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Edwards Believes in Two americas

by John Plecnik

august 23, 2004

Everyone has their pet manner of outlining the fundamental divide between Republicans and Democrats. Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) asserts that Democrats want to control your money and your life through bigger government. Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) claims that Republicans only care about the wealthiest americans. He claims that Republicans ignore a second america--the poor and middleclass. Forget the irony of a trial lawyer, more wealthy than Bush and Cheney combined, sticking up for the common man. I hold that Edwards does believe in two americas.

all liberals believe in two americas, two kinds of people--leaders and followers. From their perspective, the wealthy and educated elite ought to mercifully govern the greater populace. Many americans enjoy McDonalds and cigarettes, despite the fact that both vices are less than healthy. Enter the liberal. Edwards and friends will save us from ourselves. We ought to regulate fast-food ads and tax cigarettes. Naturally, most of us are unqualified to spend or save our own money. Best to tax away our disposable income, so that wiser men can spend it for us.

Republicans, like Myrick and ‘the Duke Law conservative,’ believe in one america. We believe that all citizens are endowed with certain inalienable rights. We are all entitled to liberty, that we may spend our life pursuing happiness. Though some may scoff at our decisions from their mansions and ivory towers, we are entitled to succeed on our own. and yes, we are entitled to fail on our own.

Paradoxically, the efficiency of a self-interested investor is seldom surpassed by the decrees of disinterested government. The invisible hand still creates more wealth than the meddling hands of Uncle Sam.

In the eyes of Edwards, you and I are mere sheep. Our ignorance begs for his genius. Through government intervention, he promises to wipeout hunger and alleviate poverty. He promises us an easy answer. Edwards’ concern is often benevolent, but the desire for control blinds him to the truth. There are no easy answers. all governmental power comes from the people. Edwards could spend ten trillion dollars of taxpayer money, and no one would be a dime richer. If anything, half the money would be wasted along the way and the poor would become poorer. Robbing Peter to pay Paul never increases net worth.

We need a president--we need a congress--that pursues office to facilitate freedom. We do not need candidates that believe themselves smarter than the american people. One america does not lead another, lesser america.

For all his faults, President Bush understands this. His tax cuts put more money, more power in the hands of the people. One america will reelect him.

John T. Plecnik is a 20-year-old law student at Duke University and Executive Editor of The Devil’s advocate. as Policy advisor for the Duke Chapter, John authored the first-ever statewide platform for the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans.



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