Tim Ellis over at the Huffington Post asks, “Why Do Conservatives Hate America?”. At the end of his column, he asks the reader to “lay it on me straight”. Considering his point of view is so biased about Conservatives, I doubt he really wants an answer. Let’s face it – when you can compare your opposition to wife beaters, you do not have much respect for the other side’s point of view. However, he did inspire me so I am going to use the blog here to “answer” Tim.
First and foremost I love America. The difference is I see America as being, We the People, and not the government. This is a clear break from Tim, who sees government success as American success. Let’s start with the Olympics. It was not a failure of America when New York lost the bid for 2012 and it isn’t now. Yes, this will look bad for the President since he put his prestige on the line and decided it was worth the trip at the last minute. But I don’t see Obama being associated with the losing bid as being down on the country.
Now on taxes Tim states the following:
This is the same attitude that drives the conservative zeal for cutting taxes. The United States, they claim, is the best country in the world, and apparently the best way to show that is by not giving it the means to do anything. Taxes are the method by which civilization is paid for; they are an investment in our nation, an investment that conservatives are simply not interested in making. What kind of “patriot” won’t invest in America? That must be love.
This is where I think it is the most clear that Tim sees America as the government. When I invest in America, I don’t write an extra check to the IRS so they can build civilization. I invest in the people ideas and institutions. The more money left over after taxes, the more I can invest in America.
I won’t get into the secessionist stuff as I am not an expert other than to say the bottom line for most of it is to say to the federal government, ENOUGH. Do what you are supposed to do by the Constitution and by the law and no more.
The bottom line is the American people are amazing and creative and there is much to be admired and loved about them. Individuals doing what they can and making the most of it is what made this country great. The government is a framework to help enable the free flow of ideas and commerce and playing umpire to ensure fairness. It is NOT America. When we confuse the two, we start making assumptions and decisions that undermine liberty and freedom and place too much power in the hands of the state, all in the name of patriotism.
Tim, I don’t hate America, I just don’t see it the same way you do.
- FOP Vermillion