Re: The long and short of it

[William B Ward]

Tom,   Some liberals think that way. In addition, the funding of faith groups to do good in the community is a right wing effort [one which I support]. The bailing out of the airlines and almost letting Amtrak die was the work of a party that has to pay attention to the teamsters and truckers. We continually bail out the shipping industry because that is a major industry in Senator Lott's state. Government covers losses above $100 k for people in banks that go broke. We could go on and on. There is more welfare for the rich than for the poor. I own a small business and am able legally to take off more charges than a wage earner. The welfare program that every one fussed over was a paltry $30 billion which doesn't even register and what was saved was a lot less than that. We can blame Clinton for initiating that one.   We left wingers realize that relying on governments will cost you more than you get so don't try and tar and feather everyone on the left. You also may want to look a bit closer re benefits that rich friends or relatives of your [ADM, etc.] are getting.   Bill Ward     On Wed, 16 Oct 2002 09:36:51 -0700 "Tom Walker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: The great weakness of the left, IMHO, is that they habitually think in terms of "the government should do this... the government should do that..." as if any government ever would do what it should even if it could. One is better off to start with the assumption that the government WON'T do something that it would be "a good idea" for it to do. This doesn't mean abandoning making policy demands or suggestions. What it means is using such proposals for the purpose of bringing an issue to the attention of a larger public audience, rather than expecting consummation from the state. Arthur Cordell wrote,   Will add one more thing.  I heard Reich speak before he was in government.  Sounded like he knew what was going on in the economy.  Could have been an FWer.  Maybe being in government demonstrates to the individual all the things that can't be done.  Kind of like an intellectual lobotomy.