I understand where most "progressives" are coming from; they see a myriad of economic and social problems and want to utilize collective resources to address them. With few exceptions "progressives" have noble intentions and believe that the conservative hesitancy to utilize state intervention stems from "selfish intentions."
Progressives are right that in theory, an honest, competent group of politicians and bureaucrats, motivated by a genuine concern for public welfare can create and administer programs and policies in which the benefits outweigh the costs.
But, at least in the case of Chicago, Cook County and Illinois government, honesty, competency and genuine concern for public welfare are virtually non-existent.
If "progressives" focused more on the actual outcomes of programs and policies and less on the noble intentions, I am confident that they would become more open to the merits of limited government.
Take the example of public housing. In the 1950's and 1960's "progressives" were rightfully concerned about a shortage of quality housing, especially for African-Americans who recently relocated to Chicago via the great migration.
Their statist solution was to have the government provide housing. In theory this was a good idea, but:
1. In the hands of city government public housing became a tool to bolster segregation. Not only did this appease white voters, it strengthened the monopoly of the Democratic Party in African-American neighborhoods. No matter how poorly the party treated them, they knew that they were ensured African-American votes, so a segregated wards were guaranteed victories for the Democratic Party. And Public housing residents knew that if they did not vote for machine candidates they would risk loosing their government benefits.
2. It created a crippling concentration of economic and social poverty for generations to come.
3. It allowed the Chicago Machine to dole out millions and millions of dollars to its allies in the form of inflated construction and maintenance contracts. And of course they companies provided ample employment opportunities for loyal party members. Needless to say the recipients of these contracts and jobs amply contributed to the Democratic Party.
Less than 50 years after their creation, the housing projects became so overwhelmingly awful that they city finally decided to tear them down. This, of course provided opportunities for the Chicago Machine to provide millions and millions of dollars in contracts and land to crony contractors and developers.
So, next time a "heartless conservative" seems less than enthusiastic about government intervention, focus on real, concrete results and not on noble intentions. As the saying goes "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." In the case of Chicago, we can be certain that this road will be over budget, behind schedule and still have mammoth size potholes.
I would take exception to this part of your blog:
ReplyDelete"With few exceptions "progressives" have noble intentions and believe that the conservative hesitancy to utilize state intervention stems from "selfish intentions."
That's true of idealists in college and a few years after college. It's not true of most older and advanced "progressives". It certainly and self-evidently is not true of the Barney Frank's and Nancy Pelosi's and Harry Reid's of the world.
These are very bitter, angry, hostile people. Their motivations are not remotely noble. Far from it. Their motivations are amassing power, keeping power, and punishing opponents.
Look in the hearts of most adult progressives and what you'll find is envy, jealously, resentment, self-righteousness, and arrogance.
In unguarded moments they tell us this. Obama himself revealed his arrogance when, not realizing he was being recorded, talked about the unfortunate and unsophisticated folks who cling to such outdated notions as guns and religion.
Obama's wife resents America itself, and told us so by saying how mean of a country it was, an how only now, with The One, can she find anything to be proud of.
These simply are not good people.
These certainly are not people with noble intentions.