By Roger Mitchell, Stevensville
On February 19, 2020, Frank Novotny, Victor, posted a Letter to the Editor concerning the Democratic Party ‘platform’ which Henry Fowler, Stevensville, had earlier (Feb. 5, 2020) proposed. Novotny said that he could “…only reduce it [Fowler’s proposed platform] to the absolute minimum, namely take money from people who earn it to give it to people who did not earn it.” And in the same paragraph, “…any government that does that is evil and in dire need of termination with extreme prejudice.”
Now, with prejudice, extreme or otherwise, here are some observations.
1. Every civil government on Earth today takes money from those who have earned it with the intention of giving it to those who haven’t. Every single one, bar none. The United States government is no exception to this ‘modus operandi’, but participates in it without any hesitation and backs it up with the threat of violent force against anyone who might not want their hard-earned money taken from them.
2. To say that Democrats are “evil” because they do this without also calling out the Republicans (or vice versa) is hypocritical and deceitful, since both parties are actively engaged in taking money from persons who have earned it in order to give it those who haven’t. Both parties promote the practice and both carry it out. The only difference is in who receives the ‘stolen’ money.
3. Is Novotny really saying that any government should be terminated if it taxes and redistributes the wealth generated by its economy? Or only those governments which are run by Democrats? The question begs to be asked. Which is it, Frank? All governments or just those you don’t approve of?
Let’s boil down Mr. Novotny’s reduction down a little more. Any government which taxes its citizens and then redistributes those monies to other people is evil and should be terminated. This is about as simple as I can make it. If this policy were enacted and prosecuted vigorously, every government which relied on taxation would cease to exist. I have my doubts, though, that this is really what he meant to say. However, since I do not know him nor have I discussed these issues with him, I can’t be certain about that and find myself unwilling to make a judgment without hearing further from him about the matter. It would only be fair to give him the chance to clarify and either confirm or retract his statement according to the arguments I have raised.
We’re waiting, Mr. Novotny, for your response.