Posted September 30, 2004 to GDN Headlines | Section Home | Print

Inherited Dream Accepted Realized Dream Belittled

A COMMONER COMMENTS
Commentary By Robert C. Currie Jr.

Richard Wagner’s late August, 2004 editorial began: “John Edwards has a dream. It’s a dream about two Americas, the haves and the have-nots. It’s also a dream about one America, where everybody has everything and somebody else, somehow, pays for it.” I have been following vice presidential candidate John Edwards‚ campaign intently. I am fully aware of his realization that there are two Americas. I have heard or read nothing indicating “One America” in which some pay for the “everything” of others.

On the other hand, I have heard President George W. Bush refer to his “base” as “haves and have-mores.” And my intent study of current events leads me to believe that exploitation of the “have-nots” of the two Americas John Edwards admits do exist, contributes to the expense of the $5,000 per-plate dinners of the “have-mores” George W. Bush recognizes.

Wagner offers an analysis of John Edwards’s proposals, starting with: “We can build one America where we no longer have two health systems — It doesn’t have to be that way — We can offer everyone the same health care your senator has.” Translation: The trouble is that senators can choose from among several policies, but could average Americans?”

Now, my translation of Wagner’s translation: Senator Edwards said nothing about the opportunity of senators to choose from several policies; he referred only to the coverage “your senator has,” which is surely more than adequate no matter which policy from which company provides it. Diverting our attention to the numerous choices of privileged senators, Edwards included, removes our focus from the real issue — no coverage at all for so many — while simultaneously diluting Edwards‚ concern by reminding us of his personal advantage. Is Wagner slick or what? Wagner quoted Edwards as saying: “We shouldn’t have two public school systems in this country: one for the most affluent communities, and one for everybody else — It doesn’t have to be that way.” Translation: You might move out of town, but government can still bus your children.”

My translation of the translation: Wagner’s statement obviously does not relate to Edwards‚ statement in any way. But by dragging up the old busing issue, which blacks despised just as much as whites, Wagner subliminally rekindles the latent embers of racism still smoldering in prejudiced whites’ memories. And for whom do prejudiced whites always vote? Giving credit where credit is due, Wagner is a spin-master!

Wagner quoted Edwards as saying: “We shouldn’t have two different economies in America: one for people who are set for life, their kids and grandkids will be just fine, and then one for most Americans who live paycheck to paycheck.” Translation: We will redistribute wealth from the people who have worked hard, foregone luxury and saved their money, to many people who squander theirs.”

Translation of the translation: All of you voters, who work hard, forgo luxury and save what money you can, blame the unfortunate, who have never had any money to squander in the first place, for the little that is spent by government to improve their quality of life, while the great majority of what is taken from hard-working you in the form of taxation is used to finance special interest privilege for those redirecting your focus to those least to blame.
Wagner quoted Edwards as saying: “We can create good-paying jobs in America again — We will give tax breaks to American companies that keep their jobs here in America — and we will invest in the jobs of the future in the technologies and innovation to insure that America stays ahead in the competition.”

Translation: We don‚t trust you, as a consumer, to make the right decisions about the economy. We’re going to raise taxes, let politicians decide where your money should go, then give it to the companies that allied themselves with government.

Translation of the translation: Here Wagner cleverly spins what has already happened into something to fear in the future. Consumers were not trusted, but overruled when they made the “right decision” about the economy. They wanted to keep their jobs, rather than see them exported and outsourced! Politicians have already decided “where your money should go.” By reducing taxation for the special interest companies that aligned themselves with government, they automatically placed the burden of taxation on the masses,creating an immeasurable deficit for generations to come!

Richard Wagner is the editor of The Carolina Journal, a newspaper published by the John Locke Foundation. I would have thought that organization would have more integrity than to attempt insulting American voters’ intelligence with such baseless spin. But the real tragedy is the belittlement of John Edwards’s dream. Of course, when Americans like Edwards and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. actually realize the “American Dream, rather than inherit it, they usually are belittled, aren’t they? •