On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 08:30:55 -0500 "Dennis Tester" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> The success of the "American Civilization" isn't due to its government
> programs, but to the results of a free people who achieved in spite of
> government, not because of it.
>
Seem to me that the above quote crystalizes a key philosophical distinction between
Democrats and Republicans. Democrats believe that folks aren't going to fully
achieve without aid from their government. In fact, I think we Democrats view it less
as "government" and more as "society" with government serving as the conduit.
It seems that today's anti-tax and anti- government Republicans (e.g. the Mn Taxpayers
League) completely discount the societal value that these institutions provide under
the hubris of self-congratulations and the apparent motivation of "I've got mine —
good luck to you as I protect it."
I've always appreciated the contributions that society has made that helped equip me
to achieve. Those contributions have ranged from public schooling to libraries to
financial aid to my university, etc. It's not clear to me how today's Republicans are
able to (apparently) ignore those contributions or decide they're no longer needed.
Rick Mons
Tanglewood - Shoreview
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