The Race Grievance Industry

Bob Woodson is a black man who was a civil rights pioneer.  As president and founder of the Woodson Center, he argues that today’s violent protests from the Left defame the legacy of the civil rights movement that they purport to revere and defend. His short interview on Fox News, Tucker Carlson Tonight, which aired on July 7th, provides insightful commentary.  He highlights that the civil rights movement of the 60's promoted inclusion vs. modern protests that promote the opposite.  A most worthwhile interview to see. 

The Shame of Charity

There are roughly 74 million people on Medicaid - some 23% of the population.  Medicaid is supposed to be a safety-net program for poor women, children and disabled but, under the Affordable Care Act, it has been the dumping ground for the able-body to gain medical insurance.

Medicaid had 4 million enrollees when launched in 1966.  Since then, the population has grown 63%, while Medicaid enrollment has grown 1,738%.  How can this be?  Have Americans’ dependence upon government been growing at an accelerating rate?  So much so that today that 1 in 4 cannot provide medical insurance for themselves or their families? No.  The answer lies in the transfer from those that do, to those that do not, couched first as compassion and later as a life style.

Left-leaning political commentator, William Galston, wrote in the Wall Street Journal Opinion section on June 28th regarding the Senate Republican proposed healthcare legislation that cutting “public support for health care by $1.2 trillion over the next decade means depriving vast numbers of Americans of health security.” For Galston this means “people would be forced to rely on the kindness of strangers.” In Galston’s view, voluntary charity from strangers is antithetical to coercively taxing strangers to take from those that can take care of themselves and give to those who either cannot or chose not to care for themselves.

For collectivists like Galston, the purpose of welfare is not a temporary helping hand, but about a wealth transfer from the few to the many.  After all, collectivists are, by nature, collective.  It is about the many and not the individual, who need be relegated to a larger purpose. 

The Democrats gave the nation Obamacare, and the Republicans have shown, so far, little to materially change toward free-market healthcare.  The measurable difference between the two party’s plans is that the Republicans throw less federal taxpayer money at Medicaid than Democrats.  However, the basic underlying notions of actuarial sanity and free market forces that drive the price dynamics, quality, and availability remain largely absent.

There is pride and self-satisfaction in earning one’s living and pursuing happiness as each individual dreams.  It is the cold and grey world of tyranny when government and political elites rally to conform people to dependence on government.

Does Anyone Remember Ray Donovan?

Raymond Donovan is a business man and former Secretary of Labor from 1981 to 1985 under President Ronald Reagan.  Through Donovan’s leadership, the department’s staff and budget was reduced, regulatory relief was given to businesses via changes made to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) enforcement practices, new industrial home work rules were created, and the Davis-Bacon rules revised, as well as revision of the federal compliance regulations.  However, it was his comment after the verdict in his 1987 trial that made him famous.

As chronicled in upi.com, Donovan was in the construction business.  He was executive vice president and 40% owner of Schiavone Construction of New Jersey. No sooner than Donovan was confirmed as Labor Secretary in 1981, when Time Magazine reported that he was mentioned in an FBI wiretap of an alleged mobster who did subcontract work for Schiavone.  Shortly after, the FBI said that a labor union official, in 1977, witnessed a $2,000 payoff by Schiavone to another union official.  Then Attorney General William Smith, asked for an investigation of Donovan and attorney Leon Silverman was named as special prosecutor under the Ethics in Government Act.

In May, 1982 Donovan was in front of a New York grand jury.  In June, 1982 the Washington Post reported Schiavone Construction was linked to the Genovese crime family.  However, that month, the Silverman commission cited 'insufficient credible evidence' and cleared Donovan.  At this point, a reasonable man might think the controversy was over…but, in politics, the facts can be irrelevant.

A year later the Bronx District Attorney investigated Schiavone Construction.  Donovan with seven executives were indicted on charges of grand larceny.  The legal wrangling and trial took years, but in 1987, Donovan and his seven co-defendants were acquitted of all charges.  Following the trial, Donovan famously remarks "Which [government] office do I go to to get my reputation back?”

These sort of accusations facilitated by a media with partisan interest make for good political theater and media profits.  Scandals can be created with innuendo and investigation conjured without proof.  However, the story is not that Mr. Donovan was found innocent or accusations investigated were not credible.  It was how political enemies with media allies can colluded to use insinuation for fact in a witch hunt against Mr. Donovan.  Sound familiar?

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day! ...especially to our Founding Fathers!

Comey & Collusion

The political theater this week surrounding the testimony of former FBI Director James Comey, while providing some clarity that benefits President Trump, established that the Left media will not let Trump, collusion, and Russia leave their sights for the next four years.  What seemed to be cemented by the media following this testimony was a political media dogma that “analyzed” Trump lied, Trump isn’t under investigation “yet”, Russia hacked the election, we need further investigation on collusion, and Comey is a stand-up guy.

The sophistry of the Left and their bogeyman of Russia is wicked and is the true collusion that now infects the press.  The collusion that now exists to defame and degrade the President is between the Left and its liberal media counterpart.  In a Harvard study the unfavorable coverage of Trump in his first 100 days was over 90% of the articles where George W Bush was 67% and Barack Obama was 40%.

The media is fanning the flames for impeachment and has become part of the Democratic Party’s “resistance” to assure there is no legislation toward prosperity.  It is one thing to be the loyal opposition and still work with the other party to bend legislation, it is quite another when a major political party and the bulk of the press are in league to overthrow an election.

Stay Safe

Our hearts and thoughts this Sunday go out to those affected by the recent terrible terrorist attacks in the UK.

Why Do We Remember?

The Framers of the Constitution – both federalist and anti-federalists – were suspicious of a standing army. They feared the potential of such to be used against the citizens to enforce unjust laws.  As such, the Constitution had protections to check against the military.  Specifically, a civilian, the President, would be the Commander, but only the Congress could declare war and the Congress had the discretion to fund the military every two years.

Most remarkably, since the ratification of the Constitution, the military has never broken its trust with the people.  They have subjugated themselves and reported to a civilian power.  They have obeyed elected politicians whether the interventions were arguably just or unjust.

Unlike the politicians they serve, whose oath to protect and defend the Constitution are regularly abused, the military, with ultimate power on the planet, has never wavered from its oath.

With respect and admiration, US Vigilance remembers those that have given their lives in service, those that have served, and those that serve.