Farewell
Some thoughts on the views that have animated
this column.
This will be the last
of my columns for this publication, so I thought it fitting to note the views
that have most influenced these writings. Foremost is my appreciation of
America's character and strength and my opinion that the only earthly thing
that can stop this great country is a national failure of will or a continual
series of misguided political decisions.
My optimism is driven
primarily by the ingenuity and resilience of America's people. A nation of more
than 300 million will have its share of lawbreakers, slackers and charlatans,
but America is so much more filled with people who are wise, honest and
hardworking. The capacity of Americans to sacrifice—greatly at times—for others
is truly impressive.
This is why I so often
stressed that individuals, families and businesses should as much as possible
be the ones making decisions instead of politicians and bureaucrats, no matter
how well-intentioned. Some will argue against this view, and it is certainly
true that individual decisions will not always provide the optimal result. But
it is just as certainly true that this approach will work better over the long
term than one-size-fits-all diktats of government. From the five-year plans of
the former Soviet Union to ObamaCare,
the troubles that can befall a country from top-down government control and
political attempts to pick winners and losers are obvious.
My optimism has also
been fueled by what history shows is the amazing ability of our economy to
generate jobs, innovation and better standards of living, not just for our
nation but for the world. We are rightly seen as the land of opportunity, and
it is no wonder people from other nations flock here.
I must admit this
optimistic view has been challenged over the past decade. One of the most
obvious reasons for pessimism is the sad state of the national fisc. Deficits
are not in and of themselves bad, but running large deficits for multiple years
is. Burdening future generations with trillions of dollars of debt is a
deplorable abdication of responsibility. One key to our future will be whether
government can reduce the runaway spending that comes from trying to be all
things to all people. It is critical that government instead focuses on its
central responsibilities, reduces its tax bite, and gets rid of onerous
regulations that sap the initiative of our people and the strength of our
economy.
Another cause for
concern is the stifling of economic growth and opportunity under the guise of
environmentalism. We cannot afford continued attacks on our energy supplies.
These policies, if carried to the fruition of which the left dreams, will crush
our economy and with it our standard of living and our continued ability to be
a strong presence in the world.
We are still the
world's sole superpower, and like it or not, that role comes with certain
responsibilities. We cannot continue to be a force for good across the globe if
we continue the recent trends toward isolationism and a hesitancy to get our
hands dirty. Recent efforts to shortchange our military and defense
preparedness are not harbingers of success in this critical area.
We cannot let
political correctness muzzle free speech. That this occurs with regularity on
college campuses, where open debate should be most welcome, is a sad irony. Nor
can we continue to impinge on the freedom of religion. Encouragingly, the
recent Supreme Court ruling in Town of Greece v. Galloway reaffirmed the
view that God has a place in the public square.
Since our strength
flows primarily from our people, the character of future generations is
important. Will the left succeed in making more of us dependent on government?
Will the generations moving into the mainstream of politics and the economy
over the next decades be like the college graduates recently in the news who
seem to have majored in taking offense or claiming victim status? Or will they
be more like the young men and women who have performed so amazingly in Iraq
and Afghanistan, and the ones starting careers and families? The next
generation does not have to be the greatest generation, but it cannot be the
weakest generation.
Of course, education
is critical. We must not let union bosses and other forces of the status quo
stop innovations that would ensure a good education for all. We must find a way
to make higher education more affordable so those needing a degree to pursue
their profession are not blocked from seeking that degree or saddled with
significant debt.
These are the views
of, and hopes and concerns for, America on which my columns have been based. I
must note my gratitude to James Taranto, my editor par excellence for these
columns, and to Brad Zuber, who has provided me with research and other
assistance for nearly two decades. These columns have been better because of
their efforts.
Finally, I want to
thank all of you, the readers. I know from the comments section that not all
have agreed with what I wrote each month, but I hope you enjoyed thinking about
and debating the issues I raised. Please continue to read the editorial section
of this great publication. It is rare to find such an abundance of writers in
one place who can so interestingly write in a way that separates the truly
important policy essentials from the dross of today's political rhetoric.
It's been a pleasure
to be associated with all this over the years, and I wish everyone the very
best.
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