An Open Letter to Democrats

AIMI Open Letter To Democrats

Stand by your principles of collectivism, victim and group politics, the public sector, more taxes to improve public education, more taxes to provide handouts to those facing poverty, more taxes for health care for the poor, more income taxes for poorly-managed public sector jobs, more taxes to assure equal outcomes, more power for labor and teacher unions, a government mandated higher minimum wage, more regulation of the private realm and higher taxes on the income of the wealthy and middle class to pay for larger government…where larger government can be used to assure fairness. Oh, and don’t forget your willingness to waive our majority rule and rule of law for votes. Continue to advocate for more power for the state, so the state can save us from ourselves. These values and policies are requested by those who elect you as their representatives.

But, if your policies cannot bring good results to our society, then you are not going to be re-elected by our citizens. Since Lyndon Johnson, your party does not seem to be able to accomplish much of the above. Collectivism and “no objective truths” will never replace private realm shared values, jobs and the associated dignity. Individuals of dignity will always reject victim and group socialism, and replace them with individual character and private realm faculties. The private realm and our most important private realm institutions build character, the way the state does not. You seek more private realm opportunities for all, but you keep people trapped in public sector welfare and “entitlement” programs.

The central government has been strengthened, expanded and is more expensive and we have accumulated great debt since 1964 – with literally nothing to show for it. You speak in favor of more government regulation, and we have more than ever. Our tax system is truly a leviathan, under the weight of which many people cannot escape and be free. Democrats speak of more public sector programs, but my total tax burden (employee, employment, corporate, entitlements, health insurance, sales, local, state and federal) already approaches 50 percent of my income. I am working half the year to pay taxes to fund government programs, entitlements and mandates. Yet, there is less effective public education; individuals are not prepared for jobs; medical expenses are rising and we are no more healthy; more people than ever are in poverty; there are too many unwed mothers and fathers, there are too many illegal immigrants living in our country (willing to take jobs); there are too many people who have stopped participating in our job markets – literally nothing to show for it.

One third of our citizens vote for Democrats consistently. They believe your socialist and high tax policies will set this country on the path of equal opportunity and equal outcomes…and we will be able to do it without requiring personal responsibility. Years of no progress prove they are placing their hopes on ineffective policies. And, for the record, wealthy Democrats do not apply or utilize Democratic socialism in their personal lives. They apply Republican ideals and character in their personal lives.

One third of this country wants the government to do less and take less of our income as taxes. They want the private realm to do more for people. They require a quid pro quo of personal responsibility from all, including those who take their income as public “entitlements.” They do not believe their income tax dollars should be used to pay for the consequences of the lack of personal responsibility in others. They really apply the Golden Rule. They do unto others as they would have others do unto them. They demand that others practice responsibility, just as they practice responsibility.

The middle third of the country no longer believes you will apply our income tax dollars effectively to properly educate, build character,care for or lift people from poverty. Those moderates understand that throwing money at poverty and “entitlements” does not lift anyone, without an associated practice of character and responsibility. Without an application and practice of character and responsibility, “entitlement” and public welfare programs merely trap generations in the false promise of dignity through state socialism.

Elections are supposed to have consequences.

We have not seen any improvements in 50 years. There is still less than adequate public character education for many. There are a greater number of people in poverty. Too many individuals are dependent on the state – a state which serves them poorly. Too many people are in our country illegally. Too many people are willing to depend on public handouts. There are too many single mothers. There are too many absent fathers. There are too many people in jail. Too many people are requesting entitlements and health care from the state – paid for by others. Too much income is taken from too many people to pay for too many income re-distribution programs.

Democrats should abandon their socialist policies that do not include requirements for personal responsibility. They should offer this country a character-based private realm alternative to ineffective public sector education, welfare and “entitlements.” Providing an individual with character and faculties and private realm institutions is the only true way to lift people up.

Finally, in our republic, if your political policies and ideals are attractive, why do you need gerrymandered voting districts to protect your faction? Are you afraid another faction will offer the people a better political policy? Open the marketplace of political ideas and ideals, so that the people may have an entire spectrum of political choices. Open the marketplace of political ideas and ideals, so that our elected representatives will be leaders of all the voters in their district, not only the people who vote for them. This is what is intended in a deliberative representative republic.