who are currently living below the poverty line in America. (Continued…)
college dems william08
posted 9/10/07 @ 11:06 PM CST
Corrupt Conservatism
It was hard, as a progressive, to read this unoriginal and uninspired piece written by this uninspired and unoriginal writer: Justin Doran. (Continued…)
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