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It's decision time!

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By JOHN NASH

Of Cabbages and Kings

Published: December 1, 2009

Never have the citizens of the United States of America faced a more important decision. Economic and social forces have collided and seem destined to now make us choose between continuing with the nation of our proud and productive history or creation of a new one, which is based on the repeatedly failed, socialist/communist structure.

I, of course, make reference to the massive, confusing and potentially destructive medical welfare program now in the Senate for debate. Passage of that monstrosity, even after probable changes, will substantially increase taxes on everyone (other than the millions of illegal residents, whom will use medical welfare more than any other group), reduce the quality of medical care now provided, retard and reduce the conduct of private business and, thus, put a damper on our economy while giving the central government significantly greater control over our already over-regulated lives.

The more reliable estimates now predict that enactment of the proposed socialized medical program (it's not "insurance") will add trillions to our already back-breaking national debt. Those dire predictions are likely on the conservative side because our government has never, to the best of my knowledge, operated any large program efficiently or even ethically.

The staggering costs of the proposed legislation will have to be met through increasingly heavy taxes, in a variety of forms. Money that traditionally has been used to fuel this nation's exemplary economic growth and welfare will be diverted into socialistic welfare programs. A gloomy pall of economic and emotional malaise will spread over a less-youthful, less-vigorous society, which is forced to settle for mediocrity and stifled ambition in the deceptive name of "social welfare."

Much of the Obama administration's talk about paying for their mandated government health care centers around the disastrous socialist principle of "taking from the rich and giving to the poor." Put in simpler and, more accurately, descriptive terms, that means "a leveling of economic wealth, without regard for individual ambitions, skills or hard work."

Under that communistic concept, a rocket scientist would earn about the same as a plumber and a brain surgeon would take home the same as a butcher. And no one, other than the central government, would have any money to invest in new business.

There is no place on Earth where that recipe has been tried and succeeded. Russia is, of course, the best-known example of failure of communistic/socialistic economics, but there are many others. Norway is an appropriate example. Residents there recently admitted to me that "our experiment with socialism is a disaster." They, however, usually added that, "before we do away with socialism, I want out of it what I put in." So, the Norwegians are trapped in a Catch 22: They want change, but are unwilling to sacrifice, nor suffer, to achieve that desirable goal.

Once a nation accepts, or is forced, to live under a socialist economic system, it will require a complete and traumatic economic crisis (such as that which caused the collapse of the mighty Soviet Union) in order to begin to recover.

Once again, allow me to emphasize that we today face the most important decision of our lives. Do we want to allow our obviously socialistic government to take even greater control of our lives, to level incomes, to stifle innovation, invention, growth and prosperity in the name of "social consciousness." Or will we choose to vote to continue the once-vibrant society, which was primarily responsible for the outstanding success of this nation, from its birth to present times?

We can't have it both ways. We will either continue to live in an imperfect, but vibrant, nation of free enterprise and democratic principles or we'll exist in an oppressive, gray, gloomy state of dependence upon and control by an all-powerful central government, run by wealthy, uncaring, elite political opportunists?

The proposed socialized-medicine bill is a pivotal test of our will and desire. Its passage into law leads to socialism/communism.

Is that what you want?

Of Cabbages and Kings is a regular feature of this paper. The author welcomes pertinent and rational comment, which may be sent to him at john@have-eye.com.

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