More from Michael Edwards Book

Edwards repeats a famous Ronald Reagan quote, “government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” Which, unfortunately has become the mantra, or bumper sticker, of both Republicans and many Democrats, Unfortunately it is not a full quote and taken out of context. Reagan was talking about high taxes and high federal expenditures and said, “Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” “From time to time we’ve been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government is an elite group is superior to the government for, by, and of the people.” Or, Reagan wanted better government. He wanted better management of government. Unfortunately his record shows he did little to improve the situation and increased the debt manifold, just for his cronies rather than his predecessors.

But his point is valid, government is to foster productivity not stifle it with unreasonable restraints, but it still needs restraints. Those have been so weakened we find ourselves in the mess we find ourselves today with big business needing bailouts and banks bilking the customers rather than serving them.

Interesting data: Reagan became president in 1981. There had been Democratic presidents for 12 of the previous 20 years and had controlled congress for 30. By 2007, conservatives had controlled the congress for 10 years and the Presidency for 26 of 34 years. That 34 for year record speaks for itself in economics alone. No longer do children expect or get a higher standard of living than their parents despite higher education. It’s lower. And government spending is way beyond what the Democrats ever did creating a staggering national debt and encourage huge private debt. Their conservative ideals were good, their application was whacky.

Edwards constantly asks conservatives to return to their roots and principles. Once they were the protectors of the environment, now they back unscrupulous business to create an environmental crisis. They have moved from stewards to opportunists, making a bleak future for the coming generations. Conservatives you should be “tree huggers” not use the term as a derogative remarks for those who seek to protect the planet. Conservatives need to reestablish the principles versus just bottom line short term thinking for the few.

My own example of this is that small business should be solidly in back of single payer medical coverage for the nation. It would lift a tremendous burden from those businesses and provide better medical care for all. And yet they are the arch opponents of such a system. The function of the health system should not be profits but health care. Other countries realize this, while we turn a blind eye and are manipulated by special interests.