OPINION:
Rep. Jason Crow, Colorado Democrat, recently accused Republicans of having “no ideas” while the progressive wing of his party is pushing bad ones (“GOP frames midterms as battle against communism as socialists gain foothold in Democratic Party,” Web, July 28).
Doing away with police, closing prisons and promising voters a life of endless free stuff would sound like Babylon Bee satire if it weren’t so irresponsible and dangerous. Believing that poverty can be eliminated through plunder and the redistribution of other people’s wealth demonstrates a profound ignorance of history, economics and human nature.
Lack of money is not the only driver of poverty. Bad ideas and destructive behaviors can also keep people (and even entire cultures) poor. And the irony here is that the ideas being proposed by the emergent Democratic Socialists of America have done nothing but impoverish people in countries around the globe.
But in addition to ignoring the lessons of history, the idea that crime will cease once resources and wealth are equitably distributed demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of human nature. And one not shared by America’s Founders, who gave us a divided government with its system of checks and balances to help keep fallen humanity (including our leaders) on the straight and narrow, since power is a corrupting force.
America just celebrated its 250th anniversary because it was started based on ideas and values grounded in reality. DSA is rooted in fantasy and the utopian world it promises is one that it has no ability to deliver.
God help us should Americans have to learn this lesson the hard way.
THOMAS M. BEATTIE
Mount Vernon, Virginia
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