Liberty Maven

John McCain’s latest effort to bribe the American people to vote for him is pandering at its finest. As The Atlantic notes in “McCainomics”:

McCain’s speech reads like an attempt to unify a divided party by offering every faction something to make them happy.

This is quite a departure from the “straight talk express”. He itemized a list of populist economic positions for the sole purpose of gaining more votes in an election year. The belief is that no one will consider the feasibility of transforming this vote bribery into actual law. As we mentioned in the past McCain is a chameleon. He is a political opportunist and not much more. He is the GOP’s answer to Bill Clinton. He is representative of the fact that there is little difference between the two major parties.

Contrary to belief, there is another Republican still in the race who is everything John McCain isn’t. And that is a very good thing. Ron Paul is incapable of pandering. Ron Paul won’t propose policy for the purpose of winning votes. He will (and does) propose policy that preserves and protects the Constitution. By doing so he not only keeps his oath of office, but he protects the American people. For some reason this has become the exception rather than the norm in politics today.

American politics is an STD: A special-interest transmitted disease. As newly elected officials enter their white buildings they slowly become what they once despised. The lure is too great. They transform from well-meaning ideologues into puppets and “Talking Heads”. Indeed, a few wake up every now and then and say to themselves, “how did I get here?”. But far too few do.

McCain’s latest effort is a great example of playing to win the election rather than playing to make America better. McCain now says he wants to cut taxes yet he voted against the Bush tax cuts twice. How can he be trusted? He’s been around since the early eighties. The government has grown quite a bit on his watch. Yet, like most politicians, he only references cutting spending generally. He always speaks of cutting “pork barrel projects”. These are all mere drops in a bucket as a percentage of the deficit. He is tinkering for votes. It is hard for politicians to mention specific government programs to cut. They need to make sure they don’t alienate any group. After all they may need the vote of that group someday. Damn the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

The politics of today have become an exercise of group organization. Categorize the groups and pander the hell out of them to win. Then almost forget about them once in office. It is the George W. Bush and Bill/Hillary Clinton way. It is also the John McCain way.

John McCain is tinkering around the edges of economic policy. He gives every group something to be happy about on cutting taxes. When it comes to spending he speaks in generalities only. Ron Paul gets explicit on cutting taxes as well as spending. For reference see his economic stimulus plan. Unfortunately, getting specific on cutting spending is not a popular political move for someone wanting to win elections. Will there ever come a day when Americans get fed up enough to demand specifics by voting for candidates who give them?

Maybe in the year 2019 or earlier when the Medicare benefit goes away; Maybe when the dollar falls below the worth of the paper it is printed upon; Maybe when the economy truly collapses will voters be interested enough. Things may have to get much worse before things get better. That’s a little straight talk for you.

I also hope that once the Democratic nomination is sewn up, we start seeing some of the truth coming out about John McCain. Right now he is getting a “get out of jail free card” from the media. Perhaps making a “Monopoly” reference is not good when describing a candidate so weak on economics. Next time, I’ll try to work in “you sank my battleship.” For McCain, that metaphor may hit too close to home.