I do not think it is a question of Beltwayitis. I am not a libertarian or Objectivist. I do not think that the State is an organism to be feared and held at bay. I think it is a machine through which we seek to preserve the peace and achieve a modicum of justice, and that liberals and conservatives are largely arguing about how to make it function the most effectively, and with the fewest untoward effects.
As it happens, I agree that much of the New Deal was a mistake. I simply object to demonizing it, or FDR. As a matter of history, I think that he preserved us from even worse political chaos, as the Popular Front and various quasi- fascist movements, like the Coughlinites and Huey Long's supporters, gained steam. I also think that FDR helped to save civilization by supporting the British and the Soviet Union as much as he could, and preparing for war against the Axis. These are all debatable positions, but they are not far- fetched.
As for the income tax, I got into that argument because Terrence denounced those who support the flat tax, because it is an income tax. There are plenty of respectable conservatives, like Phil Gramm and Jack Kemp, who have gravitated towards the flat tax, and they do not deserve denunciation.
I do not despise politicians, nor do I despise politics. I am sorry if that equals Beltwayitis, but from my perspective it just means that I respect democracy and those who make it work........ |
