Monday, March 23, 2009

WSJ Columnist: Obama's No Socialist

Signs of sanity in the GOP: a columnist for the Murdock Wall Street Journal states the obvious: President Obama is no socialist. 

Ever since President Barack Obama released the budget last month, we have been hearing a fusillade of criticism claiming that the president, contrary to previous advertising, is not a centrist, but a "leftie" intent on leading the country down the path of socialism.

Let's see. Socialism means public ownership and control of businesses, right? So which industries does the president propose to nationalize?

Banking? Well, no. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner has made it clear that he opposes nationalizing banks, despite much outcry from the political left -- and even some from the right -- to do just that. Yes, it's a valid criticism that we are still waiting for Mr. Geithner's banking plan. But the budget commits an outrageous act of accounting honesty by including a $750 billion allowance as "a reserve for further efforts to stabilize the financial system." Given the popularity of bank bailouts, that was a courageous thing to do.

What about health care? Doesn't Mr. Obama want "socialized medicine"? No. He wants to reform the current system so that it costs less and covers more people. Disgracefully, the United States is the only advanced nation in the world that fails to cover every citizen -- even though we spend vastly more on health care than other nations.

2 comments:

Jr Deputy Accountant said...

Murdock? Really? That's a truly viable source.

Socialism doesn't necessarily mean they gobble up all the businesses.

What about the auto industry, then? The President's intervention was entirely valid?

You'll laugh at this 3 1/2 years from now when you realize just how extreme left the President's beliefs and views are.

p.s. Capitalism works. Obama's actions show that he does not have even the most remedial understanding of that.

Nick D said...

Socialism doesn't necessarily mean they gobble up all the businesses.

Actually yes, that's exactly what it means. At least if you go according to the definition, in, you know, the dictionary.