Liberal agenda is root cause of most crime
I recently attended meetings of concerned citizens from the Irving Park, Browntown, Kirkwood and New Irving Park sections of Greensboro. Everyone is understandably concerned about the increase of auto and home invasions, and particularly the recent vicious murder of a young woman in her home. The mayor, assistant police chief and other city officials attempted to explain why this is occurring. Inadequate funding of law enforcement agencies, the lack of Neighborhood Watch groups, etc., are not the source of our present crime problems.
The lawlessness we are experiencing today is the result of 50 years of embracing an expanding progressive/permissive agenda in America. This progressive political agenda, espoused and promoted by the majority of the mass media, the academic community, the entertainment industry, etc., has penetrated to the core of our society.
How has this agenda greatly contributed to the increased criminal activity in America?
1. The liberal community has surreptitiously convinced a large portion of our population that we are all somehow equal, which obviously is not the case.
2. Anyone who accomplishes more, acquires more, attains a higher standard of living, etc., has somehow accomplished this only at the expense of others. The fact that they may have been born smarter, were more willing to take risks, had more initiative, and/or were inclined to work a little harder is irrelevant. Their earned success is not "fair" to others, they don't deserve it, etc. Liberals conveniently overlook the fact that our U.S. Constitution guarantees every citizen an opportunity to pursue happiness. It does not (and should not) guarantee success or happiness to anyone.
3. Years of exposure to this progressive socialist philosophy have apparently convinced a segment of our society (a small segment, at this point) that (a) the producers who have earned this higher standard of living do not deserve it, and that (b) others have a "right" to it. Extrapolate from there, relative to who is robbing whom.
4. This "progressive" movement has convinced us we have too many prisons (and prisoners), that the police are too tough on the criminals (Miranda, self-incrimination, etc.), that we must retreat from our own home rather than hold someone accountable for breaking into it, that we are entirely too judgmental, and we must be very restrained in holding someone responsible for this anti-social behavior.
Obviously, liberals gravitate to government service, academia, entertainment, journalism, religion, etc., and we have little control over this (nor should we).
However, we do have choices relative to our elected officials. If we continue electing progressives (even nice progressives) to public office, then we should expect the continuation of legislation, district attorneys, judges, etc., who are soft on crime, period. And expect police officers to continue being hesitant in fully enforcing the law, for fear of being prosecuted themselves.
Sidebar: We all should appreciate the off-duty officer who recently risked his life to pursue the jewelry store robber, who had a long criminal record and was driving a car he stole from its rightful owner, despite the News & Record's editorial expressing reservations about how this was handled. Instead of articles about the robber's family's concerns, perhaps an article extolling the bravery of the officer might have been appropriate.
If we allow this progressive/liberal agenda to continue, then expect more of those who do not have to prey on those who do. And neighborhood meetings will continue to be a huge waste of time and police officers (with one hand tied behind them) will continue to be only minimally effective protecting the neighborhoods of all law-abiding citizens.
Clyde L. Hunt Jr. lives in Greensboro.
Comments (19)
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Mr. Hunt, you're just parroting Jonah Goldberg. While I found "Liberal Fascism" an entertaining read, even agreed with some of it, it would be nice if you had some thoughts of your own.
Posted on April 3, 2008 9:18 AM
Great editoral, regardless of the author.
Posted on April 3, 2008 9:29 AM
Very good post. The reason being, the more people to depend on the "guvmint", the more power they have.
To the very people they profess to help, they send this message: We are all created equal, only some are less equal than others. We need more and more programs (run by us) to make everthing right.
Posted on April 3, 2008 9:48 AM
Ghost, I don't agree. I'm really tired of working and should be able to go on food stamps and welfare, stop paying for my and my kids own medical expenses. There's not going to be anymore $60 trips to the doc-in-a-box when my child needs antibiotics. I'll take them to the emergency room and they'll fix them right up as they can't deny service.
I don't care that you are paying for it. It's my right to get the most out what the government offers to me as a citizen, which reminds me, I need to get one of those TV converter box coupons before they run out.
That $600 economic stimulus check that coming in the mail? I really appreciate you paying for it. I deserve it and the money will be well spent, contributing to the partial purchase of a 42" flat screen and fulfilling my obligation as a citizen to "stimulate" the economy. I think I'll buy a Chinese one at WalMart but don't know if they make those yet.
Please try and see this from my point of view. A lot of the people using food stamps at the places I shop are driving nicer cars than mine. Why should I be deprived of a large SUV with some blinged rims that cost as much as the new TV? They know something I don't and I'm gonna find out how to live that way. After all I'm not paying for it and it' lets me live in the appearance of being "equal" to others who are more responsible with their finances/lifestyle.
School lunches are another thing. I'm tired of paying $60/month so my kid and eat and have milk when a lot of other kids are getting the same for free. It's my right and I'm going to take advantage of it.
Oh, and birth control? Forget it. Why should I buy it when I can just tell the woman to get an abortion and she'll do it. This is about me. This is going to be 'the summer of George' and any complaints from someone who makes enough money to live a comfortable life will fall on my deaf ears because I have a right to live the lifestyle I choose.
Posted on April 3, 2008 11:12 AM
Hugh, I gotta hand it to you, satire is definitely your thing. I disagreed with 100% of your post, which I suppose, means I agreed 100% with the meaning of your post.
Posted on April 3, 2008 1:09 PM
I knew Clyde Hunt, Sr. and he was off the chain. This letter proves that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
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Posted on April 3, 2008 1:37 PM
"our U.S. Constitution guarantees every citizen an opportunity to pursue happiness."
No, it doesn't. Do the ill-informed really expect to have their opinions seriously considered?
Posted on April 3, 2008 2:06 PM
Okay, I went back and reread this letter. It is just about the craziest thing we've seen lately. Okay, maybe in YEARS!
Does anyone remember House Speaker Newt Gingrich blaming the (alledged) kidnapping of Susan Smith's children on liberals and years of liberal policies?
Funny how he slid back under his rock when police charged Susan Smith with the MURDER of her own children----oh, and the revelation that her dad was a GOP party boss in South Carolina kind of shut him up too. Guess those "family values" Gingrich touted, were meant for other people. Seems that the "holier than thou" crowd is always hiding something---Larry "widestance" Craig was adamantly against Gay rights, marriage etc. So was GOP "Family Values" preacher Ted Haggard.....Guess they were just set up by liberals. LOL!
Any fair minded person would deem this letter to be "way, way, way out there" even when compared to most 'conservatives'.
To see the "ditto heads" adding their 'Amens' to it, is even more bizarre.
Posted on April 3, 2008 2:08 PM
MemberName,
Just because you appear to disagree, the LTE isn't any less meaningful because its author confuses The Declaration of Independence with the US Constitution. This is a common error.
Posted on April 3, 2008 2:31 PM
Common error or not...it shows an ignorance and lack of real knowledge (and I'd say thought) that leads to this kind of ridiculous letter.
Posted on April 3, 2008 3:00 PM
I agree with "rahrah" on this one. This is just one of those letters where one scratches the head and wonders if all of Clyde's wires are connected.
One thing we know for sure---this guy is happy as a clam in the GOP--and he's got plenty of like minded company there.
:)
Posted on April 3, 2008 6:44 PM
... ain't never attended no seminars, so here're some semi-original plus some borrowed ideas:
The lawlessness we are experiencing today is the result of...
1 - Too Much success after WWII. We lost our drive and sense of frugality, which led to ...
2 - Too Much Money either in the form of greed-salaries (I am worth so much solely because folks pay me that much) or too much debt trying to "keep up" with neighbors having greed-salaries.
3 - The mis-founded belief that everyone could forever make money from money. Skills and education became passe
All the above can be attributed to the national political agenda .. there was only one and it was "espoused and promoted by the majority of the mass media" ... because there was only one mass media: ABC-CBS-NBC - and there was clear consensus in America that we were doing the right things, like going to the moon, providing a balanced and better life for our children, correcting the injustice of racism and genderism, helping the world help themselves, etc.
It all went to hell in the second half of the 60's .. when the gentile movement for black independence turned violent with riots in Detroit and Watts and other places, when the assassination of widely revered leaders like Malcolm X, MLK, and Bobby Kennedy, and after the highly divisiveness of the Vietnam war which fell disproportionately on black-folk .. a war that was foisted on us by a stupid democratic leader who also foolishly tried to solve poverty though socialists give-away programs.
The opening sore was then ripped wide by an equally stupid republican leader who deliberately exploited little gaps yet at the same time tried to be all things to all people, continuing both the stupid war and the socialists give-away programs.
The "problems" that the LTE writer discusses are real .. I actually do not disagree with them (see below) .. except to say that it's not been 50 years but only perhaps 35 since the Nixon Wounds have fully contaminated America, and to say that if it's "the expanding progressive/permissive agenda in America" - then it is both the LIEberal and the CONservative parties that have "espoused and promoted" .. in the mass media, the academic community, and the entertainment industry.
Posted on April 3, 2008 7:33 PM
EXCEPTIONS:
2. "Anyone who accomplishes more, acquires more, attains a higher standard of living, etc., has somehow accomplished this only at the expense of others.
Well sorry, but Anna Nicole Smith (and a hundred-thousand other "producers") were neither born smarter, more willing to take risks, had more initiative, nor inclined to work a little harder than I or many others. Screw you Clyde.
3 - "the producers who have earned this higher standard of living do not deserve it, and that (b) others have a "right" to it."
See above .. plus many .. not all .. producers with this higher standard of living - have not earned it. Consider the Walton clan as a good starting point, and do your own extrapolation, Clyde.
4. - This "progressive" movement has convinced us we - must retreat - rather than hold someone accountable."
So we're holding folks accountable now? Better start with Wall Street, dude, like the S&L Crises that cost you and I $250,000,000,000. Enjoy that crow. Did Exxon ever pay for not having the mandated oil boom up there in Alaska? This could go on all night!
BTW - Miranda was established because some - and it only takes one - police are too "tough". Stick a night stick up your ungreased butt and then tell me about "self-incrimination".
Posted on April 3, 2008 7:45 PM
"Why are conservatives so blind to the liberalism of many conservatives? At bottom, politics for them is praising and honoring and being proud of your team (the team being America or conservatism or the Republican Party). As long as they are in the mode of praising and honoring their team, they are fulfilled, the right is winning, the good battle is being fought against the left. Anything that divides the team or suggests that some members of the team are really allied with the left on key issues, will be most unwelcome. "
http://www.amnation.com/vfr/archives/001679.html
Posted on April 4, 2008 2:40 AM
James,
Excellent post. Only trouble is, Dan will have NO idea what it is about. Neo will ignore it or scoff at it.
Again, great post---Kristol's disciples seem to be running to the exits, worried about Bush legacy.
Posted on April 4, 2008 8:24 AM
"Screw you Clyde."
Earlier this week it was "screw you Dan"
You got some issues we don't know about, JDR? :-0
Posted on April 4, 2008 9:29 AM
Wondering whether "all of the Liberal/Conservative's wires are conected properly" is not a problem for most of us!
I was sorely disappointed that he missed an opportunity to trash Bush, but at least used the same inane liberal antecdotes, that had nothing to do with points made by the letter. I'll bet he also compared McCain's going to speak ONCE, 8 years ago at Bob Jones U, to Obama's 20+ year relationship with his mentor and advisor, the racist, Anti-Semite, America hating "Crazy Jerry."
Posted on April 4, 2008 12:14 PM
Tonymo,
You, of all people, have absolutely NO credibility. You are a one note instrument...
GOP = GOOD..GREAT!
Democrats = BAD. VERY BAD.
I'm going out on a limb here, but I'll bet you are the relative everyone avoids at the family gatherings!
Your rants are much like Dustin Hoffman's character in the movie 'Rain Man'....."Wapner's on at eleven....Democrats bad. Republicans good. Democrats--Godless tax raisers. Republicans..patriotic, God loving. Wapner's on at 11:00. Dems bad. Republicans good. Democrats ruin America. Republicans built America......
I do love it when you post ANYTHING! You ARE our local cartoon character.
Posted on April 4, 2008 1:19 PM
The reason crime is rampant is because for the last 30 years or so this nation has been overrun with conservatives who refuse to pay to hire enough cops to enforce the law in a proactive manner.
Posted on April 5, 2008 11:02 AM