The New Sales Job Part II

Last week’s blog described the object of the New Sales Job, which is to sell the New Normal. This week is about why the New Normal is being sold. It boils down to Obama’s nanny notion of the role of Government. But, when Uncle Sam becomes Mary Poppins economic circumstances inevitably worsen because Mary has a voracious appetite. After she finishes feeding herself, there’s not much left over for the kids.

Really, someone has to pay her bills and Mary’s only means of support are taxpayers and investors. Taxpayers eventually run out of enough money and investors just run out when the size of the debt makes lending too risky.

But, let’s get back to the reason for the New Sales spiel. In a 2007 interview in The Independent Magazine, Obama talked about an epiphany he had on the role of Government during a trip to Africa. He realized that it takes a Government to feed a village. Today, that philosophy shapes his policies on Government’s function.

And it’s silly. It would be laughable if he weren’t President. America is not a poverty stricken village. It has the largest and most technologically powerful market-driven economy in the world, with a $14 trillion GDP. We didn’t get this way with a nanny Government. We got this way with a Government that stays out of the way and lets people have the freedom to take care of themselves.

Right, I know, the Government is also for national defense. But, as far as individuals are concerned, personal liberty is primo. As Ronald Reagan once said, “I don’t believe in a government that protects us from ourselves.” And when it tries, disaster follows like a stalking predator. Just look at Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Amtrak, the hijacking of Social Security and all that stuff.

The Government’s role in personal liberty is providing equal opportunity, not equal result. And that’s the problem with the New Sales pitch. It’s not the playing field Obama wants to level. He’s trying to fix the score. That’s when we end up stuck in the New Normal mud.

About that income redistribution. Let’s put off for a later discussion the fact that the top 1% of taxpayers shell out over 40% of the income taxes. Or that almost 50% of voters pay no income tax at all. Or a real solution like revising the tax code so we all keep most of what we earn while enjoying the fruits of our individual labors.

Instead, let’s get to the heart of the nanny notion. Would taxing the rich out of existence solve our fiscal problems? No, because Obama’s accumulated debt through 2020 will exceed $20 trillion. Not even the rich are that rich. Once we have no more rich, the economic stimulation they provide is gone, as are the taxes they once paid. It’s suicide by stupidity and there’s nothing normal about that.

Mr. Reagan also said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the Government and I’m here to help’”. If the Government truly wants to help, it should remember that Mary Poppins doesn’t live here.