July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Trying to figure out social justice
Letters to the Editor
To the editor:
The policies of Democrats are destroying our personal liberties in favor of social justice. It started with bank bailouts and has evolved into buying automakers, government stimulus, and now healthcare. These actions are shielded by the misconception that they will assist the little guy, who is being held down by Republicans and big business. Another disappointing fact is that many of the believers in the Democratic version of social justice are in my age group, 18-30. What kind of United States will I grow old in, and will my children know what it's like to have opportunity? Each party, Republican and Democrat, supplies their own version of social justice. One party will protect your liberties, while the other will give you everything you want, but only for a short time.
The Conservative Republican believes that an individual's liberty and freedom of choice create the best atmosphere for opportunity and personal growth. Conservatism can create opportunities for employment growth, entrepreneurism, and ultimately higher wages as demand increases. However, this approach requires that individuals work and take risks to reap the rewards of their work and dedication. The Constitution does not promise anyone everything they desire, but it does guarantee the opportunity to attain it. Opportunity is created, not given.
A Democrat looks at social justice believing that those "who have" should give to those who "have not". A noble idea and one with which I don't disagree. An individual has the right to decide whether to purchase a new TV or donate to a charitable cause. The government does not have the right to dictate what one will give and receive. If we continually vote more power to the federal government we will reach a point where the people no longer control government, but the government will control the people.
An example of the Democratic version of social justice: A teacher gives a test to her class and the scores range from 98 to 43. The student who received the 43 earned his grade just as much as the student who received the 98. Now suppose the teacher thought it wasn't fair that any student should receive a 43. She takes all the scores, adds them up, and divides them among the students. The student that earned a 98 receives a grade of 74 while the student that earned a 43 also receives a grade of 74. The first student will obviously feel cheated and it won't take very many tests for that student to stop studying and just "wing it" because the amount of work that student puts into studying doesn't seem to affect their grade. Now, a different student is the top scorer and keeping the average up, except the average is now a 72. This student begins to feel cheated and decides that if several of her classmates can play and goof off and still receive the same score as her, why can't she also? So now the average score is a 71.
From there, it won't take long for that average to decline to a 59, or failing grade. Which student is going to go above and beyond his classmates to keep the average up if they all receive the same score regardless of effort? Will you?
To quote Alexander Tyler, who wrote of the fall of the Athenian Republic in 1787: "A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship."
We have the opportunity to ensure our country does not end in this fashion. We have a chance to guarantee our children have the freedom to create and pursue their own opportunities. We must promote hard work, not handouts. It is time to support Conservative Republicans, not moderates, and not Democrats. It is time to give the power back to the people.
Matt Minnich
Portland[[In-content Ad]]
The policies of Democrats are destroying our personal liberties in favor of social justice. It started with bank bailouts and has evolved into buying automakers, government stimulus, and now healthcare. These actions are shielded by the misconception that they will assist the little guy, who is being held down by Republicans and big business. Another disappointing fact is that many of the believers in the Democratic version of social justice are in my age group, 18-30. What kind of United States will I grow old in, and will my children know what it's like to have opportunity? Each party, Republican and Democrat, supplies their own version of social justice. One party will protect your liberties, while the other will give you everything you want, but only for a short time.
The Conservative Republican believes that an individual's liberty and freedom of choice create the best atmosphere for opportunity and personal growth. Conservatism can create opportunities for employment growth, entrepreneurism, and ultimately higher wages as demand increases. However, this approach requires that individuals work and take risks to reap the rewards of their work and dedication. The Constitution does not promise anyone everything they desire, but it does guarantee the opportunity to attain it. Opportunity is created, not given.
A Democrat looks at social justice believing that those "who have" should give to those who "have not". A noble idea and one with which I don't disagree. An individual has the right to decide whether to purchase a new TV or donate to a charitable cause. The government does not have the right to dictate what one will give and receive. If we continually vote more power to the federal government we will reach a point where the people no longer control government, but the government will control the people.
An example of the Democratic version of social justice: A teacher gives a test to her class and the scores range from 98 to 43. The student who received the 43 earned his grade just as much as the student who received the 98. Now suppose the teacher thought it wasn't fair that any student should receive a 43. She takes all the scores, adds them up, and divides them among the students. The student that earned a 98 receives a grade of 74 while the student that earned a 43 also receives a grade of 74. The first student will obviously feel cheated and it won't take very many tests for that student to stop studying and just "wing it" because the amount of work that student puts into studying doesn't seem to affect their grade. Now, a different student is the top scorer and keeping the average up, except the average is now a 72. This student begins to feel cheated and decides that if several of her classmates can play and goof off and still receive the same score as her, why can't she also? So now the average score is a 71.
From there, it won't take long for that average to decline to a 59, or failing grade. Which student is going to go above and beyond his classmates to keep the average up if they all receive the same score regardless of effort? Will you?
To quote Alexander Tyler, who wrote of the fall of the Athenian Republic in 1787: "A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship."
We have the opportunity to ensure our country does not end in this fashion. We have a chance to guarantee our children have the freedom to create and pursue their own opportunities. We must promote hard work, not handouts. It is time to support Conservative Republicans, not moderates, and not Democrats. It is time to give the power back to the people.
Matt Minnich
Portland[[In-content Ad]]
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