Dakota Beacon

Democrats consistently say they are for the poor, the downtrodden, the weak, the “little guy.” Democrats talk the talk and have certainly convinced Americans that they are the party of the “little guy.” This reflects less fact and more fiction.

            The Democrat myth took root during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. His policies gave rise to the “forgotten man.” The term was first used in the mid-1800s against progressives and in defense of classic liberalism. FDR spun the term standing it on its head. He used the term to mean the opposite.

            Democrat policies essentially focus on creating class dependency by generating the illusion that Democrats “care for the little guy.” The more people who buy the illusion, and the Democrat “little guy” myth, the greater the assurance the Democrat political class will be elected and re-elected and re-elected. It’s a brilliant strategy, but it diverges from reality.

            Keep in mind the Democrat Party is the home for liberals of all stripes. Of course there are liberals among the Republicans, too, but they are a minority and have been contained. Keep in mind also that Democrats controlled congress for most of the decades following FDR’s tenure. Finally, Democrats have also ruled our major cities since the 1950s. They own the decay and rot of the inner cities.

            Considering this backdrop, finding examples from the unintended consequences of political good intentions is easy. The unintended consequences repeatedly show that the “little guy” gets hurt every time. Examples abound.

            In the push to “save the planet” from ourselves, Democrats lead the way in curbing environmental “destruction.”

            Who gave us the “curly fry” light bulb -- with mercury -- to replace the good old incandescent bulb? At ten times the cost of Edison’s light bulb, how does that help the poor?

            Hybrid electric cars are meant to offset the ever increasing CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) standards. Who among the “little guys” can afford hybrids? And, where does the cheap electricity come from? Certainly not wind energy and solar power.

            Democrats support higher gas prices to force reduced use of the combustion engine. Next time you fill up with gas, look at the gas tax sticker on the pump. Now who is gouging the “little guy?” The Democrat solution to the high cost of gas is to shut down offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, oil rigs move overseas to produce more foreign oil on which we -- and the “little guy” -- depend.

            Democrats support the alternative fuel, ethanol. Not only does it need to be subsidized, it also places a high demand on corn thereby driving up the price of food. Everyone, including the “little guy,” pays the price.

            Democrats ensure that teachers, regardless of effectiveness and education quality of graduates, get paid more each year. Democrat-dominated teachers unions ensure many students of the “little guy” will never enjoy a better education through the benefits of a voucher program.

            Democrats support a very high minimum wage; the higher the better. Please explain to the out-of-work “little guy” how this will help land a job when fewer employers are willing to pay high mandated wages, especially for students and other unskilled workers.

            Democrats support illegal alien programs. They believe illegal aliens are entitled to free education, free medical care and Social Security benefits. During the recent forty-year Democrat reign in congress, the Social Security “lock box” has been raided over and over to pay for programs to buy the “little guy” vote. There is nothing left in the so-called “trust fund” for the “little guy,” or anybody else, to draw upon.

            Health care reform, known as Obamacare, hurts the “little guy” the most. The legislation was ramrodded through the Democrat Senate on Christmas Eve 2009 without senators reading the bill. Since then, premiums have gone up. Seventy percent of businesses are force to change plans requiring millions of Americans to change or lose coverage and doctors. Many businesses can no longer afford child-only plans. At least one million children will be affected. Small businesses have cut back on hiring and expansion because they fear the new health care burdens. More doctors refuse Medicare patients. Sixteen million “little guys” are forced into the poorly performing Medicaid program.

            A few liberal Republican wannabes, desiring to be liked and re-elected, followed the Democrat vote-buying scheme. However, to say that Republicans share a major part of responsibility in perpetuating the myth of the “little guy” is a stretch.

            Embracing the myth is embarrassing. It’s time to retire the myth that Democrats are the party of the “little guy.”

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).