2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: #214 "THE GREEN NEW DEAL"

            Taking the pandering of voters to an entirely new level, politicians promoting the “Green New Deal” are now saying that they will supposedly tackle climate change by passing legislation that has been on the progressive wish lists for years.  This means that progressives say they will rework the electricity grid in an environmentally friendly manner, provide high-speed trains that will make domestic airplane travel undesirable, guarantee everyone a well-paying job as well as provide paid leave for workers when their children are born or a family member is sick, and provide high-quality healthcare, affordable housing and food security for everyone in our country.  And as to the cost?  Most scoff at that issue saying things like “It’s not about cost.”

                But Liberty fails without responsibility.  This means, among other things, that cost is always a factor, and it is blatantly irresponsible not to discuss it!  Most credible estimates project that universal healthcare alone would cost about $36 trillion between 2020 and 2029!  This also means that incentives must always be considered in any plan – governmental or otherwise.  So ask yourself, if people were to be guaranteed a well-paying job, this implies that they couldn’t be fired from it.  So what would be their incentives actually to be productive?   And imagine the bureaucratic issues that would evolve from determining whether Uncle Albert being sick would qualify for family paid leave – or determining how sick he really must be!  Things like this are laughable from a practical standpoint, but often can be politically effective.  So it is up to all of us to point out to any voters who might be lured into the possibility of receiving this “free stuff,” that what is being offered is fanciful, and only being raised simply to get their votes. 

Question for the week: HERE'S THE SITUATION:
You are on a horse, galloping at a constant speed.
On your right side is a sharp drop-off.
On your left side is an elephant traveling at the same speed as you.
Directly in front of you is a galloping kangaroo and your horse is unable to overtake it.
Behind you is a lion running at the same speed as you and the kangaroo.
What must you do to get out of this highly dangerous situation?
          Answer:  When the merry-go-round stops, get off!

Judge Jim Gray (Ret.)

2012 Libertarian candidate for Vice President, along with

Governor Gary Johnson as the candidate for President

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