Reality Check

Walter Williams Looks at the Big Picture

I make a habit of not watching the nightly news. I do read a number of sources so I am not uninformed as a result of this habit. I just sleep better.

While the media pundits are panic stricken at the thought that Governor Palin, mother of five, could be 'one heartbeat' away from the presidency [don't worry America, she'll do fine, really], the truth is so much of this idioocy is tolerated because we ARE doing pretty well overall.

This Piece by Walter Williams in Jewish World Review makes a good point that we are basically in pretty good shape but politicians need to create a need for their services as rescuers. That's not to say the problems aren't real, but why wasn't Fanny/Freddy a big deal when regulatory legislation was suggested in 2005?

The truth is it will become another great burden on our treasury but in all likelihood it won't kill us. People will be able to make political hay out of it and use it as an excuse for expanding the role of government in our lives perhaps, but as long as the American economy continues to grow it does not threaten our very existence... yet.

There is a great debate over our Nation's course that must be brought into bright light. Some would have us surrender much of our needed functions, such as health care, to a more socialistic model. That's the way it's done in Canada. There is plenty of evidence that a free market does a better job, but much of the needed discussion is obuscated by all the noise that passes for news.

More on Dr. Walter Williams

Update: Newt Gingrich Weighs In