[lit-ideas] Re: Nation Building
- From: "Andy Amago" <aamago@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2006 11:03:15 -0500
But you think Iraq is a success too. Nuff said.
----- Original Message -----
From: Lawrence Helm
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 2/7/2006 10:49:29 AM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Nation Building
Irene,
The Civil War was fought over whether there would be more or fewer ?State?s
Rights.? The States initially wanted their independence and the Constitution
never said they couldn?t have it. Nothing legally prevented South Carolina
from seceding from the Union, although the North being in the majority past
laws to prevent that at some point (I forget the details) but by then it was
too late and South Carolina did it anyway because they didn?t trust the North
one whit. After the Civil War the central government had more power than
before. Nevertheless, even today, States have considerable responsibility for
their own welfare. States have made deals, largely through their
representatives in Congress to get special benefits from the central
government, but the States aren?t owed total economic protection.
I live in California and for a number of reasons we?ve had some economic
problems out here. The central government doesn?t have to bail us out.
Governor Swarzenegger doesn?t have government paternalism to fall back on. He
is scrambling to make trade deals with foreign countries to get more business
in here, especially since to some extent we are operating like France. The
State Government needs more money to take care of its commitments, but we won?t
vote ourselves higher taxes to accomplish that. Swarzenegger is doing
something like Nevin is doing in inviting trade and economic deals from foreign
countries. I?m sure that any deal France makes in New Orleans is going to have
the same sort of strings attached to it that investors from foreign nations
will have in California.
You have asked about political viewpoints from time to time. The idea that
goes, ?I am poor, you are rich, therefore you owe me some of your riches,?
isn?t in the American tradition. It is sort of in the Marxist tradition. One
of their slogans was ?from each according to his ability, to each according to
his need.? That Marxist ideal is not a criterion in Liberal Democracy. If we
become rich, we are not obligated to give our riches to the poor. The only way
money gets from the rich to the poor is through taxes, charity and the
employment of the poor in the enterprises of the rich.
The American ideal is that everyone has the freedom to work hard and improve
his lot, even to the point of becoming rich. I have read theorists argue that
is why our economy runs so much more smoothly than that of welfare states like
France, let alone the failed Socialist states of the USSR and Eastern Europe.
People are willing to work hard to improve their lot. They aren?t so willing
to do that if the sluggards and inept are getting as much pay as they are.
Human nature works in favor of the Liberal-Democratic economic and against the
aforementioned Socialist one.
As we?ve discussed elsewhere, some Marxist ideals like the 8 hour working day
have been incorporated into American Society. I believe the last time I
mentioned this some scoffed, and thought it was FDR. I was basing my statement
on having struggled through most of Das Kapital years ago. Here is Marx on the
?Working Day.? http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch10.htm
Lawrence
From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Andy Amago
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 6:46 AM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Nation Building
Louisiana is one of the poorest states in the Union. There's nothing united
about the United States if it's every man for himself. The government has no
problem giving handouts to the ultra rich, but for everybody else, it's
welfare. Let the ultra rich give us back our money if you're so against
welfare. Tell them to get their frikkin fingers out of Medicare. Never mind.
It amazes me that people so enjoy living in a kennel where dog eating dog is a
desirable way of life, and since we're drowning in debt it's not like the
government is exactly setting a good example for fiscal responsibility.
----- Original Message -----
From: Lawrence Helm
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 2/7/2006 1:25:35 AM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Nation Building
This could be a good thing. We are United States, but the individual States
still have considerable responsibilities for their own destinies, despite Mayor
Nagins words which suggest hed rather we were a little more like a Welfare
State.
Im not surprised to see Jordan jumping in, and if the French want to rebuild a
relationship with the Louisiana Cajuns, then Im for it. Its nice to hear of
them doing something other than lambasting us although theyll probably
lambaste Washington while helping New Orleans.
Of critics, there is no end.
Lawrence
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