Robert G. Fisher’s guest column last Wednesday, “Turning to socialism? Whiners seem to have forgotten history,” needs a bit of clarification. First, nobody is whining about creeping socialism. We are trying to awaken the naive Obama worshipers, such as Mr. Fisher, to the real threat of what this administration is doing to this country.
The idea that the economy has been stimulated would be news to a lot of people. Unemployment has risen to 9.5 percent. In several cities across the country the unemployment figure is over 20 percent. Where is the stimulus in that?
The statement that we borrowed our way out of the Great Depression needs a little clarifying. This country has borrowed and been in debt almost continuously since 1790. The difference between then and now is the identity of the lender. Up until the recent surge in spending (TARP, the “stimulus package,” the “bailout” of the auto companies) the debt of the U.S. was predominately in notes and bonds held by the American citizens. Today, because of the tremendous spending splurge, that debt is held by foreign countries such as China, India and members of the OPEC cartel, all nations that don’t like us very much.
Comparing the size of government during World War II to the current behemoth is ridiculous. He notes 16 million men in uniform and millions more in government service. It is a little hard to wage a war the size of World War II without men in uniform and a support staff of millions. He raises the issue of rationed gasoline and food along with regulated wages and prices. Rationing was not a government takeover but only a means to see that all had equal access to a limited supply. Price-and-wage control was necessary to combat profiteering, not a means of controlling the companies.
During World War II, the federal government did not own a stake in any private company. The federal government now has substantial ownership of many large commercial banks, two major auto manufacturers and has nationalized both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. They have taken control of education, are attempting to nationalize health care and with “cap and trade” will effectively destroy the coal industry. They have even legislated conditions under which a private citizen may or may not sell his own house.
There is a large difference between the emergency measures during a world war and taking steps which move an economy away from capitalism and private enterprise and toward socialism and government control. It wasn’t necessary for the government to insist GM make tanks. GM made tanks because they saw it necessary. Today it is not necessary for the government to own an auto company, fire the CEO and dictate what it will build. If the company wishes to prosper, it will build the right stuff with the right people. Otherwise it will fail. That is how free enterprise works, and it is what made this country the envy of the world.
Mr. Fisher goes through a whole list of things we must do, and I agree with every one of them. Mr Fisher seems to think only the government can satisfy the needs. I, and a lot like me, believe the American entrepreneur will fill the bill, as they have always done when government gets out of the way and lets capitalism work. One thing big government does do well, and that is mess up a steel ball. We don’t need it.
Earl D. Bishop lives in Independence.
