[TheRealThing]

Imposing stiff tariffs on imports is no solution to a sluggish economy. The only long-term fix for what ails this economy is to make American companies competitive again by making this nation an attractive place to do business and to produce durable goods. American politicians caused our problems and unfortunately, it will take politicians to bail us out.

Most of all, Americans need to understand once and for all that the government creates no jobs. All jobs and all wealth are created by the private sector. Governments simply consume a nation's wealth and shifts it around instead of allowing consumers to decide where it should be concentrated.

The more wealth that a government consumes, the less wealth available to the private sector for creation of goods and services. Countries with low tax rates, fewer regulations, and less powerful unions will always have an edge in a free market economy.

Starting trade wars with countries who already enjoy the advantage of having governments who understand and encourage capitalism will only make matters worse. I never thought that I would see a time when the Chinese government would create a more business-friendly environment than we have in the United States - but that is exactly what has happened.

I remember when politicians used to get laughed off the platform for even suggesting such a thing. If I remember correctly, the first time I heard the argument proffered in earnest by a presidential candidate, was during Carter's reelection campaign. Carter was arguing he needed more time for his policies to work. And, believe it or not, mainstream news casters barbequed him for suggesting government could create jobs. Now, candidates routinely talk about creating jobs because people have become desensitized to the argument or, they have heard it enough times they have started to believe it. And, just as routinely, mainstream media talk about the concept like there is no doubting the validity of the notion. Repeating a talking point is one of the dems favored tactics, I've seen them do it for decades. Here's one of my favorites, "the American people want" then they plug in whatever they happen to be plugging for that day.

The idea that government can create jobs is an example of an idea that once was rejected out of hand by the voting public but, is now accepted as fact due to the drumbeat of hearing it said over and over. And, the concept as well as the method of delivery are equally despicable in my mind.

Ronald Reagan Quotes; "We need true tax reform that will at least make a start toward restoring for our children the American Dream that wealth is denied to no one, that each individual has the right to fly as high as his strength and ability will take him. . . . But we cannot have such reform while our tax policy is engineered by people who view the tax as a means of achieving changes in our social structure."

Plutarch warned, “The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations, and benefits.”

The sad thing is that if Reagan were running for president today, Bob Beckel would be saying his personality is too 'dead fish' and he isn't cool enough, so people will never vote for him. And, The liberals would be saying he is a right wing elitist, who doesn't understand the plight of the people. Today, the fight is between extreme left liberals and traditional Americans. Liberals don't accept the social norm of the past 200 years plus, and want to see America mutate into a scene out of Dante's Inferno. My question is why? America works. However, if we keep asking the ne'er do wells, what we need to do to make them happy, we will continue to see things like same sex marriage legislation, and ever increasing welfare rolls. It isn't a question of understanding, on the contrary, it's a question of character. Will traditional Americans gain the courage to stand up and say enough entitlements, enough legislation which by definition is in direct defiance of God's Word, enough spending money we don't have? I hope so.