I give democrats credit for doing all they can to take care of the disadvantaged. Their method of paying for these programs is the problem. First, they somehow believe that big government spending will help the economy and somehow save money. Their second step is the age old socialist tactic of income redistribution (taxation). Margaret Thatcher said “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” This brings us to the republicans.

Traditionally, democrats spend and republicans pay. Republicans are like the parent at the kitchen table looking over the bills. A good parent will do more than just complain to the family about what they are spending. A mature parent will come up with ways to generate more money. The problem in Washington is that the republicans are now the irresponsible siblings of the democrats and whine because they don’t get their way.

I cringe at these conservative arguments that claim Obama is a socialist, a Muslim, the Anti-Christ, and is not born in America. Is this the best the right can come up with? It doesn’t matter, WE still have to pay for this healthcare bill. Have republicans forgotten about capitalism? Do they even know the story of the industrial age, telecommunications, railroads, gold rush and mining, energy, and technological advances through American entrepreneurs? It wasn’t Social Security that made this country great, it was the freedom to dream and work toward a better life.

I have listened to republicans whine over the last year because the democrats would not listen to their healthcare ideas. I’m glad they didn’t listen! The republican ideas were as bad as the democrats. The free market is the only hope that we will ever see basic needs met for every American. The free market is the only hope that we will again see a vibrant economy. The free market is the best solution for joblessness. This should be the message of republicans.

At one point, Obama heard the cries of the republicans and invited them to a one day healthcare summit. Instead of begging for his crumbs, they should have held their own “grow the damn economy” summit every day until small business in America was confident to invest, hire, and take risks again. By the way republicans, we are still waiting.

The democrats have made profit into a dirty word. The republicans need to make Americans feel sexy again for makin’ money! We are not looking for a program or a handout, just protect us from the heavy hand of government and the stifling power of big business.

It’s no wonder Tom Brokaw calls the people who lived through the Great Depression and the Great War as the greatest generation. It’s no surprise that these are the people who came up with the American dream. I am afraid we are losing that ideal today.

The American dream has always been about more. Today the dream seems to be about less. News reports constantly tell us that we are destroying the planet and must consume and do less. The rich are no longer cool. Getting rich through capitalism is deemed evil.

The original American dream centered around a belief in the individual. This belief held that if you worked hard, worked smart, were creative, and made wise choices you could do or be anything. That would be called selfish in our current culture. The dream today is more about community. Your first concern should be making sure everyone else has their basic needs met. The government’s job is now less about protecting equal opportunity and more about insuring equal provisions for all.

Past generations celebrated the winners in America. Now it seems almost embarrassing to hear about someone “pulling himself up by his bootstraps” to make it to the top. Today a reporter would ask that person who he had stepped on to make the business a success. His profit would be judged dirty and should be taxed heavily to pay for those less fortunate.

When my kids were taking history in high school, they were expected to read “A People’s History of the United States”, by Howard Zinn. Zinn, who passed away in Jan. 2010, was a well known academic historian and supporter of socialism. They read this along with their regular American history book. Zinn looked at history from a different angle. He told history from the perspective of the victims; Indians, slaves, women, and disadvantaged laborers. The villains throughout our history were the profit seeking white men.

Zinn has an impressive list of fans. Bruce Springsteen’s best selling album “Nebraska” was inspired by Zinn. Matt Damon is currently doing a series for the History Channel based on Zinn’s book. I am not a fan. To me it pours water on the American spirit. It denies the wonderful results that all Americans have experienced through others discovery, profit, and growth. I can’t deny the reality of weak and unfortunate people. A good society will do it’s best to provide for them.

Evolution and capitalism both teach that in life there are winners and losers. The Bible says “it rains on the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:35). I have been both a winner and a loser. Losing can actually make us better people. But I will never remain a loser because I will always aspire for something more and better. When I win, others around me will win. When my kids win, I win. If we have enough individual winners in our communities, then all win.

Don’t let this trend toward nationalizing everything corrupt the heart of our nation. The whole world would be a loser if it were not for the profit and commitment of the United States. We will rise out of this economic mess through free markets, free thought, free speech, free worship, and freedom to be what we want and to make as much as we want.

Is there still an American dream? For my kids sake, I hope so.

A welfare state is when a country assumes primary responsibility for the welfare of its citizens. At a minimum, it is a “safety net” with varying degrees of welfare. Some would say that its the middle ground between communism and capitalism.

The best example of a successful modern welfare state is Denmark. Citizens in Denmark have healthcare provided for them, retirement, education, and much more. Education is paid for all the way through graduate school. Studies reveal that Denmark people are happy with their system. They have low unemployment since 38% of the people work for the government.

The big negative to any welfare state is taxes. Denmark has the highest taxes in the world. They have a 25%VAT (Value Added Tax) tax. This is a 25% tax on everything you buy. Income tax is 40-60% depending on how much money you make. The automobile tax is 180%. Add the VAT and the taxes on a $10,000 car is over $20,000. Gas is $10 per gallon because of taxes. Not surprisingly, most people take public transportation or ride bikes to get around.

Before you think that the US can join in this fun, let me remind you of some differences between the 2 countries. Denmark is a geographically small nation with a total population equaling about half that of Chicago metro. Economically, they produce their own oil and export about 6 times more than they use. They don’t spend much on military. In WWII they surrendered to Hitler in the first 2 hours of the invasion. I doubt they will be much help against any threat today.

The real cost of a welfare system is economic freedom. Most of your money will go to the government for redistribution to its citizens. People in the US want the benefits of a welfare state, but without the cost. We must be willing to sign over our checks to the government, trust them to provide good services, and submit to their decisions regarding personal issues. I oppose this and it explains why conservatives are against a national healthcare plan.

I also believe America is unique. Liberals despise that attitude. America has been the most successful capitalistic enterprise in the history of the world. Where would Europe be today without the capitalism of America? It provided the resources necessary for a victorious campaign in WWII and the Marshall Plan, paid for by Americans, to rebuild Europe after the devastation. If Hitler had won, where would Denmark be today?

We don’t want any citizen to go hungry or live with inadequate healthcare. I believe the answer is capitalism. To get the full benefits of capitalism the government needs to start with tax reform. Instead of our complex, outdated, and unfair system we could do something like Denmark’s VAT. Do away with all taxes and then establish one tax with no loopholes. It would be a consumption tax paid at the point of purchase of any product or service. Proponents of this “FairTax Plan” say that  to pay for current government expenses it would take around 25%. As people and businesses prosper they will buy more and the government will have more money.

Honest capitalism should raise that standard of living for every citizen and even foreign business partners. Instead of traveling the world and apologizing for America, Obama needs another summit to study what made America great. Obama campaigned on the promise to grow the welfare state. Is this really what we want?

The Obama administration is focused on handouts rather than incentives. On the business side their only relationships are with big Wall Street companies that can sponsor golf tournaments and campaigns. His economic advisers are academics trying to bring classroom economics theory into a real world jobs crisis. You can’t drive a nail with a textbook.

Small business is the key to economic recovery, jobs, and prosperity. The only thing offered to small business so far from this administration is an empty promise of loans that have to be paid back. Do you really believe a lot of people are willing to risk taking out a loan at this time with the Healthcare Bill and the Cap and Trade Bill being rammed down their throats? There is also the promise that small businesses will be taxed if they gross over $250,000 a year. Not much incentive at the moment.

Obama is famous for all his czars. He just lost his green jobs czar, Van Johnson, but green jobs are about as realistic as the Lions winning the Super Bowl. If Obama is going to continue blowing trillions to stimulate the economy he needs a small business jobs czar with some immediate plans. I am not applying for the job, but I do have some ways to spend government money that would wipe out unemployment.

1. For every business willing to hire someone for 3 months the government will pay their first months salary.

2. Payroll taxes kill employees and small business. Since payroll taxes consume around 25% of an individuals paycheck, for every person that a business hires the government will eliminate payroll taxes for one year on 4 employees.

3. Give out 1 million grants worth $5,000 each to individuals willing to start their own independent contractor business. Submit a plan for a hot dog stand, on-site oil changing van, landscaper, pet hotel, or a hundred other ideas. Since people will not have to pay the money back, it will be easier to take a risk to go out on their own. The cost will be same as the cash for clunkers program. Wanna bet which program would do more for the economy?

4. Inspire ideas and bold plans by offering 100,000 grants for $100,000 each to businesses with the best business plans. Award the grants to the businesses with the best ideas for hiring the most people.

5. How about a holiday special from the government? For every two full time employees added to a business the government will pay a third one for 1 year. Call it the “Hire 2 Get 1 Free Special”.

6. Make the economy more important than climate hysteria. Subsidize small companies to get into oil drilling, refineries, nuclear power, and natural gas production. Did you know that a refinery has not been built anywhere in the United States in 30 years? Change the regulations and grant permits so they can compete with the big boys. Make capitalism fun again! The added plus of stiffing the middle eastern boys makes me smile.

7. Add your own idea here. There are so many possibilities.

I’m glad the government is extending unemployment payments, but there is no incentive there to produce anything. Providing healthcare for the uninsured is good, but if there was national prosperity it would not be an issue. A door leading to entitlements will never open to economic security or wealth.

Obama may be the most inspiring speaker we have ever had as president. He could do so much to encourage us to get out of our comfort zones by taking risks and working hard. His vision is take money from the rich,  give it to the government, and create entitlements for the poor and elderly. His vision should simpler – eliminate poverty with jobs.

Global warming is the gift that keeps on giving to the environmentalists. They want us to blindly believe that global temperatures are rising mainly because of human activity. We are not allowed to question the position that disaster is coming if we don’t submit to global environmental policies. We are to accept that green jobs by the millions will be created if we follow their leading.

I believe that environmentalists want more than clean. They desire to completely dismantle capitalism, establish population control, reduce private property, and grant government control over everything. Their successful agenda would mean the end to America as we know it. Cap and Trade is only the beginning.

I am not a scientist. I am reminded of this by liberal friends every time I quote something that questions official environmental positions. Not only do I not have a PHD in Climatology, they make me feel really dumb. They accept that the science is settled and no skeptical view can be entertained since it is funded by “big oil”. Never mind that their leading voice is Al Gore, a rich kid with a degree in journalism and a lifetime politician with no scientific credentials.

I can’t take you to a lab or observatory and demonstrate how various gases affect the ozone, but I can offer a little common sense. Let’s start with “saving the planet”. Environmentalists have led us to believe that with correct policies we can turn global warming around. Here is my challenge to the scientists and Al – save one community by stopping the eruption of a volcano or altering the path of a hurricane.  First prove your scientific ability, then you can talk politics and we will listen. Meteorologists can’t even predict the weather half the time.

Al Gore and many environmentalists cherry pick when it comes to science. You will only hear the evidence that supports their views. I have been reading a lot of science lately to understand this mess, it is a very complex subject. There are real scientists out there who are skeptical of the global warming propositions, but according to Al and others, should be left out of the debate. You don’t have to be a genius to know, that ain’t good science.

This week a report came out that said the damage to New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina was caused by man. If the levees and other protections had been maintained according to plan, there would have been much less destruction. In other words, the government failed. This is the same government that will “save the planet”.

I live in a Chicago suburb. The winters have been colder and snowier for several years. June and October this year were among the coldest on record. Al said that Katrina was just the beginning as storms will get worse due to global warming. Every year since the experts predicted hurricane seasons with more and greater storms. They were all wrong.

The United Nations is moving to tax the wealthier countries in the world to the tune of trillions. Their treaties will demand that we reduce our usage of energy even if it slows our economy. There is more to this movement than soot in our eyes.

I don’t fear scientists that get their money from big oil. I fear scientists that get their money from government grants based on political correctness. Environmental politics are bad for our country. Keep America clean!

Being a main street guy I honestly don’t have a clue about our economic future. We are certainly playing where we have never been before. As the experts wax on and on I have developed a few fears and dislikes to ponder.

I don’t like the attacks on capitalism. Capitalism may be tainted by greed and abuse, but it is the main reason we are the greatest nation on earth. I visited some Communists countries in the past, they were marked by empty shelves in their stores and no economic choices. No thanks! I like choosing between 50 different kinds of cereal.

The liberals read the economic times and tell us we need to live on less. The good old days are gone. They almost say it with glee. I fear they want the government to be the economy and we will serve it. It their minds this will pave the way for universal healthcare, elimination of poverty, and solve a host of social problems. I don’t know if the country can go bankrupt or not but it will lead trap free Americans into a position of servitude. I believe the government should serve the people, not the other way around.

I also worry about the costs of environmental politics (global warming, climate change). Cap and Trade and other suggested policies will cripple the free market, take control of a greater chunk of each American life, and make us submit to global authorities.

Our Ivy League leaders believe that the average American is stupid and needs a strong federal government to provide our basic needs. I fear they may be right. We were stupid enough to vote for big government in the last election. We no longer feel as Thomas Jefferson who said, “The government that governs least, governs best.” He could not be elected today.

I don’t know if we can go bankrupt economically as a nation, but we can be bankrupt in our spirit. Our country conquered it’s challenges in the past with rugged individualism, free markets, and a willingness to fight for what we believe in. Today the focus is on collectivism (society over individual), markets controlled by government, and fighting wars where no one gets hurt.

Ronald Reagan declared “government is not the solution; government is the problem.” He’s another guy that could not be elected now.

Here is a novel idea. Let’s create jobs from our own ideas and work like hell to produce more and better stuff. Let’s pay for the things we need, including healthcare. Let’s pay a fair tax to provide essential government services. Let’s elect people who are most concerned with protecting individual freedoms, threats from abroad, and national sovereignty. Let the government focus on protecting freedom rather than controlling lives.

The American spirit is our solution, not China.