Posted by RobEsposito on 11/06/09 1:16 PM [Older: Letter to the Editor]

The following was submitted to the Daily Herald on November 6.

Republicans have once again shown how paper thin their commitment to
small government is.  All but 12 house republicans voted to extend
unemployment benefits to 99 weeks on November fifth, including all
Illinois house republicans such as IL-13's Judy Biggert.
Ninety-nine weeks.

The government, with the full support of "small-government"
republicans, has decided that they are going to support low-income
living almost indefinitely.  As solid economic thought teaches, when
the government gives people the opportunity to be paid for nearly 2
years of unemployment, you're going to get growing unemployment
numbers.

The fact is, we cannot afford this.  It is a shame that so many people
who want to work simply cannot find a job.  But democrats and
republicans alike should place the blame for this right where it
belongs: on the federal government.  They created this massive
recession.  The only way for us to recover is a return to free-market
principles, a dismantling of the warfare/welfare state, and a full
scale audit of the Federal Reserve (which 70% of American's support).

       One of the most important factors of a capitalist society is our
willingness to let people fail and realize that government cannot and
should not take care of everyone, cradle to grave.  If we would stop
bailing people out and remove the regulations that caused our current
problem, we could liquidate the bad debt and start on a sustainable
path for recovery.  Would it be a rough period?  Absolutely.  But it
is necessary if we want to really recover and remain a free and
prosperous state instead of a European-socialist state.  In the end,
we would emerge stronger and with a greater understanding of the
terrible things that can happen when the government, whether
democratic or republican, gets in the way of the market.