Believe in America
I wonder.
Romney might actually have hit on the right message for 2012.
See this:
Those who believe in such an ascendant role for government would restructure the fundamental character of the nation. They simply do not believe in America as it was shaped by the Founders. They do not believe that the principles and values that made America a great nation still apply. They don’t really believe in free enterprise, free markets, and free trade. They favor government management over consumer choice. They delight when they can replace personal responsibility with government requirements. Like the monarch the revolutionaries rejected, they have no limit on the amount they would tax the people and their enterprises, believing that government can better spend the resources of business and the product of labor. They brush aside the founding principle of federalism, asserting instead that there are no bounds to federal power. Rather than admire the heritage of peaceful assembly and petition, they ridicule and demean assemblies of ordinary citizens who protest their grand healthcare plans, takeovers and bailouts. In these and many other ways, they do not believe in America as it has been understood since its beginning.
Perhaps that is why they have been so quick to apologize for America. I had to nod my head when I read what Sylvester Stallone had said: “I think America apologizes too much.” He’s right, of course. No nation has done more to promote world peace and liberty than America. …
Over the past several years, I have spoken with thousands of people across the country. Without question, the economy has been their greatest concern. The many without work are worried about finding a job and those who have a job are worried about losing it. Some have lost their homes. Most are worried about a future of lower pay and higher costs of living. And for the first time in history, the majority of Americans believe their children’s future will not be as prosperous as their own. President Obama calculated that these fears would be translated into willingness to embrace a government-led economy. He was wrong.
Everywhere I have traveled, people have told me that they want less government, not more. They believe in small business, in entrepreneurs, in consumer choice — they believe in free enterprise. …
Most liberals in America are smart enough not to openly call for replacing free enterprise with socialism — the politics of that are still not good. So instead, when they are in power, they take action that is consistent with socialism but call it by a more palatable name. …
Government can promote opportunity or it can crush it. Laws and regulations that govern business practices are essential for markets to function efficiently, fostering economic opportunity. Conversely, if they become outmoded and needlessly burdensome, they can cripple commerce and industry, reducing the opportunity for citizens. Similarly, safety, environmental and labor regulations can facilitate economic activity. But if they are crafted with bias and political agendas, they can stifle small business and entrepreneurs. …
The pursuit of achievement, of discovery, of greatness, is what has made America the powerhouse of the world. And it has made us happy as well. Smother this spirit with the weight of government and America ceases to be America. That is what Washington is doing, and we must not allow it. Washington believes in itself. The American people believe in America.
That’s the critique I want in 2012.
There’s now a sequel to the “Bump in the Road” ad — 20,000,000 Bumps in the Road:
It’s rather post-apocalyptic — but then, that’s the mood some of us are in.
I like Romney’s message; I like his presentation; I like his advertising.
I’m tempted to get a Romney: Believe in America t-shirt.
[Get those shirts selling, Mitt!]
Update, two days later: Here are the shirts.
“Most liberals in America are smart enough not to openly call for replacing free enterprise with socialism…” ???
Because, maybe, only about 0.002% of Americans support that?
Actually, it was up near 30% in 2009.
And the last congress seemed to be of that bent.
Sent from my iPhone
Sorry, 30 percent supports socialism in America?
In April 2009, they did:
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-04-09/news/17919335_1_capitalism-socialism-rasmussen-reports
“Asked whether capitalism or socialism is a better system, 53% of American adults cited capitalism, 20% said socialism and 27% said they weren’t sure.”
20/73 => 27%.
And: “According to the poll, adults over 40 strongly favor capitalism, while adults under 30 are essentially evenly divided.”
2010 is scarier:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/125645/socialism-viewed-positively-americans.aspx
“PRINCETON, NJ — More than one-third of Americans (36%) have a positive image of “socialism,” while 58% have a negative image. Views differ by party and ideology, with a majority of Democrats and liberals saying they have a positive view of socialism, compared to a minority of Republicans and conservatives. … Americans are more positive than negative on capitalism (61% versus 33%) and more negative than positive on socialism (36% to 58%).”
An explanation that I read for these statistics is that they reflect backfire from Republican campaigning. During and after the 2008 election, Republicans have repeatedly labelled Barack Obama a socialist. If one wasn’t really clear on what socialism was as a political ideology but one liked Obama and/or his policies, one could decide that, whatever socialism may be, one must be for it.
It’s possible.
But I think it’s much simpler than that. In a developed liberal democracy — even in the United States, which is often the great outlier — it makes sense that 30% of the population would sympathize with state intervention in the economy, and “social democratic” policies.
So you really think based on those stats that most liberals in America want to replace free enterprise with socialism? Given the meaninglessness of the use of “liberals,” “free enterprise” and “socialism” I suppose you can make any sentence mean anything but state stores? I have lived in a town with state stores. 0.0002% of Americans want to replace free enterprise for state stores.
I think they wouldn’t vote for it all at once, but they could be convinced to do it in increments.
You must never have had Albanian carrot jam.
While I personally dislike the “Bumps-in-the-Road” ads, they certainly resonate. Instead, I wish he would expand upon this theme:
http://www.youtube.com/user/mittromney#p/a/u/1/q-0ecuS8tWs
Romney’s ad guys for national campaign ad guys!