THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
>>Valley Patriot>> |
Animal
Farm
So why is it, when politicians promise us “free education” or “free medical care,” some of us cheer and line up to be shorn like a bunch of clueless sheep? Maybe, it is because some of our fellow humans share more genetic material with Mrs. Wooly than we would care to admit. Those with slightly more intelligence know that the promised free education or free medical care will not really be free. These perceptive folks realize that government-dispensed education or healthcare isn’t exactly free because the government is actually paying for it. Unfortunately, at this slightly higher level of intelligence, such insight amounts to a distinction without a difference. As Mr. Surefoot says, “Hey, I’ll take it and why not? I’m not paying for it!”
But most of our citizenry are more intel-ligent than Mrs. Wooly and Mr. Surefoot. Many realize that someone has to payfor the services they are given, but they don’t think anyone minds paying because, heck, they need the help. They may be slightly more aware, but they are still dominated by a childlike state of blissful ignorance. They think society owes it to them to make sure their needs are fulfilled. Their IQs are still in the low double digits, but often their innocence is endearing. Like Baby Chimpy, they are thankful that a mommy society makes sure their needs are met. Eventually,
baby chimps grow up and in the process they lose their
innocence. They still want to have the “free”
services, but now they see that they must conspire with
others to justify their demands. Greed begins to take
over. Government Of course, greed is not a very flattering characteristic, so it must be covered up with charitable accoutrements. Theft is justified in order to help the poor, to help the less fortunate, to help the disabled, or just because “It’s for the children.” You can usually tell when it really is for the children. Suggest that something be done that really helps the children which is not beneficial to Mr. or Mrs. Greedy. Watch them squirm and try to turn logic on its head. Can we test teacher competency? “Heck no, that would be demeaning!” Let’s encourage great teaching by rewarding the best teachers with merit pay. “You can’t evaluate teacher performance … and teachers aren’t motivated by money.”
Can we hire a great teacher who is willing to teach for less than the union wage? “Heck no, that would destroy the profession!” Maybe we should let the parents and children buy their education from the school of their choice. “You are losing it!! That would destroy the schools!” But the oil industry isn’t destroyed when people can choose where they buy fuel. “Don’t confuse me with the facts. Education isn’t the same as selling smelly old oil!” Mrs. Greedy, “I know, I’ll say it’s for the children!” Well, you get the picture. Those who gain from government-conferred benefits will turn logic on its head to protect their booty.
Playing the government card to steal from others is not solely the purview of those in public education, or union members, or welfare junkies. The disease is highly contagious. Big business and the rich are also eager participants. “Me first! Me first!” Big businesses insist on subsidies or tariffs to gain economic advantage. These advantages, conferred by the government, also involve theft. They steal the natural rights of others to compete on a level playing field. They interfere with the rights of people to engage in mutually beneficial trade. Big businesses also discourage new competitors by inviting complex regulations that create barriers to entry for smaller but more innovative competitors.
Here are a few examples: Doctors, lawyers, dentists, chiropractors, pharmacists, plumb-ers, psychologists, electrologists, barbers, cosmetologists, real estate agents, mani-curists, TV technicians, fire alarm installers, embalmers, nurses, home inspectors, hair-dressers, perfusionists, mental health coun-selors, and electricians. These are just 21 of the 52 licensing categories in Massa-chusetts. Just about every profession — except Indian chief, columnist and school committee member — is licensed. Greed knows little bounds when it comes to getting others to pay for life’s biggest expenses. An entire industry has grown up to help the rich shield their wealth from the costs of long-term care. Estate planners move assets around to comply with Medicaid exemptions. Buy a bigger house, invest in the family business, or give away assets to your heirs. Anything to get the government — meaning everyone else — to pay for the nursing home benefits you may need. What happens when we all become vultures? When we all have our hands in everyone else’s pockets … and everyone has their hands in ours? We don’t dare risk being the first to stop stealing. If we choose to live off our own efforts, will others live off theirs? We each have our special advantage or subsidy. Since we’re paying for everyone else’s special advantage, why should we give up ours? Maybe
we should take a close look at ourselves and see if we
like what we have become. Dr. Ormsby is vice-chair of the North
Andover School Committee. He is a graduate of Cornell and
has a doctorate from MIT. If you have any questions or
comments, you can contact Dr. Ormsby via email: ccormsby@comcast.net *Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com |
If something is too good
to be true, it probably is. If you walk the streets of
New York City or Tijuana, eventually you will be
approached by a street vendor offering you a Rolex or a
Patek Philippe for $20. You see the shiny watches
dangling from the inside of his coat, but you weren’t
born yesterday. So you just smile and say, “No,
thank you.”
If you think I am insulting some of
our fellow citizens, you are only partially correct. Yes,
Mrs. Wooly and Mr. Surefoot are not too bright, but they
don’t mean any harm. They don’t realize that
they are being offered stolen goods by politicians in
return for their vote, so they feel no guilt. Dimwitted
ignorance ensures innocence.
can be used to steal
… you just can’t call it that.
Follow this up with, “So you
don’t want raises next year?” The reply will
be, “Are you nuts? We need more money and more
benefits and we want Fridays off.” 
We are rapidly becoming a society
of vultures. What can I have the government steal for me
today? 
Everyone wants to be a
professional. But the term professional doesn’t just
mean highly capable. It also means you have convinced the
government to restrict entry into your profession by
others who wish to make a living by performing the same
service. Licensing is typically justified as protection
for an unsuspecting public against incompetent or
unsavory practitioners. But it is really just protection
for those already in the profession … protection
from competition.