Thank you Doug. You and I have concertedly for most of a year now strived our utmost to throw light on the most perplexing issues of our era. I now propose to you and our listeners that we not only have a cultural war on our hands, but worse yet, a ‘Santa Claus Crisis’! It all goes back to that ‘naughty or nice’ thing. Have recent generations really been rewarded differently when they were children dependent upon their individual good or bad behavior? I know I had my doubts early on, since even though I was clearly the more exemplary child in every respect, my two brothers enjoyed consistently equal holiday compensation.
Did Santa Claus ever deny a child a present because they were just plain rotten? Did drugs? Cheated at school? Tortured the family cat?
I’d like to think that at one time, a long time ago, it made a difference to Santa and others how kid’s behaved. But clearly today that would be impossible since it would require making an actual personal judgment about what is good or bad, naughty or nice. Plus we’d have to hold children responsible for their behavior. Just think of the irreparable psychological damage that could be done if we denied one of our children a Christmas present for any reason! It’s bad enough that some children get lavish, expensive gifts while others receive only menial K-Mart trinkets! On the grounds of the need for achieving higher self-esteem for young people everywhere I propose immediate emergency national legislation to equalize the monetary value of Christmas gifts to all children under 18, even those in prison. None should receive a gift worth more than $29.95, the national mean average for a Christmas present! ( Price check by Amazon.com )
Yes, friends and listeners, we have a Santa Clause crisis. Are we a nation where wealth and position are determined by virtuous behavior and individual judgment, or a ‘St. Nickocracy’ where all benefit equally irrespective of their individual hard work, free decisions and self-restraint? Can we ever agree again, as a people, on what behaviors should or should not be rewarded?
Alas, I’m afraid Santa is no longer a conservative. Though at one time I think that he most certainly was. If he hadn't been, he would never have imposed such ridiculous conditions like being “naughty or nice” as a prerequisite for judicious Christmas remuneration in the first place.
MERRY CHRISTMAS FREEDOM FORUM LISTENERS AND THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN TO OUR PROGRAM!
FREEDOM FORUM – 12/18/99
M.D.T.
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Freedom Forum? Yes, I remember that show. Whatever happened to the Freedom Forum? As I recall, ten years ago there were two forty-something year old guys who perhaps naively believed that they could make a difference by hosting a Saturday afternoon call-in show broadcast via a 5,000 watt radio station (yes, that is the equivalent of one hundred 50 watt light bulbs) nestled in the midst of a highly liberal city. It is ten years later, and that certain highly liberal city only seems to have gone into hyperliberaldrive -- as has the nation. So here is the question: is it now only Quixotic to imagine a truly liberatarian society where this nation steps back from the brink of a wholly managed economy that permanently seats the virus of Sovietization in every institution and enterprise? Or have we already arrived at that point - and due to a lack of historical perspective - much like the ant unable to recognize the mountain -- have we forever lost this ideal? Perhaps the next ten years might answer this question.
ReplyDeleteIndividualism and free markets. These two things have always characterized America and have sponsored the one and only promise that any nation should be pledged to keep: Opportunity for all -- Opportunity without social guarantees and with the right to fail; Opportunity without strings; Opportunity without punishing the success it brings. The reason why the world still wants to come here over any other life destination -- is for that historical raison d'etre that has buoyed and supported millions and millions of families over time -- the chance to succeed.
The jackboot tread of managed society is pounding toward us. The earth is shaking. We know what earthquakes do -- and there should be a Richter scale for Big Government. Entitlement programs - let's call that a 6.0. Increased taxation - assign that a 6.5. Cap and Trade and Health Care -- what would that be? 8.5? 9.0? What house that has ever been built can withstand the damage of Big Government? This is not a question of a house divided - we live in a house that was never designed to withstand the damage that will be inflicted by the continued onslaught of Government without end.
Thanks, Mark, for a little Christmas cheer in January. God Bless what remains of America.