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Change Is The Status Quo: Depression Hoax

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DR. DOMENICK J. MAGLIO

Neo Traditionalist

Published: February 13, 2009

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have." - Thomas Jefferson

Politicians always promise change. From FDR's New Deal, JFK's New Frontier, LBJ's Great Society, Clinton's Bridge to the 21st Century, to W's Compassionate Conservatism, presidents promise change that is impossible to be kept.

The fewer promises kept means the less government needs to feed itself by taking from certain people and giving to others. "In general the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give it to the other." - Voltaire, 1764.

Our constitution, with its checks and balances, has made it difficult for any group to dictate the direction of the nation. It slows down radical change and fosters gradual change. This keeps the United States on a stable and straight course never taking us too far to the left or the right.

Most presidents have used some type of utopian dreams to get elected or fear of war or economic crisis to push their agenda once in office. JFK's Cuban Missile Crisis, FDR's World War II, W's War on Terror were used to push their agendas. FDR in 1932 used the economic downturn to concentrate power in Washington instituting many social programs.

Wars and economic cycles have happened throughout the ages. Utopian dreams historically have developed "isms" that have never delivered their promise. It is the nature of politicians to exploit an issue to galvanize support for their policies. President Barack Obama is going to try to pass his welfare state agenda by fanning the flames of the present economic downturn.

Obama announced the last quarter GDP, Gross Domestic Product, fell 3.8 percent making the 2008 GDP fall for year at a rate of 1.8 percent. He stated that this is the worst downtrend for 27 years and "a continuing disaster" and "catastrophe." In reality, it is not even as bad as the 1982 recession, no less the Great Depression.

Since economies are cyclical, you can always emphasize their positive or negative statistical indicators. "Lies, damn lies and statistics." - Benjamin Disraeli. Day after day, the media features another politician, including Obama, trumpeting that the economy is in shambles and it will take years to get better.

This uncertainty of the future is a breeding ground for a real depression. A lowering of the expectations for the economy might be a good political strategy for not losing future popularity, but it does establish a negative self-fulfilling prophesy.

When people are coaxed into pessimism they are more willing to accept drastic changes. Establishing a panic is a shrewd way of avoiding the legislative process with its limitations and constitutional safeguards for passing sweeping economic changes. The fear of losing everything a person has earned is a strong motivator for change. Even if it means the suspension of our federal structure that promotes thoughtful deliberation before passing laws.

Panic ensued after the television presentation by President George Bush's Treasure Secretary, Henry Paulson. He rammed through a $750 billion TARP program without the constitutional requirement of a congressional debate. There was no resulting worldwide depression even though there was no thawing of U.S. credit. Having no mechanism of accountability, this boondoggle cannot account for $78 billion of the bailout.

TARP did not work and now we the people are expected to agree to more potential government wasteful tinkering and corruption. Large central government sucks the energy from the self-reliant businessman. Regardless of whether the bloated central government is called socialism, fascism or communism, they all have failed to give individual freedom and economic prosperity. Concentrated government power encourages the political elite to become audacious in their grab for power and our money.

The smartest political operatives of any country given the power to micromanage the society are no more likely to succeed than a group of meteorologists can control the weather. The task has too many complex variables to account for and align to get a desired result.

"I contend for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle." - Winston Churchill. Wasteful spending got us into this mess, and more spending and taxation will worsen the problem.

America's historical answer to national obstacles is to rely on citizens to make responsible choices. On the personal level in a free nation, people decide to switch jobs and to save or spend according to their own circumstances. On the national stage, we have the power of a secret ballot to vote to keep government corruption to a minimum by electing people who represent our interests rather than their own. We have no choice but to be involved in politics or we will surrender our freedom.

"Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!" - Pericles, 430 B.C.

Dr. Domenick J. Maglio, Ph.D., is the author of "Invasion Within" and "Essential Parenting." He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School. Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

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