KeepHip.com

To illustrate the fundamental, and most important difference between the right and the left, I'll quote from "Whom Do You Trust?" from the conservative American Thinker:

The challenge to conservatives after the ObamaCare cram-down is simple. If we want to succeed in our quest of restoring limited government, we must persuade the American people of the truth: It is much better trust a businessman than a politician. If you want decent health care, then you don't want the government involved -- not if you don't want a $30-trillion unfunded deficit. If you want decent education for your children, then you don't want the government in the loop -- your kid will need remedial classes when he gets to college. If you want to give the poor a hand up and not a handout, then you need to keep the government out of it; otherwise, the government will end up smashing the low-income family.

Of course, if your idea of justice is to force the American people to pay for your education and your health care, then go ahead. Grow government.

This makes a lot of sense, that is if you're willing to ignore reality and go with ideology.

1. If you want decent health care, you can find it any country where the government runs the whole kit and caboodle. Take Great Britain, where healthcare is a lot cheaper per capita, "outcomes aren't noticeably worse" and you don't have to worry about the fact that you can't get chemotherapy in an emergency room.

2. If you want decent education for your chlidren, you'll do fine in public schools, even when compared to kids in private schools. (pdf)

3. If you want to help the poor, you need to realize that the "Great Society" programs cut poverty in half (from 1964 to 1974) in the U.S. I don't know of one corporation with that purpose in mind.

Government is often wholly inappropriate to address problems you might have. If you want to buy a tie, want a nice car or find a good glass cleaner, involving the government doesn't make sense.

But where government is an appropriate solution, it's better to put your eggs in the government basket. Politicians are elected and therefore directly responsible to the people, rather than profit. The profit motive often works against a clean environment, worker's rights, or truth in advertising. Yet it is also naive to trust the politician. Government can work, but only when it is composed of responsible and responsive leaders in government, elected by a vigilant and well-informed populace.

"Is RNC Chairman Michael Steele's Job in Jeopardy?"

I was not going to link to this, nobody reading this blog is unaware that Steele is a buffoon, so there's nothing to be learned on that matter. There is also the possibility that he will stay in place as RNC chairman, and I wouldn't want to dash that hope. But this quote changed my mind:

"This is a really bad distraction at a time when we have the Obama administration on the ropes and we are making great gains out. Among the rank and file, we now have attention diverted to this fiscal irregularity and this controversy," said Ken Blackwell, a former candidate for RNC chairman (he's currently vice chairman of the RNC's platform committee).

Please define having your opponents "on the ropes." Does it include occupying the White House? A majority in the House? How about the Senate? How about losing your obstructionist battle to stop health care reform?

"Drill, Baby, Drill."

"Fox News cuts away from an Obama speech for ... pretty much anything."

I'd just like to point out that FOX News realizes how dangerous it is to let people actually hear Obama speak. Since taking Democrats out of context is their stock in trade, nothing scares them more than their listeners getting to hear their victims unfiltered outside their narrative.

C.R.E.W.: What Open Government and Breakdancing have in common

Washington Post: "FDA reviewing whether to ban menthol cigarettes" Bad news for those who love the stank o' nicotine!