Government In The Way of Freedom - In Response to Peter Orszag on the Jon Stewart Show

I was directed this week to watch the following videos of Peter Orszag, the White House Budget Director, explain the budget on the Jon Stewart show. Here are the links:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=222776&title=peter-orszag-pt.-1
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=222777&title=peter-orszag-pt.-2
I thoroughly enjoy listening to people with views different from my own and also think that Mr. Orszag is a brilliant man. He explains himself and this complex issue of the budget very eloquently. As I listened, I had to pause many times to gather my thoughts, and this is what I came up with.
First of all, Mr. Orszag said that they have inherited a terrible deficit. This is true, as President Bush overspent and built debt, however, it is not true that Obama is coming to the rescue. Bush's deficit during his eight year term was a grand total of $1.3 trillion dollars with his last year in office bringing in the biggest piece of that with $482 billion overspent in one year. Obama's outlook on eight years totals $15 trillion dollars. ((See chart here)) I understand completely that is a long outlook and they plan to change things to help cut that number down, but $15 trillion in deficit spending in 8 years? That's a lot of our money; a lot of borrowed money. Why can't government, instead of saying they need more money to fund themselves and grow government, say they are cutting back spending? This is the fix that stops the tax raises, that stops the borrowing, and that stops government intrusion into our personal freedoms. Not talked about in the above interview is the fact that this budget, while proposing huge deficits, also is piling on new taxes (in the range of $686 billion in new taxes by the end of the ten year outlook). Treat the taxpayers money with the respect it deserves is all I ask.
Which brings me to my second point. Jon Stewart asks why the government is allowed to play by a different set of rules then we the people are. That is the point of true conservatism (notice the emphasis on true conservatism, not moderate conservatism). The government's spending is so out of control, we are forced to spend borrowed money, increasing our debt, or raise taxes on the people of this country. Neither option is good; yet President Obama is planning doing both.
Also, during the interview, Orszag admits very openly and without shame that the White House is telling people to leave certain companies, and wants the authority to reach more companies than they currently can. What? Since when is the President the overseer of private company's actions? Since when has the President looked into companies and told people to leave because he didn't like the way they did things? This is not freedom and liberty, and this is certainly not capitalism. The President should not do this; the free markets should. If a company is failing, it is up to the company and no one else to do something about it. And it is certainly not up to the President to use taxpayer money, or money borrowed from foreign investors, to help them along. If a company fails, it can either drop out and move aside for someone else to come in and provide better service, or it can file Chapter 11 and restructure itself properly and efficiently. That is how it is supposed to work. Yet now our tax dollars are invested in banks, in car companies, and many other businesses. Why? Let the markets work and move on.
This is where people like myself are coming in with the idea of 'socialism'. The government moving in and firing employees of companies as it pleases, taking over businesses to run them they way they want them to be run, running what many would call a 'nanny state', where it is not people with the freedom to control their money and life as they please but the government there every step up the way helping people along; that is the groundwork of socialism. This country was founded on the idea that people would do what they could to succeed without interference from the government. If you failed in your attempts, you would get help not from the government and the taxpayer's money, but from the local charities, churches, and organizations set up for that purpose, who fund themselves through the goodwill of the people. National government was not meant to be the all powerful government; neither was state government; neither was local government. Yet now here we are, with the idea that we all should lean on government to get by, to help us through, to make it work; that's not how it should be.
I could continue to go on for a while, but will stop myself for now, as this is getting to be quite a large post. Thank you for reading and feel free to comment or email me at kelbylovelady@gmail.com. I love getting feedback and conversation. And as always, stay informed, aware, and ready for conversation, because that's the groundwork that a free America, full of liberty, is built on.

In Response to Comment on "A President Crossing the Line"

First of all, I would like to thank you, whoever you are, for sharing your thoughts and putting yourself forward. That is what we as Americans need to do; discuss the situations at hand openly and freely as the founders, as the founders desired. I would like to respond to what you said, and, as always, feel free to continue this conversation too, either here or with me personally at kelbylovelady@gmail.com.
First off, I don't want to try to put myself forward as a great thinker, someone who feels they are above the rest; someone on a 'high horse'. I am not at all. I am an average person, making average wages, living in an average small town. I'm sorry if my comments seem very forward and blunt, but I feel very strongly about what I am doing here. I am not trying at all to put down the American people for the choices they make. Do I feel they made the wrong choice in the last election? Yes. There is nothing different in me saying that now and the last eight years of everyone (including the so-called impartial media) ripping into Bush at turn of the shoulder. Part of the Democratic process of this country is people who are willing to stand up and oppose the ideas that are put forward because they whole-heartedly feel they are wrong for this country. I don't want to see wrong happen to this country in the same way that I'm sure no one wants to see wrong happen to there families, or even themselves. I'm just doing my part to defend the freedoms we all take for granted every day and continue the tradition of open debate.
So, to answer the question of "what I am doing here" directly, I am holding strong in my views, putting them forward for all to see because of my freedoms accounted to me by the Constitution and my Creator, and being prepared to defend myself and my ideas when need be. This is open conversation; freedom and liberty at its best. I'm not asking for everyone to agree with me, but to be willing to talk about it.
Now, on to the second part. I, as a Christian, in no way have meant to use God in a sarcastic statement, and have never meant to insult anyone. "God help America" was not meant with any sarcastic tone behind it, though I understand how it may read that way. We, as Americans, really do need God's help if we are to pull this country back towards what it can be at it's best. Furthermore, I believe that Christian love can be shown through caring about what is happening in this country, and working to help this country succeed. God doesn't only work in love, but also in convictions and trials. Please don't get me wrong, the love of God and the mercy shown every day by Him is amazing in itself, but Jesus didn't show his love of man by showering everyone with "worldly love". He often times rebuked the people, even those closest to him, in order that they may grow in understanding and maturity. I do not believe that what I am doing here is in any way compromising my Christian faith. In many ways, I think it is expanding it; right now is a perfect example. Yes, our sinful natures are the driving force behind what is happening in this country, but that doesn't mean we can't fight against it. The apostle Paul told us to put our sins behind us every day; he wants us to fight.
As far as what we can do in our daily lives goes, I understand how it can be hard to see in my writings. In national politics, we are only able to do so much as individuals, but I believe that our greatest responsibility is to be aware of what is happening; to be informed citizens who understand what is going on in our country and ready to react when able. When we are aware, and holding discussions with people we know; when this country is engaged in what is happening; when people understand politics in much more than a "vote every four years and not care any other time" way; that is when this country is at its best. My call to every citizen is to be informed and concerned. I'm not saying that we all need to be involved in politics everyday, all the time. Being informed is just a matter of knowing what is going on in this country and being willing to form an opinion on it.
Lastly, I would like to take the time to thank you, the readers of my writings, for taking part of your day to read what I have to say, and for showing that you care about this country enough to listen to discussion about what is going on. Thank you all and God Bless.

Conservatism v. Liberalism in America

In response to the following comment:

"Could it not be said that perhaps part of the problem (while albeit not denying the lies, extortion, and other political garbage tactics) is that we really live in what should be considered as it is, a republic. If you doubt my logic, check the Pledge of Allegiance (if you don't know it because you've not been allowed it, Google it). The basic "Democratic" principles are broken by the fact that acting so as a republic, the people's power is more a facade designed to make us feel as though we are electing "our" president, when really we are just creating someone to blame."

I would first of all say that this country, as laid out in the constitution, is a Democratic Republic. It's a representative form of government. The people of this country elect the representatives and have chances quite often to change who the office holder is. People are not elected for life. However, this still means that the citizens of this country must be informed and also have a proper understanding of their role in the process.

It is the lack of caring of each citizen which elects those to office who don't have any business being there. The representatives are DIRECT representations of those who elect them. This is why you see congress people from California who are extremely liberal. It's a representation of the culture they are in; and if I may be so bold to say it: apathy leads to liberalism.

On the surface, liberalism presents itself as a sunny, warm place where everyone is getting what they "need" in life from the government. For people making quick glances at an issue, liberalism seems nice. But it is in true conservatism that the answers which are best for this country are found. True conservatism, however, is not an easy thing to come by in today's political climate. It takes effort. It takes someone willing to sacrifice a bit here and there for the better of the country. It takes understanding. It takes removing your faith in the government and finding another place to put it. (religion)

I will grant that all of this is an outlook that many aren't comfortable with. That is where a site like this comes in. A conversation to have; understanding to grow. Let's take politics off of the back burner and move it into a daily conversation. If we could all place it with a bit more importance into our daily lives, I can almost guarantee this country would change for the better.