What's Next, Waiting in Gas Lines Again?

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Conservatism seemed the -natural choice for allegiance as a result of Jimmy Carter's presidency. Mine was born out of frustration while I waited in lines that stretched out of the gas station and then ran bumper to bumper down the road.

Carter's weakness in the face of the OPEC oil embargo saw him attempt to ease our pain by fuel conservation and lowering the national speed limit to 55 mph. Being stalled out in a gas line or inching down a highway became symbolic of this liberal's presidency.

By the time the peanut farmer was sent back to Georgia by Ronald Reagan, he had brought this country to near economic and psychological ruin. We had double-digit unemployment, high taxes and an anemic foreign policy.

A failed rescue attempt of hostages held in Iran, in which our helicopters crashed in the desert, brought home a blinding psychological reality to the American people. We had sunk to a new low. The era is known as the Carter "malaise." The greatest nation in the world became one with a "can't do" attitude.

As Reagan haltingly repaired the damage, Carter maintained an arrogance that admitted no failings. Instead, he travels the world speechifying to other liberals and progressives about the failures of his Republican successors. Silence by Democrats at this blatant breach of presidential etiquette has been deafening - but typical of a party that eschews integrity to hold onto the reins of power.

Carter's liberal policies are being reincarnated and seriously threaten the nation's ability to rise out of recession. President Obama's allegiance to Keynesian economic principles of increased government spending and higher taxes on the rich might well put us back into recession, or worse.

Businesses are scared to hire because of the uncertainty. New and strident regulations threaten to further stifle free-market principles. The $862 billion stimulus -package failed. The deficit soars. Unemployment holds steady at just under 10 percent.

Housing and development languishes with foreclosures rising again last month. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are artificially propped up once again to make home ownership possible for those who cannot possibly afford to own a home.

The stock market reels. The -dollar falls against other currencies because of trade imbalances. Plans are laid to let the Bush tax cuts lapse and usher in higher capital gains and estate taxes on the affluent.

At the end of the day, less fortunate or jobless Americans, those Obama would redistribute wealth to - wealth created off the backs of other Americans - are no more employed or better off than they were when he won the presidency.

England, Canada, France and Germany flee from the failures of big centralized and meddlesome governments while America appears poised to stupidly attempt the same failures. How many big government socialist architectures have to fail in this world before liberals and other progressives realize that the Utopian dream of rich political elites evenly distributing wealth is just that - a dream that fails - over and over and over again?

Ronald Reagan had one particular strength that enabled him to put this country back on track after the Carter "malaise" years: He believed America was more important than his presidency.

He understood that the American experiment was something so unique in its freedoms and liberties that only by allowing those principles freer rein, coupled with a limited federal government that stayed out of the way of private entrepreneurial spirit, would we as a nation repair the damage. In essence, Reagan let America fix itself.

We're not designed for high taxes, overly burdensome federal regulations and massive government agencies that insinuate their way into every aspect of our lives. And we elect presidents to represent America - not change it. We're not a mass of hungry and poor who need to be dictated to by bombastic politicians whose egos are larger than their capabilities.

Recessions are expected in capitalist societies at relatively normal intervals. Regulations are needed for those who cheat and steal.

Republicans can be big spenders too. But when more American -voters realize that government does not and cannot create jobs, and that when a recession hits, we shouldn't attempt recovery by -trying to reinvent ourselves along failed liberal, progressive and socialist models, we'll recover more easily and fluidly.

Geoff Cutler is owner of Cutler Tree LLC in Southern Pines and is a regular contributor to The Pilot and PineStraw magazine. Contact him at geoffcutler@embarqmail.com.

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JER 2 years, 9 months ago

"Government does not and cannot create jobs": Really? I can think of a bunch of them, but I'll site just one example...the military. It provides a ton of jobs, all with great benefits and an excellent retirement program.

geoffcutler 2 years, 9 months ago

jer-your idea of jobs is different than mine. I'm talking about jobs offered to employees by the private sector and the creation of wealth. Not jobs that are paid for by our tax dollars.

dustyrhoades 2 years, 9 months ago

You can always manage to win an argument if you redefine the words.

JER 2 years, 9 months ago

Mr. Cutler, I see, you mean the jobs created by the private sector that requires tax breaks, government loans, waivers of rules and regulations, objections to minimum wage standards and avoiding health care for employees while creating wealth for the owners and shareholders. And that's just covering the private sector who actually locate their business in this country.

JER 2 years, 9 months ago

Any chance some of the Geoff Cutler Tree Service "wealth" came from military home owners. If so, assume you'll be returning it so you don't come off as a hypocrite. Wouldn't want you to be taking jobs paid for by our tax dollars.

LB67 2 years, 9 months ago

"Government does not and cannot create jobs":

Government paid contractors working in Afghansitan make over 100k a year, and like someone else said, join the Military, there are jobs available people just don't want to give up time from their families and live 1000s of miles away for a year at a time

MikeNC 2 years, 9 months ago

TO JER- yes the Government can create jobs, but who pays for them?

And after 22 years as a spouse of a soldier, I'm hear to tell you, military employment is definitely not your 9 to 5 civil service job by any stretch of the imagination. The typical day (when not in a war) starts around 6 AM and quits somewhere around 5 to 6 PM.

When doing field exercises IN MUD, RAIN, SNOW, AND 100 DEGREE TEMPS, it then becomes an 18 to 22 hour day.

And as Mauiman pointed out, the real fun is when you have to see your spouse off at Green Ramp, to deploy, not knowing if you will ever see them again. I loved that part !

Another enjoyable aspect, is packing it up and moving on every three years on the average. Every DAMNED PENNY WE MADE, WE EARNED ! AND WE EARNED IT WITH PRIDE, DIGNITY AND HARDWORK.

IF YOU HAVE NEVER SERVED THE ARMED FORCES, I WOULD LEAVE IT ALONE, BECAUSE YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE AND CLUELESS. Diane McLellan

coffecreme 2 years, 9 months ago

So sensitive Diane. No one criticized the valor or the bravery of the men and women in the armed services.

JER 2 years, 9 months ago

MikeNC: "The government can create jobs, but who pays for them?" The same people who pay for the private industry jobs...us.

Like all job seekers, I'm sure you and your family weighed the pros and cons of a military career before accepting the assignment. Hard work, long hours and being away from your family for long periods of time is not unique to the military. There are many, many folks in the private sector doing that as well and taking every bit as much pride, dignity and hard work as you describe. I made no disparaging remarks concerning military service and I take offense to your comments about my being out of my league and clueless. We all contribute to the greatness of this country in our own way. Serving in the military is not the only way.

And mauiman, no thanks, I've been retired from a very rewarding career for several years. The only people who call me a hero are my family members.

nothingspecial 2 years, 9 months ago

Enjoyed the article, Mr. Cutler. I agree that there are countless private entrepreneur opportunities taken away from Americans when government grows the way it has.