“Power always corrupts, and the power of government to tell people how to live their lives or to transfer money from those who earn it to others is always a temptation to corruption. Taxes and regulations reduce people’s incentive to produce wealth, and government transfer programs reduce people’s incentive to work, to save, and to help family and friends in case of sickness, disability, or retirement. ...[I]t is nonetheless clear that government enterprises are less efficient, less innovative, and more wasteful than private firms.... [C]ompare what it’s like to call American Express versus the IRS to correct problems. Or compare a private apartment building with public housing.”

The comparisons are almost endless. The Union Socialists of Amerika (USA) is as corrupt a body religious / politic as has ever existed.

Immediately sensible. How can a Leviathan Government run by lazy, incompetent, unionized, work to rule, collectivist, entrenched bureaucracy even begin to compete with focused private initiative? The answer is simple...It can't!

Like Mark Livine, I agree with everything the Cato institute says about economics.

A good example of the above is the U S Post Office. If the government would get out of the mail business and let UPS have it, the mail delivery would be twice as effecient at about half the cost.

I agree. I want to choose who I help be it family or friend. I do not want to be told I have to help someone who won't help them self but want to live off of others or the government. I believe the term most descriptive of these people are Parasites. They are the ones who buy a new car and live in a shack or have a big screen TV but no food or insurance because they want you the taxpayer to give the money to the government to give to them for the more

Absolute truth!

And my grandson asked.."Papa, what was it like when you were young." Son, we were much more free. The people were not brainwashed, we worked hard, the government did not tell us every move to make, and we ran our own lives." And the world was much smaller. Hurry 2012, Liberty or death, civil war or peace. we will see.

Total balderdash.

If you do opposite of dick and Reston, you'll be right most of the time.

jim k, Austin - I second your brilliant opinion of both Dick and Reston. Both live in the servile to the government Fog of the Unknown!

It is amazing, the progressive nature of European socialism, its trends of corralling labor and the disruption of a Rural way of life. For those who have migrated from foreign city to city, say over the course of 100 years or so, the industrializing of industry which began in Europe brought along with it the tyranny of unionized Communistic labor parties and the corrupt Banksters, and their oppression of Usury. Those elite classes and slavery. The worst of all, the wedge between families members driven by greed. The lack of compassion within the lowest of societal classes. The poor and needy. This the direct result of the industrializing disruption of the natural rural life. Food, clothing and shelter were always more attainable, for those willing to work, what ever type of job in the rural country. The sick and disabled were cared for with respect regardless of race. For many, that " shotgun house " ( looked down upon by city dwellers ) was/is paid for free and clear. It is nonsense to blame the poor laborer for a socialist system they are born into. By elite classes, wielding powers they do not understand. Mercy, in the private sector lends itself to natural law, as honest economics and consumer sovereignty balance the natural law of supply and demand. Now the poverty stricken uneducated masses, due to dishonest banking practices, inflationary tactics, the self induced market crash of the building market, the " Back bone " of our society broken, has flooded the labor market with unusable labor. Mad as Hell is the understatement of all time, as to what has been done to our nation and the sea of humanity world wide, in need of Food, clothing and Safe Shelter. There again sorry for being long winded. But before condemning the poor and needy, consider the socialist elite who have brought about the tyranny and slavery they thrive upon. As to what to do, regain control of our Free Republic under siege. Cleaning House, through and by citizen and military unity of intent. Military will not move till, Citizen understanding, and Support. ! Socialism must be Abolished in this once Free Republic, in order to have any chance of re-entrenchment of Honesty and Integrity of Leadership for " We the People " As Sovereign States and Sovereign Individuals. 140,000 jailed for opposing the communist FDR, and his chicken in the pot.